Romantic retro couples photo shoot {Auckland engagement photographer}

Portrait session sometimes could turns into the couples photo shoot, really unexpected way :)

We did portrait session with beautiful Juliette at Cornwall park with a lot of move, fun, ideas. And then Jonny arrive to wait while its all done.

But we decide keep shooting and made couple of shots with guys together. It was interesting experience with couple's dance, hug, kisses, real tender and love.

So hope you enjoy our results as we do. Hope soon we will heard from guys some announcement (fingers crossed :)

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Sweet 10 days Baby Boy - Newborn Photo Shoot {Auckland lifestyle photographer}

Newborns - what a gorgeous little things to photograph! So sweet and cuddly! You want welcoming them in this world, support and help to explore.

Little toes, fingers, sleepy eyes, so tiny babies!

I had a honour to take a lifestyle pictures with new born baby Matvey yesterday, just 7 days old (up to 10 days they really sleepy and you can try different poses while they saw a dreams :)

Amazing how life goes fast. Just few month ago I been taken pictures with his little cousin Max. They so happy to have each other and will grow together, happy mamas :)

Baby Max

Baby Max

So now time to take a pictures with little wee boy Matvey. He so beautiful and sweet, fragile and strong little baby! He even lift his head at some point photo shoot (when been laying on tummy - what a strong boy!)

Newborn photo shoots always takes a lot time, need be patient with each posing, settle baby (proper feed before), had really warm room (preheat before, so baby feel warm without dress),  use white noise etc. Usually mummy feed baby, we took some shots when baby still active and then when baby asleep put him in prepared props (bean bag, feeding pillows, blankets, put heats on, change outfits during the shoot carefully), click from all different angles and positions. 

Sometimes baby awake during the shoot (even if mum sure he gonna sleep at least 2-3 hours, but surprise-surprise! - sometimes his routine work different from usual, and baby soon awake and need feed and been settle again. Its could take a time what we usually using for take another shots with mummy and prepare another props (basket, boxes, blankets etc). And lucky enough - baby sleep again and we could do our magic shots!

Lucky enough we had ability took him outside in basket (he went to second deep sleep). Just love these shots, happy with this opportunity! And even when he wake up we manage to took some shots with Mama Alexandra (baby been undress, so really fast some water come on mummy's dress)! Thats been unexpected but we finished with few more shots. 2.5 hours shoot done!

Meet little baby boy Matvey!

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And its all about LIGHT! Tips. Auckland photographer

When we liked some picture sometimes we don't know why - maybe its good composition, colours, connection between subjects...And LIGHT!

Light made picture special and magical. Its a first thing what you need consider when you ready made a click!

Best time for pictures

Thats why most photographers choose to schedule their sessions in the best light conditions, often it is 2 hours before sunset (or after sunrise) - Golden time for pictures. Or early morning when light so beautiful, lay down and give nice warm feeling!

sunset

Sunny weather

Time during the day not so great because of bright sun what cause bright spot on the face and deep shadows. At this case we could take shots in open shade (under the trees, near the buildings) or at covered shade (under the porch, garage, umbrella etc).

Overcast weather.

Overcast weather good for pictures at any time, clouds work like diffusor, made soft light. Only one point - sometimes its could be hard to get nice catchlights, so need position your subject right way, even look up to the sky - and you get great catchlights!

Catchlights

Pictures inside.

If you want take a pictures inside some space (house, office, church etc) first you need look at available light source (even small window can give you desperate light). If you have choice and a lot windows available you can position your subject at the window with nice soft light (check sun position - its might be from opposite side of the house). You can play with light and shade on the face just with position your subject at the corner of the window (more light), in the middle (deeper shade on half face) - turn face at 90, 45 degrees forward the window or from it. Also you can use a reflector (its could be any wight, silver, gold surface), also you can play with black side of reflector (what take light as a flag and cause more shade).

So just play around and enjoy it, try see the light and think what you can change (angle, side, move your subject, move yourself etc) for better results.

