My style | Lifestyle wedding photographer | Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty photography

People often asking me what means lifestyle photography, Why I'm doing lifestyle pictures, is it mean Im not doing portraits at all?

So lets talk about it and bring it all out, so it will be easier for you to understand what to expect from me, my photography services, and your final pictures :)

1. Lets start from definition. Yes, I know it sounds boring, but will give us a base for our thoughts.

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 (Wikipedia).

So I'm capturing, documenting moments and people in situations in an artistic manner, bring the art into your everyday moments.

You can ask me: Is it just documentary style and capturing all stuff around? No, its much more. I am not just capturing what I see, I am creating an art, I find the beauty in all these moments - what speaks to me and I hope what I created will speak to you, and mean a lot to you!

2. Weddings | Events. If I'm shooting your wedding or another important event I am capturing all natural moments through the day, If you laughing I will capture that, If you are crying I will capture that too.

St Matthews Church wedding

St Matthews Church wedding

I will do posed moments as well (as family portraits or intimate session for bride and groom), but I will do it natural and happy way so everyone will really enjoy it and have a positive experience with "happy family" pictures :)

Family pictures on Lisa's 21st Birthday Party

Family pictures on Lisa's 21st Birthday Party

As for moments for bride and groom they will be based on your personalities, story and naturally relaxing for you. There will be posed shots and unposed and intimate as well. If your a fun loving couple we will have a lot of fun and can create even dynamic, a little bit crazy pictures, if you prefer to have your quiet moments of happiness I will do my best to capture it in romantic editorial style. All these moments really speak to me, then I'm creating and telling your story through the art of the lens! 

Daria & Dmitry

Daria & Dmitry

Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids

If we're in getting ready moments and there a lot of stuff around (make-up, bags and all other items) I will do my best to create pictures that focus on the main subjects, of course will take some details shots, which form part of the story and maybe even show with wide angle lens all these mess and people around. But also I will try to use blocking and framing for get artistry shots of you and people around even in these hectic conditions! :)

I love to capture raw emotions, candid moments, details what is a part of your story and all these connection and love between two of you, its just magic moments!

3. Newborns, family and kids.

I'm a mum of two little ones, they are so active and cute and little nightmares sometimes. I realised how important and treasured every moment of their and our life together, how fast they grow, and how important for us to remember these moments.

I'm doing 365 project this year and documenting my everyday moments with kids and family. It's fun, interesting, sometimes usual moments, morning routing, play time and all other stuff. I'm planning to print a book at the end of project with all these images. 

Lifestyle everyday moments. 365 Project

Lifestyle everyday moments. 365 Project

But its not about me, its about you. About your family, about your life.

I love to capture the moments when baby appear in this world, capture everyday moments and routine of your first day with baby, your connection and emotions, everyday things that you are used to with the baby: baby on the big parents bed, baby in the cot, on the changing table, in parents arms, on dad's big shoulder, little fingers in mums hands.

Baby Nazar

Baby Nazar

What do you want to remember about these days, this period, what will be gone and only pictures will remind you about this moments? Details what making a way to your memories: babies name on the wall (or on the door), Teddy bears and other toys around, baby monitor on the shelf, cold cup of tea on the table and dummy nearby, mobile with Winnie the Pooh theme, basket with nappies and all other little things what telling your story. I will capture all world around the baby (your smile, your hair, his little fingers in it, favourite thing to play for your baby - your neckless...)

Baby Luka

Baby Luka

Kids grow up and have own interests, love to spend their time playing soccer, colouring, making sand castles and all other exciting things. What do your family love to do together? What do you want to remember from this year?

Lifestyle session at home: Baking

Lifestyle session at home: Baking

Do you want to have classical portrait of all family together? I will do it at start of our session and then we will go and have fun, do all these things what you and kids love to do, document all these happy moments, emotions, feeling and connections between you in our 1-2 hours time together. I will try to capture these live moments, trying to get individual characters of each member of your family and you all together and you will help me with this. We can do outdoor session if you love to be in the park/ beach or I can come to your place and document all these treasured for you moments what you do around the house (reading books, playing play-dooh, colouring, playing games, maybe even bath or settling and sleeping time, anything what you want to remember).

