Tatum - Recently refurbished historic wedding venue Wellington - Libby and Pani

Libby and Pani - high school sweethearts, cat parents (my kind of people), homeowners and now... husband and wife! 💍 Getting to know these two was such an honour in the lead up to their day and we are so grateful to have captured both photos and video for them!!

This was our my first time at Tatum since it was recently renovated, the accommodation is really nice and there were plenty of great spots. Their video is by my husband Karl, photos by me!
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Photos: @jaymee_photography
Video: @traveller.video
Second photographer: @jessdewsnap
Dress: @bridal_studio @alenahume_nz
Venue: @tatumevents1912
Flowers: @jane.flowergirl
Hair: @taylormadehair_ @duo_styling
Makeup: @makeupbyhayz_
DJ: @dj_swervos

Tarureka Estate - Wairarapa wedding venue review and wedding photos!

Mr & Mrs Becker-Stewart! A true love story that dating apps can work their magic and these beautiful humans found each other! A laid-back guy from the Naki and a stunning registered nurse, an absolute perfect match these two ♥️ They are now living the dream together in Melbourne and came back to NZ to celebrate with friends and family on their wedding day at Tarureka Estate in Featherson!

Review of Tarureka Estate - Rustic Barn Wedding Venue Wairarapa, NZ

I wanted to share this wedding day as an opportunity to showcase Tarureka as a New Zealand wedding venue and why we enjoy photographing and filming weddings here! It’s located in Featherson at the bottom of the Remutaka Range hill, only a short drive from Wellington and Lower/Upper Hutt, so if you’re exploring venues in the Wairarapa or Wellington region this would be a great choice.

Get ready on site in the Historical Homestead

The homestead sleeps 18 people and has a bridal suite on the second floor. As photographers, we appreciate that everyone can get ready on-site for their wedding day. This makes it easy for us to go between rooms and spaces, if we have a groom getting ready at the same time a bride is having her hair or makeup done for example. The historic homestead has been recently renovated but holds its original charm and character. Once you’re ready for your ceremony and wedding day, it is only a 30-second walk to greet your guests.

Your wedding ceremony

Tarureka Estate offers an indoor and outdoor area for ceremonies which is great for all weather conditions. This is the outdoor area situated in a grove of trees. After your ceremony, guests are invited to the main lawn near the homestead for cocktails, canapes and games.

Wedding photos

The gardens at Tarureka provide backdrops for all your wedding photos however if you would like to go off-site with your bridesmaids/groomsmen/wedding party crew there are optional locations nearby! Most of the photos below are on-site (aside from the photos taken in the Olive Grove which are at a private property).

The Loft Barn

Voted as one of the top barn venues the loft was built in 1868 and is one of the oldest and largest barns in New Zealand. Since 2001 it has been running as a wedding venue. The top floor can be used for your ceremony and or reception, which seats up to 120 guests. The ground floor is where the bar and dance floor are located.

Brac and Bow Catering

At the time of writing this blog post Brac and Bow is the caterer for Tarureka and their food is delicious! The venue also offers BYO alcohol for no extra cost.

I also wanted to make a special mention to the wonderful Sarah McEvoy who joined me for part of this wedding day, she took some of the cocktail hour photos that I’ve shared in this blog. Two of my wedding packages include a second photographer so while I’m photographing in one area with the wedding couple, I have another person capturing some of the candid moments that couples often didn’t see on the day.

Lia and Edan - Rural New Zealand wedding on the Kapiti Coast Wellington

This was a cup is full kind of day. Our last wedding of the 2023 season was spent with Lia and Edan! They kept their whole day close to home, getting ready and hosting their reception at their family farm and ceremony across the road at a neighbour's property.

It rained during their ceremony and it was kind of magic seeing everyone continue to be present and not feel too upset by the weather. People laughed and happily cried, the weather wasn’t an issue and I admired that so much. I got to wear my waterproof tramping boots (the best purchase I've made) and a raincoat, I grew up on a farm so mud and a bit of water doesn’t phase me all. This whole experience was humbling and special being at a different venue, somewhere that meant a lot to their family.

