Muriwai Beach proposal (Auckland engagement-wedding photographer): Oliver and Taylor

Muriwai Beach is a stunning location for any session, especially proposal: outstanding landscapes in West Auckland is a dream come true for any engagement-wedding photographer.

The place is offering huge rocks with gannet colony, secluded beach and stunning views.

Oliver decided to surprise Taylor with unexpected proposal on New Year’s Eve during couple’s trip to New Zealand from Oregon, USA. I been placing myself discrete, pretending to photograph birds and landscapes (which are amazing), when couple show up, walk around the beach and then Oliver pop on one knee and ask the question. The answer was” Yes”, luckily.

We walk and talk around the beach and had an amazing time together. SO many unforgettable memories for this beautiful couple (unfortunately it was thunderstorm in the forecast for an evening sunset time, so we quickly changed the plan to have photos taken at morning, with harsh light, no matter what memories still treasured in these beautiful photographs below).

Enjoy highlights of proposal session in photo gallery. Contact me with any questions!

Kumeu Valley Estate (Auckland wedding photographers): Gen and Gerald

It’s always a pleasure to shoot in Kumeu Valley Estate, one of the popular locations with a rustic atmosphere in West Auckland, pleasure to photograph for all photographers.

This time Gen & Gerald come together to celebrate their special day with close friends and family (couple wish to not publish any photos with kids, and I respect their wish, even though children was so adorable!

Couple shared their story: “We met in the US at a NZ Embassy party on NZ election night in 2014 when he started his PhD and I was working there. We found out we had mutual friends and was sitting back-to-back at a wedding 3 years prior! Been together 11 years and 2 kids later, we finally making it down the aisle.” He proposed: “Rather last minute and in our true style awkwardly, in Manchester Garden Park picnic, he tried to keep it a surprise. He gave a lovely speech.”

It was a rainy day, but even rain can’t stand on the way of this beautiful celebration! This wedding was truly special as there was no family formals or couple shoot, as couple prefer to document the memories with their loved ones, with documentary approach. So we just been going with the flow.

Enjoy highlights of this wedding in photo gallery:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! (Auckland family-wedding-couples photographer)

Its time to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Another year pass by so quickly with so many amazing sessions: family, maternity, newborn, graduation, couples, proposals, elopement, weddings! (One family had a three photo shoots with me this year, this is a record in one year :))

Great time with beautiful souls, such a honour for me to be their photographer and document all these memories for years to come!

Its unbelievable how much variety of event we saw this year, including continue to be official photographers for NZIFSA, photographing all major ice skating competitions in Auckland (including North Island Championships and Nationals where skaters from all over New Zealand come to participate and show their passion and love to the sport). Such a pleasure to photograph!

As you may know, I’m an adult skater myself and this year had an amazing season with personal achievements - 2nd place in ISU Adult Competitions in Oberstdorf, Germany, 1st place in Winter Sun, Brisbane, 3rd place in Hollins Trophy, Sydney and 4th in Crystal Cup, in Melbourne. So many great memories and beautiful times together with my friends.

My kids had an important year in intermediate and high school; son get into development soccer team (Auckland United) and my daughter worked hard to learn all double jumps in skating and took a Silver medal in Nationals in Basic Novice U12 grade. All the hard work paid off!

Even though I needed to spend more time with my family, we had an incredible moments with my gorgeous couples and families.

I also incredibly grateful to continue teaching online photography workshop “Love, Light & Laughter” at Click Photo School (running from 2018, such a great time helping other photographers to find their voice and why in photography and life).

Enjoy highlights of this half season sessions in photo gallery below, messy and real, combining couples and events photography. Contact me with any questions!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I cannot wait to see what future holds!

Proposal in Sanders Reserve (Auckland pre-wedding photographer)

Ishan decided to do a surprised proposal in Sanders Reserve (North Auckland) and contacted me as pre-wedding photographer to do it. It was an exciting time to discuss all the details of planned engagement so everything goes smoothly.

Ishan asked family and friends to help to set up the spot with on the edge of reserve with white carpet, couples picture, flowers and set a video on tripod, while my job was to pretend to be a random stranger taking photos of surroundings - stunning nature.

All went really well with bride not suspected a thing, it was an emotional moment when Ishan went on one knee and then couple’s friends come to congratulate them, with tears of joy.

