Old Saint Paul's Ceremony and Foxglove Reception - Mia and Phuong

Mia and Phuong originally had me booked for their wedding in 2020 but going into lockdown, unfortunately, meant rescheduling. I’m so grateful to have been a part of their planning and seeing it all come to life after the anticipation of waiting patiently for their new date. It really was an incredible day and the best way to end my busy season.

They had their ceremony at Old Saint Paul’s Wellington followed by bridal photos at Moa Point on the windy coastline. We then made our way to their second location for bridal photos along the waterfront which was the perfect way to go into their reception at Foxglove.
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Thanks so much Mia and Phuong! Here are a couple of my favourite moments from the day.

Wellington Waterfront Family Photos - A Special Occasion in NZ

What’s something you’re looking forward to the most this Christmas? I’m excited to see our families. Lucky for us Karl’s parents live 1.5 hours away so we get to see both sides of the family.

Here’s a couple of moments from my recent family session with Craig and his family while they were on holiday in NZ. I love how NZ was the destination for them to get together right before Xmas and celebrate their Thanksgiving.

The Best Photography Locations in Wellington, New Zealand

I’ll often get asked where the best spots in Wellington are for photography. We’re really lucky in Wellington as we can easily travel from the city to the hills with a view or the coastline. In this post I’ve put together a few of my favourite locations for wedding photos, engagement shoots or family sessions. All of these locations have their own benefits and suitable times of the day for the best outcome in your photos. Get in touch directly if you’d like to know more about these locations and if they will be suitable for your next photo shoot.

AT THE SEASIDE - PETONE BEACH, LOWER HUTT

Pros: Petone Beach is an easy-access location with great views of Wellington City. On one side of the wharf is the dog beach, so there is a dog-friendly area and on the other side of the wharf there are usually no dogs off leads. In the summertime, the grass area is covered in bunny tail grass which I love photographing in. This area can also be more sheltered from high winds coming from the North/West.

Things to be mindful of: It’s a popular location, and lots of people are out walking their dogs so it can feel busy (good news is I can avoid having people in the background of your photos, so no issues there).

Best time of day for photos here: Approx 1 or 1.5 hours before sunset depending on the time of year and the weather forecast (particularly in winter the light gets lost behind the hills a bit quicker than expected).

SUNSET AND VIEWS - WHITIREIA PARK, PORIRUA

Pros: Whitireia Park is one of those spots that make you feel extremely grateful for living in New Zealand. It’s an easy location to drive to for a panoramic view of the ocean, Mana Island and in the distance on some days you can also see the South Island. There are multiple areas for photos here and some long grass areas.

Things to be mindful of: There is no hiding from the weather here, bring warm clothing and hair ties or wear your hair back. This location isn’t suitable for high wind forecasts.

Best time of day for photos: 1 hour before sunset.

PHOTOS IN NATURE - PERCY RESERVE, LOWER HUTT

Pros: A great location for families with younger children who aren’t able to stay up late for a sunset session at Petone or Eastbourne Beach. It’s also great on a windy day rather than doing photos at the beach as it’s more sheltered. There are a few areas within walking distance of the car park that I like to use and I’ll often finish the session at the duck pond so children can enjoy that part of the reserve. This reserve is also great because of the open spaces and concreted pathways, it’s not overwhelming with green tones which can sometimes affect the colour of skin in photos if it’s a highly dense bush area.

Things to be mindful of: In winter it can get cold in the reserve from 3 pm as it doesn’t see much sun after this time.It’s not suitable for dogs.

Best time of day for photos here: morning or early/afternoon in winter. Early morning or early evening in Summer.

HISTORICAL AND STUNNING - TRUBY KING PARK, MELROSE

Pros: This is a historical site of the founders of the Plunket Society. If the beach isn’t your favourite location, then this one could be it instead. I love the old brick archways and paths, the garden sweeps around the building giving you a number of spots to pick from. In the late afternoon, you can hear the lions at the zoo roaring. There is also a pine forecast nearby that can also be used for photos if the light is too bright in the main gardens.

