Church Of The Holy Sepulchre - Bastion Point {Auckland NZ lifestyle wedding-engagement photographer}

What a great wedding I been capture in Church Of The Holy Sepulchre {Auckland}, Bastion Point and Malaeola Community Centre! Full of fun, love, traditions and positive emotional lifestyle moments :)

Ngawaiata & Sefo celebrated their special day with big bridal party (10 bridesmaids and 10 groomsmen!!!), family and friends. Couple have known each other since primary school, Ngawaiata said: "We have known each other all our lives! :)" Thats so romantic to be married on the person who been with you all the life, just unbelievable, what a great love and connection! 

It was a great pleasure to capture for couple all special moments with a lot of traditions and cultural performances during the reception. Wedding Day started from bride and groom getting ready, through the ceremony in beautiful church in City centre {Grafton, Auckland} and then at reception with over 400 guests!!! I love how maori and pacific traditions met each other on this special for couple day!

Happy future together!

Great Creative Team:
Dress - Bella Bridal, Suit - Frank Casey
Flowers - Manukau Florist
Make up - GlamBangerz Makeup , Hair- Helen Masoe Hair/Makeup & Lash extensions
Celebrant - Venerable Lloyd Popata
MC- Patrick Tobin Sione Fotofili, DJ - Peliki Talanoa
Band - Anuanua Dance Troupe - Cook Island Entertainment
and Levien & Lens Photography - Auckland-Hamilton wedding lifestyle photographers. Thank you Matt for being a great second photographer on the day!

Enjoy this video and gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

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Light and lifestyle {New Zealand wedding-engagement photographer}

As all photographers {especially wedding-engagement ones ;)} I love the light, and can't help myself when I see the beautiful light coming through the trees {at our family walk at reserve not far from our house}.

This time we took kids on the bike truck and they had a lot of fun running around and riding bike {my older boy who is turning 4! this week first time been riding bike with 2 wheels and he just confident jump into it without any trouble at all, been so happy}. My smaller one loved to have freedom, lay on the grass and enjoy herself :)

I used the opportunity to grab camera fast and capture a few lifestyle moments with kids.

Enjoy this gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

Inspiration board #2 - wedding photography {Auckland couples-engagement photographer}

Im continue to share with you my inspiration boards on Pinterest. What a great source for grouse through different pictures, styles from photographers all around the world!

Im specialise in lifestyle wedding photography and mostly shooting weddings around Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty areas, travelling a lots, having busy lifestyle, but I always love to find a minute to get some extra inspiration and create a board what drive me :)

It's really interesting to see what style of photographs, what emotions and connection, what light and colour attract the most and my preferences definitely based on my taste and connect to my photography voice.

Have a look at my wedding photography inspiration board, feel free to share your boards in comments, I will be happy to have a look! :)

Look what inside {New Zealand award-winning lifestyle wedding photographer}

Look what I received this morning, parcel been laying at the door steps. I discovered it when come back after drop kids to pre-school and post USB to my awesome wedding clients.

It was a postage which fly all over the world from USA, from Lemonade and Lenses, beautiful magazine. I been excited to open the package and found the fine art print with my award winning photograph {first place} in Winter International Contest 2016 by Lemonade and Lenses. There also was a lovely note with congratulations and one of the issues of this gorgeous magazine. I'm so excited!

Thank you so much for the great honour to be a winner of the international winter contest in wedding photography category in a great company of so talented photographers from around the world. Im really appreciate it!

Look what inside the parcel :)

Contact me with any questions!

Brigham - Herald Island {Auckland lifestyle wedding photographer} Ailsa and Ropate

I been capturing beautiful wedding during Easter weekend in The Brigham Cafe, Restaurant & Functions Centre with location couples photo shoot at Herald Island {Auckland}. 

Ailsa & Ropate just amazing couple, exchanged their vows surrounded by family and close friends in beautiful garden. We had a lot of fun and romantic moments around the venue and on location shoot at Herald Island {Auckland, New Zealand}.