Knott family in Auckland Domain

Knott family in Auckland Domain

4. I hope I showed you what it means for me to do a lifestyle photography with capturing for you such special events or everyday moments (whats actually unique and special in their own way and never will be repeated again), how important for me the emotions and connection, how I treasure and love each single moment and every person on my sessions, how I want to help to tell your story through the art of photography.

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

I would love to have a chat with you!

 

    My 365 Project | October | Auckland-Hamilton Lifestyle Photographer

    October is a month what comes after a really busy September (with moving house, a lot of shootings, wedding show etc.). So this time I had an opportunity a little bit  relax (chillax as my husband says :) and just concentrate on lifestyle everyday moments.

    I had a few exciting photo shoots with my clients / friends which Im really proud of and also get some news about my last post-wedding photo-shoot which will be published in few wedding publishers.  Its always great to see when your work goes live!

    So here is my monthly gallery. Enjoy it!

    Contact me with any questions!

     

    Trains in Hamilton Gardens |Waikato Lifestyle family photographer

    What a great exhibition event we been visited at long weekend in Hamilton Gardens - Model Railway Exhibition.

    Its just paradise for little kids and their parents, and for everyone with love to trains. Its hard to imagine how it all been created, set up and running all these little trains, trucks in the beautiful handmade landscapes, townships and wild nature. There was represent even snowy mountains what I just loved (as Im from Europe with freezing winters and snow all around :) ).

    My kids had so much fun watching these trains, as we do as well :) I manage to take couple of pictures between enjoying everything around and watching my little ones (which are really active). Hope you enjoy it!

    Contact me with any questions!

    Everyday 365 moments | Hamilton NZ photographer

    Hope everyone enjoying their long weekend and I just feel like I need take a break from my intensive photography life and to relax.

    Just want to share with you few everyday moments with kids. They are active and needs a lot of attention, and a little nightmares with their tantrums sometimes.

    I trying to document these everyday moments and to capture our real life with all these daily routine and unexpected moments :)

    Enjoy it!

    Contact me with any questions

    Okahu Bay One year birthday family session {Auckland-Hamilton lifestyle photographer}

    What a great pleasure to see how little ones grow up and capture the most important moments of their life.

    I had a special session last weekend at Okahu Bay, Auckland with Lena, Vanya and their gorgeous little one Max. Need to say its our third session together (fourth if counting a baby shower event :) and we became really good friends. Lena's baby shower and maternity session been not a long time ago, then I been doing newborn photo shoot for Max and now see who has become a really big boy and can walk all by himself? Max!

    Here is just couple of shots from our past sessions, such great memories:

    It was really enjoyable moments to document all these stages and now do a lifestyle session for my friends. No any pressure, just follow guys on the playground with making smiles swing, to the beach where Max really loved to watch the waves and play with shells, have a picnic in the park by the beach and also lucky enough to get opportunity to touch an old cars what been nearby.

    What a beautiful day!

    Creativity Exercise | Auckland NZ Lifestyle family photographer

    Its time for our new creativity exercise! This time we will shoot at one location, choose one subject and try to incorporate it in surrounding environment.

    So make camera ready and try to shoot 5-10 shots in the same location with the same subject/subjects and try to create at least 5 different frames (angles, perspective, close or far shot, you can even use different lens for get different feeling (wide angle, portrait or tele etc.).

    You can make this creativity exercise in one go or try a couple of times to get effect what you want.

    For example, I shoot my daughter in the car early morning when we been in Mainly Music session, i took one shot

    girl in the car

    Then when we been back I seen her playing in the car and did series of shots to show how she love to sit in the car and play in it. Here is few more shot from different angles, perspective, points of view. Enjoy it and hope your will do your set of pictures with your kids.

