First look with Dad {Auckland-Hamilton wedding-engagement-couples photographer}

First Look is becoming more popular last few years. Its a great way to create a special moment for couples on their wedding day, moment when bride and groom see each other very first time before the ceremony on their wedding day. If couple is more traditional and prefer to see each other right on the ceremony when bride walking down the aisle another option is first look with Brides Dad.

Dads have a special place in each girl's heart so it's a treasured and emotional moment when Dad takes the bride walking down the aisle, but especially when he sees her for the first time right after getting ready before the ceremony. These moments are always full of love and special connection. 

I love to capture all these raw emotions and feelings! It's even more emotional when one person is standing back to walking forward another person (its could be either bride or her father) and they can't see each others faces, but then one turned around it's a magic moment happened, often with some tears (so tense emotions when you waiting for it:).

Enjoy this gallery from Juliette & Jonny's wedding in Castaways Resort, Auckland:

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Small family garden wedding - Musick Point {Auckland lifestyle couples-engagement photographer}

What a great small family garden wedding I captured in the middle of January in Auckland. Tessa & John just amazing couple. They had getting ready moments in Tessa's parents house, ceremony and reception in their garden and location couples shoot at Musick point (Auckland).

They met each other at work and been together for 11 years, what a strong relationship! Tessa and John said they love spending time together walking on the beach, listening to music and the main thing "We have a similar sense of humour so love things we can laugh at together". Thats so important when you can laugh together :)

I love to shoot small family weddings for their cosy and warm atmosphere when couples spend their special time with close friends and family. It was great to capture these such treasured couple moments of their wedding day! Need to say John's son was the best man and Tessa had her best friend Parvati was a maid of honour and her daughter Maia was a flower girl. Such a pretty little one!

Time goes really fast, few hours gone just like this! We enjoy every moment of this wedding day!

Congratulations Tessa & John! Happy future together!

What a great memories!

Creative team:

Celebrant - Mary Cox

Hair - Becs; Makeup - Nicky

Thank you!

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Wedding Picture feature in HuffPost Weddings {Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga wedding photographer}

What a great honour to discover that my picture been featured in HuffPost Weddings {Huffington Post}! They posted top 50 best wedding photos 2015 award by Bridal Guide and choose one of my pictures for cover of their article. Its such a treasure to be featured in company with so talented wedding photographers around the world. 

Im mostly serving Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and surrounding areas, but always happy to travel to destination weddings nationwide, international. Hopefully there will be a chance very soon! 

Thank you so much for acknowledgement of my work. Im happy my art speaks to so many viewers!

feature Huffpost Weddings {Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga couples-engagement photographer}


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Castaways Resort - Kariotahi beach wedding {Auckland lifestyle couples-engagement photographer} Juliette and John

What a beautiful wedding in Castaways Resort (Kariotahi beach, Auckland) I been captured with Juliette & Jonny; just amazing couple and meant to be with each other. I been shooting their engagement party in April last year; what a warm and cosy atmosphere it was. I been really thrilled to be invited to capture their special wedding day!

It's even more meaningful for me because Juliette is my very first friend that I met in New Zealand in my first year when I joined ice skating coffee club (I been doing figure skating for 5 years back in Russia :). She is a presenter at Radio New Zealand concert. We both love ice skating, dance and more :) it was a big honour to capture these beautiful moments for this stunning couple.

Juliette & Jonny met each other on tropical island on holidays few years ago and thought they never met again, but it was destiny :) Jonny moved to Auckland and started to work just few buildings over from Juliette's office and they met each other again and together forever from this point :) They have amazing story of relationship (there even been a moment when Juliette drove to rescue him in Northland where he was diving, luckily all finished good, but it was really strong check of their relationship). This couple meant to be with each other!

Creative team what made this wedding so special:

Dress: Parkland Bridal & Shirley from I Sew 4 U- Dressmaking & Alterations
Makeup: Catherine Campbell Make Up
Hair: Sam Graham from Framed Hair & Beauty
Shoes: Trousseau - bridal & evening shoes
Cake: Isabelle Edmonds
Flowers: Rosemary McNoe
Band: Twistin’ The Swing
and Levien & Lens Photography ;)

Day started from getting ready moments in nice Castaways chalet with amazing views to the ocean, what a great place to be! It was emotional moments with first look with Juliette's dad and time with all her close family and 3 bridesmaids (one of them Rosemary is Juliette's sister, she also made gorgeous flowers bouquets for bridal party: need to mentioned other sister Catherine created make-up for her, what great family support!). Juliette's veil is very special and kept in family for a few generations, what a beautiful tradition!