Girl with violin {Auckland NZ portrait photographer}

Passions - music, dance, sport, craft .... We gave all our time and pawer to these passions. Its made us happier, healthier, and wishing to do more.

But sometimes passion stayed somewhere behind, in other period of our life, when we too busy, or too tired, or just concentrated on other stuff. Its pity but its a life! And a real pleasure just take a picture what capture our favourite things to do. For beautiful Juliette its playing music, create wonderful sound with violin.

She had this passion during all her childhood, violin been her best friend, but then with growing and having other busy things in her life, violin been left behind, in the case. Moved out just sometimes at special cases. So now time for take it out and remember all these magical moments, when music sounds in your heart with graceful violin.

Im so happy to be part of this photo shoot! We had a lot ideas to create, but slightly rainy weather changed our rout a little bit, but helped create atmosphere. We still happy with pictures what we been lucky to took in time :)

So meet Juliette - Girl with Violin:

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Precious moments. Little ones. Kids photographer Auckland

All you need is love! 

And our little ones needs our love, attention, they want to be close to us, feel us, they really need us (especially when they so small and its so hard for them even just explore world around).

So when I planned took some shots with my little one playing outside in evening lights (for my 365 Project - Daily photo) She easily changed my planes - run and jump in my hug, she decided its funny game - when mummy laying on the floor and Anna-Bella flying in the air on my legs. She repeated it again and again. And I been holding camera all this time and took some shots, captured joy. 

What a fun time! I not seen her laughing so much for a long time! And I had some fun as well :)

And enjoyed look at our pictures what I will treasure forever. What the precious moments!

(sorry for crops, been really tight conditions as you see :) )


Special Offer - 50 % off session fee limited time only! Auckland family photographer

We happy to offer 50% off any session fee of your choice for limited time only! Available for bookings till March 2015. Limited quantity. 100% quality :)

Why? Simple answer: We want to have fun experience with you and update our Portfolio. Hope we can help each other to get our special pictures what we will treasure forever!

Please contact us with any question! 

See you soon!

special offer


Love is all around | Rose Garden Wedding {Auckland couples-engagement-elopement photographer}

Weddings - incredible emotions, exciting moments, feelings, looks, kisses, dreams...Love....Magic!
Love is all around! Truly magic atmosphere! I am so happy when a couple shares with me these special moments, these only "once in a lifetime" that will never be repeated – unless, of course, you have wonderful pictures that you will treasure forever.
I want to share with you the pictures from my November shoot - Sergey and Yulia’s wedding.
This couple had a simple and wonderful wedding in a church with a few guests. Yulia only had one month to stay in New Zealand and had to fly back straight after the wedding.
What a story! I feel a real connection with it as a while ago I had a limited visa too, but we had been amazingly lucky to have our local MP Morris Williamson help us. He did close to impossible for us and I was granted my extended visitor visa, so I could stay in the country with my kiwi husband and give birth to my first baby William.
But back to our newly-weds! Today we have received positive news: Yulia has received her new 9 month visitor visa (that can be extended) and just after a few weeks flew back from Russia to New Zealand! I’m so happy for these lovely people. Hope they will have a wonderful long life together, full of love, harmony and understanding.
As for the wedding - it was a simple and nice ceremony, quiet atmosphere full of magic and special moments. After the ceremony we had a short visit to the Rose Gardens to take a few pictures. I’m so happy these guys shared with me their wedding, unforgettable memories and a great experience!

 

New Year Resolution. Auckland photographer.

Looks like everyone writing New Year Resolution. Is it bring more luck and results? Will see :)

Anyway you control how your wish come true - visualising and get it!