Ailsa and Ropate met each other through mutual friend {one of the groomsmen on the wedding day} and Ropate made a romantic proposal in Wellington 2 days before Ailsa's 25th birthday. This proposal involved Ailsa's favourite desert, but as Ropate told during the speeches on the wedding day, he offered a desert after their romantic dinner and Ailsa said no as she been not hungry, ha-ha that was a scary moments. But all finished good way as you see :) Love to hear all the romantic stories and capture all that laugh and crying moments during the reception dinner! Ailsa promised to Ropate she will always wait him from his rugby trainings {need to mention Ropate is part of North Harbour rugby team, so you can see some of sport items in his getting ready moments :)}

Great creative team:

Photography - Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty NZ lifestyle wedding photographer Levien & Lens Photography. Thank you Matt to be a second photographer on the day. You done a great job as always! :)

Hair and make up - Helen Masoe Hair/Makeup & Lash extensions
Dress - Alma J Bridal Boutique
Shoes - Mi Piaci
Boys shirts and accessories - Three wise men
Flowers - Green Bay Florist

Enjoy this video and gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

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Pirongia bush walk - personal moments {Waikato lifestyle wedding photographer}

It was a great weekend in Pirongia {Waikato NZ} with bush walk at the mountain with my family {including 2 little ones}. It was one of these rare weekends when I am not been doing wedding photography and spent time with my family :)

I love to capture lifestyle personal moments and treasured memories for my family storytelling. Kids grow so fast and changes a lot. My older one soon will turn 4 years old and little one in few months time will be 3 years old, they not a babies anymore! {a little bit pity...I remember how I been waiting when they grow up from baby age and when its actually happened I missing this time, thats why I need to capture these treasured moments!}

Day started from rain on the way but luckily all clear up when we arrived to the mountain. Kids been really happy to explore everything around, look at tall trees, go across the bridge, climb up, and even found some stream, where they immediately went into the water and enjoyed themselves. Then of course they became all wet, I dressed my sun in my big warm jacket and carry my daughter all way back in my hands. Fun time and great memories.

Enjoy this gallery!

Pirongia bush walk - personal moments {Waikato lifestyle wedding photographer}

Pirongia bush walk - personal moments {Waikato lifestyle wedding photographer}

boy in forest - Pirongia bush walk - personal moments {Waikato lifestyle wedding photographer}

Pirongia bush walk - personal moments {Waikato lifestyle wedding photographer}

kids on tree Pirongia bush walk - personal moments {Waikato lifestyle wedding photographer}

girls emotions Pirongia bush walk - personal moments {Waikato lifestyle wedding photographer}

Pirongia bush walk - personal moments {Waikato lifestyle wedding photographer}

girl on the stone stream - Pirongia bush walk - personal moments {Waikato lifestyle wedding photographer}

brother and sister Pirongia bush walk - personal moments {Waikato lifestyle wedding photographer}

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Inspiration board #1 lifestyle couples photography {Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga wedding photographer}

I love to create different type of boards on Pinterest. So today I decided to start a new rubric in our Blog where I can share with you some of my inspiration in different type of photography. Im doing weddings and couples | engagement photo shoots around Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga areas in New Zealand and always search for new ideas, trying to find inspiration everywhere (in books, movies, art galleries etc.), sometimes easy way to go is to open the Pinterest app and look through the photographs with ability to observe, find connection, emotions, light, something to drive me in and connected to my style. Its can be even nature and picturesque view and landscapes around. 

So today Im sharing with you one of my Pinterest boards :)

I love to start from lifestyle couples photography with inspiration board #1. Feel free to check it out and get some ideas!

I love lifestyle photographs, emotions, atmosphere. It's so great to capture something what couple love to do together, what mean a lot to them. Thats my inspiration choice.

I think it's always a good idea to have an engagement | pre-wedding couples photo-shoot what let us better to know each other and feel more relax on wedding day! Im often travel around Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga areas for my awesome clients couples sessions. It's so special moments!

