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!

 

Capturing joy | Kids Portraits | Auckland-Waikato Family photography

Capturing joy is the most important part of my photography. All these emotions, happiness, connection, what else could be more important? :)

This time in my 365 Project I choose to capture my little one jumping on the bed - its so much fun and positive emotions, look at her face!

These moments are so treasured!

Little tips: try to capture full frame with scene (to show what's happening), then concentrate on the details and face and emotions at the end. This makes for a complete set. Try to use different angles and perspective. 

I show you just a fast sneak peek how my little one having fun on brothers bed while he in pre-school. ha-ha :) :

Contact me with any questions!

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365 Project | Personal pictures | Hamilton lifestyle photographer

Its not a secret Im taking a 365 Project this year with ability to capture everyday moments, to get images with my kids and lifestyle moments what I will treasure forever. Its a good practice and progress for me as well. Love to looking for new creative shots, ideas and angles!

This time my little one move into the pantry, where he love to hide, climb and explore.

I captured the candid moments with him behind pantry door. Something usual and everyday became an interesting add to my 365 collection of images.

Enjoy it!

Creativity exercise | Capture a moment | Family lifestyle photographer | LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

Its time for a new creativity exercise :)

This time we concentrate on capturing moments, emotions and details as well. So lets start:

grab a camera, make sure your settings good enough for capture a motion (at least 1/125 sec), good exposure, enough light coming through your lens (if its not enough you can make small aperture (around 1.8-2.8 depends what area you want to have in focus) and don't forget to set ISO (if its low light condition don't be afraid to bump it up) and last but not least - your white balance (you can use Kelvin - my usual settings at my house at day time around 5500 K, outside its varies depends from time of the day and could be around 6200 at usual day time and go up 7200-9500 closer to sunset, candles light give you around 2500 K). If you want to learn how to use the Kelvin settings just look at Kelvin chart and play with your settings at different lighting conditions and look at result (is it too blue or yellow).

I just slightly touched your settings because they are really important for get a clean picture what no need too much work in post-processing, so try to get it right in the camera :)

You made your camera ready for action and for your creativity exercise:

Take a set of the pictures around one event and try to capture a moment, emotions of subjects, concentrate on details and take a pictures what make a story. You can also just made a one shot which show all story in one frame. 

I show you some examples of capturing moment: last evening when my little ones been sitting on the sofa and watching TV I tried to get in frame their connection and interaction with details shots. Its a real treasure, especially when your little ones grow up so fast.

Have fun and let me know if you have any questions info@levienphotography.com



The Knott Family | Auckland Domain Photography Session {Waikato-Bay of Plenty photographer}

Auckland Domain is a beautiful place for taking pictures: big park with big old trees, lakes, Wintergardens, big fields and Museum as well. So popular for family time, sport exercise or relaxing time.

This morning we decide to have a family session with the Knott family: Amie, Steve, handsome and active Zach (8 years old) and gorgeous wee boy Jake (just turned 1 year old). This family is one of the winners of my Winter Giveaway (what I been running on Facebook to say a Big Thank you for all my followers for support and love). I was so happy to met this lucky family and we all had fun together!

It was an unforgettable time: climbing up on the trees, feeding ducks at the lake, running under the rain, walking around, had a picnic, feeding baby, have fun, a lots of hugs, smiles, jokes, laughing - warming moments. Weather been kind to us. We till the last moment been thinking about reschedule the session, but then bravely decided to try it, and there was just fast little rain, what not ruined our plans and we managed to finish a session on positive note.

Thank you so much guys for share with me your family moments!

See you soon!

Contact me with any questions!

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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!

 

Family time in Onepoto Domain | Auckland, North Shore | LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

What a fun time for kids in Onepoto Domain (North Shore, Auckland): riding bikes, play at playground, flying fox, little bush walks and much more!

Thats a great place to spend family time together. This afternoon we with our little ones drove over to North Shore to visit Nana and also took them outside to play around and had freedom in Onepoto Domain. They just loved it!

