A smiling man and woman in black shirts laugh together near colorful graffiti wall art at a casual event.

 

Who said 40 meant growing up?

 

Chris Turns 40

A 40th birthday deserves more than a few phone photos.


Chris's celebration was filled with everything a milestone birthday should be — great people, plenty of laughs, a little friendly competition and all those candid moments that made the night uniquely his.


My job was to capture it all while Chris and his guests simply enjoyed the celebration.

Chicago Bulls themed 40th birthday cake with Air Jordan logo, basketballs, and orange decorations.
Two people smiling together in front of a photobooth sign at a social event venue.
Man holding a drink at a dark venue party, smiling, with a photobooth sign visible in the background.
A smiling couple sitting together on a purple booth seat in a nightclub, woman holding a drink.
Four friends smiling together at a lively indoor event, dressed casually in black tops and khaki shorts.
Group of friends posing together at an indoor event venue with colorful decorations in the background.
Two people share a warm hug at an arcade bar with neon signs and Fireball branding in the background.

The decorations and venue set the scene, but it's always the people who make a celebration memorable.


From family and friends catching up to the laughter happening around the room, some of my favourite photographs from Chris's 40th are the moments nobody was posing for.


They're the conversations, reactions and connections that tell the real story of the night.

A smiling couple wearing glasses and black outfits at a lively indoor event, woman touching her face joyfully.
Two men pose together in a bar with checkered floors, one holding a beer, with colorful toy trucks on a wooden table.
Two women smiling at a carnival, one visibly pregnant, standing near a claw machine arcade game at night.

A Little Friendly Competition


This wasn't a celebration where everyone spent the night sitting around a table.


Once the games started, so did the competition — and it created some brilliant moments to photograph.


The laughter, concentration, celebrations and reactions gave the night so much personality and are exactly why I love candid event photography. You never quite know what's going to happen next.

Woman in black outfit preparing to throw an axe at a target in an indoor axe throwing venue.
Person riding a mechanical bull at Play Zone South Yarra Melbourne indoor entertainment venue.
Woman playing air hockey at PlayZone Melbourne arcade entertainment venue.
Man in white t-shirt throwing a punch at a speed bag in an arcade game room wearing orange boxing gloves.
A player leans over a red pool table taking a shot in a lively Play Zone bar with spectators watching in the background.
Two friends smiling and posing inside a colorful yellow and orange bouncy castle inflatable.
People playing air hockey on an orange flame-decorated table in a dark arcade game room.
Woman in beige blazer holds orange basketball at indoor arcade venue with neon signs in background.
Two men on a mechanical bull ride at Flatzone Yarra Melbourne indoor entertainment venue.
Man and child playing in colorful ball pit at indoor playground with graffiti wall backdrop.
Person riding a mechanical bull at Zone Bar in Melbourne on a yellow inflatable mat.
Person punching a speed bag arcade game while onlookers watch in a dimly lit entertainment venue.
People playing giant Jenga at an arcade bar with colorful neon lights and arcade games in the background.
Two women playing skee-ball at a fun entertainment venue with a photobooth and neon signs in background.
Person riding a mechanical bull at an indoor party venue with spectators watching and cheering in the background.
Two people playing a giant Connect Four game at an indoor play center with colorful ball pit in background.

Be in the Photos, Not Behind the Camera



When you're celebrating a milestone birthday, you shouldn't have to spend the night wondering whether someone remembered to take photos.


Having your celebration professionally photographed means you can actually be part of it.


I capture the big moments, the people you love and all the little interactions happening around you — so when the night is over, you have more than memories of how it felt. You have the photographs to take you straight back there.

A tattooed man in a black t-shirt plays an arcade game alongside two women in a dimly lit venue.
Three men pose together smiling at a social event, one holding a red drink can in a dimly lit venue.
Two tattooed men conversing at an indoor event, one holding a can of beer, with industrial decor in the background.
Men socializing at a nightclub event with neon signs glowing in the background.
Two people smiling next to a decorated birthday cake at a vibrant indoor party venue.
Young man holding red wine glass socializing at indoor party event near photobooth sign.
Two people smiling in front of a colorful astronaut mural in a vibrant restaurant setting.
Man riding a mechanical bull at an indoor fairground attraction, surrounded by spectators watching the rodeo challenge.
Two smiling men pose together at a lively bar or nightclub event with guests in the background.
Group of five people posing together smiling in a bar arcade venue with colorful neon lights in background.

Candid 40th Birthday Photography in south yarra



My approach to event photography is relaxed and unobtrusive.


I'll capture the photographs everyone expects — the birthday person, family, friends and important moments — while keeping an eye on everything happening in between.


Because years from now, it might not be the perfectly posed photograph that means the most.


It might be the expression on someone's face, an unexpected laugh or a moment you didn't even realise was happening.

Two people in yellow sumo wrestling suits compete in an inflatable bouncy arena at a fun event.
A bald man plays with a child in a colorful ball pit at an indoor play center with graffiti walls.
Group of friends laughing and socializing at a colorful indoor party event, holding drinks in a festive atmosphere.
Woman smiling and hugging a large yellow inflatable obstacle at an indoor play center.

Planning a Milestone of Your Own?


Whether you're celebrating a 30th, 40th, 50th or another special milestone, your night deserves to be remembered for more than the candles on the cake.


Be present with your people, enjoy the celebration and let me take care of capturing the rest.

the details


Celebration: 40th Birthday

Photography: Event Photography

Style: Candid + Gently Guided Portraits

Location: The Playzone, South Yarra

Photographer: Ashlee Paiva Photography

Your Celebration. Your People.

Your Memories.

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