We continued with intimate session with engaged couple around the reserve, such amazing place with plenty of photo opportunities!

Enjoy highlights of this surprised proposal session!

Engagement photo shoot on Muriwai Beach (Auckland wedding photographers)

Exciting times at Gisele & Kelsey engagement photo shoot on Muriwai Beach, such a perfect location for Auckland pre-wedding session, dream come true for any photographers, as provide such a stunning backdrop, beautiful opportunity for a golden sunset light filtered through the high rock wall and amazing nature.

Couple just got engaged after 7 years been together, from meeting in high school. What a great story!

So much love and positive emotions!

Enjoy highlights of this gorgeous couple session on Muriwai Beach, one of the best spots in Auckland! (Funny enough there was a wedding on the beach right at the time of our session, I couldn’t resist to take a picture as a wedding photographer. Later we sent this photo to the bride as Gisele connected to her in one of the wedding community groups; such a small world!)

Baby Hugo (Newborn photography in Auckland)

It was the time finally to meet baby Hugo, after his parents’ maternity and graduation photo shoot this year. So many treasured moments captured before this newborn photography session in Haggies home in Green Bay, Auckland.

It was a beautiful Sunday morning; we took some lifestyle photos inside at home and then moved to the nearby park, such a great and handy location with plenty of photo opportunities, where we walk and talk and had a short break for baby feeding.

Enjoy highlights of this beautiful newborn gallery! I can not wait to see this family again, maybe at 1 year old, continuing a good tradition.

Proposal in Pollock (Auckland pre-wedding photographer)

Such exciting proposal times happened in Pollock (South Auckland) where Richard proposed to Vivian in front of a flower wall (pleasure to photograph for any pre-wedding photographer).

Richard contacted me many months earlier planning this perfect proposal and organising a time away for couple in an AirBnb with stanning water views at rolling hills.

Right after the proposal couple popped the champaign and we went for a quick intimate session in the waterfront.

So beautiful, emotional and meaningful moments!

Enjoy highlights of this proposal in Pollock.

Nationals - New Zealand Ice Figure Skating Championships 2025 (sport-event photographers)

Its a big honour to be invited to be an official photographer for New Zealand Ice Figure Skating Championships 2025 that took place in Auckland, NZ this year. Its a big sport event with many skaters coming from South and North Island and even from overseas.

4 days filled with passion, power and grace, such a pleasure to photograph, especially because I myself an adult skater and my daughter also skating in Basic Novice grade. If you ask, she did really well this year, ended up with a Silver medal in her grade. So much of a hard work and commitment to this beautiful sport!

Enjoy highlights of these exciting events with top level skaters representing New Zealand (Yahao - Dwayn Li, Petra Lahti, Renee Tsai and more talented upcoming skaters).

Rainy elopement on Piha Beach (Auckland wedding photographers)

This couple come to New Zealand from overseas to get married in a stunning location. Even rainy weather couldn’t be on the way of their beautiful celebration - elopement on Piha Beach.

First w4e decided to do ceremony in slightly covered location on the backyard of their AirBnB with Valeria celebrant staying away form the rain.

Followed by signing of the papers (with me as a whitness), and an intimate photo shoot on the beach.

Such a treasured memories for year to come!

(couple wish to keep their names private)

Congratulations and happy future together!

Maternity photos on the beach (Auckland family-wedding photographer)

We met with Lysea and John first time for Lysea’s graduation photos and couple shared the news about expecting a baby, so we decided to take some maternity photos later on and newborn session as well. Exciting times ahead!

Muriwai beach is such a stunning location and perfect place for a session with opportunity for golden sunset light. The weather on the session day was a bit cloudy, but we still enjoyed the surroundings and had an great time on our maternity photo shoot. Need to mentioned September was a crazy rainy month, that’s why there not many sessions in the Blog - we reschedules many of them a few time. Luckily, this time weather cooperated and we could go ahead with the photo shoot.

Enjoy highlights of couples session below and contact me with any questions!

I can not wait for upcoming newborn photo shoot! Not long to go now!

Allegro Championships (sport photography in Auckland)

Winter time is a slow time for weddings and couples shoots as often rains and weather not so amazing, but its perfect for indoor events, including sports photography.

Im so grateful for an opportunity to give back to skating community and capture all ice figure skating competitions in Auckland, New Zealand. As a skater and mum of a skater myself I love to observe the moments of beauty, power and grace and capture best moments possible, amazing memories for skaters and their family!

