An intimate wedding celebration at one of our favourite venues Boomrock Lodge Wellington. Jenna and Aaron kept their day intentional, making the most of the important things - being with family, spending time with the people they love, while enjoying incredible food and the amazing view seen from Boomrock.
wellington photography
Ohariu Farm Wellington Wedding - Abbey and Anthony
When your clients are from Taranaki (where I grew up) and you instantly click 😍 I’m so grateful that Abbey and Anthony asked me to capture their engagement photos and wedding day! The girls had a great Airbnb near Ohariu Farm, so if anyone needs a recommendation for accommodation please check out Ohariu Alpaca Farm Stay. If you have pets and you’d like some creative ideas for including them on your wedding day, scroll down to see how Abbey and Anthony incorporated their doggos into their wedding reception.
There is an incredible list of vendors from their wedding!
@marriedbyashleigh
@jaymiejarvis.makeupartist
@ohariufarm
@stilettostudiocakes
The best outdoor photo locations for family photography in Lower Hutt, NZ
Petone Beach Photos
Petone Beach is an easy-access location with great views of Wellington City. I usually meet clients in the old wharf car park which is easy to park in with children. 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, this popular spot is covered in cute bunny tail grass and there are a lot of different backdrops within walking distance from the car. The best time for photos here is about 1-1.5 hours before sunset depending on the time of year and weather forecast (particularly in winter the light gets lost behind the hills a bit quicker than expected).
Eastbourne Beach Photos
Eastbourne is a popular location because of its long grass and beach setting. It can be a little windy though so bring a jacket and hair tie (like most areas in Wellington). Best time for photos here is usually 1 hour before sunset. This location is also dog friendly.
Percy Reserve Photos
Percy Reserve is 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. Best time of day for photos here can be morning or early/mid afternoon.
belmont recreation reserve - Lower Hutt River
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. The best time of day for photos here 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.
Extended family photo sessions Wellington
Extended family sessions are the best way to get updated photos of the whole whānau and also your immediate family members. These sessions are 1 hour long and during this time we can do as many combinations as you’d like to do. This means you get your own set of family photos with your kiddies and partner, plus the extended group photos so it’s like having a few mini shoots all in one. You can also split the cost between a few of you which in return does save you some money, smart! These sessions with larger groups start at $990 plus travel (price set as of May 2023), which works out to be really affordable when there are a few people contributing to the session.
Have fun and embrace the process of having photos taken! Preparing for stress free photos with children.
My favourite jobs are always the ones when parents let their children have fun! Yes it’s important to get a staple photo of everyone smiling and looking at the camera but what a lot of people don’t realise is that sometimes the best photos are when you’re not looking at me and you’re in the moment. Having your family photos taken does not need to be stressful. Here’s one of the best family sessions I’ve done in 2022 and a few simple ways you can prepare to have the best experience on the day of your photo shoot.
FIRSTLY - IF IT TURNS TO SH**, IT’S OK
I’ve seen it all.. there’s not anything that will shock or bother me when photographing kids. Don’t feel like you need to apologise for a tantrum or something that your kid said. I’m there to work through all of that, I have thick skin and I have a few tricks up my sleeve. When you don’t realise it I’ll be capturing moments. Every time when the photo shoot feels like it’s gone terribly for parents they are always pleasantly surprised by the photos taken in between the chaos.
PREPARE YOUR CHILDREN
Start talking to your children about the photoshoot a few days prior to get them familiar with the idea. Talk about it with excitement but also make it sound normal and fun, you don’t want to overwhelm them with expectations of how you think it will go. Tell them what to expect from your photographer. You can tell your children that your photographer is a friend, so they don’t seem like a stranger.
EXPECTATIONS
If you go into your photoshoot feeling stressed and nervous about how your toddler or kids are going to behave, the chances are they are going to pick up on this tension. They might not want to sit still, look at the camera and smile. If you put pressure on them it might make it harder. My best piece of advice is to go with the flow and work with your photographer to capture natural moments together, these are often the best photos! You might need to make it fun and let your child play, be convincing that its fun!
LISTEN AND GO WITH THE FLOW
Towards the end of your session let your kids run in the sand and roll in the grass, create a fun memory with them. Children will go through different stages and phases. They may only want one parent to hold them and getting them on their own isn’t going to happen without tears. The best way to work with children is to not force them but to comfort them, they might be nervous! Work with what you can. Sometimes bribes can work, or perhaps they just need their favourite toy.
Would love to hear if this post resonated with you or eased some of your worries going into your photo session! Also let me know if you love this style of photographer over the more formal and posted look of family photos!
My favourite photo sessions with pet dogs!
We love our furry companions, so much that we treat them as if they are members of our families. Our two cats Maple and Fig will always be our ‘firstborn babies’ even after/if we have children.
