D.I.Y. Bridesmaid Gift Boxes

I made my own bridesmaid gift boxes! We are starting to plan our own wedding for next year and I'm so excited to have three of my best friends as bridesmaids and my sister as my maid of honour!

The chocolates are from House of Chocolate NZ, sparking Rose from Spoil Me Gifts and personalised cookies made by Personalised Cookies NZ. I added in some lemon-scented bath salts as an extra to fill the boxes. The reason I made my own is that I couldn’t quite find the right already made box and I had specific item’s in mind. That being said there are some amazing businesses in NZ offering custom made boxes if you’re wanting it taken care of!

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.

Pregnancy announcement photos and overcoming the heartbreak of two miscarriages

I feel really honored to have been a part of documenting Hayley and Tim’s story! These photos have been taken at an exciting time in their pregnancy as they are now 13 weeks along and the images have been a perfect way to announce the news to their friends and family! Leading up to this moment in their journey it has been a whirlwind of emotions. Talking about their two previous miscarriages has been an important part of overcoming heartbreak and finding hope. I admire their honesty and bravery, I hope their story inspires others who are or have been in similar positions.

“After a tough road getting here, when the time came to share our news we wanted our pregnancy announcement to be really special. This is why we decided to have Jaymee take some professional photos so we could truely capture and remember this special time in our lives and thought it would be a beautiful way to special share our news with those close to us, especially those who knew about the heartbreak we had gone through in getting to this point.

Despite being young and healthy, our pregnancy journey has been harder than we originally thought it would be. While we were lucky enough to get pregnant relatively quickly, unfortunately, this was short-lived and we had our first miscarriage last year at 6 weeks while on holiday in Australia. Before this happened to me, I’d honestly underestimated how hard it was to lose a pregnancy so early on. We were devastated and felt so alone not being able to share with those around us what was going on. We remember seeing other people we knew announce their pregnancies and while we were so happy for them, it hit us hard because we wondered why it seemed so easy for others and why this had happened to us.

After a rough couple of months, we decided to try a second time and once again got pregnant straight away. Yet again, the 6-week mark rolled around and we had another miscarriage right at the start of the NZ covid19 lockdown. We were crushed and once again felt so isolated and alone. We were left wondering why this kept happening to us and thinking that surely more people must be going through the same situation given how common our doctor had assured us miscarriages are, yet very few people seemed to talk about it.

We took so much comfort in those few stories we did come across of those who were brave enough to share their experiences - we clung to those stories with so much hope that things would eventually work out for us too and we knew that when they did, we too would be open about our own journey in the hope that it could hopefully bring comfort to others who are going through the same thing. Thank you Jaymee for helping us share our story!”

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.

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.

Bronzed Goddess Wellington Photo Shoot

I recently photographed this fabulous group of ladies for Bronzed Goddess, Wellington and Christchurch based spray tanning salon. We tuned into goddess vibes and danced along the beach taking in the stunning views. FYI it was the very beginning of winter but you wouldn’t even know it from these photos!

The best part about this experience was actually trying the product after our shoot. It was my first EVER spray tan (I’m really low maintenance when it comes to beauty) and I was so impressed by how natural it looked. The Wellington team matched my skin colour perfectly. Going into the salon with your Bridesmaids would be a perfect pre-wedding pamper and I’ll definitely be booking an appointment for my wedding!

Wellington Newborn and Family Photographer - In home portrait session

At-home lifestyle sessions are perfect if you have a newborn. You're probably still figuring out your baby’s routine so being at home will make it that little bit easier for you. These relaxed sessions are intimate and personal. If you're wanting natural and less posed photos, this kind of session might be what you're looking for!

Sarah and Anthony invited me to their home to photograph their newborn Theo. We timed the shoot for what normally would be nap time for Theo but he definitely had other ideas! Being at home made it much easier for Sarah and Anthony to soothe and settle him in a comfortable space. The photos of him awake turned out great and it was a bonus that we were able to get a few sleeping shots of Theo at the end of our session.

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.

