QUESTIONNAIRE. PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS. Family and wedding photographer Auckland

Questionnaire - its a fast and effective way to use to know your clients. I love to know more information about clients before the session. Thats why I always try to catch up with clients/friends prior and ask them different  questions. Not only about what type of photo shoot they would like to have, what shots and style of the pictures, but also to know their personality, what they love to do, what their favourite things, what make them happy. And what one dream shot they would like to capture. And its made us feel on the same page, what really important for not get any disappointed moments when you see result.

I heard menu times how people saying their Photographer been not good because not capture desperately needs moments (especially on wedding day when each moment - treasure!). Thats why we need to know what you want to capture, what mean a lot to you, whats your dream list or dream shot. Questionnaire helps with this, and boards on Pinterest too (really popular right now things to do, I love create all these boards for different shoots and look at clients board to see what pictures they like).

So I will share with you what type of questions I ask at my family/portraits and wedding sessions. Its just some of them, what make me understand what client want.

Family/Portrait Session:

1.List the names of everyone involved in the shoot. Ages of children (you need to know names and age for be ready to entertain and know psychology different kids age - lucky I have good psychology-pedagogical education and teaching experience. And wait - three own kids!)

2. What your family looks like? What you love to do at downtime? What you kids as individuals (are they shy, active, outgoing etc.) - its really good to be ready to meet different personalities and understand their needs.

3. If there was 1 dream shot you would love to have from your session with L&L, what would the shot be? - dream shot question helps with understand what type of picture client want and not miss the opportunity to make him happy!

4. Is there a particular image that prompted you to contact LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY? - thats connect with previous question and made you understand why client choose you, and what type of session he wants.

5. What style photo shoot would you like to have? (formal. lifestyle (documentary), mix of different ones... - that continue previous question and helps deeply go with understanding type of the shots to make.

all these questions and others helps with prepare to photo shoot and understand clients personalities and wishes and made them happy at the end

Wedding Shoot:.

You can get different type of questionnaire in Google search, I just point on some important questions at weddings.

In wedding shoot the main questions for me - schedule questions - for clear understand timing and locations. I love to be well prepared and organised and be ready for any situation. Good to know how many time I have for family shots and where they gonna take place, or shoot bride and groom on location, or for shooting reception details. Its all important moments. 

Contact names - you should get at least 2 names who you can contact during the wedding apart from bride and groom (they could be impossible  to reach during the wedding). And also could be great to get contact person who will organise family shots - move all guests in right place at right time (not so easy task to organise, if you have a friend policemen its could help a lot! sounds good - I had it at one of my wedding - great choice!)

Next important moment - type of shoot and pictures style. Often brides saying they choose me for my natural shots, what show emotions and joy. I love to shoot real life moments, do some type of documentary wedding photography. But pretty happy to set up formal shots, help with posing etc. I just need to know what the best way to operate on the wedding and to get type of shots what you want.

List of shots. Maybe its sound strange but I like creating list, planning everything. Even when I am going to travel List of things what I need take with me - its a main point! Yes Im a planning fan! Search travel places, sightseeing, hotels, locations. Its all applies to photography too.

What the main shots you want - dress and shoes, flower girls, bride with father (mother), or shot with favourite grandma. Happy not miss this moment if I KNOW I need capture it. :) This list just type of orientation. I not planning stand at the wedding with list and trying tick points while missing something important what happens exactly at this moment :) Ha-ha! But its really helps to be organised and plan ahead. Probably you still miss some moments - weddings could goes really unexpected way! But also capture something new and unexpected, what move memories back in time.

And we will treasure forever all these moments!

So ask the question,  Get the answer, Be Happy and make Happy everyone around!

 

Happy Valentine's Day. Couples, engagement photographer

Love-Love-Love!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! What a magic day full of love, friendship and freedom spirit!