Then we moved towards St Anthony's Catholic Church in Waiuku, Auckland where wedding ceremony was held. It's such a beautiful place with nice Christmas display and warm atmosphere. Music and amazing, singing made this ceremony special as well. Scotland national music finalist at the wedding with couple walking down the aisle as husband and wife! 

We not missed the family formals after the ceremony, it was a big fun with so many relatives from both sides and also little ones - nieces and nephews (8 kids in total!).

Then became time to have rest and relax on the top of beautiful hills near Kariotahi beach, where we made bridal party shots and intimate session for bride and groom. Amazing views, beautiful landscapes and couple's emotions and connection made this location shoot really special. I love to give my couple time to be themselves and get a peaceful moment in between of this hectic day :)

Reception been held in Castaways Resort Restaurant on the top of the hill with stunning views, where we get a chance to sneak to a few shots before the sunset in between of speeches, cake cutting and first dance.

What beautiful memories!

Congratulations Juliette & Jonny! Happy future together!

Enjoy this video and gallery!

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Award winning wedding photographer: Best of 2015 {Auckland-Hamilton NZ couples-engagement photography)

Its a big honour to find out at the end of 2015 that two of my wedding pictures been chosen by Bridal Guide as Best of 2015 Wedding Photos. What amazing news and great pleasure to be an award winning wedding photographer :) 

Look at these images from Daria & Dmitry post-wedding session at Kariotahi beach, Auckland. It was full of magic and positive emotions photo shoot in beautiful costal New Zealand landscapes at seaside. Wind, picturesque views of wild New Zealand nature and stunning couple helped this happened, and my creativity of course ;)

Amazing results of the year!

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Wedding details pictures {Auckland-Hamilton couples-engagement photographer}

Rings, flowers, veil, shoes etc, I love all these little details, treasured thing on the weddings. Each couple put a lot of effort to choose wedding style, theme, details, items which mean a lot to them.

This planning process start right from engagement till last day before the big day! I absolutely understand how much work couple put into this and how important to capture all this little details for them.

Its also add a lot to the wedding story, let feel the atmosphere and also showing this day decor, which can take a good spot in wedding album as well.

Its such a treasured moments showing this important for bride and groom day!

Look at these flowers bouquets from Juliette & Jonny wedding. Juliette's sister created them with big love:

wedding flowers bouquet {Auckland couples-engagement photographer}

You can see these details in each wedding gallery what I created, its so lovely memories and took their good place in a wedding story.

Yes, I love to capture candid moments, emotions, connection and lifestyle moments follow my style, but I also love to take the break, slow down and capture these details!

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Little White Book {Auckland lifestyle wedding-engagement-couples photographer}

I just excited to share with you a new listing, Little White Book directory, great place to find your wedding suppliers/vendors and of course wedding photographer ;) Im happy to be listed in this warmly community based by Karleigh from Paper and Lace

I'm serving mostly Auckland and Hamilton but happy to travel to destination sessions to Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, around Waikato and all New Zealand!

Dear brides please feel free to check this wonderful website for those who get engaged. If you already had weddings with me, please feel free to leave a few kind words, Im really appreciate!

Thank you so much for be with me all this time!

I look forward to a future busy wedding seasons!

Contact me with any questions!

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Parnell on the Rose Garden {Auckland lifestyle wedding photographer} Zydon & Olga

Parnell Rose Garden is a beautiful place in Auckland NZ to be married! I had the honour to capture an amazing wedding last weekend for Zydon & Olga, such a stunning couple!

Their photographs turned out just amazing which was not surprising when you look at all factors around: gorgeous bride Olga and handsome groom Zydon, stunning locations (rose gardens, old style reception and St Heliers Beach photo shoot after reception), great warm atmosphere (these families know how to have fun! I just loved every single minute of this wedding!). Olga fly over from Australia to New Zealand to Zydon to make this wedding happened :) Even distance not a barrier for a true love!

Great creative team been working together to making this wedding so special:

Celebrant: Andrew Brook
MC and dance teacher: Valeria Antipenko
Make-up: Grayson Coutts Makeup Artistry
Flowers: Tomuri & Co. Floral Designs 
Dj: Nikeil Deo 
Covers Decoration Hire 
and Levien & Lens Photography 

Enjoy this video and gallery!

