Big Changes | Lifestyle wedding photography | North Island, New Zealand

If you wonder why it was so quiet in our Blog during the week, the answer is simple: we were really busy moving house from Auckland to Hamilton, New Zealand.

Yes, thats right, we relocated :) Its so exciting! New changes, new hopes, new life! (and a lot of packing, cleaning, unpacking, big task, ha-ha!)

If you ask me is there any changes for clients / friends, I will answer: absolutely nothing and everything :)

Aucklands clients still get the same level of service, Hamilton just 1 hour away what sounds like nothing for girl originally from 5-million citizens city St-Petersburg where travel to work could take 1-2.5 hours one way :)

Its also means wider zone coverage: we service now not just big Auckland area, but also Hamilton and all Waikato area (Thames, Coromandel, Taupo, Otorohanga) and Bay of Plenty as well (Tauranga, Rotorua) and surroundings!

More opportunities and we love to travel. Destination weddings and lifestyle family sessions are welcome!

Look forward to all exciting changes!

Contact me with any questions!

 

Personal Project 365 | August | Lifestyle Photography Auckland

Its always surprising to look back at the start of the month and see images what you took FOREVER ago. Yes, thats how its feels, and then you realised it was not a long time ago, just start of the month.

So much happening: different sessions, events, news,  few commercial projects and kids around, of course :)

Here are my personal everyday moments in 365 Project. Capturing real life and emotions, remember treasure moments.

Enjoy it!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

Cornwall park Couples-Engagement Session | Auckland Wedding photographer

What a beautiful couple I met last weekend for their engagement session at Cornwall Park, Auckland. 

Julie and Ettienne such an amazing and fun loving couple!

I love every single moment of our session together: all these lyric, romance and fun moments, posing and un-posing, relaxing talking and moving around. We even been dancing!

This couple is so gorgeous! It was interesting to hear their love story, how they met and where they come from: Julie a real kiwi girl and Ettienne from South Africa (name sounds really French and romantic! :). We found a lot in common - passion to dance (Julie doing latin dancing) and figure skating (Ettienne love to skate and practice on ice as me :).

What a great time together! Thank you guys!

So excited about your upcoming wedding!

Happy future together!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

Flash vs Natural light | Photography tips | Family and Wedding photographer | LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

Im often saying Im a natural light photographer. I take a pictures outside in beautiful locations: parks, beaches, reserves, rocks etc. Also use gorgeous window light at lifestyle family / newborn / baby / couples sessions.

I love to watch light, I love to use light, I love to play with light (detract, side, back light which looks just amazing, believe me!).

light

But there are some situations when light just doesn't works how you want it, how you imagine it in your head. Maybe not enough to light your subject, or opposite - overpower and making a lot of hot spots on the face, or it sampled light. At this cases the best option is a flash, especially off-camera flash.

I love to use flash to bounce light in the room where there is not enough light (clients houses, newborn sessions, wedding receptions, family formals), or where needs to fill with light, or even overpower the sun. 

What an amazing result you can get just before the sunset with off camera flash to show beautiful background full of colours and also give some light on the faces (couple, family, maternity, kids, portraits etc.). Here some example from my last couples session on the beach. I will show you natural light picture and picture with using off-camera flash. See the difference in feelings, different effects and looks what you want to archive. Its works just great when you want to give the variety in the gallery and put so different but so beautiful pictures at the same moment of time. Flash give you a big power to have choice and apply your vision on the capturing moments:

Main tips with using flash:

1. know your synchronise speed (for not get a black stripe across the image)

2. put it closer to the subject (to get nice light)

3. control flash power manually

4. use the manual mode in the camera to control aperture and shutter speed.

5. and practice! :)

You can also put flash in TTL automatic mode but its not I've you much ability to control the flash.

Good luck with your shooting! Just take a camera, equipment and go with the flow! :)

Talk to you soon!

Contact me if you have any question info@levienphotography.com!

 

Kariotahi beach couples photo shoot | Auckland wedding photographer

OLGA & MARTIN

Kariotahi beach in South Auckland (not far from Waiuku) is a stunning location for any couples photo shoot. This weekend I met my lovely couple / friends just before the sunset to make special pictures for them.

This couple few years married and had 2 year old little one. Good time to show their love and connection. As Olga been joking during the photo shoot - this type of session should be included in all psychological course for every couple who wanted to refresh their relationship and remember how much they love each other. What a great idea! I should think about it, how to make all families live happily ever after :)

We start our session next to the beach at grass areas then walk at the sand and finished session on the top of the hill meeting beautiful sunset. 

