Professional Headshots {lifestyle natural photography in Auckland} Bussiness

Belinda, a founder of Waiuku Craniosacral asked me to take for her professional headshots for her website and portfolio, with lifestyle natural photography that truly reflects her personality and business where she is helping so many people to manage their everyday pain. Such a great cause!

I been happy to drive to Waiuku and help my friend as I know this beautiful soul for years and meet her at the dance class in local studio in Pukekohe when I been living in Waiuku at the time. Need to mention she and her daughter was one of my first models at the time I was learning and practicing with my new camera and later started my photography business and Belinda been doing study for craniosacral therapy. Hard to believe how far we both come over the decade!

Enjoy hoghlights of our shoot with Belinda and her gorgeous dog. Amazing what you can create inside on the house where studio is based and just at the front lawn! I love to create natural photographs that truly reflects the character!

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Family photo shoot at Christmas Holidays (Orewa Beach - North Shore photographer)

Christmas and New Year is a perfect time to get together with family and have some photos taken to create memories for years to come.

Thats why extended family photo shoots are so popular, and I just love to see how all family comes together and have an opportunity not only capture them all but also do some quick photos of each small family.

This time I went to Orewa to capture Sally and John’s beautiful family with their three grown up kids and their partners. It was a pleasure to meet this family again as I already captured their son’s wedding (and now they are expecting +1) and pre-wedding photo shoot, other two kids’ graduations and family photos and Sally’s beautiful performances on the ice (she is my friend and fellow adult figure skater - living the same passion).

I had feeling like Im capturing my own family. So good to see these beatiful people again! Even small rain cant stand on the way this family gathering!

Enjoy a quick sneak peek - highlights from our photo shoot at Orewa beach, such amazing memories!

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Clare's Party at Flaxmere House (Auckland photographers)

Exciting times to share with CLare and her close family and friends at Flaxmere House (not far from Bethells Beach, Auckland). Where we had a pleasure as wedding and event photographers to capture all the beautiful, emotional and real moments with mix of formals at this amazing party.

Clare met all her friends in this stunning location, spent some time with mix and mingle, greeting everyone and also had a chance to sneak out for some individual photos - to remember this time of her life, before she moved to another city, and time to say goodbye.

Enjoy highlights of the party in this gallery and let me know if you have any questions.

Family of four on the beach {Auckland wedding - kids - newborn photographer}

Great time with this beautiful family of four on Muriwai Beach {Auckland}! As you may know Im doing mostly wedding photography, but lately it was a pleasure to do some kids-maternity-newborn photo shoots when I had more time in my busy schedule.

Miriam & Julian family is so amazing, with two little ones! We had a great time on the beach, walking and talking, and letting kids explore surroundings and get in the water at the end of the shoot {I surprised they not done it earlier as my own kids in similar situation :)}

Enjoy highlights of this beautiful family session!

Contact me with any questions and book your next family session!

Blossom maternity session in Cornwall park {Auckland family-newborn photographer}

Its been pretty quiet lately in our Blog as Auckland been in lockdown for a few months now and luckily we slowly getting out of it and season 2021-2022 starting rolling {even though many weddings got postponed and some cancellations occur}. Keeping positive!

At these tough time such a pleasure to meet old friends for a maternity session {hard to believe but I already shot their wedding, maternity and newborn photos for a first baby Max and branding session as well as headshots for Lena - such a rich history!}.

We met one of the evening right when restrictions was lifted and sessions outdoor been allowed in Auckland, We had a great time at Cornwall park with Lena & Aaron with 7-years old Max {and baby #2 on the way!}.

Even though the weather was overcast with challenging conditions - dark and moody, {we just cant wait anymore with time for baby to be born soon}, we managed to walk and talk and get some photos in forest and cherry blossoms! Great to do session at spring!

Enjoy highlights of this family-maternity session in the gallery:

{just note - we are using long lens at current level with keeping the distance as well as mask on and other procedures in place}

By the way, Love, Light & Laughter online workshop just begin at Click Photo School. Not late to join! {check out more details here}

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Branding Photos | Business Headshot | Creative Session {Auckland lifestyle - commercial photographer} - photos for Website and Social Media

If you are interested in branding photos, business headshots or simply to do a creative session for yourself in Auckland, this is a great time to hire a lifestyle - commercial photographer to bring extra sparkle and update photos for your website or portfolio, Social Media as well, as its needs a new content every and so often!

One of my recent creative branding shoots was for SEO one of the companies. We had an amazing time in the city and on the beach and created some interesting photos {with posed and unposed moments}. Sandeep can totally use it for his acting portfolio if he wish!

Enjoy highlights in this gallery and contact me with any questions about branding shoot | business headshots | creative sessions etc. There so much opportunities to update your photos or create something new if you are starting your business from ground up!

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Top Nine - Best of 2019 {Auckland wedding - engagement - maternity - newborn-family photography}

This year was just amazing and Im so excited to share with you Best of 2019 - beautiful, emotional and real moments from wedding - engagement - maternity - newborn and family photography.