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My 365 Project. December {Auckland-Hamilton lifestyle photographer}

Last month of this year gone and its last month in my 365 Project - December.

It was a month full of positive lifestyle moments and emotions. I been doing photo shoots in Auckland and Hamilton, weddings and lifestyle sessions and also capture my family and kids everyday moments.

Enjoy this gallery!

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Happy New Year! Best lifestyle-wedding photographs {Auckland-Hamilton documentary couples-family photographer}

Hello everyone!

Hope you having a great holidays!

I just want to wish you a Happy New Year and share with you our best lifestyle moments - couples-engagement , wedding-elopement , and family-kids-baby-newborn sessions what I been capture in 2014 year.

It was an amazing year with a lot of positive emotions. Thank you for share with me your special moments!

Enjoy this gallery!

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Footbridge Lodge Wedding {Auckland-Bombay couples photographer} Tammie & Ross

What a great cosy wedding I captured last weekend in Footbridge Lodge {Bombay, Auckland}. Tammie & Ross such a stunning couple! Their photographs turned just amazing!

Ross is a navy guy and Tammie is paramedic girl and they found each other. Celebrating their special day with family and close friends and sharing their feelings. Lily going to have a great step-dad!

Morning start for me in guys place getting ready in Pukekohe with relaxed and warm atmosphere. Ross and his 3 groomsmen  been joking, having fun, eat some lunch and getting ready for special event!

Footbridge lodge is a beautiful place in Bombay Hills, Auckland with beautiful picturesque views and old style architecture with wooden chapel (which has great big window at the back). What an amazing place to be married. 

We had some fun at location shoot near the pond with pier and boat, then follow up reception with emotional moments, speeches and of course dance time!

What a beautiful couple and cosy atmosphere!

Happy future together!

Enjoy this gallery!

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Thank you Sharni for take me on board!

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Bridal Portraiture | Photography Tips {Auckland-Hamilton wedding photographer}

Bridal Portraiture is one of my favourite genre, and one of the most exciting moments on the couples wedding day. Maybe because Im myself a women and want to capture all this beauty and happiness on bride's special day. 

Im always full in love with my brides when I see how they getting ready during the wedding day, putting make-up on, dress and vail, walking down the aisle, being with the groom. Its such special moments!

Then comes all hectic and busy time but I always love to make special time for them to relax, take a big breath, have intimate moments with groom along at location photo shoot. Then comes time to take just a few shots with bride, show her character, personality and beauty.

If you ask me how to make the most beautiful bridal portraits on your wedding day I can tell you: its not a secret - just need ask bride to look at love of her life, at her groom | husband will see in her eyes all the beauty, passion and love. Its special moments!

Bridal portraits can be romantic, editorial, but also fun and crazy :) It all depends from personality of the bride and photographer of course. I like to go with the flow and feel my couples what they love to do, what pictures can be special for them. Sometimes you can be surprised when even fun loving brides found after the wedding session romantic photographs in their final galleries and full in love with them. You never knows ;) 

So lets create these beautiful moments, have some breath in between of this hectic day and capture beauty and happiness!

Here is my recent bridal portraits with my stunning brides, thank you so much for sharing these special moments with me. Love you all!

Enjoy this gallery!

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Elegant Formosa Golf Resort Wedding {Auckland couples-engagement photographer}

What an elegant wedding I captured last weekend at Formosa Golf Resort in South Auckland. This couple looks just stunning and photographs turned out just amazing. Meet...

Dominique & Owen

Venue: Formosa Golf Resort | Celebrant: Neena Maxwell

Makeup: Makeup by MeagsHair: Camilleri HairDesign

Decor: Lautofa Tulagalua | Bouquets: Flowers by Lisa | DJ: Andy Wilson

What a great place guys choose for their wedding - beautiful golf course in picturesque sea side location with views of Rangitoto island.