Olga and Martin; so romantic and fun loving couple. I really enjoyed to watch them cuddling each other, joking and playing around. It was a cute moment when Martin helped Olga to move sand out of the shoes (she might be feel like Cinderella) and put flower in her hair. 

Love all the moments of our photo shoot. Enjoy it too!

Contact me for any enquiries! Remember we had complimentary engagement session for wedding bookings during August 2015 (limited availability)

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

Wedding celebrant - Featured Guest in the Blog | Auckland wedding photographer

Meet a new guest in our Blog - beautiful wedding celebrant Valeria (Lera) Antipenko! 

cafe portrait {Auckland couples-wedding photographer}

I love to meet a new people in the industry and hope this information can help our brides to made their wedding day run smoothly. More surprises coming soon in the Blog ;)

cafe portrait {Auckland couples-wedding photographer}

First what I think when remember Lera its a high energy and passion: love to her profession, to dance and how she speaks and care about people. So meet Lera Antipenko (www.nzcelebrant.nz):

"Choosing a celebrant is an important part of your wedding planning process. These days, not everyone is after the same thing.

I am a registered marriage celebrant and have completed a celebrant course through the Celebrant School of New Zealand. I design wedding ceremonies with traditional international customs that are tailored to create special intimate moments for your ceremony.

cafe portrait {Auckland couples-wedding photographer}

Are you looking for an open minded, passionate, energetic, well organised, committed, approachable, flexible person who will guide you through your ceremonial process? Then I would love to assist you create your special day.

I'm all about creating a fun, relaxed but enthusiastic environment. After all, you're getting married and this should be one of the most special days of your lives! The only thing that limits you is your imagination.

This process is all about your dreams, your personalities, your relationship. Every wedding ceremony is as special as the couples with whom I work. A great deal of time is spent creating a custom-designed ceremony. 

cafe portrait {Auckland couples-wedding photographer}

In addition to being your celebrant I can also coordinate your special day and provide entertainment. As I am a professional Latin American dancer and entertainer I can provide dance lessons so your first dance will be one to remember.

Available for marriages anywhere in New Zealand. I'm contactable 24/7. Any questions or queries please give me a call 02102432052 or send me an email info@nzcelebrant.nz."

street women portrait {Auckland couples-wedding photographer}

Thank you Lera! Look forward to our next meeting (possibly on another wedding in excited environment :)

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

My 365 Project | Everyday moments | July | LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

New month, new changes and challenges :)

What a busy month it was! Four destinations sessions in one month: Otorohanga, Lake Taupo, Rotorua (Lake Tarawera) & of course Auckland. What a big fun, love to travel especially for exciting sessions!

My lifestyle everyday moments with kids is challenging as usual :) Trying balancing family life and photography (what from few days a week became almost full time job (sessions, meeting with clients, post processing, running website, Facebook page and Instagram, blogging etc.), Even at night time answering for letters and checking enquiries, busy life! :)

Enjoy my 365 project. July. Really interesting to look back and see all these pictures, feels like they been captured looong time ago :)

Full Wedding Package Special: Compliment engagement session | Auckland, NZ wedding and elopement photographer | LEVIEN & LENS

I have great news for you:

If your booking a wedding during August 2015 engagement session is complimentary (included in full wedding package).

It will let you save a lot which is great as it helps me to get to know you better, and helps you to get to know me and feel confident and relaxed on your wedding day.

I would love to use this opportunity to make your special day less stressful and make it run smoothly and flawlessly, when we already had a great experience together and happy with our choice!

Lets have some fun together before the wedding day and save our time at the wedding and your money! I really want to make a success from all our photography experience!

Love to capture natural moments and raw emotions!

Look forward to hearing from you! Exciting!

Contact me with any question 

Check our packages and specials at Pricing page

Wedding | Elopement Photography

Engagement | Couples Photography

Manukau Wedding | Auckland Botanic Gardens | New Zealand Wedding Photographer

LUKE & DEBBIE

Wedding in Manukau Baptist Church, Auckland Botanic gardens and Bronco's - what could be better!? Luke and Debbie decided to have a nice quiet ceremony with close family and friends and share these happy moments with me.

Need to mentioned this couple connected to me as relatives: Debbie is my husband's cousin, but I still been at work (shooting, trying to catch and capture all important moments, raw emotions, happy and crying moments during this day. So no talking just action :)

Its so important to see all these stages of the special day for couple: prepare the church, groom waiting the bride, bride with bridesmaids arrived on retro old cars, guest reactions, ceremony moments, crying and laughing, congratulations from friends and family, bridal party fun, quiet moment away from the guests, reception - emotional speeches (Debbie's dad in the hospital at this moment, so it was really sensitive moment to heard his speech and seen bride reaction and how groom supported her) and much more different events :)

What a great day, what a good place to be, what a beautiful couple!

