Something old and something new. Everyday moments. Lifestyle photographer

March 16, 2015 Olga Levien

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

March 14, 2015 Olga Levien

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.

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

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!

Instagram and Pinterest. Auckland photographer

March 13, 2015 Olga Levien

What a great sources for pictures and inspiration - Instagram and Pinterest.

Instagram really popular place to put your pictures straight out of camera (mobile phone). Its a square picture, but you could always keep original shape with some apps like Squaredroid (what i use often). Also great to put a tag - your friend @xxx or any subject what you like (for example #wedding, #familyshoot, #aucklandphotographer, #lifestyle, #beauty etc. And then you could easily click on this tag and see all other pictures around the world with this hashtag.

You could find great pictures all around the world, different communities, photographers which you could follow ...

My personal Instagram - www.instagram.com/olgalevien You could find there not only my work with clients / friends but also a lot of personal pictures, mostly my kids and everyday pictures :)

Pinterest give you opportunity not only search for pictures what you need, but also pin it and create own boards where you could save favourite pics. I love to create inspirational boards and also would ask my clients to create their own while prepare to our photo shoot, so we get some new ideas, leaning forward some style, and understand we on the same page! :)

Will be happy to see your boards! Just send me a link!

Giveaway Women's Day. Family and Wedding photographer

March 9, 2015 Olga Levien

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 :)

How to shoot everyday moments. Photography tips. Auckland family photographer

March 6, 2015 Olga Levien

Hello ! Today we will talk about shooting everyday moments - your life, your family, your lifestyle or maybe your special moments. I believe we should treasure every moment like special, but sometimes we have particularly special moments – like on a wedding day or catching baby’s first smiles, first steps, or first impression when travelling around a new country or an unusual place.

It’s a lot to talk about, so let’s concentrate on main tips and everyday moments - personal, family, social.

1. Have the camera ready! Sounds simple, but we really often don't have it with us and easily miss a moment what we want to capture. If you don't have a camera you can always use your mobile phone. I'm so used to my camera with 365 Project (Daily shooting), so I forget about my mobile that I can easily use too! :)

2. Know your camera. Believe me you should have time to work out how to shoot in different settings - manual, shutter speed priority, aperture priority or other ones, single or continuous shooting (good for moving subjects), focus points etc. Take a peek in your camera manual. For example if you are shooting moving subjects (kids, sport etc) you could use shutter speed priority and choose it not less than 1/125-1/250 sec, faster sometimes even better. :)

Aperture priority good if you want a blurred background (f 1,4-2.8 - what I like) or make it clear (over 3.5 etc.). Of course it’s just a general tip, you can use special calculators that show you how much space will be in focus depending from the distance to a subject, f-stop etc. And you can just practice and work it out beforehand.

3. Watch for the light! Light makes pictures special. You obviously don’t want to shoot on a really bright sun, but if you have to then watch for deep shadows and hot spots on the face and for subject not blow away on the picture, you can also use covered spaces (open or covered shade, good to have sun from the side or back of the subject), morning and afternoon time are much nicer and give more diffused light. I especially appreciate the Golden hour - beautiful light just after sunrise and before sunset.

Window light is good to use when you are working at home with your family everyday moments, you can just use best light in your house (sun at the opposite side of the house) and position your subject at the end of the window or a little bit further (where it’s not too bright), also you could put additional blinds or open them for more light if you need it.

Of course when we talk about kids, it’s hard to imagine we could position a toddler at any spot, we just need follow them, watch the light and choose the best side and position to shoot, be flexible and changeable. So move to next tip:

4. Be ready for changes! Situation changes really fast and you need to be the same – fast! And go with the flow.

5. Use different angles and sides. Use different angles and sides. You see the shot what you want, you are ready, you get it - click! Don't be so fast, look from the other side, direction, perspective, angle. Maybe you missed something important. Practice a lot and you will get your best shot!

Here is my recent shoot for today, when my little one was drawing at the table. I love how concentrated she was on her task!

6. Look outside the box, be creative! This one connects with the previous one. You took pictures from all sides. Have you tired from the top, and bottom too? Did you move out from your comfort zone and did something unusual for you? You should!