Please feel free to share your boards, I would love to have a look :)

Contact me with any question!

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DIY destination wedding NZ | Maungaturoro {Northland-Auckland-Waikato lifestyle couple-engagement photographer} Claire and Josh

I spent a great weekend away at March destination DIY wedding at Maungaturoro {Northland} with amazing couple Clair & Josh. Couple contacted me around a year ago from Australia to book their wedding at family farm in Maungaturoro {Northland}. I been happy to travel from Hamilton through the Auckland to Northland for capture special moments for this couple.

Need to say guys met each other 7 years ago and Josh made his proposal at their 5 years anniversary of dating, at weekend away in Sydney while they been out for dinner. What a romantic moments!

Getting ready moments starts for us at Mangawhai Heads {Northland} in beautiful house. 

We took ride on old retro car Valiant with stunning Clair and her 2 loving fun bridesmaids - Sophie and Robyn. It was great to heard some story about this car from her only one owner for years. Josh at this moment been waiting his bride at the farm with his 2 groomsmen - brother Ethan and best friend Brad.

This wedding was really special as a lot of items been hand-made with love by couple's family and friends. It's amazing how rustic and beautiful can be DIY weddings!

There was rows of hay instead chairs, hand-made arch where couple exchanged their vows, retro suitcases, wooden items and much more.

What a fun and full of love atmosphere! Claire & Josh just amazing couple! Happy future together! 

Great Creative team:

Dress: ASOS Suit: Ron Bennett
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Jewellery: Samantha Wills
Celebrant: Clare Hayward
MC: Chris, Josh's uncle
Band: Pat for president
and Levien & Lens Photography {Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga lifestyle wedding photographer} 

Thank you Matt for be a second photographer on the day! You done a great job! :)

Enjoy this video and gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

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Castaways wedding published in Paper & Lace {Auckland couples-engagement photographer}

I love to receive a good news about new publications and featured images in different blogs and magazines around the world. Thats a great recognition and ability to showcase favourite photographs with my awesome wedding couples. They are just amazing!

Gorgeous wedding with stunning couple Juliette & Jonny {Castaways, Auckland} just been published in Paper & Lace. Thank you so much guys for sharing with me your special moments, I'm appreciate it!

Enjoy this gallery!

Great creative team on wedding day:

Photographer: Olga from Levien & Lens Photography

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

Venue/Catering: Castaways

Celebrant: Fr John Craddock

Transport: Jaguars from Prestige Rental Cars

Ceremony Music: Louisa Neike (Vocals) Brendan Agnew (Pianist) Martin Sivertsen (Guitar) Logan Whyte (Piper)

Contact me with any questions!

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365 Project - March 2016 {Auckland-Waikato-Northland lifestyle family and wedding photographer}

I keep doing my 365 project in 2016 and want to share with you some photographs from March. 

It was really busy month for me with a lot of shooting: few weddings in Northland, Auckland, family event in Morrinsville {Waikato}, maternity photo shoot, meetings with my awesome clients | friends  and other little business things with parallel full time work as Mum of 2 active little ones!

It's really important at this hectic time to get ability to slow down, observe and capture the moments, what never going to be repeated again.

So hope you enjoy this gallery with my everyday lifestyle moment!

Contact me with any questions!

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DIY wedding details-ideas {Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga and Northland NZ couples-engagement photographer}

DIY weddings are so special! DIY means "Do It Yourself" and sometimes it's truly everything hand-made :)

Im enjoying capturing different type of weddings: luxury, bohemian, casual, rustic, vintage, themed etc. around Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and surrounding areas. This time I been invited to DIY wedding in Mangaturoro {Northland} at family farm.

 Look at this made with love items-details, how much energy, thoughts and love put into it Claire and Josh's family and friends. What a great spirit of support! Beautiful wedding in Mangaturoro {Northland} with great ideas!