Did I mentioned the wedding cake? It's amazing piece of art: two Minions, shows this fun loving couple character and they looks just gorgeous!

Congratulations Debbie and Luke!

Happy future together!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

Auckland Botanic Gardens Pictures | Family lifestyle moments | LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

Auckland Botanic gardens is a great place to spend time with family, relax and walk along the beautiful surroundings (and I actually did a wedding photo shoot at location in this place :) - pictures coming soon, I promise!

Life always turns unexpected way. We just visited sad family event - great nana's funeral. Death and life goes together.

When I look at my kids I see how they full of life and active, running around, exploring everything, having fun! Great nana always enjoyed to watch these little ones, she might be happy to see it.

We visited Gardens on the back way and enjoyed peaceful and quiet atmosphere just before the sunset. I been lucky enough to capture some pictures for memories.

Life, nature and kids (in memory of Elsie Mary Richards):



Wedding Dresses Collection Photo Shoot | Auckland Wedding Photographer

Every little girl dreams about beautiful wedding dress and often dresses up in some long mummy's dress and put her shoes on. Do you remember all these moments?

How lucky Kim from www.nzweddingsareus.co.nz creating her own wedding dresses. :) I had the honour to be chosen to photograph her wedding dress collection at the weekend in Otorohanga (few hours drive and I'm there, catch up with Kim and her 3 girls who were the models for our photo shoot: Hallie, Sassie, and Christina.

I asked Kim what inspired her for this wedding collection and received the answer:

"My inspiration is around making dresses for the curvier figure. I am a big girl and find it hard to find clothes to fit. And when I got married had to pay a lot of money to get a dress made for me.. and I thought the prices are ridiculous. So I make them for a fraction of the price and gives girls the opportunity to have a designer dress for affordable price".

Dresses look just amazing by the way! Any curvy bride should look with attention on this collection, and every girl too!

We enjoyed our time with girls (few hours gone really fast!) having shots at the lake and near beautiful bush, trees and fields. Otorohanga is such a great place, they have a kiwi house I hear (didn't have the opportunity to visit it but love the surroundings!

We had so much fun! Kim done a great job with dress fitting, drive girls to location, change their dresses one by one and do it all again and again. Might be exhausting! 

Girls changed a few stunning dresses and its fit, looks just amazing! They even seem to have different characters in each dress. What a beautiful transformation. It's true what people say - dress makes you feel so special. Even Coco Chanel said:

“Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”

and another one (one of my favourites:

"Simplicity is a keynote of all true elegance" and "Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself" and these girls dressed in these elegant dresses just showed real personality (maybe even hidden from themselves, I tried to capture their real character and direct and posed them to complement the dresses best way.

What a great day in amazing company and environment! Just a dream come true! One little girl and a lot of wedding dresses! Ha-ha :)

Enjoy our pictures and feel free to make an enquiry to book your wedding, commercial photography  or made an enquiry for your stunning wedding dress to Kim Clark-Ware (she definitely knows how to make your dreams became true)

 

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

 

Spring and Summer Wedding Photography Package

Spring and Summer are coming and it's a beautiful time for a wedding!

We want you to save money on wedding photography package (save up to $500) and we will do something what we really love to do:

to capture natural moments of your wedding day, lifestyle candid shots and some formals, emotions and feelings, some fun and joy in flawless manner.

Would you like to tell us more about your wedding day, your plans and ideas? Feel free to contact us with any questions and ideas! info@levienphotography.com.

Use the opportunity to get a special price for your wedding photography (limited availability). Check our Pricing and Packages.

Elopement package is available on request.

Check our Engagement | Couples Pictures and

Wedding Portfolio

Look forward to hearing from you!

Lets make this Spring / Summer day special and treasure your memories forever with stunning images!

DO you have a wedding at different time of the year?

Check our Early Bird Wedding Package 2016 and Winter Wedding Special at Pricing page (limited availability)!

Colour in photography. Photography tips. Lifestyle family and wedding photographer Auckland LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

Did you ever think how important colour is in our life, what influence it have?

We are surrounding by different colours and each colour has a special meaning for us (some could be attractive, some warning).