Want to say to my clients/friends - I love you all and especially my dear husband! To the moon and back :) Thank you for all you support and love: tea in bed, looking after kids when Im shooting, feeding and changing nappies (not an easy task, especially put clothes back on), making yummy dinners or drive to buy take aways (curry forever!), and listening my talking (not sure how much percent information go through, maybe 10%? ha-ha :)

And thank you guys for share with me your special moments, love and feelings! I'm really appreciate to be part of something magical! :)

Maria+Taz

Maria+Taz

P.S.: Im planning to shoot two weddings soon, really excited, counting days - can't wait, more pictures to come in the blog and Facebook page. See you there!

And Happy Valentine's day!

Pictures atmosphere. What to bring to session? Tips. Auckland photographer

My latest photography session had been just amazing - guys brought a lot of props that they wanted to use and a lot of ideas to realize. And pictures turned out just amazing too! It made me think about one of the most important questions - what to bring to a session and what makes the atmosphere during the photoshoot so special?
You always need to consider what type of a session you want in the first place - couples, wedding, family, portrait etc., then come the questions: what location to choose, what to wear, what to bring? It is one of the last questions, but often it makes the picture!
So, what is your personality, what do you like to do, how do you love to spend your down time (personal and family time), what type of pictures do you want, what you want to capture what returns you in this exact moment of your life, what special memories you want to share? Answer for all these questions could help to choose props for session.

Here some ideas to choose from:

1.  Old antique rustic things, historical stuff (old chairs, table, clock, key, bike, cars etc.)

2. Books and magazines (perfect for couples, family, kids, maternity and even newborn shots)

3. Flowers

4. Signs, letters, frames etc. What else can tell about your feelings, name for the future baby or even make an announcement? :)

5. Toys, games, activity stuff for kids (and Big kids too :) Let them play around,have fun and enjoy our session!

6. Accessories - heats, scarfs, part of costume etc

7. Even a mosquito net for a bed could be a great prop for the picture

8. and if we talk about beds – a bed itself could be part of the fun shot with pillows fighting, jumping, if that is one of your family’s special traits.

9. Suitcases, umbrellas (all types), boxes, baskets etc. - all good for shoot! :)

10. Food, drinks, a picnic mat and a basket - what a nice shot for a family or a couple!

11. Activities and hobbies - a music instrument, sport equipment, dance accessories etc. Something that shows what you like to do and what is your passion?

12. Party decorations (balloons, signs, confetti etc.) and bubbles

13. And pretty much any other stuff you'd like to take. There are so many ideas around! Just look around your house, think about things you enjoy doing and get an idea. You could always use Pinterest or Google to find pics with a similar style. There is a lot to choose from.

14. And don't forget to bring fun and positive emotions, sometimes its only one thing what you need! All these things just add nice decorations for your story, but at the end of the day you create and tell this story and I capture it. So it’s totally your choice! It just makes the process easier and the result more memorable).
Good luck with your creativity and hope to see you soon!

You could always contact me with any question!

Cornwall park stunning couples love story {Auckland engagement-wedding photographer}

Couples photo shoot always full of love, feelings, fun moments. They show raw emotions, relationships, couples personality, their love story. :) Yes, each couple have own character and personality. Not just 2 different characters, but one for both :) And I need try to understand what the couple looks like, what they love to do, how they spend their downtime, is it more quiet or full of fun and adventure time... I want know and capture their true story!

Im happy Maria and Taz share with me evening at Cornwall park where we get to have best photo shoot ever with so much positive emotions. These guys are just amazing! Im truly in love :)

We had so much fun, creativity, tender moments. And guys brought a lot stuff what was really helpful to made right picture in the frame with atmosphere: flowers, magazines, bubbles, champagne, candies, "Love story" sign, scarfs etc Its great to have so many ideas and options  to choose from and use for special love atmosphere shots.

I been so happy and inspired to come back home and kissed my husband (other peoples feelings made me refresh my own one :) Ha-ha!

I wish I will have the same great experience with every couple and all clients/friends!

It was really hard to choose the best pictures because guys just amazing, they just rock it!

Contact me with any questions!

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Lifestyle photography. Auckland

Lets talk about Lifestyle photography today. Its really popular direction right now, and we heard this word often but we don't know what its mean :) Even me (in the past I have no idea what it is, just feels its sounds good. lol)

So here definition from Wikipedia:

Lifestyle photography is a kind of photography which mainly aims to capture portrait/people on situations, real-life events or milestones in an artistic manner and the art of the everyday. The primary goal is to tell stories about people's life or to inspire people in different times.

