Personal series. Everyday moments. Lifestyle photography

Im happy to capture my everyday moments with kids, how they playing, running etc. My 365 project helps a lot to get motivation and inspiration.Not every day the same. Some days full of exciting moments and events, others feels flat and boring. But there always chance to see beauty!

I show you my pics form 2 days. First from indoor playing with blocks, another one - kids at new playground (mazing place for kids to play!).

First series - Indoor:

Second series - Outdoor playground

Winter Wedding Special.Auckland wedding photographers

Don't miss our Winter Wedding Special:

$800 wedding day coverage (from getting ready to the beginning of the reception) which includes plenty of pictures of the wedding party prior to the wedding, ceremony shots, group/family shots after the wedding (or before if desired).

All good images from 800+ photos will be edited, stylised, and retouched. You will have the rights to print your pictures.

Not interested in a full day coverage? We will set up a special package just for you!

All best images are edited and given to you in high resolution, saved on a beautiful wooden USB stick.

If you book your wedding with us, we have a special romantic offer for you - an engagement (couples) session for only $150 (two outfits, one location of choice).

 Contact us to arrange a tea/coffee, Skype session, or to enquiry!

021438887

info@levienphotography.com

LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY - Auckland based photographer specialised in natural light on-location photography. Happy to travel nationwide and international (for extra milage fee).

Wedding portfolio

Autumn special - $85 Mini Sessions! Auckland family, couples, kids photographer

Autumn Colours are here, and it's warm! A perfect chance to have some stunning portraits taken with us at three Auckland locations: Waiake beach, Cornwall Park, Kariotahi beach. Its a great opportunity to have special present on Mother's Day too!

30min mini sessions available over the next couple of weeks. Email us for details.

info@levienphotography.com

Black and White Images. Photography Tips

Black and White - simple connection, clear vision, light and dark - it’s my love!
Yes, I am enjoying pictures in black and white. They tell me so much more then the coloured images. It’s my language and my passion.
I’m not sure what makes them so special to me - maybe it’s the retro feeling, or the ability to see the light, without anything that can distract you from the main subject. Clarity and atmosphere. Some images just ask to convert them into black and white.
Black and white conversation is not everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s absolutely fine, everyone has their own taste and language. And not every image will be great in black and white - you need special light, texture, dynamic range, highlights and shadows. And not every session is the same. Sometimes I would provide almost all pictures in colour, plus black and white variants; other times half pictures would be BW, and sometimes there is no need for black and white at all, so it’s all individual. The main pictures are still coloured, but I love giving you another option as well.
So let me share a few of my favourite images from clients sessions and everyday  lifestyle shooting (for 365 Project). They so different and so treasured!

5 month Baby-girl pictures {Auckland-Hamilton newborn lifestyle photography}

I just love taking pictures of babies. They are so small and so gorgeous! They have their own personalities and cute smiles.

I had an honour to photograph a 5 month old Mariam and her mama Sofi and grandmother Khatuna. This session was full of amazing moments!

We started our photoshoot at their place where we set up a little studio with some props - blankets, soft toys, necklaces (all girls love jewellery, even little ones! :), and also a few different outfits (every girl needs it too).

Mariam was just a perfect model: sometimes serious, sometimes ready to give a lot of smiles! What a cutie pie! After a while Mariam needed a break and we all happily followed suit and had a cup of tea with the most delicious hachaputi I have ever tasted. Hachapuri is a traditional Georgian bread baked with cheese and Khatuna made it nothing short of perfect. I will never forget that melt-in-the-mouth taste and most friendly and delightful company!

Then we moved to the closest beach for some shots in the nature. I just love all these ocean views, waves and the wind, great sunny weather and healthy fresh air for our little princess! She became really tired at the end, almost ready to sleep at mummy's shoulder. What a sweet little girl!

Thank you Sofi, Mariam and Khatuna for this amazing time together!

Have a look at this gallery:

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

My 365 Project. March. Daily Photo. Lifestyle photography Auckland

Its a third month in the project and I feel really inspired to capture more and more everyday moments, family storytelling, details, usual life...

Not every day the same, some of them full of interesting moments but at some days you feel just flat and don't know what to shoot, or even don't have any time to do it.

But beauty around us, we just need to see it and capture. Look at beauty in simple things, your perfume bottle, or corn at the dinner table, pieces of wood after cutting tree, magic light at the leaves at your fence etc, toys animals at your kids playgroup- so much little details what we even not noticed, just stop, have a breath and look around to find this moment of beauty in world around us, beauty in details:

Look at beauty with everyday moments: kids sitting, running, playing - its so many moments for family story what you will open in few years time and will treasure it. Don't miss the opportunity to capture your everyday moments! 

Here my pics for this month:

Lifestyle Photography

Hair Style - couples photography {Auckland wedding photographer}

We already talk about Make-Up in Photography in our blog. So now Hair Style's turn.

How you imagine yourself in the pictures, what style you choose, what clothes you planning to wear? All these questions related to Hair Style. What you need to consider when you choose hair style type. 