So my milestones for this year:

1. Development -

as photographer: achieve bigger progress, be satisfied with picture.

as mum - work with yourself and kids - support them in study life way

as wife - understand, support, give back

as personality - always do a little bit more (out of limit, outside the box)

2. Communication -

get to know new people, keep contacts with all friends, clients, enjoy meetings and chat and made as much people happy as I can :)

3. Building - 

build and create something new,stylish and stunning - art work, pictures, blog posts, dinners, craft etc

4. Jump - 

jump as high as I can - move forward, look around, keep going

5. Analyse - 

look back, think, analyse, look at positives and negatives, create results, and new experience

6. Stay calm and carry on!

Love this sentence. What could be more wisdom? :)

7.  Don't forget about your hobbies, take time for yourself, take a break -

figure skating, dance, serials, study, cup of tea etc. Take time for yourself and you feel better, happier...

8. Inspiration - 

look around, see beauty in details, in everything around

9. Breath - 

just take a deep breath, and one more, and more, keep doing it with full chest and tummy. Its helps, its might made you more relaxed and happier, don't forget to do it, especially when you really stressed and busy! :)

10. Be Happy - 

simple, but for been happy you need enjoy "right now" moment, not think your happiness somewhere ahead. Its right here, around. Just love this moment!!!

This is my resolution. And hope at grey moments of life I will go back and read it again and its will help me! Im sure

Happy New Year everyone! Its just continue of our life, but its also a good reason to start something new or have a good look around and at yourself!

 

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!

Make-Up - secret of good portrait. Tips. Auckland wedding photographer

You planning your portrait or family shoot and you spend a lot of time to think about location, accessories, clothes to wear etc. But sometimes one moment missing - hair and make-up.

Its looks like a small detail but believe me - it worth your attention. Its made such a big difference for clear natural or glamour fashion look what you what to get. Looks stunning, amazing, and professional. 

And not to much work for me with retouching pictures :)

So at one of my last shoot I invited my friend and professional make-up artist Jessy. Such a magic professional job in a hard field conditions! Well done! Thank you for your great help!

What a big difference for pictures - natural look!

So I highly recommend to think about make-up and hair done (you could do it yourself if you have enough skills or we could invite a professional MUA - make up artist). Always happy to help!

Make Up should match your style and character, connect with result what you want to get from pictures and no need be too bright - unless its show shoot or special costume dressed set. Sometimes bad colour lipstick or bright (blue-red) shadows could destroed all session pictures (unless its spatial theme shoot - like 70-90th or retro, disco etc). Natural style always winning (from my experience).

What about hair? Thats your personal choice (they should be brushed and tidy - Sounds funny but I had some pictures where not tidy hair looks really not nice. But probably sometimes messy hair could be part of the style for show freedom spirit :)

If you have long hair you can play with different variants and made a lot different atmosphere shots - hair up-down, on the side, pony tale etc Good to have choice :)

So be prepared, think about these small details and don't forget about nails too (chipped ones or with colour off could be noticed on the pictures)

Attention to details - best rule! And it will be paid off when you look through your amazing pictures :)

makeup
About details - here we made make-up and other professional stuff but miss to put attention on hand - where still black hair tight what you could easy notice! 

About details - here we made make-up and other professional stuff but miss to put attention on hand - where still black hair tight what you could easy notice!

 


 

Special day. Birthday photographer

Today 8 of January and its special day for me - Happy Birthday to me! :)

Nice wake up at morning next to baby (come to our bed at morning), see shining husband eyes, receive kiss and birthday card what daughter wrote last evening,

drop kids at preschool, drive to city, catch up with friend and her baby,

 

drink

meet with hubby for couple of drinks at pub...

have a birthday cake with all family and some thai food afterwards. Yes, not a traditional order :)

Funny my husband put light on the candle lots of times because kids tried blow it (William first then Anna-Bella, and again and again). And finally all family together blow light at lonely candle :)

Happy me! And day not finished yet...

 

Christmas Holidays. Back to nature. Holidays photographer. Auckland

Christmas holidays is a fun time! Families have time to spend together, go out, travel around and enjoy rest and relax!

We spend our holidays Up North at Totara North (NZ) in family house, visit my husbands dad and made some small trips to search around; Manganui, Waitangi, Paihia, Tauranga Bay, Taupo Bay, Coopers Beach etc

Kids had freedom time: grass, waves, rocks, kauri forest track, beaches, sun, playgrounds, fun! They absolutely love this time at the nature, happy to see granddad, and explore something new.