7. Picture in details! You are shooting a scene and you see the picture, its great! But what is the special part of this picture that created this feeling? Emotions on the faces at a sport game, hands and rings at the wedding, little kids fingers and toes, baby's smile etc. Also you can photograph details and decorations of the event that make you move back in memories when you look at pictures in 5-10 and more years.

8. Share your pictures - print them out and arrange into albums, show them to friend and family (I’m hopeless - still haven’t printed my one, But I promise I will do!), share on Internet - Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest etc, just show, share, discuss them with friends, get some feedback. See which one you like. And I want give you an advice - take part in 365 Project - daily photos for a year. It’s a personal project and it motivates you to shoot everyday and capture you life. I’m happy I decided to do it this year (not that easy, but I love it! and it’s great to have support and ideas from other participants). It’s actually really hard to choose the best pictures. They are all yours, you like them all! But just try to choose one or two a day, share it and then after some time see if you still like it, see how your style changes, how your shooting subject changes, and how you grow. So it’s not only memories, it’s your photography journey!

There are so many other tips and questions so - Just Do It! Go and capture real life moments, shoot every day, enjoy it, document your life, do family storytelling. Doesn't matter how professional your pictures are – it’s YOUR voice, your story, your life.

And you will Progress with Practice, move forward step by step. And I’m happy to be with you on this journey! Just ask if you have any questions. :)

Contact me info@levienphotography.com

My 365 Project. February. Daily photo.

March 1, 2015 Olga Levien

It's so important to document your everyday moments, capture family storytelling. And its also push you to progress to be a better photographer.

Its not so easy to find something new to shoot (every single day) and get more interesting angles, composition, light. But its made you looking for something special, what speak to you, what show something YOURS at this exact moment.

Its your STORY, your VOICE, your IDEAS, and your LIFE!

Here my February daily pictures (some black and white, some colour, some clients shots, some family, and a little bit of everything! Thats my story!

My wedding photo shoot from yesterday. Just can't walk away with one picture for 365 Project :)Look forward to next month!Lifestyle photographyWedding photographyCouples photographyFamily photography — My wedding photo shoot from yesterday. Just can't walk away with one picture for 365 Project :)
Look forward to next month!
Lifestyle photography
Wedding photography
Couples photography
Family photography

Something special on the picture. Photography Tips

February 25, 2015 Olga Levien

Sometimes we just look and seen something unusual, what take our attention and made think outside the box. Its could be unusual light or pattern of shade, or some colour and shape, leading lines or some repetition. Only you know what touch your soul, what speak with you, and what you want to capture.

I just show you one picture what i took today - its just pot with some flowers near my entrance door. But its not a flowers what took my attention, its a shades patterns on the concrete - game light and shadow. And I just wanted took camera in my hands and capture it.

Its always good to pay attention to details!

Other picture - nature on the beach. It was usual morning when I took kids on the beach. And was so nice fresh air and some smoky fog at the back. So I just feel I need capture this moment :) And you could also turn it into black and white conversation and get just magic atmosphere.

And I love to capture everyday moments with my kids, all these little moments what we treasure forever. Could be interesting to look back at the pictures after 5-10 years when kids grow up and we will miss these sweet moments. Here we are:

My kids just LOVE jumping on the bed especially if its our master-bedroom bed! And I happy to catch this special moment of movement:

So what special for you? What make you feel better, happier, what speak to you? Just take camera and capture this moment, documenting history. Or just invite me over and I help you to capture these special moments!

Location. Location. Location! Place for photo shoot. Family photography

February 24, 2015 Olga Levien

Good photographer could do a great job in any place and location, work with different lighting situation, composition, landscape etc. But its really important question for you - what location to choose, what best suits your personality, your style and photo session ideas?

Place for photo shoot can have a great influence for picture atmosphere. Look at this picture. Girls walking forward something. If we have it in usual place (road, grass field) its could be a usual picture. But look at this background - beautiful beach, sand, water, hill, rocks, moody atmosphere. And everything just looks so magic and unreal, what a gorgeous atmosphere!

Location - Location - Location!!!

So lets talk about photo shoot locations! what the options we have? Here list some obvious places what you could choose:

1. Your house and garden/ back yard. Did you ever consider to take a pictures around your place? You could always find nice spots around and be in familiar place, what sometimes really important, especially with newborn, kids, family photo shoots, head shots etc.