Lets pick main words: people on situation - artistic manner - art of the everyday - stories about people life - to inspire people. Sounds great!

I love lifestyle pictures because they capture everyday moments, joy, type of documentary storytelling. Its really important treasure every moment and remember all these little details about our feelings, day to day moments, emotions.

Its important - especially with kids because they grow so fast. And its really good look back at pictures and see what they love to do at different moments of life, looks how family love to spend time together. Thats why great to capture these lifestyle moments.

With couple shoot or weddings its work the same way, we not just take formal shots and posing, we try to tell story, show live emotions, laugh, kiss, feel love, smell, hair, joy.

I also taking personal 365 Project and doing my family storytelling with capture daily pictures. And I just love it, so many moments and memories, one little day shows so much details and feels just so important!

Lets heard some photographers voices:

Kasey McCoy: Lifestyle images are unrehearsed and unscripted. They tell a story that is unfolding and they are real moments of interaction and emotion and you as the artist can use the current story to your advantage by using creative compositions, light and shadows to help play it out (CM).

Brittany Chandler (Brittany Chandler Photography) : I love love love lifestyle/photojournalist/documentary/storytelling images. But no matter what you label them with, they are photos that someone is going to look back on in 10 years and think, "I remember this. That was the year you cut your own hair", or "took your lovey everywhere", or "that was when I held you for the first time", "our first kiss as a married couple". My only goal when taking these photos is to have a reminder of my or my clients' life exactly as it is today :) (CM)

Thats a great words and you feel true love and feelings through them.

I including lifestyle/storytelling images in every clients/friends sessions, and its making set not just 20-30 pics but even around 50-70 sometimes, just can't walk away just with few pics - really want to tell their story, document all these little moments, what could be really import and in 5-10-20 years time.

So here some memories what treasure for me and my friends, real life, storytelling moments:

​

Rainy family session at the park {Kids-children photographer Auckland NZ}

Shooting in overcast weather could be nice - clouds work like diffusor, light nice and soft. But sometimes overcast weather could became a rainy weather.

Thats happened at our last family photo shoot with Lena, Anton and gorgeous Yarik. We decided to go to local park and took some shots at beautiful location with trees and bridge, fields and green grass. Yarik been really concentrated on his big yellow truck and want to travel around in his own direction. Parents sometimes just need follow child wishes and let him play and have fun!

But just after we started our journey rain starts too. So we had two variants to choose from - cancel photo shoot or keep going, go back under the trees with hope rain stops.

It was crazy and fun, and brave parents been ready keep doing session until rain became really heavy. What a terrible weather! We manage to get some shots, but not 100% what we planned (we also been hoping to drive to the beach and took some wonderful beach shots), but we decided went back to the guys house (just around the corner) and took some lifestyle shots around their place. You can do shots in any location! 

Then sky clear - What  a turn! but we finished anyway. 

So weather sometimes could be really tricky, and we can't do much about it, unless we have Plan B :)

Hope we will catch up with guys soon and will do some more dream shots on the beach or in other location and their kid grow up (kids grow so fast and its so important to capture these treasure moments! :) 

What a great family! Look how gorgeous they are:

Contact me with any questions!

Its time for Bath! Lifestyle baby and kids photographer Auckland

I love to capture family everyday moments. So I think now turn to bath time!

Its happened every day and its just usual routine: move kids in bath, wash them, tidy floor after water play (sometimes its became an ocean on the floor!, move out, chasing them around and then dress - its a hardest task, especially for my husband, some parts of clothes became missing - no pants, for example :))

So this time I just follow kids with my camera and took a few shots for memories - capture everyday moments!

365 Project. Daily photo. Lifestyle photography Auckland

365 Project about taking Daily Photo, capture everyday moments, practicing and progress in photography.

I been inspired by group of women-photographers from ClickinMoms forum to join this project. Its looks easy at start - just take one picture a day and post it on Facebook, Instagram, your web0page. But its not so easy too: what to shoot, is it variety of pictures, what theme or style, what new challenge to take... A lot new questions every day.

