love | light | laughter
AUCKLANd wedding PHOTOGRAPHER | fine art documentary photography
Look which picture been featured as Picture of the Day in Bridal Guide. I just love this image too!
What a beautiful bride Daria, amazing landscapes and incredible wind!
Sweet memories about our gorgeous post-wedding photo shoot on Kariotahi beach.
Im so proud to share this with you!
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!
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I was so thrilled to be invited to capture Lisa's 21st Birthday Party at her parents farm near Morrinsville last weekend.
What a great family, atmosphere, amazing guests and incredible surroundings.
Lisa is a fun loving girl, talented singer and song writer as her sister Anna Hawkins. What an amazing family. Lisa's parents are such a happy couple, celebrated 30 years together this year. So many big dates!
We start our photo shoot with taking some portraits for Lisa around her family house to have good memories about her birthday. Then was time for happy family pictures with a lot of fun and laughter. Guests start arriving and I just surfed around and captured candid natural moments with party flow. I just love to capture lifestyle moments and all these raw emotions - smiling and crying (believe me there was some at the speeches, what important and emotional moments!), fun and joy. Thats my style!
It was a real pleasure to meet all Lisa, her family and guests - friends and relatives. Some of these friendships for a very long time, through the years, I heard just amazing stories during the evening. What open and generous people!
I just loved every single moment of this event.
Hope you enjoy this gallery, pictures turned out just amazing!
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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!
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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!
What an amazing post wedding session I had with my wedding clients at Kariotahi beach near Castaways (Waiuku, Auckland).
This couple is just amazing, they were married just two weeks ago and I had the honour to take their pictures at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Russian Orthodox Church, Auckland. You can check their wedding gallery and look at their amazing video.
Weather was really good for us: it was rainy just couple a minutes before the session, but when couple arrived to the beach the sun come out. What a lucky day! :)
We had a lot of fun and positive emotions, enjoyed beauty of the wild west coast nature, hills, rocks, sand, ocean. It was really windy on the top of the hill, but it made a special atmosphere for pictures.
Later we moved down to the ocean just before the sunset, when sky was so beautiful. It was really important to walk in the water and feel all power of the nature. Need to mentioned I been walking with 2 cameras, light stand with flash holding in one hand and taking picture with another one (at some point big wave come to us and we had feeling like we in the middle of the ocean, it was really tricky to move back to the safe place, waves been really powerful).
Lucky all goes good way and we even manage to catch last light laying on the sand near the water. Good wedding been in the past, so we no need be worries about wedding dress cleanness or good condition for groom's suit, so we had a lot of fun, and can make its all dirty for our shots :)
We need change of clothes afterwards and hot cup of tea to unfreeze, but it was totally worth it, so much positive emotions and such stunning pictures!
Enjoy this gallery!
Talk to you soon!
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What can take your attention and make you remember and capture the moment? Is it something really special, happening once a life, is it beauty of everyday moments or something else.
Im really enjoying to see the world around us from new perspective, especially during 365 project, what makes me wonder what else around what I not see, not noticed, but what deserve to be captured. Its my everyday moments, kids, lifestyle shots and some new pictures what I feel like to take.
Im happy to show you just a one day of world around me. Luckily I spend this day with kids in Hamilton Gardens - beautiful place, a must see. I even don't know how I manage to take a pictures with my active little ones, but thats the life. Happy to share with you these moments:
And one more in black and white conversation:
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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:
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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!
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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
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) :)
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:
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
As the saying beauty in details, everyday moments of our life. We often look at portraits, trying capture emotions, mood, connection, move. But something else around us, something what we not notice too much, especially when we in rush or busy with other questions.
Its all world around waiting when you put attention on it and see the details.
Its a still life! So beautiful and mysterious at the same moment. Its all about beauty in simplicity, light, details and moment.
You just need to look with attention and wait when some moments just speaks to you and make your heart to sing!
Thats my moments, have a look at these pictures (During my 365 Project I find out that shooting a still life or other photography genres feels really refreshing and inspiring). This gallery from this afternoon shooting till past months random moments what speaks to me (you can see here some mix of genres - macro, abstract etc.:
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We are really excited to share with you this news: you can meet LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY and other wedding suppliers at Wedding Show in Skycity, Auckland 27 September from 9 am till 4 pm.