Here some snapshots from our dance photo shoot around the house :)

and newborn and family sessions

Nature- is one of the best option for photo shoot. Freedom, natural environment, beauty around, natural light

2. Park / forest / gardens -

3. Beach / seaside / rocks

4. River / Lake / Waterfalls

5. Field - good for family / couples photo shoot / kids and actually any session, especially if you have some hills/mountain or forest at background.

6. Barn - its a farm style feeling, country spirit. Go for it if you love it.

City, building by peoples places:

7. Church / office / and other official formal places

8. Show place (stage) - your singing, dance show, and any other entertaining thing, we capture all this on-stage moments!

9. Sport place (field, ice rink, ) - competitions, matches, rounds, sets - all for shooting. Fast, passion, alive moments!

10. City buildings, factory and other industrial places - you could do portraits, couple session, engagement and any others in modern industrial style, with buildings around, lines, different textures and materials. Its also works good for black and white pictures.

11. Kids places - childcare / playground / play centre - where else to shoot kids - in their natural environment when they happy, love to play, and enjoy any second of photo shoot

12. Mix of natural and building environment - its good to have different options in one location - park near the beach, field and barn, playground and park, place near your house and your own rooms etc. So you can have different variety of shots with different atmosphere and outfits.

13. and Any others ideas - you can use any ideas what pop in your head, be creative and thoughtful. Where you feel comfortable, fun, what place connect with your soul and your photo shoot ideas? if you don't know the answer yet we can discuss different variants and choose the best option! And have fun!

Hope this post will help you with some ideas :)

Look forward our sessions!

Scouting venues. Wedding photography Auckland

February 22, 2015 Olga Levien

Good advice for any wedding photographer - scout wedding locations, venues to get a feeling of place and be prepared to Big day (wedding photo shoot).

I prefer always check locations if its possible (hotel where bride and groom getting ready, church for ceremony, restaurant for reception and any other location). You could not only imagine how its all will happened, but also pre-check your camera settings and lens, lights, best points for shooting, good composition, where to do family shots etc. You can suddenly realise its a tight space and you need wide angle lens or its a big location and you need use zoom lens, or good mix of both. Maybe church have some restrictions for photographers with using their flash, or allow to shoot only from one point etc.

So you need to know exactly all photo shoot conditions for be ready to any situations. (of course you never knows what will happen at Big day. But at least you check all stuff and now could expect unexpected :))

Hope its all goes smoothly at your wedding shooting and day will be brilliant. Good preparation - half of success, or maybe 70%, lets leave 30% for go with flow and have fun!

I just checked few wedding locations and feel really inspired by view, ideas, feeling the space and place. I will post later on shots from the wedding so we could compare them, and Im sure during the session we will have much more ideas and interesting turns, even weather could give us a new direction :) I look forward to see my beautiful bride in wedding dress and elegant groom in suit and all their parties guests! :)

Wedding locations: Carrington Pumphouse, Coyle Park, St Therese church.

Everyday moments. Lifestyle photographer Auckland

February 19, 2015 Olga Levien

I love to capture everyday moments, especially if its about family storytelling, my kids actions or my work with clients. Its also help to remember all little moments, and move back in memories afterwords. Thats why I also took part in 365 Project with capture Daily photo. Its a great way to fix memories and practice and progress in photography.

So here my little everyday moments with kids and some other life moments (for example yesterday I visit my friend photographer Jay from the same area (Franklin) and had a big fun watch her patient work with little one with cake smashing and water play. And my kids been happy to play in her child proof house and had fun. I manage to took some behind scene pictures :) Thank you Jay for this opportunity!

Some work for clients - like scout wedding venue for upcoming wedding. So exciting:

And here other everyday moments with my kids, treasure everyday moments:

QUESTIONNAIRE. PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS. Family and wedding photographer Auckland

February 16, 2015 Olga Levien

Questionnaire - its a fast and effective way to use to know your clients. I love to know more information about clients before the session. Thats why I always try to catch up with clients/friends prior and ask them different questions. Not only about what type of photo shoot they would like to have, what shots and style of the pictures, but also to know their personality, what they love to do, what their favourite things, what make them happy. And what one dream shot they would like to capture. And its made us feel on the same page, what really important for not get any disappointed moments when you see result.