We met New Year there with family dinner with some traditional Russian salad Olivier and early go to sleep (thats life with kids :). 

Here our lifestyle pictures from this great trip what finished quit fast because I need hurry up to do photo shoot (first in the year :)

P.S. Looks like kids grow so much for this time!

One year cute baby boy birthday celebration {Kids event photographer Auckland NZ}

I love parties. Especially if its babies parties :)

One year seems to be a big date for new person in the world. First we counting days after birth, then weeks, and later months. Feeding, changing nappies, playing, move to sleep (big task!) - all this routine staff make this time looks like ever!

And then suddenly ONE year coming. And we want made something special, make us remember this day - when baby became a toddler. And looks like our live became lighter and happier (joking! with part of true :) first time mums understand. Second and third time everything became easier :)

So good ideas for celebration 1 year old:

- choose the right location (your house, playcenter, or outdoor - park or beach like in our case)

- invite good people (friends and families with little kids (don't forget send an invitation)

- prepare yummy food (remember to include baby items - like baby cans, crackers, cheese, veges, fruits etc)

- prepare play activities, equipment (slide, water games, cars etc), bubbles, ballons...

- don't forget a decoration what making good atmosphere and party feelings!

- and order photographer (for good memories fixed and free hands - you no need running around with camera, try get good shots with active moving kids and organise party at the same moment :)

- Oh, yes, and spare clothes for little ones - they just love to make mess!

Last weekend I been at great party - celebration one year old Ivan with his family and little friends. What the great company, nice atmosphere, amazing location at Waiaki beach, and a lot interesting to shoot!

Parents did a great job with setup all party - choose location, took and keep the best spot on the beach, think about all activities for kids with little playhouse and slide, water play, big car etc Kids just loved it! So much fun and positive emotions.

I been happy to shoot all these little ones and their families. Yes, its been a big task for me - to shoot birthday boy Ivan's family + 4 families with babies - mini family sessions on location, and tried keep shooting party process. Great experience, new emotions and great to meet new people - such a wonderful guys! (And I even been so much into shooting and looking for the best respective and composition - so fall of the walking pass when been shooting last family. Camera and lens fine, Me too :) just a few marks on hands and legs, funny moment :) Everything for session!

Here some pictures coming (need to say I retouched much more then usual amount of pictures - just to be sure I have all families and party pictures as well).

Happy Birthday Vanya (short for Ivan - Russian name)! Hope you enjoyed this day and had a good sleep afterwards :) as I did!

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Summer Beach Sunset {Portrait photographer Auckland}

Beach, sand, waves, fun! taking photos on the beach at sunset even more fun!

Today I continue post pictures with beautiful Lauren. After photo shoot in park we been fast driving to the beach for catch last light of the day.

We choose place near Mission Bay with nice views and not too busy (we still wait at some moments for take our shots while people passing but manage to get a good ones. Funny been standing on the rocks just next to man fishing (he took the best spot by the way :)

We really enjoyed this session with some lyric and romance, go with flow and enjoy every moment.

Hope you enjoy this pictures as much as we do!

Contact me with any questions!

Happy New Year!

Today we go away Up North for Christmas holidays and will be absent around 1.5 week. It will be quiet time in my blog and website.

Hope everyone will be having a great holidays, plenty of rest, new emotions and adventures!

Happy New Year! Hope its bring us more positive, good and kind events, more luck, happiness and harmony! 

And before New Year we remember all the best what happened with us in last year and make some plans and resolution for next one. So here my positive changes for year 2014:

1. Move back to ice skating after second baby born (when she was 3 month old). Its really positive be on the ice again, feel freedom and happiness. And I even start motivating me blog Olgaskating at Blogger, and connect with some other adults skaters around the world.

2. Decorating and use to our new house what we bought at the end of 2013. Making kids bedrooms, spare guests bedroom, look after outside area (bought some plants and flowers).