Its a great opportunity to see each other face to face, talk about your wedding day plans and look around for other suppliers for your special day.
You can also take part in our Wedding Show Double Pass Giveaway!
Simply visit our Facebook Page before 20 September 2015 (Midnight):
1. Like our page,
2. Like Giveaway post. Share the post (optional)
3. Leave your comment and tag your friend.
4. See Giveaway results at 21 September 2015.
Look forward to see you there!
Other surprises are coming on the Wedding Show day! Don't miss the opportunity to win some exciting prizes. Details are coming soon!
Contact me for details
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!
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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!
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What a beautiful couple I met last weekend for their engagement session at Cornwall Park, Auckland.
Julie and Ettienne such an amazing and fun loving couple!
I love every single moment of our session together: all these lyric, romance and fun moments, posing and un-posing, relaxing talking and moving around. We even been dancing!
This couple is so gorgeous! It was interesting to hear their love story, how they met and where they come from: Julie a real kiwi girl and Ettienne from South Africa (name sounds really French and romantic! :). We found a lot in common - passion to dance (Julie doing latin dancing) and figure skating (Ettienne love to skate and practice on ice as me :).
What a great time together! Thank you guys!
So excited about your upcoming wedding!
Happy future together!
Contact me with any questions!
Im often saying Im a natural light photographer. I take a pictures outside in beautiful locations: parks, beaches, reserves, rocks etc. Also use gorgeous window light at lifestyle family / newborn / baby / couples sessions.
I love to watch light, I love to use light, I love to play with light (detract, side, back light which looks just amazing, believe me!).
But there are some situations when light just doesn't works how you want it, how you imagine it in your head. Maybe not enough to light your subject, or opposite - overpower and making a lot of hot spots on the face, or it sampled light. At this cases the best option is a flash, especially off-camera flash.
I love to use flash to bounce light in the room where there is not enough light (clients houses, newborn sessions, wedding receptions, family formals), or where needs to fill with light, or even overpower the sun.
What an amazing result you can get just before the sunset with off camera flash to show beautiful background full of colours and also give some light on the faces (couple, family, maternity, kids, portraits etc.). Here some example from my last couples session on the beach. I will show you natural light picture and picture with using off-camera flash. See the difference in feelings, different effects and looks what you want to archive. Its works just great when you want to give the variety in the gallery and put so different but so beautiful pictures at the same moment of time. Flash give you a big power to have choice and apply your vision on the capturing moments:
Main tips with using flash:
1. know your synchronise speed (for not get a black stripe across the image)
2. put it closer to the subject (to get nice light)
3. control flash power manually
4. use the manual mode in the camera to control aperture and shutter speed.
5. and practice! :)
You can also put flash in TTL automatic mode but its not I've you much ability to control the flash.
Good luck with your shooting! Just take a camera, equipment and go with the flow! :)
Talk to you soon!
Contact me if you have any question info@levienphotography.com!
OLGA & MARTIN
Kariotahi beach in South Auckland (not far from Waiuku) is a stunning location for any couples photo shoot. This weekend I met my lovely couple / friends just before the sunset to make special pictures for them.
This couple few years married and had 2 year old little one. Good time to show their love and connection. As Olga been joking during the photo shoot - this type of session should be included in all psychological course for every couple who wanted to refresh their relationship and remember how much they love each other. What a great idea! I should think about it, how to make all families live happily ever after :)
We start our session next to the beach at grass areas then walk at the sand and finished session on the top of the hill meeting beautiful sunset.
Olga and Martin; so romantic and fun loving couple. I really enjoyed to watch them cuddling each other, joking and playing around. It was a cute moment when Martin helped Olga to move sand out of the shoes (she might be feel like Cinderella) and put flower in her hair.
Love all the moments of our photo shoot. Enjoy it too!
Contact me for any enquiries! Remember we had complimentary engagement session for wedding bookings during August 2015 (limited availability)
Contact me with any questions!