Willow & Stone Estate Wedding Photography & Film, Ballarat
An estate made for timeless stories
Some venues ask you to work around them. Willow & Stone Estate invites you in. Lush gardens, quiet corners and a sense of complete privacy make it one of the Ballarat region's most beautiful settings for a wedding — and one we know well. We are La Este Film, a Melbourne-based luxury photography and film studio led by Hamish Lawrence, filmmaker and founder, and Courtney Lawrence, photographer and creative director. We capture weddings at Willow & Stone in both stills and motion, with an editorial eye and a deep respect for the moments that unfold on their own.
The venue
Tucked away in Golden Point, in the heart of Ballarat, Willow & Stone Estate is a private countryside estate with an unmistakably Tuscan feel: stone, greenery and a slower, sun-warmed pace that feels a world away from the city. Years of landscaping, restoration and care have shaped it into a series of spaces made to be discovered. Couples can say their vows on elevated ceremony spaces, linger on expansive lawns, and steal away to the candlelit warmth of The Cave and the moody Cellar, with the luxe Wedding Suite on hand to prepare in. Guest accommodation sits right next door at The Mercure, reached through the estate's private gate. The estate hosts only a limited number of weddings each year, so every celebration feels entirely your own.
For us, it is a place of endless frames: tree-lined paths and tall poplars, silver birches on the lawn, brick paths between clipped hedges and lanterns, and a heritage veranda that holds the soft afternoon light. Intimate, candid corners sit alongside wide, cinematic compositions — exactly the balance our work is built on.
Ballarat and the region
Ballarat is a regional city of grand heritage streetscapes and lush, gold-rush-era gardens, around ninety minutes from Melbourne. It suits couples who want a celebration that feels like an escape, without asking guests to travel far. Many choose to make a weekend of it — and we're happy to follow you from a welcome dinner to the wedding day and on to a relaxed recovery day.
Our approach to photography and film
We move quietly, direct gently and with intention, and let the real moments breathe. Hamish films with a cinematic, story-led sensibility; Courtney photographs with an editorial eye for light, form and feeling. Together, the stills and the film tell one cohesive story.
Every standard package includes two rolls of 35mm film, shot alongside our digital work — for a tactile, timeless layer of your day that only film can give. Within 72 hours of your wedding you'll receive up to 100 preview images, followed by a refined, curated gallery and your highlights film.
We photograph and film multi-day celebrations, including welcome events, the wedding day and recovery days — at Willow & Stone, throughout Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Europe (Italy, Greece, Switzerland, France and Germany), and anywhere in the world.
Featured wedding: Amelia & Tynan at Willow & Stone Estate
Amelia and Tynan's spring wedding at Willow & Stone was elegant and romantic from the first frame to the last. Their ceremony and celebration were both held at the estate: lush spring greens, bridesmaids in blue, Amelia's softly cascading lace, a violin through the ceremony, and a reception of spritz, gelato and even better company. We captured it all in photo and film.
View Amelia & Tynan's wedding →
Frequently asked questions
Do you travel to Ballarat and Willow & Stone Estate?
Yes. We're Melbourne based and photograph and film weddings across regional Victoria, and travel is included in your investment. Read more about travel →
Do you offer both photography and film?
Yes. Hamish leads film and Courtney leads photography, so your stills and film are crafted together, in one signature style.
Is 35mm film included?
Every standard package includes two rolls of 35mm film, shot alongside our digital work.
Can you cover a full wedding weekend?
Yes. We photograph and film multi-day celebrations, including welcome events, the wedding day and recovery days.
Begin your story
We accept a considered number of weddings each year. If you're planning a celebration at Willow & Stone Estate or elsewhere in the Ballarat region, we'd love to hear about it.