    Its a treasured moments, so its good to remember what they loved to do when they been so little :)

    My pictures is not ideal, but they show the moment for me and really personal!

    Self-Portrait Genre | Auckland-Waikato NZ photographer

    We as photographers are so used to being behind the camera and document others people's everyday life and special moments, so its a really hard task for us to be in front of the lens, and being captured in frame.

    Im doing 365 project, which allow me to shoot every day and get my families lifestyle pictures, my kids, life around and include a clients sessions as well. But sometimes you just run out of theme, with no inspiration. At this moment can be great to try a new views, angles, genre, detailed shots, different lenses or come to self portraiture.

    Its really not so easy. Because no one directs you and tells you what to do. Its all totally up to you and your idea how you want to see yourself, with some idea behind it. Also its not so easy to get exact focus (need to practice couple of times), good body language, everything what you need in or out of frame, ha-ha! and you need to take a lot of shots to get what you need.

    Does it sounds like fun? could be, ha-ha! 

    There always some idea behind the self-portrait. What we want to show, what its mean for us. Do we want do direct gaze, or keep anonymity, do we want a classical portrait or to show some lifestyle moment from our life. What the story behind it?

    Last time I took this self-portrait:

    self portrait

    Story behind: Im a lifestyle photographer and a mum of two really active toddlers. So cup of tea its a special time: time for rest and relax (if no one call: Mummy!!! :) ) Also its time to think about day plans, photography business, client enquiries etc. Thats how I roll :)

    Its not a perfect picture but its mine, and Im already a winner because I went in front of the camera and tried it myself.

    Next step - try to capture my kids with me in the frame. Im not sure if I have any of these portraits at last months...

    Hope you all will try some new experience for you! Enjoy it!

    Talk to you soon!

    Contact me with any questions!

    {BOOK YOUR SESSION}

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    Hamilton Zoo | Personal lifestyle moments | Family photographer | LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

    What a beautiful day for take kids in Hamilton Zoo, especially at holidays time!

    So we get up early morning (as usual) , had some breakfast and drive to the Zoo. Kids been really excited to see animals. Last time, when we visited Hamilton Gardens, they all the way been asking: Where is the animals? Is animals sleeping? 

    It was hard to explain to them that gardens don't have animals, just trees, flowers and some birds, ha-ha! SO this time they been happy to go to see real animals.

    Lucky we took our pram for little one (2 years old), usually we not use it, but this time they both been really tired walking around the Zoo, so at some point my 3 years old share pram with his little sister, and older one, my 8-years old step-daughter, visited us on holidays, been helping with pushing pram.

    We watch all around: monkeys, zebras, triggers, giraffes etc: had a picnic, play on playground, eat an ice block on the back way. Kids been just exhausted after few hours walking and activities, so I took them home to have a lunch and try to move them to sleep (not an easy task, but I will try :)

    Here is some pictures what I manage to get with my active kids :)

    Enjoy it!


    Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron | Russian Orthodox Church | Auckland wedding photographer

    DARIA & DMITRY

    What a great traditional wedding I been photographing in Russian Orthodox church in Auckland and Royal New Zealand Royal Yacht Squadron last weekend. Daria & Dmitry - amazing couple, so beautiful and crazy in love! It was such special moments to capture!

    It all started at a small Russian church where guests, parents and groom patiently been waiting for brides appearance. It was just a magic moment when the bride come to the groom on the little passageway. 

    Ceremony been in Russian orthodox traditions. Not my first time taking pictures on traditional ceremonies like this, but every time its so special. I just love this atmosphere and some moments when souls come together to start new life.

    There was not much space to move around but I tried to do my best in these conditions and capture special moments from different angles. 