Contact me with any questions!

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Landsendt Tropical Garden - Waitakere Estate {Auckland wedding photographer} Maria and Ben

What a great wedding I been capturing in Landsendt Tropical Garden {Oratia, Auckland}! 

Maria & Ben just amazing couple, shared such a special moments with their friends and family in this cosy tropical garden venue.

Maria told me interesting story of their relationship: "Ben and I originally met when we were teenagers. We re-kindled our love 5 years after this. Ben proposed to me in Malta; the country where my family originally migrated from. He took me by surprise when he proposed to me at a beautiful place called the Blue Lagoon; the most beautiful place on earth". It's such a special memories!

Not surprising this couple chose so beautiful venue what reminded them of tropical islands where Ben originally from {Tonga} and created such a beautiful backdrop for their special event.

Day started for me at boy's getting ready at Waitakere Estate, there was a lot of fun and full of jokes atmosphere. Ben get special hair cut by barber who arrived on location to do this special event. What a great thought!

Maria with her 3 bridesmaids stayed at Kaurilands Estate, where I drove right after boys. It's not unusual for me to drive around between few locations on the wedding day, but of course can take a lot of power :) Thats why always good to book second shooter on the wedding day ;)

Maria is so gorgeous, just amazing bride! I really enjoyed take a pictures with lifestyle moments, having make-up on, bridesmaids dancing (they been doing rehearsal for reception dance later on), getting ready moments and pictures with family arrived (mum, dad and brother who come all way down from England).

Then time to head to ceremony site at Landsendt, meet all families and friends. Ben been wear traditional pacific clothes with grass mat. Couple been also exchanging their vows standing on the traditional mat. What a great incorporating Tonga's culture and traditions!

We had beautiful opportunities to get a lot of brida and groom intimate shots around the gardens, pictures turned just amazing! We had so much romantic and fun moments, natural and traditional shots.

Reception just was full of laugh and so special moments with speeches, cake cutting and of course first dance. It's just unforgettable memories!

Thank you so much guys for inviting me and sharing so special for you moments!

Happy future together!

Great Creative team on this wedding: 

Dress: Kellylin Couture , Suit: Cambridge Clothing Company, Flowers: The Botanist
Shoes- Mi Piaci, Jewellery- Grandmothers jewellery
Hair: Charlotte Zielman, Makeup: Karina S - Makeup & Hair Artist
Celebrant: Minister Fatafehi
Coordinator: Taryn Liddy- Event coordinator at Landsendt
MC- Te Arahi (Tarn) August, DJ- Percy Afeaki, Singer- Pat Mose

Auckland NZ photographer: Levien & Lens Photography

Enjoy this video and gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

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The Creative fight - Book club {Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty wedding photographer}

I just discover amazing book wrote by Chris Orwig "The Creative fight". Im not a reading person for a last time (shame to say years! during having 2 babies, and mostly read learning stuff online), but its so big pleasure just to hold in your hands a real book, especially THIS book and turn the pages! :)

The book content is amazing for people who think about photography, creativity, life and philosophy as well :)

Im shooting weddings a lot in Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty areas and sometimes feel really tired if even I love my work. It's so busy and hectic and I really want to find beauty in details and harmony in moments. So idea about think different, outside the box and be creative with unfolding your interior feelings and open the eyes towards new ideas is really refreshing!

I'm reading chapter by chapter, week by week. Not because I don't have time to proper read it between shooting weddings (it's part true though), but also because I have the opportunity to think, do creative exercises and also discuss ideas with other photographers!

What a great world opens for us, if we want it to be open, of course ;)

If you want to change something start from yourself and your feelings about the situation (it's not a Chris Orwig quote, it's my feelings and thoughts :)

So just follow your gut!

Contact me with any questions!

Beauty of Beach maternity {Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga lifestyle wedding-couples-engagement photographer}

Maternity photography is so special: expecting a little miracle, feeling all the beauty of these moments. It's so exciting! I'm specialise in lifestyle wedding photography and always happy when my couples come back to me asking to do for them maternity or newborn | kids photo shoot, it's so treasured moments and a big pleasure for me :).