It was really hard to move them back in car :)

Look at these pictures:

(my little one fall down into the mud straight away after we arrived, but get up and continued play around in muddy dress)

Cornwall park family lifestyle photos {Auckland-Hamilton photographer } Baby Alexander

Lifestyle sessions for me always starts from details: house interiors, nursery details - cot, mobile, toys around, shelfs, any items what looks like family loves. Thats all details that gets me feeling of the family, their character, personalities, colour choices and stuff around as well.

Then its goes to people who live in this space, how they interact with each other, what made them happy, how the talk, touch each other (hug the baby, touch their little feet, hands and head), all this comes into place like puzzle. 

Then I watch for the light, best place to shoot and compliment the family lifestyle. Its make sense to shoot baby in nursery or on big parents bed because its a place where he spends a lot of time, where mum and dad love to be with him.

I also love ability to move outside of the house and go to the beach or park. These places are not just pretty surroundings, these places are where mum/dad spend a lot of time walking with baby, give him some fresh air.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to met amazing family with 8 month old little one - gorgeous baby Alexander, his parents and lucky enough his grandma who been visited family and planning to fly back to Malaysia very soon. I been happy to capture all this family together at so rememberable for them moments, celebrating first year of babies life and show all lifestyle moments, especially treasured ones with his grand mom!

This family definitely love to have fun. I don't remember when I heard last time so much laughing and giggle sounds. So enjoyable time!
Thank you guys for inviting me in your lovely place at Ellerslie and having outside time in Cornwall park.

What a treasured moments!

Contact me with any questions!

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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 :)

Fun in Chipmunks playland | Family lifestyle photoS | LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

What big fun we had this morning at Chipmunks play land and cafe

Kids been running around, climbing, playing and sliding. What a good time for little ones without big kids around (while they at school), all zone belongs to them :) Its so nice for parents just keep eye on kids and just relax and enjoy a cup of coffee or have a chat with other parents, or take a few shots with my camera like I did :) ha-ha! 

Camera almost every day with me and my 365 Project motivate me to find new creativity sides and angles, se beauty in everyday moments and treasure them forever. Kids will grow up but pictures will stay :) I adore it!

Have a look at this few pics with my little ones having fun:

Contact info@levienphotography.com for book your portraiture or lifestyle session (family | kids | maternity | baby | engagement | couples | event | wedding photography)

Play time | Creativity exercise | Family and kids photo | LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

New creativity exercise for your family images today!

Kids just love play time. Choose one activity to entertain them and use the opportunity to take a pictures while they are busy. It will be natural lifestyle images.

You can pop daddy in the frame (or nana/granddad), siblings, pets etc. and focus on different subjects, shoot details and their emotions of course. Try to change angles and shoot from all sides.

Good luck!

Talk to you soon.

Here is just quick example with few shots from the hotel where daddy and kids been playing cards on the bed (we been away from Auckland in Rotorua, I had destination lifestyle session with family at Lake Tarawera, love to travel!)

info@levienphotography.com

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):



Mainly Music Playgroup | Personal family lifestyle pictures | LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

Each family have own traditions and our ones - every Tuesday go to Mainly Music where kids having half an hour music session, then morning tea and over 2 hours play time with a lot of toys. My little ones just loves it. 

I am happy just sing with them, play and watch them playing around, what fun moments!

This time I took a few pictures with my daughter reading books, dressing up ( she just loves to put clothes her own way, maybe she will be a designer one day? will see :), and running around.

Have a look at these pictures, have your camera ready, and capture your little ones. Its treasured moments:

Lifestyle photography

Contact info@levienphotography.com

Milford Beach baby photo session | Auckland Lifestyle Photographer

What a joy to take a pictures with babies, especially lifestyle pictures when we can hang around the house, show everyday moments of babies life (details of nursery, cot and real love and connection between baby and his parents) and have fun!

That's what we did with Brad, Anna and 2 month old Luka. What a gorgeous baby boy! He been so good, really fascinated with camera, loved to be in parents hands. He became just a little bit tired when we been finishing session at Milford Beach after some time at their house.

Love how we all jump on the big parents bed and had a lot different type of shots. This family just amazing, its such a pleasure to be around this positive people.

Thank you so much for sharing with me your special moments, I been happy to capture these emotions, feelings and fun.