And then its about to be organised, not miss any day, even if you sick, or tired, or just too busy to take camera in your hands. Its all happened with me just during this first month in project.But I manage to take pictures even at late night :)

And I found its made me look outside the box, try to shoot something what I never consider before (self-portrait, low light pictures, play with light and create something new). And hope daily shooting will help me with photography progress.

I really appreciate all these life moments what I captured, especially with my kids. They grow so fast, and its so important to remember their first meeting with kittens, how they playing at playground, help daddy washing car etc. - all life moments).

And this project helped me met new amazing people, share my work with them and see their work and progress. And its helps understand my direction, who am I like photographer, what I want to shoot, what I want to say.

One month done, 11 to go :) Hope I will survive on this long way :)


What to wear to photo shoot? Tips. Portrait photographer Auckland

Choice of clothes - what an important question to discuss! Its really hard to choose what to wear to photo shoot, especially family, group sessions, where you need match clothes with all members.

 

So lets talk about clothes. What you need consider when you choosing clothes:

1. Your family style and personality. 

What close to your family, what your style, what you wearing in usual life? What made you feel comfortable and happy? Your clothes show you character and personality - you love casual, or formal style, country or modern, neutral or bright colours? Thats question what you need answer.

Do you want photos show your everyday moments or something special and different from usual? (so you choose casual or opposite clothes)

2. Photo shoot style.

Do you want lifestyle pictures or formal portrait (head shots)? in first type - casual clothes, second - formal - easy to decide :)

If you thinking about glamour, fashion portrait - clothes choice obvious - fashion and glamour :)

So follow your photo shoot ideas and style of session what you planned.

3. Location.

Can be great if your clothes match with your location, and surroundings colours. Think what main colours will be around you on location and what colours in your clothes could match with it.

If its beach you want some white, blue, green, teal etc colours. And probably not so formal clothes, bear foot welcome! You can have fun in water, play on the sand, made a mess, became dirty (be sure to take spare clothes!)

If you on the grass area (field, trees etc)  probably green clothes not a good choice otherwise will be hard to find you on the pictures :)

If you in the city formal clothes complements building lines and architectures styles. Lines everywhere :) If its old style township could be great if you wear some traditional, country style, or even historical clothes.

Its again depends of what type of pictures you want to get.

4. Matching.

If you have a group of people, family members you need think about matching clothes all together. Yes, its hard, but you can find a lot boards on Pinterest what show examples of different colours palettes and clothes colours.

Another way to match - add accessories with similar colour what your partner wear (for example, scarf or heat, belt, gloves, neckless, earrings etc)

But clothes no need be too match-matchy! Less is more! :)

5. Bright and neutral.

My advice go with neutral colours, what allow you fit in any landscape and location and also put attention on your face and emotion but not on your clothes colours.

Exceptions: 1. bright emotional photo shoot style - where bright clothes works for shoot idea

                    2. kids clothes - let them be themselves - kids, having fun, wear favourite clothes, what they love. Otherwise its easy to made them upset and get grumpy faces :) Sometimes need just relax, and remember - kids love made mess, so spare clothes required! :)

6. No big logos!

This advice connect with previous - you don't want your eyes go on logo on your T-shirt but not on the face or pose.

7. Bring few outfits!

You can't choose what the best option for clothes? Easy - bring few variants on location and we together will decide this question! :)

8. Enjoy yourself and have fun!

At the end of the day its your photo shoot - so relax and have fun, with clothes too!

Hope these tips will help you with choice of clothes. If not contact me! Always happy to help :) 

West costal beach Family photographs {Auckland NZ lifestyle family photographer}

Morning on the beach - what a beautiful time and location. Lovely family: Belinda and little Eva met me on the west cost Kariotahi beach for took some lifestyle family photographs.

It was fun and full of move and mess photo shoot. Kids really active at this age and I prefer give them freedom, run around, play, have fun time. I love take a lifestyle pictures what shows your child's favourite things to do at this period of time, capture live moment, show true character and personality.