    Then was congratulations, family shots, way to Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron - amazing place for reception, and our small location shoot near the water, yachts, Harbour Bridge with view on Skytower from the  balcony and amazing pictures! Pity starts to rain but we manage to get through it really fast :)

    Our guests been waiting for young couple to come in and been introduced by our host Anna Moroz (wedding MC). She with her husband Andrey (DJ) done an amazing job with organised different contests, games and running all evening smoothly with fun and relax atmosphere. Well done! Highly recommend this team for your special event! :)

    Evening was full of different traditional events (karavai ceremony, prayers and speeches, different activities (magic heat, guess the bride, guess the groom, bride bouquet toss, groom bow toss), family candle ceremony) and a lot of dancing! Everyone had so much fun! Grooms friends lift him and his bride up to the air, what fun!

    It was a pity to leave this wedding but so many enjoyable moments to move through the pictures when I downloaded them to computer. Amazing moments!

    Enjoy it!

    Daria & Dmitry, wish all the best to you, your & family, happy future together, harmony and understanding!  

    Gallery:

    Contact me with any questions!

    {BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

    My 365 Project | September | Auckland Lifestyle photographer

    It's time to share with you my monthly post with pictures from personal 365 project. Every month is different and brings lot of new events, emotions, fun and real life moments.

    It was a busy month for me with personal and business changes: we moved from Auckland to Hamilton with family (kids just love outside area in new house, plenty of space to play), but it was an exhausting move (everyone who moved house can understand all these packing-unpacking and cleaning stuff ;)

    Also there was a lot work with organise photo sessions, big wedding shoot (just love this atmosphere) and the main event for me at the end of the month Grand Wedding Show. It was really enjoyable to see all lovely brides & grooms and their families and support team, talk with other vendors and show my stall; how I feel my photography and style. Truly it was hard to turn head around set it up, we till last moment been not sure on the details. But I been really happy with results at the end. Thank you so much to my husband for help with set everything up and to my friend / photographer Sonja for helping me on the day. I really appreciate this great help, I just can't do it all by myself (no matter how strong I am, ha-ha :)

    Another news - our pictures been published in New Zealand Weddings Magazine, so exciting! Its a big honour and enjoyable moments to see pictures goes live :)

    I also got a new photography toy - a Lensbaby Sweet 35, and just love it! I started practicing with it in my daily life and took  pictures with manual focusing, not easy, but results totally worth it! I always try to learn something new in photography, practice, progress. Its a whole world around and my study never stops :)

    So here it goes - my everyday lifestyle moments with kids, clients sessions and more, enjoy it!

    Contact me with any questions!

    Wedding Photography Giveaway Winner | Auckland | Hamilton Lifestyle wedding photographer

    Thank you so much everyone for coming to the Grand Wedding Show and viewing my lifestyle wedding photography stall, LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY.

    We have a special surprise for our guests who entered the draw to win a FREE wedding photography experience for up to 6 hours!

    I am delighted to announce the winner - Ailsa Reilly. Congratulations!

    But there's more good news for all who visited our stand….

    We are offering 20% OFF any wedding package to our participants which includes a free engagement shoot! I am committed to making your wedding day the best day you could ever ask for, so the couples' session/engagement shoot will help me get to know you better so you feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible in front of the camera on your wedding day so we can capture your true emotions of joy and love, without the nerves!

    Please feel free contact me with any questions and tell me more about your wedding day! I can't wait to hear from you!

    * if winner is not reachable during 7 day | date is not available | or any other reason for cancellation, prize will go in a draw again

    {BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

    Wedding Show Skycity | Auckland-Waikato wedding photographer

    We are so excited to announce: this Sunday we are happy to see all our lovely brides and their families at the Wedding Show in Skycity (27 September 2015, from 9 am till 4pm).

    LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY, lifestyle family and wedding photography, prepared special surprises for our guests:

    - 20 % off vouchers, applied to any wedding package

    - compliment engagement session (included in package)

     - and main surprise: an opportunity to WIN a FREE wedding photography experience!!! 

    Conditions apply:

    * up to 6 hours coverage ($250 for each extra hour)

    * one photographer (second photographer extra $50 per hour)

    * travel expenses extra fee (Auckland | Hamilton area no charge)

    * online gallery with best artistic retouched images included

    * wedding date is subject of availability

    Good luck!