I heard menu times how people saying their Photographer been not good because not capture desperately needs moments (especially on wedding day when each moment - treasure!). Thats why we need to know what you want to capture, what mean a lot to you, whats your dream list or dream shot. Questionnaire helps with this, and boards on Pinterest too (really popular right now things to do, I love create all these boards for different shoots and look at clients board to see what pictures they like).

So I will share with you what type of questions I ask at my family/portraits and wedding sessions. Its just some of them, what make me understand what client want.

Family/Portrait Session:

1.List the names of everyone involved in the shoot. Ages of children (you need to know names and age for be ready to entertain and know psychology different kids age - lucky I have good psychology-pedagogical education and teaching experience. And wait - three own kids!)

2. What your family looks like? What you love to do at downtime? What you kids as individuals (are they shy, active, outgoing etc.) - its really good to be ready to meet different personalities and understand their needs.

3. If there was 1 dream shot you would love to have from your session with L&L, what would the shot be? - dream shot question helps with understand what type of picture client want and not miss the opportunity to make him happy!

4. Is there a particular image that prompted you to contact LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY? - thats connect with previous question and made you understand why client choose you, and what type of session he wants.

5. What style photo shoot would you like to have? (formal. lifestyle (documentary), mix of different ones... - that continue previous question and helps deeply go with understanding type of the shots to make.

all these questions and others helps with prepare to photo shoot and understand clients personalities and wishes and made them happy at the end

Wedding Shoot:.

You can get different type of questionnaire in Google search, I just point on some important questions at weddings.

In wedding shoot the main questions for me - schedule questions - for clear understand timing and locations. I love to be well prepared and organised and be ready for any situation. Good to know how many time I have for family shots and where they gonna take place, or shoot bride and groom on location, or for shooting reception details. Its all important moments.

Contact names - you should get at least 2 names who you can contact during the wedding apart from bride and groom (they could be impossible to reach during the wedding). And also could be great to get contact person who will organise family shots - move all guests in right place at right time (not so easy task to organise, if you have a friend policemen its could help a lot! sounds good - I had it at one of my wedding - great choice!)

Next important moment - type of shoot and pictures style. Often brides saying they choose me for my natural shots, what show emotions and joy. I love to shoot real life moments, do some type of documentary wedding photography. But pretty happy to set up formal shots, help with posing etc. I just need to know what the best way to operate on the wedding and to get type of shots what you want.

List of shots. Maybe its sound strange but I like creating list, planning everything. Even when I am going to travel List of things what I need take with me - its a main point! Yes Im a planning fan! Search travel places, sightseeing, hotels, locations. Its all applies to photography too.

What the main shots you want - dress and shoes, flower girls, bride with father (mother), or shot with favourite grandma. Happy not miss this moment if I KNOW I need capture it. :) This list just type of orientation. I not planning stand at the wedding with list and trying tick points while missing something important what happens exactly at this moment :) Ha-ha! But its really helps to be organised and plan ahead. Probably you still miss some moments - weddings could goes really unexpected way! But also capture something new and unexpected, what move memories back in time.

And we will treasure forever all these moments!

So ask the question, Get the answer, Be Happy and make Happy everyone around!

Happy Valentine's Day. Couples, engagement photographer

February 13, 2015 Olga Levien

Love-Love-Love!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! What a magic day full of love, friendship and freedom spirit!

Want to say to my clients/friends - I love you all and especially my dear husband! To the moon and back :) Thank you for all you support and love: tea in bed, looking after kids when Im shooting, feeding and changing nappies (not an easy task, especially put clothes back on), making yummy dinners or drive to buy take aways (curry forever!), and listening my talking (not sure how much percent information go through, maybe 10%? ha-ha :)

And thank you guys for share with me your special moments, love and feelings! I'm really appreciate to be part of something magical! :)

P.S.: Im planning to shoot two weddings soon, really excited, counting days - can't wait, more pictures to come in the blog and Facebook page. See you there!

And Happy Valentine's day!