Last weekend we spent with my last year awesome couples clients - Olga and Martin and their 3 years old daughter Maddy. They expecting second baby girl and decided to remember these special moments. The session took place on Kariotahi beach, Auckland. Olga been brave enough to move into the wild waves on the beach after some family shots.

Sunset was so beautiful and pictures turned just amazing!

Enjoy this gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

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Wedding workflow {Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga lifestyle couples-engagement photographer}

Im a really organised person, love to create different todo lists, put together items in logical order and create a workflow. Today I decided to share with you my wedding photography workflow. Im as a lifestyle wedding photographer travel a lot around Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga areas, sometimes even up North or down South and its important to keep on track with all events and clients | vendors.

A lot of people who are really far from photography business can think that our work as photographers just arrive on location, shoot event and right away deliver the images (believe me I thought that too before joined amazing world of photography), but its so much more! 

Shooting a wedding day can take usually between 5 and 12 hours depends on quantity of events and locations, but pre-wedding process and post wedding production can take weeks and even months! Usually I spend on each wedding at least 80 hours work and even more.

Let see my usual workflow (Im not going to put down quantity of hours | time spend on each item, its easy to guess :)

1. answer for enquiry, follow up

2. organise meeting for discuss wedding details an see if we on the same page

3. create and send quote, contract, questionnaire, invoice. Sometimes send a reminder {in 17 hats - management software}

4. answer for all following questions,

5. contact clients few months before the wedding day, organise an engagement | pre-wedding session (do all session workflow including choose and scout location, shooting, post-processing, deliver the gallery, blogging etc.)

6. contact clients one month before the wedding, send an invoice reminder for final payment, questionnaire

7. organise pre-wedding consultation | meeting, go over all details again {online or via the phone}

8. scout wedding location

9. check last minute changes one week before the wedding

10. prepare equipment, all addresses, directions to location, contact creative team | all vendors

11. shooting wedding according the timeline and any unexpected changes / delays with first dance, cake cutting etc.

12. copy all files, back-up files at the end of the day {Im using two external drives and online Amazine Drive storage to be absolutely secure}

13. culling (choosing best images) - sometimes I move through images twice, as second time allow me to look at images with fresh eye

14. post-processing | retouching images

15. post sneak peek on Facebook or email

16. download images in online gallery and USB stick

17. organise prints | products

18. send to a client letter with link on online gallery (3-4 weeks after wedding day)

19. post USB stick with high resolution files + web quality images and prints | products

20. back up final galleries

21. write and publish a blog post with best images from the wedding day

22. choose best images for portfolio and publications

23. send a gallery link to all creative team

24. submit the gallery for publications, keep on track with publishers (i love to share my images, because Im really happy with results)

25. submit best images for various awards | contests (thats motivate me to do more, progress and move forward :).

26. post wedding results on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other social media etc.

Im sure its not a full list, probably I forgot some other little details :) But hope you get an idea about how much work involve into the weddings and I love this work :)

Please contact me with any questions!

Happy one year anniversary {Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga lifestyle wedding photographer}

I been really surprised to know on last weekend Maria & Ben's wedding that they knew my last year wedding clients Toni & Eddy and one of the groomsmen was Eddy's cousin.

Toni & Eddy just celebrated their one year anniversary (28 February). I'm so thrilled to captured their wedding and been reminded about it at my last wedding.

Their little girl turned 5 years old right on the Maria & Ben's wedding day, congratulations guys!

Happy future together and happy one year anniversary! I remember your wedding with so warm feelings!

Contact me with any questions!