If you have a long hair you will have a big freedom with ideas and styles (you could leave hair freedom, or put in tale, or make a bun etc.  Its all connected with your pictures style, clothes, accessories, make-up etc. Short hair give you less opportunities but at the same moment made it's more creative with modern or fashion hair cut what could create a special picture's atmosphere.

I love freedom of long hair what made romantic pictures with retro style, especially with couple / engagement photo shoot. You could imagine how partner playing with your long hair, how wind blow its all and made effective amazing look with freedom feeling. Partner could put his hands in the hair, or kiss them. It's so sweet moments!

Mothers and kids connection could be great to show on family lifestyle sessions when little fingers touching mum's hair.  Its a great way communication.

If you need to make fashion glamour look or retro vintage style you need special hair stylist who give you this special look. And pictures will turn amazing way! 

Hair stylist in wedding shoots is an absolutely must do service! You needs your hair looks nice and fresh all the day! And believe me - its a long day! I absolutely recommend to rehearsal check out (when you could try your idea and your hair artist work, so you not will be disappointed at the Big day, its a lot stress what you no need at all :)

So don't forget to book a hair stylist as well with Make-up Artist and Photographer of course :)

I have contacts of few hair stylist what I could highly recommend. So feel free contact me! I will be happy to help you with this choice.

One of the last wedding photo shoot I been honoured to shoot with great hair stylist - Alan Wang from Perfekt Hair Studio. He been working professional, fast, patient with bride, bridesmaids, bride's mum etc. So mach amazing hair done. And pictures turned absolutely stunning. Bridesmaids had a lot of fun with pillow fight on the bed and hair still stayed perfect :)

Enjoy this flashback shots!

Thank you, Alan for great work!  

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

Hair Style - couples photography {Auckland wedding photographer}

Hair Style - couples photography {Auckland wedding photographer}

Hair Style - couples photography {Auckland wedding photographer}

Lets have some fun! Family and kids photographer Auckland

Let Kids been kids! They always doing unexpected things and ready to find something interesting in our usual life and have  fun with it!

So much surprises, mess, cleaning work, fun moments!

My little one sneak outside and I found him playing with leaves, through them up in the air, having fun and doing leaves rain what drops in his hair, under the clothes and nappies as well.

Big fun - big bath afterwards!

I love to capture these real life moments what brings some magic in.

Who love to play outside, have fun and made a mess? Guess! :)

Here our lifestyle moments!

Kids portraits

Mother-Daughter family photographs - 1 year sweet baby girl {Auckland-Hamilton lifestyle photographer}

What is so special about mother-daughter relationships?

It’s the love and the sweetness of the two souls that are connected with each other. Each woman who became a mother understands it. When you gave birth to a baby (no matter – a boy or a girl) your life changes and sometimes you have no idea how huge this change is!

I love doing lifestyle photoshoots when you could capture real life, like a documentary, to tell a story, to capture everyday moments that we treasure forever - how kids are playing, eating, drawing, how they are reading a book with parents, sitting together, laughing, giving each other a hug, singing a song and having fun.

That’s why I’ve been really happy and excited to do a lifestyle family photo shoot for Inga with her gorgeous daughter Mia at their place. Really wonderful moments together! It was amazing time and experience, I totally loved how pictures turned out!

Enjoy it step by step.

My favourite picture from this set - Mother and Daughter in the wood:

Thank you Inga and Mia for wonderful time together!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

One little girl and a Big hat. Lifestyle children photography

I just want to share with you my everyday moments with kids. Its great to capture all these little moments what we will treasure in future when kids grow up. Sometimes its really handy to have a camera beside.

I been with kids at playgroup today and did some shots with their play and craft.

Brother and sister

But then my daughter found big hat, and I just follow her with camera (lucky I had it with me) :) Its looks so gorgeous and cute! I just can't help myself :) So here big picture share. I like this old style retro feeling what give us these pictures:

Its shows how many interesting moments you could capture for shot moment with kids :) Just have camera ready :)

Lifestyle photography

Kids Portrait

Makeup in Photography {Auckland documentary wedding photographer}

Very little details can make a big picture. It could be good light, emotions, colour, composition etc. But there is one more important detail (especially if you want to picture a portrait) – it’s make-up! It corrects little details, smoothes the skin, makes eyes brighter, bring attention to lips etc. And it also helps in post processing – I don’t have to spend long hours on correction.
Good make-up makes you feel more beautiful and confident, prettier and happier. And we can capture this happiness in our pictures.
I highly recommend using a professional makeup service for any photo session - (portrait, family, couples and especially wedding photo-shoot when you need cosmetics that could stay perfect for a long time on the face (getting ready, ceremony, location shoot and reception - it’s a long day! Professional makeup touches could save the day! Also professional Makeup Artists know exactly what type of cosmetics to use to avoid shiny reflections on faces when we need to use a flash.
I have a few MUA contacts, so do not hesitate to contact me with any questions!