Pictures atmosphere. What to bring to session? Tips. Auckland photographer

February 12, 2015 Olga Levien

My latest photography session had been just amazing - guys brought a lot of props that they wanted to use and a lot of ideas to realize. And pictures turned out just amazing too! It made me think about one of the most important questions - what to bring to a session and what makes the atmosphere during the photoshoot so special?
You always need to consider what type of a session you want in the first place - couples, wedding, family, portrait etc., then come the questions: what location to choose, what to wear, what to bring? It is one of the last questions, but often it makes the picture!
So, what is your personality, what do you like to do, how do you love to spend your down time (personal and family time), what type of pictures do you want, what you want to capture what returns you in this exact moment of your life, what special memories you want to share? Answer for all these questions could help to choose props for session.

Here some ideas to choose from:

1. Old antique rustic things, historical stuff (old chairs, table, clock, key, bike, cars etc.)

2. Books and magazines (perfect for couples, family, kids, maternity and even newborn shots)

3. Flowers

4. Signs, letters, frames etc. What else can tell about your feelings, name for the future baby or even make an announcement? :)

5. Toys, games, activity stuff for kids (and Big kids too :) Let them play around,have fun and enjoy our session!

6. Accessories - heats, scarfs, part of costume etc

7. Even a mosquito net for a bed could be a great prop for the picture

8. and if we talk about beds – a bed itself could be part of the fun shot with pillows fighting, jumping, if that is one of your family’s special traits.

9. Suitcases, umbrellas (all types), boxes, baskets etc. - all good for shoot! :)

10. Food, drinks, a picnic mat and a basket - what a nice shot for a family or a couple!

11. Activities and hobbies - a music instrument, sport equipment, dance accessories etc. Something that shows what you like to do and what is your passion?

12. Party decorations (balloons, signs, confetti etc.) and bubbles

13. And pretty much any other stuff you'd like to take. There are so many ideas around! Just look around your house, think about things you enjoy doing and get an idea. You could always use Pinterest or Google to find pics with a similar style. There is a lot to choose from.

14. And don't forget to bring fun and positive emotions, sometimes its only one thing what you need! All these things just add nice decorations for your story, but at the end of the day you create and tell this story and I capture it. So it’s totally your choice! It just makes the process easier and the result more memorable).
Good luck with your creativity and hope to see you soon!

You could always contact me with any question!

Cornwall park stunning couples love story {Auckland engagement-wedding photographer}

February 10, 2015 Olga Levien

Couples photo shoot always full of love, feelings, fun moments. They show raw emotions, relationships, couples personality, their love story. :) Yes, each couple have own character and personality. Not just 2 different characters, but one for both :) And I need try to understand what the couple looks like, what they love to do, how they spend their downtime, is it more quiet or full of fun and adventure time... I want know and capture their true story!

Im happy Maria and Taz share with me evening at Cornwall park where we get to have best photo shoot ever with so much positive emotions. These guys are just amazing! Im truly in love :)

We had so much fun, creativity, tender moments. And guys brought a lot stuff what was really helpful to made right picture in the frame with atmosphere: flowers, magazines, bubbles, champagne, candies, "Love story" sign, scarfs etc Its great to have so many ideas and options to choose from and use for special love atmosphere shots.

I been so happy and inspired to come back home and kissed my husband (other peoples feelings made me refresh my own one :) Ha-ha!

I wish I will have the same great experience with every couple and all clients/friends!

It was really hard to choose the best pictures because guys just amazing, they just rock it!

love story

couple

feelings

engagement photo

couples photo shoot

Cornwall park stunning couples love story {Auckland engagement-wedding photographer}

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

Lifestyle photography. Auckland

February 7, 2015 Olga Levien

Lets talk about Lifestyle photography today. Its really popular direction right now, and we heard this word often but we don't know what its mean :) Even me (in the past I have no idea what it is, just feels its sounds good. lol)

So here definition from Wikipedia:

Lifestyle photography is a kind of photography which mainly aims to capture portrait/people on situations, real-life events or milestones in an artistic manner and the art of the everyday. The primary goal is to tell stories about people's life or to inspire people in different times.

Lets pick main words: people on situation - artistic manner - art of the everyday - stories about people life - to inspire people. Sounds great!