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Nana's 90 {Auckland-Hamilton-Morrinsville event-wedding photographer}

Some events are so special! I love to shoot weddings and travel a lot around Auckland-Hamilton areas. Last weekend I been capturing different event - 90th Nana's birthday party at the farm near Morrinsville. I been happy to see this family second time (I captured Lisa's 21st at the same location last year), with Nana, her children, grandchildren and much more :)

What a special memories for this amazing family! There was special warm atmosphere, Nana so proud of all her family! Is so great to be surrounded by so many loving family members.

Enjoy this gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

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International wedding award by Lemonade and Lenses {Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga lifestyle couples-engagement photographer}

Im so excited to share with you amazing news: my image won the First place in wedding category "Winter 2016" international contest by Lemonade and Lenses magazine. Im so honoured to be in great company of talented photographers from around the world.
Olga & Zydon's wedding was just amazing! Thank you so much guys for sharing with me your special moments!

Now I can call myself multi-award winning wedding photographer, ha-ha, just joking :) But Im really happy that something what I really love get acknowledgement, especially in world photography community.

Olga & Zydon

Contact me with any questions!

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17hats for wedding photographers {Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga lifestyle couples-engagement photography}

Sometimes having a wedding photography business can be overwhelming: contacts from wedding couples, enquiries, keeping on track with current clients, meetings around Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga areas, organise workflow, contacts with other photographers and vendors etc. Thats why I decided to share with you how 17hats made my life so much easier. Truly amazing transformation! :)

1. all my clients base in one place (contacts, emails, phone numbers, addresses);

2. ability to organise different projects for each client;

3. online documentation (life saver!) - quotes, contracts, invoices, wedding questionnaires in one place with ability to create a template;

4. email tracking (you can answer for emails right from 17hats :)

5. todo list | calendar (you can put different events and tasks in the calendar and have a reminder each day);

6. ability to create a workflow and apply it to certain project (I have over 15 todo tasks for each project including contact, meeting with clients, send questionnaire, scout wedding location, prepare equipment, send an invoice, check last minute changes in wedding day timeline, check address, get directions, post a sneak peek on Facebook, send link on online wedding gallery, post USB and print | products etc). You see its a lot to remember and can be hard to keep on track with few weddings in a row and future (next year) enquiries :)

7. bookkeeping (I just love the ability to connect business account to 17hats and categorise all income and spends, my accountant loves it too :)

8. ability to send clients galleries etc.

Im sure there a lot of other opportunities what I still need to discover. I just can tell you 17hats became a game changer for me during last few months what Im using it and Im happy with everything.

I need to mention there another systems for clients bases and keep on track as Pixifi, Tave etc. Im sure people who are using them happy with everything. So its just matter to try and find out what interface suits you the best.

Hope this blog post will be useful for my friends photographers, as I see a lot of discussions and questions in local photographers groups about how to keep all documentation and track clients base etc.

Contact me with any questions! I like open book and happy to help :)

Ataahua Garden Venue {Tauranga-Payes Pa wedding-couples-engagement photographer}

Wedding location have a huge influence on wedding day atmosphere and feelings. One of the best wedding venue what I been recently shooting in Tauranga was Ataahua Garden Venue on Payes Pa Road. 

What a beautiful place to be married! (and believe me as wedding photographer I been shooting weddings in a lot of different magical spots around New Zealand, but Ataahua have so much to offer to every wedding couple:

- warm atmosphere

- great stuff and service (smiley women met me on wedding day right at parking entrance and politely show the way around, everyone in the venue was friendly, helpful - brought snacks in basket for couple on location shoot, it was so helpful!)

- amazing garden area with beautiful fountain, fireplace in front of bride and groom on the ceremony, arches, metal gates, greenery walls, and much more, hard to describe all the details!)

- beautiful views and tall trees around (light just magic way move through them and creating so stunning pictures, its so important on couples and bridal party location shoot)

- its not enough words to describe each detail what make this location so stunning. If you planning the wedding in 2016-2017 around Tauranga area just visit this stunning place and contact me, I will be happy to have the opportunity to capture your beautiful wedding in this stunning garden venue!

Enjoy this gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}