Rangefinder Contest Winner {Auckland - New Zealand lifestyle wedding-family photographer}

I have amazing news: my personal project photo just won a Rangefinder Contest - first place in Children category!

You might know already I not only a wedding photographer, but also mum of two active little ones and often enjoying take a family photos. It is truly rewarding experience and allow me to remember different moments of my kids life and practice in photography, allow to show my Voice and artistic vision. Its a great honour to get amazing recognition from photographers not only in Auckland, New Zealand but all over the word!

So thrilled to be in the row with such a talented photographers and been publish in such prestigious publication as Rangefinder {New York, USA}.

I appreciate this attention to my work and recognition! Thank you so much for all kind words!

Another amazing news, this photo just been published in Click Magazine as well {check their latest issue!}. Can't be more pleased with this! My advice to all photographers - Don't be afraid to put your work out there, it eventually paid off !

My everyday personal moments in 365 Project - October {Hamilton - Waikato family-wedding photographer}

Excited to share with you my recent photos - everyday personal candid moments with kids and family in 365 Project around Hamilton, Waikato and Auckland. Kids had lots of fun in October, such a great mont. For me as a mum and wedding photographer its such a treasured moments, they allow me to remember milestones in kids journey and development and also practice and progress with my photography, always have camera ready for moment to happen!

Also big news of the month - we done our first in 5 years!!! family photo shoot with Anne Paar {Anne Paar Photography} in Raglan beach, it was exciting experience {of course kids been running wild with a true freedom spirit, but we are expected it! Our photographer been full of patience! Thank you Anne for this sneak peek!

Anne Paar Photography

Anne Paar Photography

Enjoy these lifestyle everyday moments and let me know if you have any questions!

My everyday moments July 2017 - 365 project {Hamilton, Waikato lifestyle wedding photographer}

Hi there! Its time for our monthly update on my kids, just joking. Its my monthly shares of 365 Project, my shooting time in between of weddings and engagement session of everyday moments with family and kids. We been doing day trips for school holidays around Rotorua, Auckland and most of the time just stayed in Hamilton, Waikato, NZ. 

Enjoy this month July 2017 highlights. Let me know if you have any questions about my lifestyle family or wedding photography.

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Clickin Walk 2017 photography contest winner {New Zealand lifestyle photographer}

I been surprised when I found out one of my images from international Clickin Walk just won 1st Runner Up - Best All Around contest winners.

I recently told you about our amazing Clickin Walk on Muriwai Beach {Auckland} with talented women-photographers. This inspirational walk running all around the world in the same weekend and organised by ClickinMoms - great community of women-photogprahers {full of support, advice, learning and inspiration}. I been one of New Zealand organisers.

Its a great honour my image been chosen from thousands of photos all around the world. I really appreciate it, but the best thing ever - we had amazing time all together, so good to catch up and talk photography, babies, kids and life.

Look forward to our next catch up in some beautiful, wild and amazing location around New Zealand}.

Have a look at the details of Clickin Walk contest winners and full gallery with highlights from our walk.

Clickin Walk 1st Runner-Up winner

Clickin Walk 1st Runner-Up winner

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Everyday moment - June 2017 {Hamilton Waikato wedding photographer}

Winter time is coming and we are having a blast here in Hamilton {Waikato, NZ}, more time to spend with kids and family and capture everyday moments, who else can do it as not mum-photographer {my kids probably already had enough of my camera, but they still really enjoying to see their baby images come up o Facebook, so cute to see how they grow}.

June was amazing month, we had some time off shooting weddings as its off wedding season in New Zealand, but there still so much things to do, we are heading to exciting changes, watch this space for more info.

Enjoy these documentary everyday moments in 365 Project and let me know if you have any questions!

x Warmly,

Olga

ClickinWalk 2017 - Muriwai beach Auckland {New Zealand lifestyle photographer}

Im second year in a row took part in international ClickinWalk and helped to organised it in Auckland, New Zealand. We been doing it in Wynyard Quarter last year, check Clickinwalk 2016.

This time we decided to make it more challenging and head over to Muriwai beach {Auckland, New Zealand} for shooting more landscape photography just before the sunset {funny enough we still tend to put people in the shot, to make a point of interest :) hard to give up what we use to}. It was a great opportunity to enjoy surroundings, breath in and try some technics as double exposure, camera painting with slow shutter speed, freelensing and more. We also talk about photogprahy, how to became a ClcikPro photogpraher and even thought about organising CM camp in New Zealand. Fingers crossed!

It was amazing walking, talking and evening at Riverhead Tavern with amazing women-photogprahers, ClickinMoms. Look forward to next year and more challenges and inspiration to try something new on another walk and talk.

Enjoy these highlights in unusual for me genre, but its make life more interesting! :) Highly recommend to everyone to change the routine and try something new and unexpected!

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Everyday moments - April - 365 Project {Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga lifestyle wedding photographer}

Amazing month April, keep going third year in a row capturing my personal everyday moments with kids and family. Such amazing time together on playgrounds, mini-golf, cafe, museum and home.

One of my April images been featured in LooksLikeFilm, yay! :)

Enjoy these highlights - images with so different moments and emotions around Hamilton NZ, Auckland, Rotorua,Tauranga and other areas where we had day trips {and just remember - my boy turned 5 years old, such a big date, we spent this time celebrating his birthday in Rainbow Springs and Agrodom, great memories!}:

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Best of March 2017 in 365 personal project {Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga wedding-family photographer}

Hi everyone! I just want to share with you some highlights - best images during March 2017 in 365 personal project, photos taken in Auckland, Hamilton NZ and Tauranga areas of New Zealand. Between my busy wedding photography season such a pleasure to capture some lifestyle family moments with kids, such a treasured memories!

Now when I became a Click Pro at Click and Co you can find my everyday moments in Daily Project.

Enjoy these highlights of my personal 365 project and contact me with any questions!

Best of personal everyday moments in 365 Project - February 2017 {Hamilton lifestyle family photographer}

Exciting month and new events, emotions and photographs in my personal 365 project where Im documenting my everyday moments with kids | family, practice and keep going on :) February 2017 been amazing, we spend some time in Hamilton, some in Gisborne, Leigh, Auckland and surrounding areas as I been moving through busy wedding season and also spend as much time as I could with my family.

Enjoy this highlights with my active children, these natural moments are messy, beautiful and definitely worth to remember!

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Im accepting limited number of family lifestyle sessions, Day in the Life, kids photo shoot, let me know if you have any questions!

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!

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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:

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

Karekare Beach couples session {Auckland wedding photographer}

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! :)

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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 :)

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Waikato wedding photographer - engagement photo shoot - Karangahake George
New Zealand wedding photographer - couples photo shoot - Karangahake George
Auckland wedding photographer - engagement session Karangahake George
NZ wedding photographer - engagement session - Karangahake George

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!

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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!

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!

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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!

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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!

Beach maternity photo session published in Beauty and lifestyle mommy magazine {Auckland NZ photographer}

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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

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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 :) }

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