Things to be mindful of: Parking is limited and some areas are cornered off due to earthquake damage.

Best time of day for photos here: 1 hour before sunset or early morning.

LONG GRASS AND BEACHY - EASTBOURNE, LOWER HUTT

Pros: Eastbourne has been a popular spot because of its long grass and beach setting. It’s a lot quieter than Petone Beach which some clients prefer. This can also be a beautiful spot at sunset.

Things to be mindful of: It is a more exposed location to windy weather. I recommend bringing a jacket and hair ties just in case.

Best time of day for photos here: 1 hour before sunset in summer or 1.5 hours in winter, depending on the time of year and the weather forecast (particularly in winter the light gets lost behind the hills a bit quicker than expected).

IN THE CITY - BROOKLYN CENTRAL PARK, WELLINGTON

Pros: This location is very easy to get to near the CBD but at the same time it is out of the hustle. It’s great for being shaded away from the bright sun (bright sunny days aren’t usually the best light for photos), so this location is perfect for daytime family sessions with children if a sunset session isn’t an option. The park is also dog friendly on leads and there is a playground that we can go to at the end of the photo shoot.

Things to be mindful of: Sometimes parking is limited on the street, it can just mean parking further up the road and walking down to the entrance a minute or two.

Best time of day for photos here: Morning or afternoon in winter. Or Late afternoon/early evening in Summer around 5pm.

PHOTOS IN NATURE - MOONSHINE PARK, UPPER HUTT RIVER

Pros: An easy location for those living in Lower Hutt. It has good parking and a couple of spots for photos. It’s also dog friendly!

Things to be mindful of: It can be a little noisy as it is right next to a bridge on the motor way.

Best time of day for photos here: Early morning or late afternoon about 1.5 hours before sunset.

ICONIC - PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON CITY

Pros: Wanting a more urban city vibe? Wellington’s parliament buildings are a mix of historic and modern backdrops. This is a great location on a rainy day as well, there are some sheltered areas for photos.

Things to be mindful of: This is a location that you require permission to use for professional photos but I can arrange this for you with enough notice.

Best time of day for photos here: Afternoon

BELMONT RECREATION RESERVE - LOWER HUTT RIVER

Pros: Lower Hutt river has a few different areas that are suitable for photos but I love Belmont Recreation Reserve! It has good parking and multiple spots for photos including a garden lawn setting and then the river bank. There is also a playground area that kids can play on after the photo session.

Things to be mindful of: Getting into the reserve from the motorway can sometimes be a challenge during busy periods.

Best time of day for photos here: This can depend on the weather forecast and time of year but as a rule, anytime from about 2.5-2 hours before sunset is suitable before the light is lost in behind the hills.

URBAN VIBES - WELLINGTON CITY

Pros: If you’d like to showcase our beautiful city there’s no better place than the waterfront or around Cuba Street. I really like the backdrops along Leeds/Eva Street and Wigan Street.

Things to be mindful of: Parking can be difficult and expensive in the city, plus dodging crowds can make it take a bit longer than other locations. You will need to walk to get to each location, which may not be suitable for families with younger children.

Best time for photos here: Late afternoon/early evening for the CBD, 1 to 2 hours before sunset along the waterfront.

ROUGH COAST LINE - BREAKER BAY, WELLINGTON

Pros: On the other end of town is the coastline that looks out to sea and a number of bays that are great for photos that tend to be really quiet with less people around. I like this spot for its grassy area as well as the beach just down the road.

Things to be mindful of: This is one of the furthest away locations from my home, so this there is a slightly higher travel fee. Can also be exposed to cold southerlies.

Best time of day for photos here: 1 hour before sunset

PHOTOS IN NATURE - SPICER PARK, PORIRUA

Pros: Great all year round for family and portrait sessions. Great for families with young children who can’t wait up for sunset photos at the beach. It’s also dog friendly.

