Best of 365 - January {lifestyle personal project} NZ wedding photographer

I had a decision to continue participate in 365 Project third year in a row. Its a lifestyle personal everyday shooting - capturing moments with kids and family. I just been reviewing images which I took over two years ago and its such a big difference: its so exciting to see kids growing, they are not a babies anymore :)

Im not taking a commitment to everyday shootings last year 2016 its been a "mostly 365" as I been so busy that been missing some days, so this project can transform to "Project 52", so will see.. But I love to keep it and practice, grow and document my family everyday, try to find creative angles and inspiration especially at moments when you not feel as shooting, but when you push through you find yourself and your voice.

So let keep it going! :)

Enjoy these highlights of January 2017, such a busy months with 3 weddings, couples photo shoots, one of them been in such beautiful destination as Lake Taupo, NZ. Also day trips with family as one to Raglan and waterfalls. Great memories and emotions!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

Karekare Beach post-wedding | elopement photo shoot + Secret Letter {Auckland engagement-weddings photographer}

Im so excited to share with you photographs from our post-wedding | elopement photo shoot on Karekare Beach {Auckland, New Zealand} with Benedikt & Lisa and their little daughter Tabea. Couple decided to do elopement in Germany and instead of big wedding in home country to have amazing trip to New Zealand and have a special post-wedding session on beautiful NZ landscapes. Im so honoured to be chosen as their wedding photographer and capture so special for couple moments. Im used to shoot weddings around Aukland area and all New Zealand and overseas, but these type of sessions so special for me, allow better to know couple, walk around, talk, and have amazing time together.

Benedikt told couple's story:

"Lisa and me met seven years ago during our studies at university. Since that time we both knew that we definitely belong to each other. Even one year of separation because of studies abroad did not come between us. We both love nature, especially sports in nature such as hiking, biking, swimming, skiing... We both love the silence away from the city noise and love to laugh and enjoy time with our close friends. After some time we decided to increase our family and 18 months ago our daughter Tabea was born. As in June 2017 our second child will be born, we decided that it is time to marry. But honestly we are both not friends of big ceremonies with many guests, where we are in the focal point for the whole day. The idea of a classical marriage with suit and gown just didn't feel right for us. Therefore we decided to marry secretly and inform our family members and friends with a surprise letter from New Zealand."

Thats really exciting part of our session: right after photo shoot we spent some time to move through images and choose the one to be printed and sent to all friends and relatives from New Zealand to Germany and Austria with wedding announcement. Its such an exciting surprise and Im happy to be a part of couples plan and organise all printing and posting for them {while they travelling around New Zealand in campavan letters will be flying to their families - surprise-surprise!!!}. Its so exciting to just imagine their faces :)

I loved every single moment of our session and happy to share with you this video slideshow and gallery:

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

If you curious to see which picture was chosen and sent to families overseas, here its goes:

365 Project - 2016 {New Zealand lifestyle - wedding photographer}

Its hard to believe I keep my 365 project second year in a row { and planning keep going}! Its such a great experience, practice and progress and ability to document my lifestyle moments with kids, my family life and event around.

As a wedding photographer Im really busy, shooting mostly destination weddings and travelling around, spending some time away from my family and kids. Thats why its so treasured for me memories to see how they are grow, developing, playing, being a little nightmares and little personalities! {sometimes business take over and its really hard to balance it with family life, its familiar to any mum-photogrpaher, but I trying to separate things and do a better planning, organise it proper, which is hard, believe me!}

Enjoy these highlights for 2016. I think I will continue this journey in 2017, maybe it will be "mostly 365 project" or 52, ha-ha! :)

Contact me with any questions!

Karangahake George engagement | couples photo shoot {Auckland-Waikato wedding photographer} Madeline & Barry

What a great time in Karangahake George {Waikato, New Zealand} we had with amazing couple - Madeline & Barry on their engagement photo shoot. Im as photographer never seen such a stunning location with plenty of photo opportunities! River, stones, mountains, concrete constructions {one of them even look like Jungle Book!}, mines, tunnels, wiggly bridges and much more. We been lost there forever enjoying walking on the tracks and talking, discussed couple's upcoming wedding in Leigh {up way from Auckland}, coming up really soon, just in few months time and had a great time together!

Congratulations on your engagement! Look forward to your wedding!

Hope you enjoy this video slideshow with best photographs and gallery :)

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

New baby girl {Auckland lifestyle newborn-family photographer}

What a special event - having a new baby girl in the family! I had a great pleasure to capture these treasured moments for a family. Our lifestyle newborn session been hold in their home - Pukekohe {Auckland, NZ}.