For example, red colour - we know from childhood - red signal STOP, green GO! At the same moment red colour take attention and its colour of love, passion, intensive. A lot of companies choose red colour for their logo for take clients attention (look at big brands such as McDonalds, Coca-Cola and a lot of others. I don't know why I choose a food companies? Maybe I just hungry :) Actually some colours works good for food places, some great for offices and working environment, some good for creativity, and some perfect for calm down and relax places. If you put attention on this places you could see common colour palette in all of similar type places. Its just proved by practice, experience and researches colours (and just individual preferences as well :)

Psychologically proved blue is the most attractive colour for a lot of people (wisdom - calm colour. You love blue sky, water etc.). Green really nice as well - its a nature colour (trees, grass, fields etc.).

Its just some common information. Don't worry, I'm not going to move into details of each colour! Every person has their own colour palette and own preferences in clothes, choosing room colours, make-up, hair colour etc. Some scientist saying it comes from their eyes, skin and vein colours, its from birth lay into their personalities. But I think it also comes from personal experience and people around them. For example, mums often dress babies in colour palette what they like, and probably its has some influence.

Also important to know complementary colours (like red and green, for example), matching colours and how they work together (or not work at all :) Here for example my little one hiding in the garden (you can see green, red and blue main colours here):

child in the garden

 

How its related to photography? Its just base what each photographer need to know and put attention:

- colour palette for clients clothes (what matches together, what looks best at chosen location - near green trees, or blue ocean, or brown sand, or steel and glass architecture at city, grey concrete etc,). Its a lot of boards on Pinterest which have amazing colour palettes samples for couples and families with big amount of choices. So you no need to know every little detail about colour, you could just go with your feelings, choose which one you like more :)

- colour palette of surroundings at photo shoot (what colour cast around, is it give some not so nice tone for clients skin if you come closer to it, is this colour complement chosen client clothes, is surface give a lot reflection (natural, white, grey) or could be used like flag for limit and control amount of light (dark surfaces). Also really nice to include white/ grey surfaces not just for reflection and more light but also for easy correct white balance in post processing :)

Some colours allows to subject pop out, your eyes just naturally look at splash of colour! (here example with little one dressed in red at complementary environment colours):

child portrait

 

- colours for photographers clothes (maybe not many photographers think, what colour clothes they wear. I know it should be comfortable and fit in photo shoot ides (one style for beach session, another for wedding shoot), but if you think about it you can see we often choose neutral palette (I often go for white top for give more light reflection, or for black one (especially for weddings - you just can't wear white at this day :) and black looks more formal for me as well :). Here some fun example from my last wedding (my second photographer Sonja unexpected ask me to take a picture with me and a bride, probably I looks not so great after 9 hours shooting, ha-ha :)

wedding photographer


- colours in post processing ( its a huge theme, I just slightly touch it, because its a science - to choose editing colours, based on your personal taste, style and also go from your clients personality and preferences; use a tone course, TAT tool, split toning and so many other tools what give you Photoshop and Lightroom (its a hole world of colours and we all still explore all this opportunities!).

SO I hope you enjoy own touch of base colours and how they works in photography. I highly recommend to read a psychology related books about colours and also practice and play with different colours combinations in different environment and see what works and what not works. You never know if you never tried! :)

Ask me if you have any question!

Tell me more about what colours do you like and what do you think!

Thank you for staying with me :)


St Matthews Church Ceremony | Auckland Wedding photographer

Simeti & Faith

St Matthews Church Auckland City, Dream Centre - Wedding Venues

Every wedding is so special! I can't believe how many events, emotions and feelings you can fit in just in one day and how many different type of photography happens:  details, portraits, kids pictures, family formals, couples special moments, documentary and lifestyle shots, candid shots of everything around.

I just love all this atmosphere!

This day 26th of June was such a special for beautiful couple - Simeti and Faith! These guys been the most amazing couple! Hard to imagine they together since their first meeting at high school, what a romantic story (school boyfriend became a husband :) 

It was amazing to move through this day with guys: getting ready at their houses (bride and groom not seen each other till this special moment in church where all families struggle to hold their tears, groom as well - Faith been so beautiful walking down the aisle).

Its amazing moments when bride went down to the aisle and groom been waiting for her near altar. Need to mentioned they choose an amazing church for their wedding - St Matthews Church in the heart of the Auckland City near Skytower. The interiors and architecture looks great, amazing lines, shapes and proportions, make you feel you in Gods House.

It was a little bit rainy and we decided to stay in church after the ceremony to take amazing shots with bridal party. We had so much fun and some lyric sensitive moments as well. Been pity to leave this location but people been waiting for us in other place - reception at Dream Centre in Manukau.