3. New DSLR camera Nikon D7000 with few lens bought and from hobby my photography turn more into the business.

4. Creating own website with portfolio and Facebook business page. Thank you everyone who support me on this hard and interesting way! Unbelievable I could do it for so short time.

5. Photography sessions with my clients, models and friends. What the great experience and fun! I am appreciated every single moment. Thank you so much for push me further to bigger progress!

6. Join ClickinMoms community. What the great place to be - forums, tutorials, workshops, picture share, support and love. Im only new there but just love it!

7. View my little ones grow - such a big changes. William turned 2 and start talking, counting, know colours, amazing changes! Anna-Bella turn one year old, now she walking, talking (soon will be same like brother and even faster development - girls!). And they just cute little personalities! Enjoy every moment with them!

8. And my husband Matt, he had hard and busy time at work (really stressful), but still found power for support me on my way with photography, kids, part-time job, housekeeping etc.

Thank you for everything!

Love you all!

And hope next year will bring even more positive and fun (if I will have time in next year probably I will write some type of resolution, milestones. Will see :)

See you next year! Happy holidays!!! Have fun and relax!

Christmas 2014. Celebration with family. Event photography

Christmas  - its a special time for everyone (adults buying presents, kids waiting Santa and Christmas morning).

This Christmas day we woke up early and found presents under the Christmas tree. William became old enough (2.5 years) for understand whats happening. He been really happy get his new big truck. Anna-Bella, our little one, get pretty doll with pram. So morning start with presents and continue at my mother- in-law's place at North Shore where we spend nice and relaxable Christmas day with family (5 adults, 3 kids and 2 dogs :).

Christmas presents, wraps everywhere, cards and decorations, barbecue, Christmas lunch slowly move into dinner :), Pavlova (yummy desert called by Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova - close to me), kids on the slide, bubbles, fun...

And We finished this day with driving back home late evening through City centre and seen beautifully decorated Franklin st. Here lives Christmas spirit - Lights, reindeers, Santa, elves, angeles, love hearts...   Traffic was really slow, all people in cars been watching great decorations, slow down near each house, enjoy, take a pictures (me too!). Thats made our day!

And when kids been sleeping in car we realised its was first Christmas celebration when we could relax (kids now big enough for not take all our attention and power :) It was really cute to watch William playing with his new cars - put them in line and counting. I clear heard numbers up to 6, impressed :)

Merry Christmas everyone and enjoy your family time and holidays! Have rest and relax!

Here pictures coming :) 


Enchanted Princess Park Portrait session {Auckland-Hamilton lifestyle photographer}

Sometimes we all waiting for miracle and believe in magic around us.

And today, at Christmas Eve I decided share with you some pictures from my last Portrait Senior Session in Auckland Cornwall park with Lauren. She been amazing, working in front of camera, show her young beauty and personality, a little bit fun and lyric moments.

I brought net from my daughter bed and we created enchanted place under old tree at Cornwall park. Lauren even brought a rabbit! We wanted create something like 'Alice in Wonderland", but rabbit was really fast, what we not expected :) It was fun, try put him in needs position and try catch this moment with camera! (I definatly need assistant, ha-ha)

And here you can see our sessions result :)

Enchanted princess, magic forest and little bunny (rabbit)... Let dreams come true.

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Capture everyday moments. Family time. Lifestyle photography

Hello!

We love to take kids out and give them freedom, run around, have fun. Thats what they like :)

And sometimes I have my camera with me. I should mention - its a hard task - trying get the best shots with fast little ones and run after them (one second and they gone :).

So we spend some family time at One Tree Hill (Auckland) and look from the top of the hill at Cornwall park and beautiful city around with Skytower somewhere at the back.

My boy took his 'blunky' - his bed sheets what he just love to take everywhere especially when he tired. Yes some kids take with them teddy bears, but our boy can't live without his dummy and english traditional style blunky with teddy bears (its not too bad, sometimes he takes in bed robots or big cars!).