Our top Wellington wedding venues

Wellington and the Kapiti Coast has a range of wedding venues for your ceremony and reception. This list showcases different venues with links to their websites where you can access more information!

Anam Cara Gardens

Anam Cara Gardens offers 10 acres of serene garden settings, an indoor venue and two separate spaces for getting ready making it the perfect venue for your day. Their venue has capacity for up to 120 guests, includes a modern commercial kitchen for caterers and a bar for BYO. Pick from 6 different ceremony locations and many areas for photos, including the beach which is only a short drive away for sunset photos.

BOOMROCK

Boomrock Lodge is an out of city experience with panoramic views across the Tasman sea. The clifftops are a perfect spot for your outdoor wedding ceremony and The Lodge can comfortably seat up to 120 guests or 140 cocktail style. Their resident chef Warren Maddox will design a menu to suit your requirements and budget. Boomrock is a 30 minute bus ride from the CBD or a 6 minute helicopter transfer. They also offer fun activities for guests during cocktail hour like clay bird shooting and golf.

SUDBURY

Sudbury is a Kapiti Coast wedding venue set on a ridge overlooking a valley in Peka Peka, 40 minutes north of Wellington City. Dinner in the stables can seat up to 150 guests and their catering partner Mark Harman brings a delicious dining experience while you provide BYO alcohol with no corkage fee. The venue offers a range a stunning photo backdrops and is only a short drive from the beach if couples would like sunset photos. The onsite accommodation Cottage 103 is the perfect spot for getting ready.

OHARIU FARM

Ohariu Farm is a countryside venue found only 20 minutes outside of Wellington CBD. Their in-house catering team will cater for weddings with up to 230 guests seated and 450 standing. Their menu is prepared on-site using fresh and organic ingredients. Their wedding packages can include lawn games, a prosecco wall, a mobile gin bar and a golf driving range.

DOCKSIDE

Dockside is a venue and restaurant located on the edge of the Wellington waterfront. The Main Deck downstairs can seat 140 guests and features an opening roof, so it’s perfect for any weather and large enough to host your ceremony and reception.

Clem and Lox's Garden Wedding - Lower Hutt Wellington

There's no place like home so why not make it your ceremony venue. I loved this outdoor garden wedding at Clem's family home. It made the day extra special and intimate, plus their house was incredible so it was a photographer's dream to be there. The Bridesmaids looked stunning in their emerald green dresses, which also matched the Groomsmen’s bow ties.

Clem and Lox met through friends in 2013 and after spending time together they started dating in 2014. Since then, they have spent time in Canada working and road-tripping the entire country. They then moved back to NZ and adopted a cat called Robert Redford. Lox proposed on the wharf at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne as the sun was setting, he knows romance!

A big thank you to Amy Schulz for photographing alongside me on the day!

We are engaged! Surprise Proposal at Whitireia Park Wellington

I’ve known for a while that I wanted to marry this man but now it's officially a thing!! What I thought was just a fun and casual couples shoot with Wellington photographer Yvonne Liew turned out to be a wedding proposal. WE ARE ENGAGED!

There’s a little bit of a back story to how this all went down, along with some epic photos of the moment Karl proposed. I had been wanting to book a couple’s shoot because I realised Karl and I hardly any photos together and thought it would be nice to have some updated photos for online and putting up around the house, feels a little vain but it was a new experience.

It turns out Karl had started designing a ring with The Village Goldsmith back in November. Another cool part of this story is a client who has booked us for photos and video at their wedding happens to work at The Village Goldsmith, so she was able to help Karl with the designing process which makes it extra special.

Here’s where it all came into action. We booked a couples session with Yvonne. Karl had been emailing her, I had no idea that it was actually going to be a proposal (it had crossed my mind for sure like ‘what if’, but I quickly told myself no way I’m dreaming). And then it happened out of nowhere! Below are some pics of me losing my shit.

We spent the rest of the evening hanging out and taking photos along the hillside. The sunset was insane and the atmosphere felt electric. Thank you so much to Yvonne for capturing these moments for us, the photos are such a true representation of how I felt that evening and I’ll treasure these photos forever.