It was so great pleasure to see this family again as I been doing their couples session last year and maternity photo shoot just few months ago. Im so happy to get a repeat clients / friend, its a great honour people trust me to capture so special for them events, to be a family photographer.

Enjoy this video and gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

Family of four - beach photo shoot {Auckland couples-wedding photographer}

Im not often doing family or newborn photo shoots as more concentrate on wedding and couples photography, but Im happy to take it on board if I have time in my schedule and feel I need to refresh and get more creative inspiration for shooting other genre of photography apart from weddings :)

This time my friend Natalia asked to do a family session for her at Kariotahi beach {Auckland} and I been glad to spent beautiful time with this family of four with 2 active kids. Smaller one Rebeca is turning 3 years old, what a big gorgeous girl!

We had a lot of fun at the beach near the hills, black sand sea line, waterfall. Kids been running and playing around and we even get opportunity to capture some couple's special moments with mum and dad. What a happy family!

Enjoy this video and gallery!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

Gorgeous baby boy in home session {Hamilton NZ lifestyle family-newborn photographer}

What a beautiful lifestyle session in home I been captured at morning in Hamilton, NZ. Congratulations to Chou family on having a gorgeous baby boy!

Such a pleasure to capture so special for family moments, especially with two little siblings {2 and 4 years old}, they been so happy to play with their little brother. I have kids similar age so know exactly how its feels to operate such a big family, hands full! Especially when you have a new baby!

I also loved to see special connection between parents and kids, and also special guest in their place, a grandma. Its so treasured memories!

Enjoy this video and gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

Best moments of my 365 Project: August {Hamilton-Taupo lifestyle wedding photographer}

Amazing month August, keep doing my 365 Project! Last month of the winter, end of slow season and time of preparing to the new wedding season. There was a lot of great moments with my kids and family, everyday things with my little ones, few photo sessions and some moments of relax.

Yes, I tried to catch up on the rest {planned to do it during all winter, but never had time as always been doing something, inspirational shooting, preparing packaging, USBs, ordered new equipment, getting ready for the new wedding season}. So right at the end of the month I realised I need to have at least little holidays and recharge, so we went to Taupo for a few days and visited Rotorua on the back way to Hamilton, NZ. It was a lot of fun and activities for kids with DeBretts hot water pools, visit Huka Falls, walking on Craters on the Moon with steam coming out of the ground, Skyline with luge and Lake Rotorua, Honey Hive and much more. Its hard to say that I relaxed {its almost impossible with two little ones, ha-ha!}, but at least we changed environment and enjoyed beautiful New Zealand landscapes, its just magical moments!

Hope you enjoy this lifestyle gallery with everyday moments!

Contact me with any questions!

Warmly,

Olga

Beach maternity session published in Beauty and Lifestyle Magazine {Auckland NZ photographer}

Its such a great pleasure to receive a positive news that our maternity session with Olga, Martin, Madeline and bump :) been published in Beauty and Lifestyle Mommy Magazine {session took place on Kariotahi Beach, Auckland NZ}.

Im doing mostly engagement and wedding photography, and  for me as a lifestyle photographer really important to watch my awesome clients families grows in years to come: from first feelings, engagements, weddings to having babies and grow kids.

Im always thrilled when Im having a returned clients / friends as Olga and Martin {last year I been doing their couples session and they come back to me this year for maternity and newborn photo shoot, its such a special for family moments. They will be treasured forever!

Thank you so much to my amazing clients/friends for our time together and to Beauty and Lifestyle Mommy Magazine for publishing this beautiful and romantic session. Maternity pictures always special as its so magical moments - expecting little miracles! I know exactly how its feels as moved through these moments twice! :)

Enjoy this gallery in publication!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

Launch a new lifestyle website {Olga Levien - New Zealand photography artist}

Hi guys!

Im really excited to share with you amazing news: I just launched a new website with my name on it - Olga Levien New Zealand photographer - photography artist: www.olgalevien.com

I love my wedding photography business and my awesome couple, but as you all know Im also love lifestyle photography {taking limited number of sessions during the season} and second year keep doing 365 Project - shooting my everyday moments with family and kids, travels around New Zealand and self-portraits.

So I decided to do a big step and introduce you my lifestyle website with clients and personal work and projects. Its linked on my wedding photography work as well, so you never will be lost.