    Look forward to see you all! Come and say Hello (stand 44) :)

    wedding show

    Contact me with any questions!

    {BOOK YOUR WEDDING}


    Engagement-Couples Photo Shoot | Auckland wedding photographer

    Engagement and couples photography is one of the special genre of portrait photography with mix of lifestyle moments.

    Its all about showing the connection, emotions and relationships. Sounds easy, but its not :) Of course some couples easy going, not shy at all to show to all world about their love. But what I found, a lot times successful photo shoots could be archived only when you pay attention to details, ask questions, understand couples character, interests, what they love to do together and apply this knowledge to create a perfect relax atmosphere at photo session. Its really short time, just 1-2 hours, which we need to use to create a little love story, from moments of starting love to really tender and strong feelings.

    We can talk (and I love to talk a lot, ha-ha), make a jokes, dance, play around, have posed and unposed moments.

    What helps a lot is a find real moments, leave couple along for some time and just watch their quiet moments, which show a lot how they connect to each other, how they speak and relax.

    Everyone loves to have down time :)

    Also good use of space (shooting in all possible points - shade, open sun, sampled light etc.), and different angles (shoot from the top, eye level, down, side, back, close, far etc.) helps to create unique images and gives more opportunities to make variety of shots what best suits this couple.

    I love to hear all these special love stories, how you meet each other, who doing cooking, who is bossy etc. Ha-ha! Sometimes answers vary, but it always helps me to full in love with the couple and even become good friends, then we meet again at exciting special wedding day.

    If you have the opportunity to have an engagement shoot before the wedding with your photographer, its helps a lot on your wedding day, believe me. Its makes it all more relaxable, enjoyable and everyone knows how we all roll :)

    I also found couple in long relationships really treasure our sessions, its like special psychology session for renew / refresh their relationship. Im so happy to help with it.

    Have a look at my last engagement | couples sessions. I just love all these moments:

    Contact me with any questions!

    {BOOK YOUR WEDDING}


    Pirate and Princess Birthday Party | Event | Lifestyle photographer Auckland-Hamilton

    What a great Pirate and Princess birthday party I visited yesterday and captured some photos.

    Kids had so much fun with treasure hunt, real pirate ship, nursery from Peter Pan story, had pillow fight on the trampoline and much more. 
    Tyler turned 4 years old, what a big boy, what proud parents! They did a great job with organising a real fairy tale - Neverland at their place! So beautiful decorations, nice snacks for kids and their parents and great entertaining!

    Even rain not changed any plans, just made more fun moments for kids (with lightning and thunder). Who else want to have same full of different events party?

    Kids been so happy to be at this magic environment!
    Here is a gallery, pictures turned just amazing!

    Contact me with any questions!

    {BOOK YOUR EVENT}

    Everyday lifestyle moments | 365 personal project

    We decided to put together some of our lifestyle moments captured during last few days, which not been posted yet. 

    Its just usual everyday moments, but Im sure they will be treasured when we look back in few years (or maybe even few months time) and remember all these little details with children :)

    Im not just a photographer but also a Mum of too little ones who made my life really full of different events, surprises coming every minute, and its not just positive ones, ha-ha :)

    Kids - kids - kids :)

    Contact info@levienphotography.com

    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!

     

    Happy Father's Day {Waikato family photographer}

    I want to wish Happy Fathers Day to all Dads and remember some moments from few latest sessions.

    I love to capture connection between Father and child, their emotions and relationship. Its such special treasured moments.

    I would like to offer 15% off session fee for bookings made on Fathers day and during next 3 days (lifestyle family and portraiture photo shoot / kids / baby / newborn etc.). Happy Fathers Day!

    Enjoy this gallery! 

    Contact me with any question!

    {BOOK YOUR SESSION}

    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}

    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!

    {BOOK YOUR SESSION}

    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!