Their reception formalities were kept very short and sweet with only a couple of speeches and a buffet family style dinner that was all self catered. I loved seeing all their family members and friends chip in to help with this part. It felt like a true celebration of bringing everyone together.

We are so grateful for how welcoming and friendly everyone was towards us on this day. It really makes me feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be, doing the job I LOVE.

Anam Cara Gardens Wedding - Amy and Liam

When your wedding day turns out to be a one-year wedding anniversary. SURPRISE! Amy and Liam thank you for asking us to capture your special day and for doing things authentic to how you wanted them to be! These two eloped on this exact day 1 year prior and managed to keep the secret until their wedding day at Anam Cara Gardens. We started off their day with preparations over in the main house before their first look together and then a first look with some of their immediate family members (loved this idea of including family). We then went around the gardens for photos with their wedding party friends!

To finish off the day we had cocktail hour with lots of catching up with their guests, the shoe game (is this what it's called?!), sunset photos down at Otaki beach, an epic reception entrance and a first dance.

As always thanks so much for having us at your beautiful venue Teresa and Tim at Anam Cara Gardens and to Olivia Melhop for your help on this day as my second photographer!

Tesh and Tim - Sudbury wedding, Te Horo Kapiti Coast

Here are some of my favourite moments from Tesh and Tim’s wedding day! ♥️
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They booked us for photo and video back in 2021, so we had lots of time to get to know more about these two by following them on socials and even getting some help with plumbing issues (shot Tim!) Straight away I could tell we were all going to vibe as I love their values and the connection they have for each other. A special mention to their love of cats which we relate to and also how ironic it was that a cat walked right into the middle of their ceremony during their vows.
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Their wedding was at Sudbury farm and we also popped down to the beach for some sunset photos, which was one of our favourite parts of the day. On our way back from sunset at the beach Tesh popped into Cottage 103, where the girls got ready earlier in the day, and got changed into a second outfit for their dancing. They walked down the road back to the venue and surprised their guests with an entrance in a new outfit!

Brackenridge Martinborough Wedding - Steph and Anthony

On a very windy and sunny day in Martinborough, we photographed and filmed Steph and Anthony’s wedding at Brackenridge Country Retreat. I had previously taken maternity photos for them in 2020 so it was special being asked to take photos a second time and to be able to capture their wedding day!

Wedding video by my partner Traveller Audio & Visual

Waitarere Beach Intimate Wedding

Over here reminiscing on the past few weeks and can’t believe that the summer wedding season is finished! So far this summer I’ve had 9 incredible couples who weddings I photographed, some intimate occasions and others were full day weddings. All different and unique in their own ways ♥️

Here are some of the highlights from Kaitlin and Jacob’s Waitarere beach wedding from a few weeks ago. We were all introduced a few years back at another wedding so it was really special seeing them again! I loved the relaxed and cosy atmosphere of this wedding, it was all about celebrating their day at a place that was special to their family.

Anam Cara Gardens Wedding in Otaki - Photography and Videography

Jana and Tim’s wedding day at Anam Cara Gardens was a treat! They were so cruisy and completely trusted us to do our thing!

We did their first look before the ceremony which gave them more time to catch up with their guests before the reception. Their family photo list was super short and sweet (something we are always grateful for, this is always the hardest part of the day for everyone), but we were able to get lots of candid moments and photos with their guests during the cocktail hour.

After a few speeches and a yummy dinner made by Nosh Catering, we made our way to Otaki beach for some sunset photos with the bridal crew, while their guests treated themselves to some delicious cake and expresso martinis (how good having a signature cocktail on the menu). Overall a stunner of a day and a perfect match these two!

Wedding Live-streaming Q&A

Covid19 has caused many disruptions in our world and going to events in person is one of them. The good news is we have the technology to connect with people digitally almost anywhere in the world, so if they can’t be there in person they can at least watch in real-time from afar.