Here is a beautiful work from my last wedding photo shoot with a very professional and talented makeup artist from Mac Cosmetics - Jun Chen (I could highly recommend his work, not only did he use the best cosmetic product, but also made the bride and family feel comfortable - you can see a lot of smiles and happy moments. And he was always ready to help - not only with makeup, but with other little details too. Have a look at these pictures:

What an amazing work!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

Kids Portraits. Photography tips. Auckland family photographer

You want to have your kids portrait, but sometimes its really hard to get it, especially when kids so active and always move around. I have a few tips for you.

1. Catch the moment!

Try catch the moment when they in right place and right time! Its not so easy, but you can do it (just watch them playing and moving around and have your camera ready with fast shutter speed :) And when you see this special moment just made a click :) Better few in continuous mode for be sure you get it right :)

2. Create this special moment

Take kids attention -

smile to them and they smile in answer,

talk to them and take their attention, ask some question - where the bird? and sure they interested look at window or tree and show you the bird,

made silly faces, jokes - made them have fun and laugh.

ask them to make serious face - and you get the most funniest faces ever!

made something interesting for them - flash works good with kids, its a magic for them, so make this magic around and they will be happy repeat this moment, also you can took their attention with mobile phone or computer (and get more light from screen :)!

play with them - made for kids interesting task - jump as high as they could, run as fast as they can, made a secret, choose one person in family and jump in the hug, draw something, made mess (they love it!) etc. I use a lot of games and play moments during photoshoot and its always work well with kids, they just having fun and show their personality :)

3. Look for light - be sure your kids face in good light (without hot spots) and eyes had some catchlights, its looks really good. Half face could be in shade (if light goes from the side like window light) and its made more dramatic look (especially with black and white conversation).

4. Keep kids eyes in focus - be sure your focus right, check on eyes if they clear to see without blur.

5. Play with aperture - you could make blurry background with small aperture, just be sure your kid far from background (otherwise its will be same clear like kids face).

6. Watch the composition! - try get it right, so picture take attention (you could use rule of thirds, repetition, lines moving to subject, colour attention, isolation, using negative space etc. - its a lot of things to count but the main thing - picture just need looks right for you, all in harmony!

7. Just enjoy the process and have fun! Only if you relax kids relaxing and having fun too, be sure you made for them interesting environment and they even not put attention on camera. 

It will be great results!

Something old and something new. Everyday moments. Lifestyle photographer

My mum send to me an old preschool album and shoes. It was really unexpected surprise - parcel from Saint-Peterburg (Russia).

 I decided took picture for my 365 Project for memory and .... 2 little one come at this moment and started have own fun! They watch the album, explore all around and climbed on the table. Yes, Thats my everyday moments! No any quiet and restful second with kids, but so much mess and fun! All days so different and full of surprises (Im not open you all, you explore yourself with your kids - surprise-surprise!!! :)

Here our 2 minutes with OLD album and NEW for kids items and emotions:

Lifestyle photography

Prints - Made your pictures alive (Wall display guide - print sizes). Portrait photography Auckland

I would love to see pictures printed - in album, photo book, canvas on the wall, framed prints, fine art work or even small prints. We often leave our digitals not printed on the disc, USB hard drive and forgot about them. But they became alive when they printed and took their place on the wall or in album.

I decided to show visually with Photograhers Wall Display Guide how different size pictures looks at your wall (above sofa, fireplace or just near chairs). Hope its helps a lot!

We took this beautiful bride's picture and look at it in different sizes. You will see how picture changes with each size and how this size looks on the wall. 

Bride

8x10. You see this standard size looks small in real room, unless surround by other pictures or artwork.

10x10

11x14

12x12

12x15

15x15

16x20

16x24

16x24

20x20

20x30

20x40

30x40

So as you see size is important and you could choose one what the best fit in your space! I hope this pictures will help with your choice. And i always happy to provide with your session few samples of wall guide specially customise for you! And we could play around with putting different pics in the frames :)

As for prints its really important to choose professional laboratory with perfect colours and best quality paper. One of the best printing place with high end quality is Queensberry

Queensberry provides the best quality and perfect designed products. I just loves their albums, especially popular at weddings shoot. Have a look at their products! They provide all type of prints for satisfied any client.

You free to choose any other company to print just be aware of low quality prints what could ruin your pictures. Thats my advice :) And I happy provide assistance with choosing print place.

I would love to see our pictures alive in your house, office and any other place what you would like. Its a special moments for me what you share and Im really appreciate our time together. Thank you for choosing LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY!

Giveaway Women's Day. Family and Wedding photographer

Hello! Just want to congratulate all women with International Women's Day - 8th of March and prepare special present for you:

Giveaway one professional photography session for you - Portrait / Family / Couples for choice.

Conditions of Giveaway "Women's Day" apply on our Facebook page.

Entries will closed 6 pm at 10 March 2015. I will randomly choose one lucky person to won at the 10th of March 2015 after 6pm.
Session could be booked during 3 months. Location - Auckland, New Zealand. 

And sweet Bonus - all participants will get a voucher with 50% off session fee for their professional photography session valid for 6 month!
Look forward our future sessions!

Please feel free to took part and let know your friends!

Its fast Giveaway so don't miss the opportunity :)

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

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

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

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

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

Contact me with any questions!