Getting ready moments started at Formosa Villas with beautiful set up, light, views, Dominique and her best friends - three bridesmaids met me while doing their makeup and hair. The atmosphere was full of fun and positive emotions. Girls been in villa 10 while boys in villa 12 had their own fun. I been heading over to get details shot with wedding rings and some creative shots with guys  :) 

Weather been rainy all morning so ceremony moved inside the lounge (planned to be an outdoor), but lucky rain eventually stopped and we had opportunity to get all main family shots done, guests had cocktail hour and we with bridal party, Dominique and Owen moved to travel around golf course on 4 seater golf cart (I been riding at the back, holding tight :) 

What a great location shoot with intimate session and some fun shots. Could be the best memories ever for stunning couple and their bridal party. Need to mentioned we had siblings from both sides in the party, what great traditions!

Reception been beautifully set up with white colours decor and light material around. What an airy feeling its created! Music been on and guests impatiently been waiting main couple to come in. What a great party just happened, amazing atmosphere!

Dominique & Owen, happy future together!

Enjoy this video and gallery!



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Wedding Location {Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty NZ couples | engagement photographer}

Its really important to choose a right place to your big wedding day. Each location should have a special meaning to the you and made makes celebration moments unforgettable.

It's a lot of different options in Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty areas, indoors and outdoors (could be handy to do a rain check and have a back up plan ;)

Traditional wedding ceremonies are held in a church / registry office / hotel. I always enjoy to hear stories that couple choose the church where their parents been married. Its such treasured connection between generations, what great family traditions.

Wedding Location {Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty NZ couples | engagement photographer}

Outdoor locations had a lot of variety, especially in New Zealand: beach, domain, winery, gardens,  farm, park, bush, golf course, resort etc. So many different options! Summer is almost all the year around with high plus temperature so its really tempting to organise picturesque ceremony/reception in the beautiful nature side. I just love to capture these natural light beautiful moments.

Wedding Location {Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty NZ couples | engagement photographer}

Other option what I often see with small family weddings - ceremony and reception at parents house with BBQ in the garden area. Thats so sweet memories as well.

So what type of wedding location close to you, where you want to celebrate your engagement and have fun with close to you people / family? It's all up to you! I'm happy to capture for you all these special moments with relax, natural style. I love to show raw emotions and connection!

Wedding Location {Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty NZ couples | engagement photographer}

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Intimate photography - couples moments {Auckland-Hamilton wedding | engagement photographer}

Intimate couples moments are one of the most important and special at wedding day (and engagement session as well). Each couple is so different and have own special wedding schedule and ideas in place, but still very important to have at least half an hour during this hectic time to have quiet romantic moments and get stunning photographs.

These pictures will be one of the most treasured ones and these moments along away from the guest will give you some ability to rest and relax.

Thats why I always recommend to include an intimate session | location shoot in the schedule and do my best to have enjoyable and relaxable time together.

There could be different options to incorporate these moments in your wedding day: first thing in morning after getting ready (its often goes with first look), between ceremony and reception, during the reception (have some moments away from the guests and get stunning light at sunset).

I also love to do bridal session (pre-wedding photo shoot) or post-wedding photo shoot, which allows to choose different location (be really far from the wedding location and have different atmosphere). No on elicited in time, so no hurry! Everyone feel relaxed :) Also its gives the ability for brides trash the dress (lay on the sand, move in the water, what can be big fun!).

Intimate photography - couples moments {Auckland-Hamilton wedding | engagement photographer}

For example, one of my recent weddings with Daria & Dmitry been in Auckland city (Russian Orthodox church and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron), so there was no option for incorporate outdoor photo shoot on the nature, so we organised beach post-wedding session 2 weeks after their wedding. Pictures turned just amazing!

Intimate photography - couples moments {Auckland-Hamilton wedding | engagement photographer}

Sometimes location just perfect for natural shots. My last weekend wedding been at South Auckland Formosa Golf Resort. It was so great to have a ride around golf course located next to the seaside with amazing views.

Intimate photography - couples moments {Auckland-Hamilton wedding | engagement photographer}

It is so important to do an intimate session in this stunning picturesque views!

Intimate photography - couples moments {Auckland-Hamilton wedding | engagement photographer}

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Casting call | Auckland-Hamilton couples photographer

Casting Call
I am looking for:

- Two crazy in-love couples who are easy going and would like to have fun lifestyle session. If you a blond with long hair + a brunette with short/medium hair + a redhead with long curly hair definitely note that in your message!

No modelling experience necessary. Sessions will take place in Auckland-Hamilton. Send me a message on Facebook page or contact me if you are interested.