My husband Karl now offers live-streaming as an additional service to our wedding photography and videography. This service has become so popular that during the busy season (Spring-Summer) Karl is fully booked on weekends with weddings. This means if you’ve been thinking about getting someone to live-stream your wedding ceremony it’s best to book months in advance!

If you’d want to know more about this service here is an FAQ written by Karl. You can also contact him here.

WHAT IS LIVE-STREAMING? 

When I live-stream I send live video and audio directly to a streaming service (such as Youtube or Vimeo), so that family and friends who can’t make it can still be a part of your day! With Covid-19 it can be pretty hard not being able to see people from overseas or those who are stuck in lockdown, so live-streaming is a great way to have them still be a part of the day.

WHAT IS THE COST?

The cost of this service starts at $800, this price is set for the 2022 season and is subject to change. Get in touch for the latest pricing.

DO I NEED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INTERNET?

I bring my own 4G router which gets a good connection in most areas, so you don’t need to worry about organising any of that! If there is wired internet available at the venue I may use that for reliability if it’s faster, but I organise this myself on the day. If I’m not sure about the internet connection, I sometimes do a site visit to confirm that streaming is possible.

DO YOU NEED TO COME TO THE WEDDING REHEARSAL?

It can be a good way for us to meet if we haven’t already, and for me to confirm where I will be and what the 4G connection is like, but it’s not at all necessary. 

WHAT STREAMING SERVICE DO YOU USE?

I usually use Youtube but I have experience with Zoom, Skype, Vimeo etc so I can be flexible if you have a preference. 

WILL THE AUDIO QUALITY BE GOOD?

Absolutely! Audio is my one of my top priorities. I have a variety of options to get good audio depending on the situation. If you are already using microphones then I will usually get a feed from that system. Otherwise, I also have options for small microphones on either the celebrant or groom. I always carry a backup microphone incase something goes wrong. 

DO YOU JUST LIVE-STREAM THE CEREMONY?

My standard service is just for the ceremony but I can do the reception/speeches if you would like for an additional cost.

WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG?

I carry a lot of extra equipment with me just in case something doesn’t work or goes wrong! In the event that something out of my control goes wrong (such as 4G coverage not working, or issues with the streaming service) then you are only charged for the actual recording price.

CAN I WATCH IT AFTERWARDS?

Yes the YouTube link will be instantly repayable. I will also send you a high-quality and touched up version via the cloud after the wedding.

WHEN WILL THE YOUTUBE LINK BE SET UP?

I usually set this up a week or two beforehand but I can do it anytime if you’d prefer it sooner!

Ohariu Farm Wedding Ceremony and Reception - Leah and David

Beautiful people and a beautiful wedding! Leah and David’s wedding had us all in happy tears. The love they have for one another is truly something special and I feel so lucky to have captured it alongside Karl who did their videography. Thank you to Ohariu Farm for having us two weekends in a row!

Ohariu Farm Wellington Wedding - Bryleigh and Ruben

Ohariu Farm is a wedding venue located 20 minutes North of Wellington city, it’s perfect if you’re wanting a farm or barn type of wedding setting without the hassle of traveling too far from home. Bryleigh and Ruben asked me to photograph their full wedding day from preparations through to the beginning of the dancing. Karl also made a highlight film for them documenting the most important parts from their first look through to their first dance, he captured it so perfectly!

They both had airbnb’s/accomodation for their prep photos which were stunning! A tidy space for getting ready makes a huge difference in the quality of your photos. A lot of thought went into the smaller details of their whole wedding... like designing and crafting their own arch, wedding invites, signage and rings, just to name a few. I loved the personal touches! Bryleigh works in the wedding industry so she has a good eye for detail.

It has been a pleasure getting to know Bryleigh over the past year. She actually played an important part in helping Karl design my engagement ring when she was working with the team at The Village Gold Smith.

Bryleigh and Ruben thank you so much for asking us to document your special day!