Enjoy highlights of another club competitions in winter season - Allegro Championships! Wedding season is coming soon! Perfect timing to finish sport photography and move into pre-wedding, family and elopements photography.

Glenburn Championship Highlights - Ice Figure Skating Photography New Zealand

Its been a bit quiet here as I been away in Europe, to participate in Adult Ice Skating competitions in Oberstdorf, Germany, such a big world event for adult skaters. It was unusual to have this competitions held in the summer heat (it was 30-35 degrees, so almost impossible to walk outside. Best places to be was ice rink and top of the Nebelhorn mountain. Luckily gondolas been working this time, so we went there a few times, and even took pictures in our skating dresses.

I enjoyed time in Europe with all the yummy cakes and food, meeting with old and new friends and training camp with world best coaches. Surprisingly, I took 2nd place and beautiful trophy in my free skating program and truly enjoyed to skate first time my artistic program.

It was such a positive trip and amazing experience. You can check photos in my Social Media - Instagram @olgalevien

After I come back with a big jetlag, shortly it was time to take my usual role - a photographer at competitions in Paradice Avondale (last weekend). Time for passion, love and fire on ice with amazing performances.

What a competition full of power, grace and love to skating - from little ones to adults, everyone living the same passion on the ice!

Enjoy Glenburn Championship Highlights (ice figure skating photography in Auckland, New Zealand).

Clucas Cup - Ice figure skating photography

As many of you already know, ice skating is one of my favourite activities to do, together with photography, and when both of them comes together its a dream come true.

It was a honour for me to be asked by NZIFSA to be an official photographer for Clucas cup - Selection ice figure skating competitions with top skaters competing first event of the season in New Zealand, including Dwayne Li, Petra Lahti, Renee Tsai, Cara Tang, Mirika Armstrong, Nicca Wu, Mia Chen and other talented NZ figure skaters (including my daughter Anna-Bella).

It was fire on ice with all the passion, grace and power. Such a beautiful moments to photograph!

Enjoy highlights of these competitions!

I can not wait to photograph more competitions this season together with Nationals that coming in October.

Exciting times ahead!

Graduation photo shoot - Auckland Domain (couples and family photographer)

Graduation is such a special day and deserve a special celebration with a photo shoot to create memories for years to come.

We met with Lysea and her family (husband and mum) at Auckland Domain.

It was a very special session with turned from graduation to a small maternity and family photo shoot (so many occasions in one!).

Perfect time to celebrate! It was a honour for me as photographer to capture all these special moments.

Enjoy highlights of this graduation shoot in Auckland Domain:

One location - variety of photos {Auckland engagement-wedding photographer - photography education}

Sometimes just one location with one source of light can take your breath away and make it magical with great variety of photos. It happens to me pretty much at every Auckland engagement photo shoot or wedding, where I’m searching for light, inspiration and creativity, and aim for a great variety of photos, which important for most photographers.

Light is a big moving part of every creative process. For me, personally, location take play as well. It’s important to consider colour, texture, space and available light at every location.

Next comes compositional choices with leading lines, symmetry, reflection, negative space and plenty of other techniques, including choosing a focal point and shooting range (far away, middle range or close up to get more intimate feel). Choice of lens is important as well, that’s why I often using two camera bodies with two lens or have a 24-70 mm zoom lens on me to get more variety of photos.

By the way, my online photography workshop “Love, Light and Laughter” coming soon on 9 June 2025 at Click Photo School, not long to go now! Perfect education for photographers to discover your voice and best way to express it!

Enjoy highlights on our recent proposal session with Zoe & Marshall in Winter Gardens, Auckland Domain, where we explored a few little spots around the pavilions, and one particular spot became my favourite.

It offered a great light, solid backdrop, opportunity to capture different range of shots, including anonymous portraits and negative space, and intimate couples photos as well.

Proposal in Winter Gardens: Marshall and Zoe (Auckland wedding photographers)

The groom planned a perfect proposal in Winter Gardens: Marshall knew Zoe’s parents get married in Winter gardens (Auckland) and this location is very special to her, that’s why he decided to ask her hand at this epic location, very popular with many couples and wedding-engagement photographers.