When clients ask if they bring pets along to their sessions it’s a big YES from me. I’ll usually suggest bringing along an extra person to help lead your dog if you know they will get really excited during the photo shoot. Most of the locations I use are dog friendly or have a car park nearby so it makes it easier to bring them along even if it’s just for some of the photos. Here are some of my favourite shots from photoshoots (and weddings) with dogs! Take your pick and vote for the best-photographed doggo.
Using two different locations for your family photo session!
Celebrating turning one year old with baby Teo and his proud parents Daisy and Diego. To remember this time in their lives they booked a family session with two locations, starting with their new home!
If you can’t choose between having photos at a location or in your own home, my 1-hour sessions often allow enough time for an indoor and outdoor setting within the same area. Look for a park or a reserve close by to your home, or even your own backyard might be suitable. Here are some of my favourite moments from the first half of our shoot together (before we braved the freezing cold winter weather at the park.
This was our second location, I often drive past this reserve which was only a 5 minute drive from their home so it worked out perfectly for a second location.
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!
Lifestyle Newborn Photos At Home
Having your photo taken isn’t something we do every day which is why my family and newborn sessions are easy-going, less about industry trends and more about the experience I can provide. Here are some cute moments with Ange, Rory and Marlow. The great thing about being at home for their photos was they were about to feed Marlow between shots and settle her throughout our whole session.
Bringing a baby into the world is the perfect reason to have your pictures taken. I’ve had lots of newborn sessions lately! They are one of my favourite kind of photo sessions.
10 year friendship anniversary photos!
To celebrate 10 years of friendship Jess and Annah traveled to Wellington for the weekend and while they were here Jess organised a surprise photoshoot! It was such a thoughtful thing to do and a special way to document their friendship anniversary. I personally would love to do the same thing with my best friends! These moments are forever and having the photos to look back on later in life is going to feel so sentimental.
This was a 30-minute photo session which is great if you’re not looking for a 1-hour photoshoot. These sessions are currently $490, this pricing is set as of October 2020 and subject to change. Which makes them more affordable and more of a reason to book photos in even if it is just for fun.
*pricing set as of October 2020 and may change in the future
Tips to prepare for your in-home lifestyle and newborn photo session
Family sessions at home capture a mix of unfiltered real moments, done in a stylised way. These sessions are a personal favourite of mine if you have a newborn! I’ll be able to capture your family in an authentic way and you’ll feel more comfortable being in your own space.
PREPARING YOUR SPACE
A home is made to be lived in and no one is expecting every room in your house to be clean or tidy, especially if you have kids. There is absolutely no pressure to prepare your entire house for photos but having one or two spaces ready to use before your photographer arrives is key. Often your bedroom, living area, or a children’s bedroom is a great space to use for a lifestyle session. You may want to put away some toys or hide clutter but you definitely won’t need to clear everything out of the space, you still want it to look like your home and not something out of a flashy magazine.
PREPARING YOUR NEWBORN AND TODDLER
Let your children know a photographer is coming to your home for some fun and they will be taking some pictures. Asking your children to sit quiet and still usually doesn’t work and it can make your photographer seem like a scary person coming into their space. Make it fun and playful, prepare some activities that you can all do together. Let your kids run around and your photographer can interact with them, we love building trust with them and making the process enjoyable for everyone. Relax and try not to stress over their behaviour on the day.
For your newborn, do what you need to do. Stick to your feeding routine and don’t be afraid to feed during your session if you need to. You’ll likely plan to have your photos taken at a time when your baby usually sleeps but come the day of your photos their sleeping habits might be out the window. Your photographer will be able to adapt and allow you to settle your newborn if you need extra time.
WHAT TO WEAR
You’re at home so you want to be comfortable but pick outfits that make you feel confident. Coordinate your outfits with each other and with your space, think of using similar tones and complementary colours. I personally love earthy and light tones, whites and creams are particularly great for a newborn session. Avoid busy patterns and text on shirts. At the end of the day, if you want to be in your PJs and your baby wants to run around in their nappy, that’s completely ok too! The goal is to capture authenticity.
Family Photos at Home - Wellington NZ
If you’re thinking about updating your family photos, have you considered using your home as the location? I always feel extremely grateful that I get to meet so many families and take their pictures. Being invited into their personal space brings another element into the session. If you have children who are a little camera shy and reluctant, being in their own environment could be an opportunity for them to feel confident and enjoy having their photo taken.
When Candice invited me into their home, everywhere I looked was something out of a magazine. I love the way they have styled the rooms! Absolute goals. Willis thought it was great because he could show me all of his toys and jump on the bed with Mum.
If you have a park or a playground near your home, this is another great location for photos with children. We all jumped in the car and headed to the park where we could run around with their dog.