Climbing on  the rocks, running to the water, dancing, jumping near waterfall, create some art on the sand, look around, hug and kiss mummy...

What a wonderful time and what a pleasure to capture true life, Thank you Belinda and Eva for share with me your family life moments!

P.S. We also manage to get to the park and took few shots their with some fun and tender moments

Contact me with any questions!

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Romantic retro couples photo shoot {Auckland engagement photographer}

Portrait session sometimes could turns into the couples photo shoot, really unexpected way :)

We did portrait session with beautiful Juliette at Cornwall park with a lot of move, fun, ideas. And then Jonny arrive to wait while its all done.

But we decide keep shooting and made couple of shots with guys together. It was interesting experience with couple's dance, hug, kisses, real tender and love.

So hope you enjoy our results as we do. Hope soon we will heard from guys some announcement (fingers crossed :)

Contact me with any questions!

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Sweet 10 days Baby Boy - Newborn Photo Shoot {Auckland lifestyle photographer}

Newborns - what a gorgeous little things to photograph! So sweet and cuddly! You want welcoming them in this world, support and help to explore.

Little toes, fingers, sleepy eyes, so tiny babies!

I had a honour to take a lifestyle pictures with new born baby Matvey yesterday, just 7 days old (up to 10 days they really sleepy and you can try different poses while they saw a dreams :)

Amazing how life goes fast. Just few month ago I been taken pictures with his little cousin Max. They so happy to have each other and will grow together, happy mamas :)

Baby Max

Baby Max

So now time to take a pictures with little wee boy Matvey. He so beautiful and sweet, fragile and strong little baby! He even lift his head at some point photo shoot (when been laying on tummy - what a strong boy!)

Newborn photo shoots always takes a lot time, need be patient with each posing, settle baby (proper feed before), had really warm room (preheat before, so baby feel warm without dress),  use white noise etc. Usually mummy feed baby, we took some shots when baby still active and then when baby asleep put him in prepared props (bean bag, feeding pillows, blankets, put heats on, change outfits during the shoot carefully), click from all different angles and positions. 

Sometimes baby awake during the shoot (even if mum sure he gonna sleep at least 2-3 hours, but surprise-surprise! - sometimes his routine work different from usual, and baby soon awake and need feed and been settle again. Its could take a time what we usually using for take another shots with mummy and prepare another props (basket, boxes, blankets etc). And lucky enough - baby sleep again and we could do our magic shots!

Lucky enough we had ability took him outside in basket (he went to second deep sleep). Just love these shots, happy with this opportunity! And even when he wake up we manage to took some shots with Mama Alexandra (baby been undress, so really fast some water come on mummy's dress)! Thats been unexpected but we finished with few more shots. 2.5 hours shoot done!

Meet little baby boy Matvey!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

 

 

And its all about LIGHT! Tips. Auckland photographer

When we liked some picture sometimes we don't know why - maybe its good composition, colours, connection between subjects...And LIGHT!

Light made picture special and magical. Its a first thing what you need consider when you ready made a click!

Best time for pictures

Thats why most photographers choose to schedule their sessions in the best light conditions, often it is 2 hours before sunset (or after sunrise) - Golden time for pictures. Or early morning when light so beautiful, lay down and give nice warm feeling!

sunset

Sunny weather

Time during the day not so great because of bright sun what cause bright spot on the face and deep shadows. At this case we could take shots in open shade (under the trees, near the buildings) or at covered shade (under the porch, garage, umbrella etc).

Overcast weather.

Overcast weather good for pictures at any time, clouds work like diffusor, made soft light. Only one point - sometimes its could be hard to get nice catchlights, so need position your subject right way, even look up to the sky - and you get great catchlights!

Catchlights

Pictures inside.

If you want take a pictures inside some space (house, office, church etc) first you need look at available light source (even small window can give you desperate light). If you have choice and a lot windows available you can position your subject at the window with nice soft light (check sun position - its might be from opposite side of the house). You can play with light and shade on the face just with position your subject at the corner of the window (more light), in the middle (deeper shade on half face) - turn face at 90, 45 degrees forward the window or from it. Also you can use a reflector (its could be any wight, silver, gold surface), also you can play with black side of reflector (what take light as a flag and cause more shade).

