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!

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!

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.

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!

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!