Candid wedding photos and portraits of guests - Why I use a second photographer and examples of their photography

Second photographer included in Collections 3 & 4

Two of my wedding packages include having a second photographer with us for part of your day! This is a cost I take care of as part of our service and is provided as part of your package. My second photographer will take photos on the day and I do the rest from organising their start/finish time, editing the photos and handling delivery. Having a second photographer is great for weddings with 60+ guests. It means we can capture more of your guests and unique moments that you maybe didn’t see happen on the day (so often we hear back from clients with feedback that they love seeing the photos that took part during times when their attention was on other things). While I’m capturing the important parts and formalities, my second photographer is in the background capturing extra candid moments and is available to take photos of your guests. We will often do the rounds asking if guests would like a photo taken during cocktail hour (if we aren’t needed elsewhere) but we also encourage guests to ask us for any group photos they would like.

Photo opportunities that we love for candid moments

We love capturing the moments right after your ceremony when guests come up to congratulate you (it’s an exciting moment and guests start to forget we are there as they are more focused on you). I even suggest that couples add 5-10 minutes into their timeline after the ceremony for this part so we can capture some candid hugs and chats.

We also love weddings that provide games or entertainment during cocktail hour, if games are started at the right time one of us can capture this (keep in mind sometimes games can happen at the same time as the formal portraits with the wedding party/bridesmaids/groomsmen, where both photographers are likely away focusing on this). Some couples will allow extra time before or after their wedding portraits so they can join part of the cocktail hour. This allows us to capture some moments of you with your guests before the reception starts! I can provide suggestions and guidance on a timeline for this (my goal is not to keep couples away from guests for too long, we want you to be catching up with your favourite people).

A couple of things to note from our side of things!

Candid moments are not staged and can sometimes only happen in the right environments, they are never guaranteed to always happen like in these particular examples. Things like weather and a strict timeline can mean there may be less opportunity for us to capture photos of your guests. On the day of a wedding, we may need to prioritise taking certain photos over these candid opportunities. We also respect guests’ boundaries if they do not want their photos taken or if we feel the moment doesn’t feel right we will focus on other parts of the wedding day instead (we will photograph where we feel comfortable or welcomed).

My second photographer is with us for up to 4 hours on a wedding day and this is usually to help cover preparations, the ceremony and after the ceremony, they will often finish before the reception starts. During the reception, I will cover this part of the day on my own and will continue to capture weddings in both a portrait and candid style (and guests can still grab me for a photo when possible)!

These photos are credited to the amazing Jess Dewsnap who has worked with me for many weddings! She runs her own business as well so may not be available at every event, however, I work closely with other local photographers.

A second photographer can also be added to Collection 1 or 2 for an additional fee. * All of the information in this blog post is correct and up to date as of May 2024. Packages and services may change over time.

Wellington wedding anniversary photo shoot

Suné and Mark celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary with a portrait session! I'm so grateful to have documented this special time for them. We met at Truby King Park in Melrose for a 45 minute portrait session as the sun was setting. This is such a beautiful location for photos and sometimes you can hear the lions at the zoo roaring, just an added bonus.

Relaxed Maternity Photos at Petone Beach Wellington

If you’re expecting a baby there are a few reasons why you should consider having a maternity shoot! A maternity session allows you to book in a time that is dedicated to you and your partner celebrating your little bundle of joy. It’s actually a great chance to just hang out at an epic location and enjoy some quiet moments together.

To the Mums, this is your moment to shine and appreciate how amazing and beautiful your body is. Around 30-34 weeks is usually a good time to have photos taken as this is when your bump is showing but it’s not too uncomfortable for you to be walking around.

I loved this relaxed maternity session with Holly and Sam at Petone Beach. We took their photos right before and during sunset, the light was so beautiful and they looked incredible together! My maternity shoots are 30 minutes long, which is actually plenty of time for a photo shoot with two people (perfect if your partner isn’t too keen on having photos taken). You’ll receive a bunch of beautiful photos like in this blog post, delivered to you in an online gallery ready for you to use as you please.

I offer these sessions all year round during weekends and weekdays. Get in touch for pricing!

Reasons to Elope! Wellington Elopement Ceremony at Makara Wind Farm

The number one reason couples choose to elope instead of having a wedding is so they can have that "just us" experience. Some couples want to have the freedom to spend the day together without all of the traditional rules and distractions that come with hosting a wedding.

Saving money is a huge benefit and you're valuing memories rather than the materialistic side of having a traditional wedding. Overall elopements are less stressful and require less planning!

Jess and Matt contacted me a couple of weeks prior to their elopement ceremony. We had to postpone due to weather but we were able to reschedule with the shortest notice possible (literally same day notice). They chose Makara Wind Farm as their location and their celebrant Mirandar Zander joined us for an intimate ceremony looking out over the ocean and hills. Karl and I are honored to have been their witnesses.

Wellington maternity photographer - Reasons to have a maternity session

If you’re counting down the weeks until your little one arrives this could be the perfect time to book in your maternity session. From 30 weeks is usually a good time for photos depending on your pregnancy, you want your bump to be visible but still be feeling comfortable enough to enjoy your session. There are so many reasons to book in a maternity session, take a read!

YOUR PREGNANCY JOURNEY

Pregnancy is different for everyone and you may feel self-conscious about having your photos taken at this time. Your body is changing in the most incredible way and having a photo session is a way of shifting your focus towards celebrating the new life you are creating, instead of worrying about your appearance.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Your pregnancy may feel as if it’s taking a toll on your body and if we are being real… you can’t wait for your baby to arrive just so you can start to feel normal again. Once baby is here and in the years to come, you’ll be so focused on raising a child that your pregnancy will feel like a very distant memory! Having photos to look back on will allow you to relive some of those moments you had together during pregnancy and remember that feeling of being so eager to meet your little one.

YOUR FAMILY IS GROWING!

When your little one is older you can show them photos from when they were in Mum’s tummy! If you are someone who likes to look back at old family photos, your maternity session is the best place to start your own family album. You can document your family’s growth by following up with a newborn session.

DISPLAY YOUR IMAGES

Wedding photos are often put on display throughout homes and a maternity session signifies another milestone in your life together. Professional photos are worth putting on display. You can also use your photos for your gender reveal, there are lots of ways to get creative with this.

Tips for your winter photo session - Whitireia Park Family Photos

Lam and Peter braved the cold and wind for their recent engagement shoot which we also combined with some family photos of Lam and her sisters. We had originally planned to take these photos back in March, followed by their wedding in May but had to postpone everything due to lockdown. I'm so glad I was finally able to take photos for them! Winter is a little unpredictable but the light on this afternoon was worth the wait and being out in the cold.

FIND A SPECIAL LOCATION

Let’s make the most of your photo session by choosing a location that’s going to inspire you (and your photographer) and make you feel good. Turn the session into a memory, somewhere you think you will enjoy the scenery. Light is everything, so talk to your photographer about the best time of day at a particular location.

HAVE WARM OUTFIT OPTIONS

My sessions range from 30 minutes to 1 hour long. Neutral colour pallets tend to work best, or fabrics with some texture but not overly patterned. Flowy dresses look stunning but keep in mind the length if it’s going to be windy at your location. Don’t be afraid to wear white, this looks great during sunset. Bring a warm coat that you don’t mind wearing for some of the photos.

BE FLEXIBLE WHEN RESCHEDULING

I wish we could control what mother nature does on the day of our photo session. If your photos aren’t urgent I always recommend rescheduling to a different day if it’s raining or too windy. There is no extra cost for rescheduling and I do my best to be flexible with back up days. If rescheduling isn’t an option consider having an indoor location for your photos.