Summer Romance Styled Shoot at Anam Cara Gardens Kapiti Coast

This styled shoot gives me that summer romance feeling! Britt from The Wedding Coach NZ did an incredible job of bringing these elements together. Our wonderful models Caitlin and David who are married (in real life) made the vision come to life and honestly made my job of photographing so easy.

Thank you to my partner Karl from Traveller Audio and Visual for this incredible highlight film! We now offer videos like this with our wedding packages too! Full list of all of the other talented vendors below.

Check out these luxe-rustic wedding vibes! Britt from the Wedding Coach put together this styled shoot with the help of lots of Wellington Wedding vendors. A...

venue: Anam Cara Gardens
planner and stylist: The Wedding Coach NZ
florals: Love Stomp Floral
signage: Day Dream NZ
mua: The Makeup Artist
hair: Wedding hair by Rachel
props and furniture: Made Lovely Hire
cake: Cake It Forward
dresses: Astra Bridal Wellington
suit: Mandatory NZ
video: Traveller Audio and Visual

Peppers Parehua Martinborough Wedding Ceremony

Corona may have delayed their original wedding plans and restricted some guests from being there in person, but it did not stop them from having the best day! Congratulations Liz and Dom! Their intimate wedding ceremony at Peppers Martinborough was so special. They had zoom calls and Karl there to help capture the day through video. I'm so grateful to have been there to document the occasion for them!

Video by Traveller Audio & Visual, audio/singing by the Brides Sister.

Two stunning Brides Married at Sudbury NZ - Grace and Gemma

A big congratulations to these beautiful ladies who got married out on the Kapiti Coast at wedding venue Sudbury NZ, Mrs & Mrs Prescott-Whitaker!

Grace and Gemma met through work, Gemma being Grace’s mentor in her first year of nursing practice. After 3 years of friendship they fell for each other! Grace proposed to Gemma at the peak of The Cardrona ski field in Wanaka. After convincing Gem to climb the hill in her ski boots “for the view”, Grace waited for the right moment to ask the question and she said yes!

Grace and Gemma celebrated their wedding at Sudbury in Wellington. Filmed on the 12th of December 2020. Crafted by Traveller Audio + Visual with Jaymee Photo...

They envisioned a day of love, family and friends, with relaxed vibes and a romantic atmosphere to create a day that everyone would look back on and smile. They wanted the mimosas flowing and the food plentiful. Some special features about their day, Grace’s brother wrote and read a personalised reading during the ceremony and their nephew who is just about to turn one danced his way down the aisle with his mum, it was the sweetest moment! Where they could they used local businesses and close friends with businesses and materials that could be recycled and used again, for example, their table names are now made into a birdhouse behind their house.

Karl and I had the most incredible time photographing and filming their special day. I’ve been photographing for the Whitaker family for a few years and had happy tears during their ceremony (did my best to keep my cool). It’s a day I’ll never forget and I feel incredibly grateful to have been a part of it. This was my last wedding for 2020, it was the best way to end the year.

Florist: Holly and Twine
Makeup: Kerry from Amber and co.
Outfits: Grace wore a Made With Love dress that she bought on Still White, second hand and in perfect condition. Gem found her dress on ASOS and it was magical.
Cake: Courtney Wylie
Catering: Sarah Senecke
Celebrant: Sarah Topliff

Foxglove Wellington Wedding Ceremony and Reception - Claire and Brendan

Congratulations to Claire and Brendan! They tied the knot at Foxglove on Wellington's waterfront and it was my pleasure to document the full day for them. Claire was wearing a beautiful Sophie Voon Bridal dress, which you don't realise is actually made up of two pieces, a dress and a lace top.

My favourite spot right outside the venue is a brick wall, which you’ll see in their photos. Thank you mother nature for looking out for us, the rain stayed away long enough for us to have their bridal photos outside!

How photographers and videograhers work together?

Often couples will pick their photographer and videographer separately based on style and price, however, the truth is it’s not always easy for the two to work together so you want to make sure they are compatible.