A note to end on, I’m so grateful to Karl and our relationship. I’ve never felt as supported and loved as I do with him. We have so much respect for one another and the relationship side of things is actually kind of easy, that’s how it feels when you’re on each other’s team. I say I’m not a big romantic but I fricken love this feeling.

Tips for styling your engagement session - Whitireia Park Wellington

Jessica and Nathan spent a week in NZ and to celebrate the end of their trip before heading back to the US we met at Whitireia Park in Porirua for an epic sunset and engagement photos. When this location was first mentioned in our emails leading up to the shoot it made me so excited. Being an engagement session I knew how important this experience was for Jessica and Nathan which made me so grateful to be taking these photos for them while they were in NZ.

Couples are deciding to have an engagement shoot before their wedding day for lots of reasons, one being it’s great practice getting used to having a photographer take your photos and then you have some really great photos that can be used to announce your engagement. I’ve put together some tips for couples who are thinking about booking an engagement session and how you can style it in a way that is made easy.

FIND A SPECIAL LOCATION

Let’s make the most of it 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 OUTFIT OPTIONS

My engagement sessions tend to be 1 hour long, which is plenty of time for an outfit change. While you and your partner don’t want to look too matchy-matchy, pick outfits that will complement each other. 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.

Cosy Newborn Session at Home!

Claudia, Steph and their daughter Coco welcomed baby Albert into the world and we celebrated in the best way possible with a newborn and family lifestyle session. This session was cosy, in their element at home and playful.

You may remember our beachfront maternity session a couple of months back, you can check it out here!

I love lifestyle sessions like this because there is a mix of unfiltered real moments but done in a stylised way. Claudia did an amazing job preparing the space for our session.

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 SITE IN NATIVE FOREST - BATTLE HILL FARM FOREST PARK

Pros: This location is found North of Wellington on Paekakariki Hill Road. It’s great for families with young children that just want to play and be in nature. 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.

Things to be mindful of: This is a historic site. Dogs are not allowed in the park due to farm animals and wildlife. It’s about a 30-45 minute drive from Wellington CBD. Opening hours are 6am – 6pm April to September, and 6am – 8pm October to March

Best time of day for photos: Late afternoon.

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).

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.

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.

Wedding Albums for Christmas Gifts - Momento Pro Photo Albums

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! To celebrate the end of an incredible year for my business I reached out to previous wedding clients with a special on my wedding albums.

Printing is the best way to get more value out of images and relive moments from your wedding day. Quite often photos will only sit on a USB stick or live somewhere on your social media feed, this can mean moments are lost over time. Physical prints add so much value to your investment as they will last for generations to come so your children and their children too can enjoy a little piece of your history.

Yuming and Bevan picked a red linen cover and gold text for their album cover, perfect for the holiday season and it matches the red dress Yuming wore on her wedding day. Momento Pro is the printing company I have picked to use for my wedding albums. I love their European linen range for cover materials which comes in 18 colours for clients to pick from.

To protect your album and add that finishing touch, a clamshell box is included with all of my orders for no extra cost. This means you can leave your album on your coffee table or book shelf with peace of mind.

I’m consistently blown away by the quality of Momento Pro’s prints. They have created a printing platform for professional photographers who take pride in quality. I truly believe in these products which is why I choose to pay a little more for these albums compared to other lower end printing companies.

If you’d like to know more about my albums, get in touch! Here is my album pricing guide.

INCLUDED

Linen cover available in different colours
10 spreads (20 pages) with multiple images per spread
1.1mm page thickness
Custom text on the front of the album cover
Box to protect album is also linen covered
Pick your favourite images and I'll handle the rest!

PRICING AND SIZES

8x8” - Regular
10x10” - Large
12x12” - Extra Large

Please get in touch for the latest pricing update!

Same sex couple Engagement Photos - LGBTQIA friendly photographer Wellington

The excitement is REAL. I can’t wait to be Grace and Gemma’s wedding photographer! Bring on December 2020! Here are a couple of moments from our Engagement session over in Eastbourne.