No worries, you can still see my personal work and 365 Project here, at least once a month :) Also feel free to check my personal Instagram account and business one as well :)

Feel free to browse around, just remember its a "new baby", so something still need to work on :)

Im also excited about new education part on my site - mentorship sessions and workshops for photographers {with coming up Ebooks and 2017 | 2018 Workshop for wedding photographers. So many ideas, way to go! {tell you a secret Im also working on another big project connected with weddings - stay tuned to find out shortly!}

See you all there on www.olgalevien.com!

Warmly,

Olga

{Contact me with any questions}

My 365 Project - July 2016 {Hamilton lifestyle wedding photographer}

Middle of the year - july come with relax atmosphere at its a quiet wedding season and I have time to reflect, prepare to next weddings season, look back at last season, so some inspiration shoots and of course continue capture my everyday moments with family. 

We had 2 big dates this month - 5 years anniversary from our first meeting with my husband {we met overseas in Brussels, Europe} - time goes really fast! and my little one princess turned 3 years old! What a big date. Kids grow so fast. Now she more independent, know what she wants and loves {as kittens, dancing and singing}.

There was a lot of beautiful and emotional moments. I been practicing in self-portrature and show my emotions. We even set up a selfie - photo shoot with my husband, it was a mess, we have no idea what we are doing and I totally understand my wedding couples who need a little bit direction {its not so easy if you cant see yourself from the side :) You can see some of our results in this gallery!

{also note: Don't be surprised with different colours! I tried to show emotions and feeling through the colour choice at editing of my personal work. Im not using a strong colours at clients work as weddings have different atmosphere and emotions, but maybe I will apply new techniques at some parts of the wedding day :) }

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

Rainbows End 1 year birthday party {Auckland lifestyle event photographer}

Rainbows End {Auckland, NZ} is a perfect place for kids birthday party! How happy might be a child to have so special event in this magical place, thats how felt 1 year old birthday boy Daniel! 

I loved to capture lifestyle moments of the event: kids having fun at attractions, parents talking and laughing, beautiful party details around.

Congratulations to beautiful mama Katya on this big date - one year! Time goes so fast with little ones! This event was so special for me as I been capturing Daniel's pictures when he been a little baby, so its a real pleasure to see how these little babies became a big kids, walking and running around. Congratulations to happy parents!

Enjoy this video and gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

Fog and kids in Cambridge NZ {Hamilton - Waikato lifestyle wedding photographer}

This morning was really cold {better to say freezing!} and foggy, I loved this mystic atmosphere and used this opportunity to take a few lifestyle shots with kids. We also had a family time in Cambridge NZ, drove from Hamilton, Waikato for had a meeting with my new awesome wedding clients who are planning an elopement {have a small wedding} at spring time, so exciting!

We had a walk near Cambridge lake after the meeting, children loved to climb up to the trees and also been on the edge of the cliff above the lake {so scary!}. Cold and fun!

Enjoy this gallery showing our family time - everyday moments!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

My 365 Project 2016 - June {New Zealand lifestyle photographer}

What amazing month June 2016, full of positive moments and emotions. I keep doing my 365 Project and documenting my family life, everyday moments with kids, which will be treasured forever.

It was an exciting month as I received so many great news: NZIPP Iris Awards {my images been awarded in Wedding Classic and Wedding Creative categories}, couple of my images been chosen in international Clickin Walk showcase gallery, few of my recent weddings published in prestigious overseas publications. Im so honoured and thrilled my awesome wedding clients sharing with me so special moments. Thank you so much! I will be nothing without your and my family's support!

As for my family life we had amazing trip to Wellington for my husband's friends wedding {major of Wellington was a celebrant on this wedding, just an interesting detail, she really warm person and even told us about good place to visit with kids in Wellington ;)}, it was fun to drive through the country, see a new places and visit a capitol of New Zealand for a first time {yes, its been my furthest south point to visit in New Zealand, Im looking forward to travelling around South Island one day, so exciting! :)

I not even counting a few amazing couples sessions, event photo shoots and a lot of editing / post-processing work, yes, thats true of my life! :) 

Look forward to July when my little one turns 3 years old, need to organise a Frozen birthday party {she call it "Let it go!", ha-ha :)

Enjoy this gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

In-home couples lifestyle session {New Zealand wedding-engagement photographer}

Lifestyle sessions are my favourite to shoot {wedding, engagement, events, family etc.}, especially if its in-home photo shoot, which really shows what couple love to do together, and make things more easy going and relaxed. This type of session not so popular in New Zealand yet {not surprising with so many opportunities for great photographs at wild landscapes and beautiful nature}, but maybe at winter time we can warm up with cup of tea / coffee, snuggle with partner and show our emotions in everyday moments.