Even rain can’t stand on the way of this proposal! We decided to meet in one of the pavilions and Marshall asked his friends to come over to help with his plan.

I arrived to location early, looking for happy couple, secretly pretending to be interested by shooting flowers (I did enjoy colourful lines of beautiful creations, but been as a man on the mission, acting as a spy and hoping to not miss the most important moment to capture. Luckily, Marshall sent me their selfie beforehand, so at least I knew how couple looks like.

Then moment has come. They both walked in the Winter Gardens, Marshall fall on one knee in one of the flower rows, Zoe looked very surprised and happy. She said YES and everybody around been clapping, applauding to happy couple (and there was lots of people as everyone tried to hide from the rain under cover).

Couple took hugs and congratulations from their friends and we continued to take some photos around Winter Gardens (luckily weather settle down by then, even though we found plenty of spots providing some cover).

Enjoy this quick proposal sneak peek! I can not wait to move through couple’s final gallery. Contact me with any question!

Wedding anniversary photo shoot on Muriwai Beach (Auckland engagement photographer)

Im truly excited to share with you recent wedding anniversary photo shoot with Elise and Jake on Muriwai Beach (Auckland). This beautiful people contacted me, couples and engagement photographer, just before their anniversary to have their traditional anniversary session that they take every year in different locations. Last one was at Blue Mountains in Sydney!

Next one still a mystery but we discussed a few exciting options. I just love this tradition to celebrate couples love documentating such a special for them moments every year!

Its now come to 5 years anniversary from their wedding day, such a big milesstone!

Couple travel all the way from South Island to take photos on West Coast Beach (we even missed one date as drove to the different locations - I been at Muriwai and couple drove to Piha due to navman mistake! Oh well! Luckily, we still finally met a week later at stunning secluded beach in Auckland and could share such special moments, memories for year to come!

Enjoy these photographs in a gorgeous gallery! Contact me with any questions!

Family photo shoot - 3 generations in Orewa (North Shore, Auckland photographer)

It was a pleasure to meet Wilson family for a photo shoot with 3 generations together (grandparents, two sons with their partners and little grandkids) in Maygrove Lake (Orewa, North Shore - Auckland). Such a pleasure to be invited to document as photographer these special moments for this beautiful family on the day of golden anniversary for head of their family.

Family sessions are always funs, especially when there a 3 generation together, celebrating life (and wedding anniversary!).

Location near the lake is stunning with pass around, bridges, blossoming on the water lilies and some trees cover, and even swing over the water. SO many photo opportunities!

Enjoy a quick sneak peek of this beautiful family session in Maygrove Lake (Orewa), more photos coming soon!

Proposal on the beach (Auckland wedding photographers

Exciting times with proposal on Brick Bay Beach (Sandspit, Auckland)! Alexanrde decided to propose to Casey on their romantic weekend in Matakana. Couple made their way from Hamilton, to spend weekend away, have a beautiful dinner at Brick Bay Winery and have a relaxed walk on the beach, where all action happened!

Surprised proposals are my favourites, pleasure to photograph for all wedding and couples photographers!

It required some spy work - I been hanging on the beach pretending to be interested in photographing swans in the ocean! Suddenly couple appeared and Alexandre dropped on one knee! Quick in action!

It was a great time on the beach with these beautiful souls, when we slowly moved from proposal to engagement session photos.

Congratulations to happy couple! Enjoy this quick highlight from the beach proposal - engagement session on the beach. Let me know if you have any questions!

Muriwai Beach pre-wedding session - Tony and Joey (Auckland engagement-wedding-family photographers) - City + Forest

Muriwai Beach such a perfect place for a pre-wedding session with gorgeous landscape and stunning golden sunset light. Tony and Joey made their way from Singapore and Switzerland to Auckland, New Zealand, two souls come together!

Before ended up meeting sunset on the beach, we met with couple to capture so special for couple moments in the city - Silo Park with urban landscapes with mix of concrete, nature and water views.

Next destination was forest with lush greenery and sheltered from sun location, following with Muriwai Beach, secluded beach with cave, favourite place to shoot engagement sessions, weddings and family photo shoots for all photographers (you can meet them or surfers there quite often!).

Three pre-wedding photo shoot locations, stunning couple - two beautiful souls and beautiful sunset in a beautiful setting! Love is all around!

Enjoy highlights of this engagement photo session and contact me with any questions!