This little puppy is so lucky to have beautiful Mums like Grace and Gemma. Millie joined us for their engagement session and she knew how to work it. I swear pets know how to pose for the camera. The beach was also a very exciting place for a puppy. Sunset, love and a puppy - what more could you ask for in a photograph?

The best things come in packages - just like our photography and video duo! My partner Karl recently launched his business Traveller Audio and Visual and we want to offer his videography to couples that are looking for a no fuss, all in one package. Previously I have had so many people ask if I can also shoot video and now we can. This is the beginning of a journey for us and we would love to hear what you think of Grace and Gemma’s engagement video!

My diversity statement - I will work with all races, sexual orientations, genders and people from any country. I do not support or tolerate discrimination and ask all my clients to respect this as well while we are working together.

Maureen's 80th Birthday Dinner at Ruth Pretty Catering

Have you been to Ruth Pretty’s Springfield House in Te Horo? Maureen had her 80th birthday there last and I was asked to document the occasion. Here are a few of my favourite moments from the evening.

It was my first time visiting this venue and I loved it! The beautifully restored 1910 homestead is perfect for a small event and dinner party, as well as the gardens which made a great backdrop for family photos.

Outdoor lifestyle maternity shoot - Wellington Eastbourne, New Zealand

Pregnancy is a special time for expecting mothers and their family. If you already have children, this is the perfect time to have a maternity shoot combined with family photos. These photos will be a momento of the ‘time before baby arrived’ and as your children grow you can look back at this time of your life together.

If you have a toddler and you’re worried about how they will find the photoshoot, look for a photographer who has experience working with children. You may only have a short period of time to get key photos and your photographer may need some tricks to get children on their side. A lifestyle session is perfect for capturing real moments and interactions between family, this works well if children aren’t interested in posing or are too young for directions.

Finding a photographer who has a style that speaks to you is important! When Claudia and Steph contacted me about their vision for this shoot they were looking for a lifestyle session near the beach where they live. Claudia put together a Pinterest board of inspiration. I knew straight away that we were a great match and I could bring their vision to life.

I recommend following a few different photographers on social media and over time you will start to see who connects with you best!

Claudia is extremely photogenic! I think I said ‘gorgeous’ about 100 times during our session. I love the way their outfits were styled and the use of adding in a denim jacket for Coco because it was extremely windy/cold and the shawl around Claudia’s shoulders.

Being on location can be really hit and miss if the weather isn’t great. It took 5 days of scheduling and rescheduling to get the weather right for us. We originally planned for a nice, sunny evening with a sunset, but decided to go with an overcast evening last minute which actually worked out really well. The cloudy sky adds a dramatic quality. Finding a photographer who can be flexible around weather definitely helps for an outdoor maternity session.

Stress Free Family Photos

Family photoshoots always bring me so much joy. They remind me why my job as a photographer is so important. I always feel so accomplished when parents come back to me with feedback saying they love the photos and appreciated how easy going the photoshoot was.

Some parents feel anxiety leading up to their family session as they want the day to go smoothly and hope their children will behave for photos. If you’ve got children there is some planning that can help ease this feeling. Going into your session with an open and positive mindset is the first place to start! I’m definitely one to go with the flow and get children on my side before I take photos of them. Heres how you can have a stress free photoshoot.

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.

DAY OF THE SESSION

On the day of your shoot, make sure everyone is fed and not coming into the session hungry. Wait until everyone has eaten before changing into your outfits for the shoot. You may want to wait until you arrive at your location before changing younger children or toddlers into their outfits.

EXPECTATIONS

If you go into your photoshoot feeling stressed and nervous about how your toddler is 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

Toddlers 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 toddlers 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.

LIFESTYLE FAMILY PHOTO SESSIONS

My family photo sessions are fun, relaxed and easy going. I’ve photographed families with children of different ages and every session will be slightly different. I use all of the tips mentioned above in order to capture the best moments of your family.