I love lifestyle pictures because they capture everyday moments, joy, type of documentary storytelling. Its really important treasure every moment and remember all these little details about our feelings, day to day moments, emotions.

Its important - especially with kids because they grow so fast. And its really good look back at pictures and see what they love to do at different moments of life, looks how family love to spend time together. Thats why great to capture these lifestyle moments.

With couple shoot or weddings its work the same way, we not just take formal shots and posing, we try to tell story, show live emotions, laugh, kiss, feel love, smell, hair, joy.

I also taking personal 365 Project and doing my family storytelling with capture daily pictures. And I just love it, so many moments and memories, one little day shows so much details and feels just so important!

Lets heard some photographers voices:

Kasey McCoy: Lifestyle images are unrehearsed and unscripted. They tell a story that is unfolding and they are real moments of interaction and emotion and you as the artist can use the current story to your advantage by using creative compositions, light and shadows to help play it out (CM).

Brittany Chandler (Brittany Chandler Photography) : I love love love lifestyle/photojournalist/documentary/storytelling images. But no matter what you label them with, they are photos that someone is going to look back on in 10 years and think, "I remember this. That was the year you cut your own hair", or "took your lovey everywhere", or "that was when I held you for the first time", "our first kiss as a married couple". My only goal when taking these photos is to have a reminder of my or my clients' life exactly as it is today :) (CM)

Thats a great words and you feel true love and feelings through them.

I including lifestyle/storytelling images in every clients/friends sessions, and its making set not just 20-30 pics but even around 50-70 sometimes, just can't walk away just with few pics - really want to tell their story, document all these little moments, what could be really import and in 5-10-20 years time.

So here some memories what treasure for me and my friends, real life, storytelling moments:

Rainy family session at the park {Kids-children photographer Auckland NZ}

February 5, 2015 Olga Levien

Shooting in overcast weather could be nice - clouds work like diffusor, light nice and soft. But sometimes overcast weather could became a rainy weather.

Thats happened at our last family photo shoot with Lena, Anton and gorgeous Yarik. We decided to go to local park and took some shots at beautiful location with trees and bridge, fields and green grass. Yarik been really concentrated on his big yellow truck and want to travel around in his own direction. Parents sometimes just need follow child wishes and let him play and have fun!

But just after we started our journey rain starts too. So we had two variants to choose from - cancel photo shoot or keep going, go back under the trees with hope rain stops.

It was crazy and fun, and brave parents been ready keep doing session until rain became really heavy. What a terrible weather! We manage to get some shots, but not 100% what we planned (we also been hoping to drive to the beach and took some wonderful beach shots), but we decided went back to the guys house (just around the corner) and took some lifestyle shots around their place. You can do shots in any location!

Then sky clear - What a turn! but we finished anyway.

So weather sometimes could be really tricky, and we can't do much about it, unless we have Plan B :)

Hope we will catch up with guys soon and will do some more dream shots on the beach or in other location and their kid grow up (kids grow so fast and its so important to capture these treasure moments! :)

What a great family! Look how gorgeous they are:

Rainy family session at the park {Kids-children photographer Auckland NZ}

Contact me with any questions!

Its time for Bath! Lifestyle baby and kids photographer Auckland

February 3, 2015 Olga Levien

I love to capture family everyday moments. So I think now turn to bath time!

Its happened every day and its just usual routine: move kids in bath, wash them, tidy floor after water play (sometimes its became an ocean on the floor!, move out, chasing them around and then dress - its a hardest task, especially for my husband, some parts of clothes became missing - no pants, for example :))

So this time I just follow kids with my camera and took a few shots for memories - capture everyday moments!

365 Project. Daily photo. Lifestyle photography Auckland

January 31, 2015 Olga Levien

365 Project about taking Daily Photo, capture everyday moments, practicing and progress in photography.

I been inspired by group of women-photographers from ClickinMoms forum to join this project. Its looks easy at start - just take one picture a day and post it on Facebook, Instagram, your web0page. But its not so easy too: what to shoot, is it variety of pictures, what theme or style, what new challenge to take... A lot new questions every day.