Featured Photo #TTF magazine {Auckland-Hamilton lifestyle wedding photographer}

Im so proud to show you my new feature with #TTF magazine. My photo from stunning post-wedding session on Kariotahi beach, Auckland with beautiful Daria & Dmitry (you can check their wedding gallery and video) chosen as cover photo and for Photographer Inshot Awards. Also #TTF magazine published an article:

"4 details of this Costal New Zealand wedding what we love", hope you enjoy it!

Its a big pleasure to see your style and photographs noticeable and appreciated.
Thank you!

Contact me with any questions!

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Featured Flower Vendor | Auckland-Hamilton Wedding Photographer

Wedding planning is not an easy thing to do and can be really overwhelming. My brides often asked me about videography, wedding celebrants, flowers and other wedding services and suppliers for their special day. I am happy to help as much as I can.

Thats why I decided to do featured blog posts and give information about some wedding suppliers that I meet at the Wedding Show in Skycity and also who I often work with and can recommend. 

Meet in our Blog today amazing wedding flower business running by Andrea, warm, fun and creative person. When we started talking at the show (her stand with beautiful flowers just catch me) and found out we from the same city (Hamilton, just around the corner from each other) and have a lot common we just can't stop talking and I really enjoyed our following meeting after the show.

So here we go:

"Forever Flowers by Andrea creates unique, artificial flower arrangements for your wedding day.  Our creations are affordable, timeless and tailored to your requirements.  We guarantee quality, professional workmanship and attention to detail.

Forever Flowers by Andrea make bridal bouquets, bridesmaids bouquets, buttonholes, shoulder corsages, wrist corsages, flower girl bouquets, flower girl wands, flower girl baskets, table centrepieces and so much more!"

Please contact Andrea with any questions:

Address:
Forever Flowers by Andrea
Te Rapa, Hamilton

Telephone:
0211086723

Follow this business on Facebook

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Featured Costal New Zealand post-wedding session | Auckland | Hamilton Wedding Photographer | The Westchester Wedding Planner

Its a big honour to be featured in social media, especially in wedding categories. My recent post-wedding photo shoot with Daria & Dmitry been featured in The Westchester Wedding Planner.

Guys just a stunning couple! It was amazing experience to capture their wedding in Russian Orthodox Church in Auckland and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron at the waterfront. It was full of fun and romantic moments, natural emotions, candid shots traditional wedding. What a great memories!

Daria & Dmitry just love wild New Zealand nature. Thats why we decided to organise a post-wedding session on beautiful Kariotahi beach (Waiuku, Auckland). Pictures turned just amazing, and blow me away :)

This couples session been featured already in few reputable publishers and Im really appreciate all these attention to my work.

Thank you guys! Love our time together!

Enjoy their featured gallery!

Follow me:

www.facebook.com/levienlens

www.instagram.com/olgalevien

Contact me with any questions!

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Multi-exposure Photography Tips | Waikato photographer

Hello and welcome to my Blog, where I talk about my lifestyle moments, photography and share some inspirational photography tips and exercise.

We will talk today about multi-exposure images. They look pretty neat and not much people know how easy achieve them.

One way - in post-processing when you put together a few layers from few images with different opacity.

But Im a lazy photographer, I really don't like a lot of post processing work and prefer to make things right into the camera (for not spend to much time at editing, but give this treasure time to my family, to my active little ones).

So at this case you go to your camera Menu, put on Multi-Exposure, choose how many images you will merge together and how many times you want it one (single time or more). I did just basic 2 shot single multi-exposure, what I will share with you. (Attention - not all cameras had this mode - please read your camera Manual for get more information. For note - I shoot with Nikon D750 full frame).

Important note: you should nail your exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed, ISO) in the camera, because you can't work on each picture separated, they will be merge together in one image what you will see in your computer.

So lets go to my pretty simple experiments. 

First one image with my daughter and a tree what I merge together. Little tip - it was easier for me first to take image with my subject and then knowing I had a good shot, put my attention on the background - I choose a tree shape for this purpose.

You free to choose if you want to convert your image in Black and White (BW) or leave a colour variant. Sometimes BW version really stand out for me and speaks to me more.

You can also play with merging not 2 different backgrounds, but play with merging images with the same person. Some photographers use this trick for selfies to show different type of emotions. I just choose my little one and follow the best moments in the same location.

Here is a result:

This image really speaks to me with this lines, composition, emotions and BW conversation.

So grab your camera and experiment! Good luck!

Contact me with any questions!