Luckily weather was great (and I sort out my car questions - 2 flat tires in 12 hours, luckily I fixed it and just delay a session for a one hour. Sometimes this type of things happening, and we just do our best. Thank you parents for patience! Well done to us :))

Have a look at this pictures and contact me for book your session | have a chat :)

Contact me with any questions!

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Snowy mountains Lake Taupo-Ruapehu destination session | Lifestyle photographer Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty

I spent last weekend at Lake Taupo, where I have had a family photo session and many more. Lake Taupo is one of the best family destinations in New Zealand. I have been invited to capture precious moments of a baby turning 1 year old - a fabulous present of his parents. Birthday party at the mountains all covered with snow. First time to encounter snow – what can be more exciting for a child!

What a great experience!!!

I love to travel. I have been so happy that they have decided to share with me these special moments.  

Mama Lena specially made a cake to celebrate one year old, and parents’ friends brought some cool presents. Gorgeous little boy has been so happy to have a ride on a toy-train with funny music and play with balloons. Later this day we drove up to the mountains passing by snowy trees and amazing landscapes everywhere you look. What a magic atmosphere it has been!

Not to mention it was just freezing up on the top of the mountains and it has been a little bit challenging to shoot with cold fingers, but it’s definitely worth it: beautiful nature around us and family walking on snow, laying and playing together. I have found that I'm not used to snow anymore, after few years away from Russia (there was really freezing temperatures - 20-30 at winter!!!), so now I’m more used to summer all year around.  But it's great you can find so different landscapes in New Zealand, all in one spot! Love it!

Next day it was time to leave our location, beautiful house we spend the most amazing weekend. It was pity to leave this beautiful place. Lake Taupo was a short drive from where we have stayed, so we decided to continue with a photo session with a change of the background and of course more positive emotions, especially when so many interesting birds, swans and ducks around us. What a great experience for little one - watch all these new moments for him and feed those birds!

What a great weekend and amazing time! Enjoy our pictures and watch this space!

Contact me with any questions!

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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 :)


Kids Portraits. Auckland Children and Family Photographer LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

Childhood is a fun time. Let kids be kids and do what they really love to do. Lifestyle photography documenting these special alive moments.

I really enjoy sessions with little ones and having fun together. Its so easy and at the same moments. Not just trying to organise an environment for kids, let them be themselves, happy, show their characters and personalities.

Here are some shots what I done at family lifestyle session with Kylie and her two gorgeous daughters Taylor and Kourtney. I just can't help myself and took a lot of different pictures. We been colouring, doing play-dough, baking cupcakes, playing with bubbles, and having a Teddy Bear Picnic. See our stories in previous blog posts!

Here some of my favourite girls portraits:

I just love to take some lifestyle pictures for 365 Project and a lot of them includes my little one. You just can't help yourself when you see these emotions and alive moments:

She just loves to dress up and put something on her head :)

She just loves to dress up and put something on her head :)

lifestyle moments

Contact me with any questions!

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!

Baking Family Session | Auckland Lifestyle photography

What could be better than making cupcakes on a Saturday morning at family lifestyle session in Auckland with beautiful Kylie and her gorgeous daughters: 5 and 7 years old Taylor and Kourtney!

I really enjoyed watching how girls helping Mummy to mix all ingredients, cooking together, had fun with flour, made mess, try base, had dirty faces and cleaned all afterwards and had a Teddy Bears picnic. How much fun we all had at this morning!

Look at these pictures!

Contact me with any questions!

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Creativity Exercise. Lifestyle Photography LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

It's time for new creativity exercise for you and your kids!

Take a camera, dress kids appropriately and go explore!

Yes, today creativity exercise: to capture the exploring moments. Kids just love to go to new places, playgrounds, parks, search and explore everything around. It can be so much fun. Just have camera ready and follow them, watch around for best composition, wait when they come at this point, or create this moment with different questions (not just boring - "Can you stand there" (what of course could work :) But maybe use some playing moments ask "Looking for fairies", or "treasure" or " pirate ship" or just a new bird or animal depends what your kids love to do, what their interests are.

We with kids been exploring a new playground at far school. We drove around and found great place with few playgrounds and a secret passage, and a boat, and a playhouse. What a great place to be! Kids just love to explore everything around, and adults as well. We just followed them :)

Here is a few pictures, we all had fun!