It’s a balancing act. Both are being paid to create their best work for you. Most importantly, this isn’t something you want to be worrying about on the day. My partner Karl offers videography services alongside my photography packages. Couples tend to feel more reassured hiring a team or duo that has experience working together and knows how to produce the best results for your special day. We have put together key points to consider when looking for your videographer and photographer.

DO THEIR STYLES MATCH

Are their styles candid (natural) or posed, or a mix of both? Does their work resonate with what you’re looking for and can you see yourself enjoying the process of working with them? Are you drawn to the way they edit their work, do you like the colours and tones? If your photographer’s style is to capture candid photos using natural light but your videographer wants to use a video light then the two are going to have a hard time working together.

HAVE THEY WORKED TOGETHER BEFORE

Don’t be afraid to ask both vendors if they have worked together before. If they haven’t worked together previously, perhaps ask if they would be willing to both meet with you for coffee so you can get a feel for how well they communicate. Your videographer may want to set up a tripod or sound equipment that could limit your photographer’s angles, they will need to establish some boundaries so both can get the right shots.

WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR YOU

Establish what’s most important to you. There might be a particular moment that you’d like photographed but you’re not too bothered on video, or vise versa. Make sure you communicate this to both vendors so they know who takes priority.

Blackmagic Pocket 4K Review for Wedding Videography - by Karl Mooyman

I caught up with my partner Karl to find out more about the gear he uses for our videography services. Here’s his review on The Blackmagic Pocket 4k!

The Blackmagic Pocket 4k isn’t really considered a run-and-gun camera and probably for good reason. While it does have amazing picture quality, its short battery life, lack of stabilisation and no autofocus makes it more difficult than other choices. I guess a better title for this would be ‘How I use the Pocket 4k’!

When it comes to shooting weddings, one of the key considerations for me is that my work needs to match well with my partner Jaymee Photography, this mainly involves the colour. Being able to use Braw as a codec is pretty important as it gives me a lot more flexibility in post-production to be able to match my colour looks to Jaymee’s. There are not many cameras at this price point (or any that I can think of!) that can record 4k 60p 10-bit raw, which is really what made me choose the Pocket 4k. The other great thing about Braw is that for such a powerful codec, it’s pretty light. I shoot at a 12:1 compression ratio, which gives me files similar to ProRes size. That makes it much easier on storage and processing power - double win!

A little peak at Sarah and James' special day! Filmed on the 22nd of February 2020. Crafted by Traveller Audio + Visual for Jaymee Photography.

There are a few hurdles that I’ve had to overcome though, the hardest of which is battery life. I use three different powering solutions that I mix and match depending on what’s going on. The first is the standard LP-E6 battery, for when I have time to swap out batteries (great for bridal shoots, detail shots and anything where I have time to get the shots). For a wedding ceremony though, I definitely don’t want to swap batteries half-way through. In this case, I use a cable to power it from my Ronin-S, this can power it for 2 hours which is more than enough! Lastly, for handheld or tripod use I have a power handle that attaches to my case which has a larger NP-F battery and also powers it for about 2 hours.

The other two hurdles go hand in hand - Autofocus and Stabilisation. I use a Ronin-S 85% of the time which gives me those smooth looking shots. I’d be pretty lost without it, though it can get heavy. For Focusing, I use the Tilta Nucleus Nano which is a wireless follow focus. It’s taken a lot of practice to get good at focusing, but I’m really glad I do manual focus, it forces me to be specific about what’s in focus to create a story. I go for a cinematic look for most of my work so these solutions are the best options anyway!

It took me months to decide which camera to buy. I tend to be quite particular about purchases so I narrowed it down to two options, then figured out what accessories I could buy within my budget, narrowing it down to what I definitely needed etc. I’m glad I went for this option, as I think overcoming those hurdles teaches you a lot. It’s also a camera I’m going to grow into as I learn more about video, particularly colouring. Feel free to comment if you have any questions or comments about the Pocket 4k!