So just play around and enjoy it, try see the light and think what you can change (angle, side, move your subject, move yourself etc) for better results.

Girl with violin {Auckland NZ portrait photographer}

Passions - music, dance, sport, craft .... We gave all our time and pawer to these passions. Its made us happier, healthier, and wishing to do more.

But sometimes passion stayed somewhere behind, in other period of our life, when we too busy, or too tired, or just concentrated on other stuff. Its pity but its a life! And a real pleasure just take a picture what capture our favourite things to do. For beautiful Juliette its playing music, create wonderful sound with violin.

She had this passion during all her childhood, violin been her best friend, but then with growing and having other busy things in her life, violin been left behind, in the case. Moved out just sometimes at special cases. So now time for take it out and remember all these magical moments, when music sounds in your heart with graceful violin.

Im so happy to be part of this photo shoot! We had a lot ideas to create, but slightly rainy weather changed our rout a little bit, but helped create atmosphere. We still happy with pictures what we been lucky to took in time :)

So meet Juliette - Girl with Violin:

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

Precious moments. Little ones. Kids photographer Auckland

All you need is love! 

And our little ones needs our love, attention, they want to be close to us, feel us, they really need us (especially when they so small and its so hard for them even just explore world around).

So when I planned took some shots with my little one playing outside in evening lights (for my 365 Project - Daily photo) She easily changed my planes - run and jump in my hug, she decided its funny game - when mummy laying on the floor and Anna-Bella flying in the air on my legs. She repeated it again and again. And I been holding camera all this time and took some shots, captured joy. 

What a fun time! I not seen her laughing so much for a long time! And I had some fun as well :)

And enjoyed look at our pictures what I will treasure forever. What the precious moments!

(sorry for crops, been really tight conditions as you see :) )


Special Offer - 50 % off session fee limited time only! Auckland family photographer

We happy to offer 50% off any session fee of your choice for limited time only! Available for bookings till March 2015. Limited quantity. 100% quality :)

Why? Simple answer: We want to have fun experience with you and update our Portfolio. Hope we can help each other to get our special pictures what we will treasure forever!

Please contact us with any question! 

See you soon!

special offer


Love is all around | Rose Garden Wedding {Auckland couples-engagement-elopement photographer}

Weddings - incredible emotions, exciting moments, feelings, looks, kisses, dreams...Love....Magic!
Love is all around! Truly magic atmosphere! I am so happy when a couple shares with me these special moments, these only "once in a lifetime" that will never be repeated – unless, of course, you have wonderful pictures that you will treasure forever.
I want to share with you the pictures from my November shoot - Sergey and Yulia’s wedding.
This couple had a simple and wonderful wedding in a church with a few guests. Yulia only had one month to stay in New Zealand and had to fly back straight after the wedding.
What a story! I feel a real connection with it as a while ago I had a limited visa too, but we had been amazingly lucky to have our local MP Morris Williamson help us. He did close to impossible for us and I was granted my extended visitor visa, so I could stay in the country with my kiwi husband and give birth to my first baby William.
But back to our newly-weds! Today we have received positive news: Yulia has received her new 9 month visitor visa (that can be extended) and just after a few weeks flew back from Russia to New Zealand! I’m so happy for these lovely people. Hope they will have a wonderful long life together, full of love, harmony and understanding.
As for the wedding - it was a simple and nice ceremony, quiet atmosphere full of magic and special moments. After the ceremony we had a short visit to the Rose Gardens to take a few pictures. I’m so happy these guys shared with me their wedding, unforgettable memories and a great experience!

 

New Year Resolution. Auckland photographer.

Looks like everyone writing New Year Resolution. Is it bring more luck and results? Will see :)

Anyway you control how your wish come true - visualising and get it!