Over 500 guests been waiting for bridal party, excited and happy for couple. Need to mentioned Friday traffic from City to Manukau was just terrible (we spend at least 1.5 hour driving), but guys had real fun inside a big Limo, singing and dancing as much as they could in the small space :)

Reception will bring to the day more touching moments, dance and fun. Some speeches from friends and family, cake cutting, special waltz by couple and bridal party with swapping partners and parents involved :) Beautiful island dancers. It was really sensitive moment when all groom family been dancing together (and need to mentioned its a really big family :) Even grand grandma was standing in line with everyone. Bride received some traditional presents, their was few performances and items. Bride and Groom was so shining and full of energy. It was fun moments when bride and all party been dancing together. 

It was all so special and treasured moments. It was really hard to cut down any picture, they all turned just amazing (around 1000 edited pics!)

Thank you so much for inviting me to your wedding and sharing these special moments with me.

Happy future together, SImeti and Faith! See you soon!

Thanks for help to my second photographer Sonja and to my husband who made me a favour and shoot in the St Matthews church from the gallery (it was really important shots to take for me, because church just amazing! and couple looks just great in this interiors :)

 

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

 

Personal lifestyle pictures. My 365 Project. June. Family and Wedding photographer LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

June - is the first month of the winter. Its come with colder weather and some rain, but still beautiful for pictures (no matter - inside or outside). 

Some of them just my kids in the house, at playgroups, at the beach and with other lifestyle moments and activities; others from clients/friends sessions.

I love to move through this images and remember again all these treasured moments, especially my personal family ones.

I promise to print a book at the end of the year and see all pictures together. Yes, thats my plan :)

Daily shooting became really easy, I'm just used to it. But I remember how hard it was at the start :) Nothings impossible if you really want something, practicing and progressing on this way. Lucky bonus - your live memories in images! Thats a treasure!

Early Bird Wedding Bookings 2016. Special offer from LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

Are you a highly organised person and prefer to plan everything ahead like me? (I love to make special lists and plan everything. With travel I plan and search all important must see places, list of things to take etc. It helps me feel more prepared soI don't miss anything or forget to take important stuff). But this is not about me!

Its special offer for you - use the opportunity to book your wedding day ahead with Early Bird special for 2016 year, and save $500! (limited availability). You save money, get your photographer and one worry gone from your big list.

If you know your date/ venue - time for action - book a photographer, for no disappointment.

I already have weddings booked at the end of 2016! 

Check prices and contact me with any questions!

If you have short notice wedding at this winter 2015 - you still can get a lucky spot for Winter Wedding special - save on wedding package fee! (limited availability)

Wedding Portfolio

Couples / Engagement Photography

Behind the scene | Couples-Engagement documentary photographer {Event photography Auckland}

Event photography is a lot of fun, dynamic and creative type of photo shoots. 

It's stressful for some people and fun for others :)

You get opportunities to meet new people, make new friends and practice different type of photography styles: formals, documentary, storytelling. From shooting portrait, couples, big group of people to decorations, details and food photography :) From photographing babies, kids at parties, to adults and seniors. So many opportunities! Shooting in dark conditions, inside to sunny outside, nature environment or streets, offices and halls.

You should be well prepared to handle variety and different tasks. Thats why I love shooting parties (birthday, engagement, baby shower, anniversary), weddings and other events. It gives freedom to shoot what you see around and love; so much different things with beauty inside and raw emotions.

Here are some quick tips for events shooting:

1. Check your camera settings - every time when you move from different lighting conditions (or light change at your location - especially happens fast before sunset).

2. Be creative, open your eyes - try to see beauty in details, all these little things around make this atmosphere and will be treasured in future.

3. Be fast and patient - conditions changes fast and you should too. But not too hurry, you still need be patient and capture this special moment.

4. Think outside the box - shoot with different angles, perspectives and sides.

5. Turn around, capture all these events and people. Especially little ones could bring a lot of interesting shots and fun moments.

6. Be flexible - all things changes around, conditions, planned schedule etc. Don't be upset, try to find new direction and fast change your vision and plan.

Here few pics from my last engagement party, kids made atmosphere so special. Just love to capture these alive moments!

 

Contact me with any questions!

Emotional couples photo shoot {Auckland Engagement documentary photography}

What a great couple I met this weekend - Nicole and Jon.

It's a pleasure for me to be involved with storytelling and to capture their love story special moments.

So here is just pure love and relationship. No need words, just pictures:

 

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

 

Sweet Couple | Engagement Party Pictures {Auckland Event-Wedding photographer}

Congratulations to Juliette & Jonny! What amazing couple and great engagement party I visited this weekend. It was a cosy event at Juliette house in Ellerslie, Auckland.

Happy future together! Look forward to your upcoming wedding!

Thank you for inviting me!

 

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}