Things to be mindful of: It gets dark 2-3 hours before sunset due to the surrounding hills.

Best time of day for photos here: 3 hours before sunset.

THE BEST AFTERNOON LIGHT - REDROCKS, Owhiro Bay WELLINGTOn

Pros: Of all the sunset locations, Redrocks tends to be the most magical in Summer.

Things to be mindful of: The beach area I use for photos is about 5 minutes walk from the car park. Sometimes the car park is full and there are a lot of people here in Summer time. This is one of the furthest away locations from my home, so this there is a slightly higher travel fee. Can also be exposed to cold southerlies. Not suitable in winter due to the low sunset behind the hills.

Best time of day for photos here: Depending on the time of year, I suggest arriving 1 hour before sunset.

BLOSSOM VALLEY - ASTON NORWOOD GARDENS, KAITOKE UPPER HUTT

Pros: The Blossom Valley festival is a stunning and unique attraction, making it a really special photo location.

Important information: The Japanese cherry blossom trees only bloom for a short period of time from around mid-September and finish early October, depending on the weather. However, the gardens are beautiful all year round.

Things to be mindful of: There is a ticket fee to access this venue. I will organise permission to photograph here on your behalf. During school holidays, the blossom festival is very busy and popular, making parking accessibility not as easy. If you would like photos during the blossom season, please book well in advance as spaces are popular.

Best time of day for photos here: We are limited to their opening hours. I recommend early morning for summer or late afternoon for winter/spring.

Dockside Wellington wedding venue - Kath and Anthony

Wellington city has a lot to offer if you’re looking for a wedding venue to host both your ceremony and reception. Dockside is a venue and restaurant located on the edge of the Wellington waterfront. The Main Deck downstairs features an opening roof, so it’s perfect for any weather and large enough to host your ceremony and reception.

Kath and Anthony asked for mostly candid photos throughout their wedding as it was important that they could enjoy these moments with their guests and not feel too distracted by the photos. I was able to focus all of my attention to capturing moments of Kath and Anthony with their families and friends.

After the ceremony I joined guests and the wedding party upstairs for speeches, while the team at Dockside set up downstairs for the reception dinner.

Kath and Anthony picked Dockside as they loved the atmosphere and their food/wine menu. Their theme was minimalist and classic, mostly white with touches of greenery.

We were not after traditional wedding photos and didn’t want to be away from our guests for long to take family pics. Jaymee totally listened to what we wanted and we hardly noticed her roaming around taking photos throughout the night. She was also warm and engaging, we had lots of comments from our guests about how great she was. So happy with our photos! Would recommend Jaymee for your wedding photos, especially if you’re not normally keen on having your photos taken. She captures moments naturally when you’re not expecting it.
- Kath & Anthony

If you’re not after full day coverage with all of the bells and whistles, we should talk! Each wedding is unique which is why I offer bespoke photography packages, this makes it easier for couples to find what they are looking for.

Wellington city photo shoot with Larissa Deana Carlson

Earlier this year blogger Larissa Deana Carlson and her husband Issac asked me to photograph their 3 year wedding anniversary. We decided the waterfront would be the perfect location to mark this celebration as Wellington City has been a symbolic part of their relationship.

The waterfront area in Wellington has so many areas on offer for photos and it’s great in the late afternoon when the light starts to peak over and in behind the buildings. These particular examples were all in one area within walking distance of The Boat Shed. I love the shark wall, I’ve used it a handful of times for photos and every time my clients comment on how it makes a cool backdrop and it’s something different to the other areas.

Wellington Waterfront Engagement Shoot - Jane and Jake

I can't wait to start the wedding season with Jane and Jake's upcoming wedding! I love meeting up with couples for engagement shoots, it's a chance to relax and enjoy this special time leading up to the big day.