And then its about to be organised, not miss any day, even if you sick, or tired, or just too busy to take camera in your hands. Its all happened with me just during this first month in project.But I manage to take pictures even at late night :)

And I found its made me look outside the box, try to shoot something what I never consider before (self-portrait, low light pictures, play with light and create something new). And hope daily shooting will help me with photography progress.

I really appreciate all these life moments what I captured, especially with my kids. They grow so fast, and its so important to remember their first meeting with kittens, how they playing at playground, help daddy washing car etc. - all life moments).

And this project helped me met new amazing people, share my work with them and see their work and progress. And its helps understand my direction, who am I like photographer, what I want to shoot, what I want to say.

One month done, 11 to go :) Hope I will survive on this long way :)

What to wear to photo shoot? Tips. Portrait photographer Auckland

January 28, 2015 Olga Levien

Choice of clothes - what an important question to discuss! Its really hard to choose what to wear to photo shoot, especially family, group sessions, where you need match clothes with all members.

So lets talk about clothes. What you need consider when you choosing clothes:

1. Your family style and personality.

What close to your family, what your style, what you wearing in usual life? What made you feel comfortable and happy? Your clothes show you character and personality - you love casual, or formal style, country or modern, neutral or bright colours? Thats question what you need answer.

Do you want photos show your everyday moments or something special and different from usual? (so you choose casual or opposite clothes)

2. Photo shoot style.

Do you want lifestyle pictures or formal portrait (head shots)? in first type - casual clothes, second - formal - easy to decide :)

If you thinking about glamour, fashion portrait - clothes choice obvious - fashion and glamour :)

So follow your photo shoot ideas and style of session what you planned.

3. Location.

Can be great if your clothes match with your location, and surroundings colours. Think what main colours will be around you on location and what colours in your clothes could match with it.

If its beach you want some white, blue, green, teal etc colours. And probably not so formal clothes, bear foot welcome! You can have fun in water, play on the sand, made a mess, became dirty (be sure to take spare clothes!)

If you on the grass area (field, trees etc) probably green clothes not a good choice otherwise will be hard to find you on the pictures :)

If you in the city formal clothes complements building lines and architectures styles. Lines everywhere :) If its old style township could be great if you wear some traditional, country style, or even historical clothes.

Its again depends of what type of pictures you want to get.

4. Matching.

If you have a group of people, family members you need think about matching clothes all together. Yes, its hard, but you can find a lot boards on Pinterest what show examples of different colours palettes and clothes colours.

Another way to match - add accessories with similar colour what your partner wear (for example, scarf or heat, belt, gloves, neckless, earrings etc)

But clothes no need be too match-matchy! Less is more! :)

5. Bright and neutral.

My advice go with neutral colours, what allow you fit in any landscape and location and also put attention on your face and emotion but not on your clothes colours.

Exceptions: 1. bright emotional photo shoot style - where bright clothes works for shoot idea

2. kids clothes - let them be themselves - kids, having fun, wear favourite clothes, what they love. Otherwise its easy to made them upset and get grumpy faces :) Sometimes need just relax, and remember - kids love made mess, so spare clothes required! :)

6. No big logos!

This advice connect with previous - you don't want your eyes go on logo on your T-shirt but not on the face or pose.

7. Bring few outfits!

You can't choose what the best option for clothes? Easy - bring few variants on location and we together will decide this question! :)

8. Enjoy yourself and have fun!

At the end of the day its your photo shoot - so relax and have fun, with clothes too!

Hope these tips will help you with choice of clothes. If not contact me! Always happy to help :)

West costal beach Family photographs {Auckland NZ lifestyle family photographer}

January 27, 2015 Olga Levien

Morning on the beach - what a beautiful time and location. Lovely family: Belinda and little Eva met me on the west cost Kariotahi beach for took some lifestyle family photographs.

It was fun and full of move and mess photo shoot. Kids really active at this age and I prefer give them freedom, run around, play, have fun time. I love take a lifestyle pictures what shows your child's favourite things to do at this period of time, capture live moment, show true character and personality.

Climbing on the rocks, running to the water, dancing, jumping near waterfall, create some art on the sand, look around, hug and kiss mummy...

What a wonderful time and what a pleasure to capture true life, Thank you Belinda and Eva for share with me your family life moments!

P.S. We also manage to get to the park and took few shots their with some fun and tender moments