Last weekend I arrived to Kylee & Rob's place at morning to capture special for them moments {need to mentioned couple having 10 years anniversary and they still crazy in love! hope we all be the same after 10 years being together with your partner}.

It was real fun to do and capture simple things as making cup of tea at kitchen, sitting at the dining table, and even dancing in the living room {we laugh with Kylee and remembered one of our favourite movies "Dirty dancing", even tried to reproduce some movement, poor Rob!, ha-ha :), wait, he actually done a great job!

There was so many sweet moments and I just loved our session, so special for this couple!

Happy anniversary and many more years together!

Enjoy this video and gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

My 365 Project. May 2016 {Hamilton NZ lifestyle wedding photographer}

This month May brought colder and rainier weather and also a lot of positive moments in my 365 project - capturing lifestyle moments with kids i between shooting weddings in Hamilton NZ, Auckland and surrounding areas :)

Kids grow so fast, its just unbelievable! So treasured moments with little ones...

I shoot 2 weddings {my sweet number per month as I prefer to give my complete attention to my awesome clients and my family with two little ones :)} and I got incredible 6 sessions with returned clients {some of them done with me couples, maternity and now a newborns photo shoot!}. I am so happy to see my clients {who became friends} again and their little ones grow during the years. Its such a special for me moments! {few little newborns what I shoot last year became a big 1 year old boys and I been so glad their parents sharing with me so special moments of celebrating their so important first year! I also got a new awesome clients and spent a beautiful time at their places with lifestyle sessions around their house and capturing for them everyday moments with family. So special to document your story and these moments!

Im sharing with you my favourite lifestyle photographs during this busy month {I surprised I even manage to find time to shoot my own kids!}

Enjoy this gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

Boy on the bike track {New Zealand lifestyle photographer}

We had a beautiful place for a walk near our house - a bike track at reserve, kids just love it and I love it too! There so beautiful light coming through the trees just before the sunset.

I know, I know what you think, but Im not just a mom, Im a lifestyle wedding photographer so Im always seeking for light, locations, composition. You just see the moments and can't help yourself and just capture it. Of course if you have your camera ready :)

So here we go, fresh gallery with my 4 years old son for difference (yes, big boy now, just turned this big date, one year to go till school time! eek).

Enjoy this gallery and don't put attention on mud on his face and on the clothes, I not clone it out as its just part of the story - walking on the track just after heavy rain :)

Contact me with any questions!

One little girl and her big day {Hamilton NZ lifestyle photographer}

I want to share with you today and few lifestyle photographs from one big day of one little girl leaving in Hamilton, NZ. Yes, its my little one and I taking pictures for family storytelling and my 365 project what Im keeping up second year in a row.

Its amazing what moments, emotions and events you can capture when you just following your little one and keep camera close - ready for lifestyle moments to happen.

Sometimes images just unexpectedly happen: right moment at right time with good light and  composition :) Thats all what we need! 

Im so happy when I look back at photographs of last year 365 project and see how my little ones grow, so fast, its such a treasured memories! I just thought I need to capture how my little one love to dress up and change a few outfits during the day and only those ones what she really liked (where she took it from? Im not so fussy, believe me! ha-ha :)

Enjoy this gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

Adventures on the bike track {Hamilton NZ lifestyle wedding photographer}

My kids love to spend a lot of time on the bike track at reserve just behind our house in Hamilton, NZ (my son just learn how to ride a bike). I know, really lucky they can have a little adventures and explore areas around what they love to do!

I used the opportunity to capture these lifestyle moments in between of my wedding season :) I just love spent this treasured time with my kids and capture a family story, document our everyday moments.

Enjoy this lifestyle gallery with adventures on the bike truck! {you can see how active my little ones, hands full!} :)

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

My 365 Project. April 2016 {New Zealand lifestyle wedding photographer}

This year is a second one in 365 Project - everyday documenting my family lifestyle moments. Its helps me remember the treasured things, practice, progress, see light, develop editing style as Im doing it every day and apply my skills to my wedding photography.

As a couples-engagement photographer I travelling a lot and had really busy wedding season which is slow down now, but I still enjoy to find time and peace in mind for myself, slow down and capture a magic moments :)

Hope you enjoy this gallery with treasured everyday moments with my kids.

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}