So my milestones for this year:

1. Development -

as photographer: achieve bigger progress, be satisfied with picture.

as mum - work with yourself and kids - support them in study life way

as wife - understand, support, give back

as personality - always do a little bit more (out of limit, outside the box)

2. Communication -

get to know new people, keep contacts with all friends, clients, enjoy meetings and chat and made as much people happy as I can :)

3. Building - 

build and create something new,stylish and stunning - art work, pictures, blog posts, dinners, craft etc

4. Jump - 

jump as high as I can - move forward, look around, keep going

5. Analyse - 

look back, think, analyse, look at positives and negatives, create results, and new experience

6. Stay calm and carry on!

Love this sentence. What could be more wisdom? :)

7.  Don't forget about your hobbies, take time for yourself, take a break -

figure skating, dance, serials, study, cup of tea etc. Take time for yourself and you feel better, happier...

8. Inspiration - 

look around, see beauty in details, in everything around

9. Breath - 

just take a deep breath, and one more, and more, keep doing it with full chest and tummy. Its helps, its might made you more relaxed and happier, don't forget to do it, especially when you really stressed and busy! :)

10. Be Happy - 

simple, but for been happy you need enjoy "right now" moment, not think your happiness somewhere ahead. Its right here, around. Just love this moment!!!

This is my resolution. And hope at grey moments of life I will go back and read it again and its will help me! Im sure

Happy New Year everyone! Its just continue of our life, but its also a good reason to start something new or have a good look around and at yourself!

 

Fun Family Long Bay Beach Session {Lifestyle photographer Auckland NZ}

I had great pleasure to shoot Carlyle family with their gorgeous boy Ethan and grandparents at Long Bay beach (what come over for Christmas holidays from Australia). Type - lifestyle photography with shoots at playground, park and beach. Love to offer pictures with different atmosphere!

Each family have own character, personality, individual things what they like to do. What you doing at your down time - playing cards together, watching TV, doing gardening or having fun at the beach? How you love spend your time? What you want to see on your family pictures after 5, 10, 20 years when you look back and remember your special time together...

What the fun session it was! Climbing, jumping, running, splashing, playing... Ethan was a star of the shoot. What a personality! Full of beans, active, love to play boy. I been happy include some type of games in our session so he feel interested and involved. Kids hate formal posing. And definitely don't want listen orders "Stand here, Smile etc". We need made for them special atmosphere full of fun, adventure, danger, and interesting things to do for all family.

Just look at our results - what a fun shoot! I still smiling when look at pictures. And hope family with little one and grandparents enjoyed it too!

Contact me with any questions!

Make-Up - secret of good portrait. Tips. Auckland wedding photographer

You planning your portrait or family shoot and you spend a lot of time to think about location, accessories, clothes to wear etc. But sometimes one moment missing - hair and make-up.

Its looks like a small detail but believe me - it worth your attention. Its made such a big difference for clear natural or glamour fashion look what you what to get. Looks stunning, amazing, and professional. 

And not to much work for me with retouching pictures :)

So at one of my last shoot I invited my friend and professional make-up artist Jessy. Such a magic professional job in a hard field conditions! Well done! Thank you for your great help!

What a big difference for pictures - natural look!

So I highly recommend to think about make-up and hair done (you could do it yourself if you have enough skills or we could invite a professional MUA - make up artist). Always happy to help!

Make Up should match your style and character, connect with result what you want to get from pictures and no need be too bright - unless its show shoot or special costume dressed set. Sometimes bad colour lipstick or bright (blue-red) shadows could destroed all session pictures (unless its spatial theme shoot - like 70-90th or retro, disco etc). Natural style always winning (from my experience).

What about hair? Thats your personal choice (they should be brushed and tidy - Sounds funny but I had some pictures where not tidy hair looks really not nice. But probably sometimes messy hair could be part of the style for show freedom spirit :)

If you have long hair you can play with different variants and made a lot different atmosphere shots - hair up-down, on the side, pony tale etc Good to have choice :)

So be prepared, think about these small details and don't forget about nails too (chipped ones or with colour off could be noticed on the pictures)

Attention to details - best rule! And it will be paid off when you look through your amazing pictures :)

makeup
About details - here we made make-up and other professional stuff but miss to put attention on hand - where still black hair tight what you could easy notice! 

About details - here we made make-up and other professional stuff but miss to put attention on hand - where still black hair tight what you could easy notice!