And he been running around with it, and some people even helped us pick it up so it not fly away from the hill. Oh-oh!

One Tree Hill. Boy with blanket

My little princess Anna-Bella had her own fun and prefer walk around and had fun in daddy hands.

Baby

And William tried explore everything around and go high on dangerous stone wall.

Boy on the wall

At least kids had some fun and we enjoy the views!

Boy at the top
(here my husband. Probably he have no idea I blogging his picture :)

(here my husband. Probably he have no idea I blogging his picture :)

These pics special for me because its my time with family. And after some time will be good to look at them and remember what we all did together, or what our kids love to do at this age.

(when we was driving today to Christmas shopping I tried remember what we done at AnBe 1 year old. And it was terrible - I couldn't remember any single thing. SO go back to find any picture from this day to remember...)

Moving subjects. How to take shots. Tips. Sport photographer Auckland

Hello!

Here we start our series with tips 'How to take best shot (picture) ..."

So moving subjects - running playing kids, dancing people, sport competition, airplanes, trained, cars etc...

Its could be a little bit tricky. But with knowing few simple tips all became easier!

1. Shutter Speed. For catch the moment, fix move you need fast shutter speed (minimum 1/250, better faster, depends of light conditions. If you want your pictures been a little more blurry with showing slow move you could make shutter speed slower (around 1/60 or so, try change and see whats happened with picture.

If lights conditions (inside) not allow you have fast shutter speed put down aperture (2, 2.8 etc) and ISO up (at some competitions I use ISO 400)

2, Continuos focusing. Great thing what modern cameras can do - focusing continuously (A-C mode in Nikon). So you focus, take a shot, keep finger on focusing button fast take another shot and you camera keep follow subject, so you not lost all these beautiful move, or fast running child :)

3. Think before. If you doing dance shot or figure skating (what i love to do), you need learn the subject, know exactly what gonna happened in next moment for take you brilliant shot. If I doing ice skating shoot I know what next - is it spey for jump, or entrance to spin, or beautiful spiral (so i not continuously taking shots, I know exactly what the best moment for show this beauty :) So think ahed, learn you subject move, and take a shot!

4. Subject fix, background blurry. That shot you can get with camera following the subject the same rhythm. So object moving, you move camera parallel to him, and then boom...shot you moment.

5. Show flow. If you want show flow water (waterfall, river, etc) or lights, or other long term moving subjects you can you really slow shutter speed - like few seconds or even more. You could practice in dark room - put camera on 10 sec shutter speed and move light on the wall (crow some picture or word, or shape_  - and camera easy fix all your artwork. You could practice near waterfall (start from few seconds shutter speed and then change and see whats happen with picture. Main advice- use tripod or stable surface, so you not get shaky hands and shaky pictures :)

Thats the main advices. If you know more, leave a comment please, or ask question!

And practice-practice-practice!!!

running child

Baby Shower. Girls only! Baby shower photographer Auckland

Having a baby shower its a big fun! Of course if its organised good way :)

This one what I visited had amazing hostess, decorations, theme... All guests (girls only) might come dressed pregnant, so all feel the same like main person of the day - Lena waiting her first baby.

It was cool to have a surprise, nobody know boy or girl! It was all decorated in pink and blue colour - glasses, folks, cupcakes, and even cake inside had half blue, half pink base under the icing and words "He or She - Open to see!" And Lena had her first piece cut - and.... blue colour!!! Boy-Boy!!! :)

So much fun - trying guess size of future Mamas tummy (need to say I won with all my babies experience! pleasure :) trying make a baby from play-dooh, giving advices on the cards what Lena could open later (like "have a sleep when baby sleep", "take him for a walk", "go shopping" etc, decorating bibs with funny pictures and words like "Keep calm and feed", "My mummy love lemons" etc

And of course presents at the end :)

What the great memories! So nice was to visit this house, saw all this emotions, feel these special moments of exciting waiting a new life and have fun!

Baby on the way! Keep calm and carry on :)