It was amazing and crazy busy year: with shooting 24 weddings and 17 photo shoots, including one styled shoot, traveling to Bali, Germany, Austria {Europe}, Melbourne, Australia and South Island of New Zealand {Christchurch, Auckland, Gore}; running 3 live photography workshops {two in Auckland and one in Melbourne}, and 4-weeks online workshop Love, Light & Laughter at Click Photo School. Such a beautiful time! I just loved to share my knowledge, my love and my soul!

I progressed in my ice skating, participating in Adult World Championship in Oberstdorf, and won some gold and silver medals on New Zealand Nationals, as well as participated with my synchro team in Australian Nationals, where we got very close to 3rd place with just 0.1 points of difference in scores!

Lot of hard work for the next year and exciting plans ahead! Practice and progress in everything I do!

I can not wait to see what next year brings!

My focus for the next year is harmony, balance, capture only limited number of weddings and sessions, concentrating on personal and educational projects/photography workshops, family and myself, keep doing ice skating and participating in international competitions. I hope to improve my level in everything I do. Having a good sport hobby allowing not only keep healthy body and mind, but also come back refresh to my photography and business. So important to find time for yourself!

Enjoy this look back in some favourites from the last season - best of 2019, including my Top 9 on instagram - on my Personal and Business accounts!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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Family of four {Auckland newborn-kids photographer}

Winter is a perfect time to get some family photos taken {Like this family of four in Auckland}, especially when you just had a newborn. Such a precious memories of your kids, so treasured moments for mum and da and me as well as their photographer. Im as a mum of three myself totally feel connected to these beautiful people and their little ones! Such a beautiful and treasured memories!

This time I visit gorgeous house at North Shore where I met Meg, Mark and their two little ones - Lily and Zakki. Thats how this family describe themselves: “Mark is dad and he loves golf Meg is mum and she is ? Idk , - Lily is 18 months and loves the wiggles to bits , loves to dance , loves books, Zakki is just four days old . He is small dark and handsome. Bob is our ragdoll seal point cat . He is a good looking dude and he knows it. Jagger is our blue point ragdoll and she is a sweet doll”. You can get such a great vibe just from this awesome description!

Enjoy highlights of our session!

Contact me with any questions!

• Learn how to capture storytelling moments in my upcoming online workshop “Love, Light & Laughter” at Click Photo School. It’s going to be amazing 4 weeks full of learning, inspiration, new friendships and personal feedback and growth. I would love to have you join!

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Moody Styled Shoot - HU's Art Farm {Auckland wedding photographer}

We had an exciting collaboration this winter - moody styled shoot at HU’s Art Farm {West Auckland}. Few wedding vendors come together to create an amazing atmosphere and some stunning photos: photographer - Olga Levien at L & L; make-up artist and hair stylist Olga Gill; gorgeous model - Ioana Damiani; dresses - Jessica Bridal; planner, stylist, flowers - Becks at EnvyEvents and stylish venue - HU’s Art Farm {with variety of shooting locations}.

It was a rainy day and we been happy to work under the cover in such a gorgeous location, get creative and “capture the beauty in details and harmony in moments” - my mojo!

Enjoy highlights in photo gallery!

• Learn how refine your style at my upcoming workshop “Love, Light & Laughter” at Click Photo School. It’s going to be amazing 4 weeks full of learning, inspiration, new friendships and personal feedback and growth. I would love to have you join!

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Learn - Love - Light - Laughter {Auckland wedding photographers workshop}

We had amazing time and Learn - Love - Light - Laughter at my Auckland wedding photographers live workshop. It was 2 days full of shooting, inspiration, creative discoveries, all things business and much more. We found new friendship, creative boost, mojo and there was so many heartwarming moments!

It was such a treasured time in West Auckland in The Barn, Honeysuckle cottage, Muriwai Beach and forest. SO many A-Ha moments!

Thank you so much to all incredible photographers attended the workshop and share their goals and doubts, we work on boosting the confidence and finding strength and areas of improvement through portfolio reviews and more. See their amazing photos from the workshop below {and few of mine as well, I get a chance to sneak a few in between of chatting and helping everyone to find their ways}.

Thank you amazing creative team joined us in this beautiful location:
@lipstick_and_co_team - hair/makeup
@harriettfalvey - wedding dresses designer
@envyeventsnz - planner/stylist
Jerusha & Alan - couple
Juliette @snorkelstosnow
Venue: The Barn and Honeysuckle cottage

and your Auckland wedding photographer - Olga Levien L & L

Look forward to our next run in October! Not long to go now! {also don’t miss Melbourne run in December and February}. Details at photography workshop site.

Big news: I just signed the contract for another educational project with international Click Photo School, my online workshop! I already had amazing collaboration with them last year with my Ebook “Tales of the Moment”, it was truly incredible experience. I can not wait to present new learning materials in October and connect with people, help them progress, find connection in their photographs and connect with inner voice and the subject, and find their balance in photography, business and life. Watch this space for more details!

Enjoy highlights of our amazing time on Learn-Love-Light-Laughter workshop - experience - shootout for photographers in Auckland, New Zealand.

Karyn Worthington

Sophie Jane

Olga Levien

Olga Levien

Tracey

Sophie Jane

Behind the scenes by Kirsten

Olga Levien

Sophie Jane

Kirsten Walsh

Chloe Lodge

Olga Levien

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Auckland Creative Photo Shoot - Traveling Dress {New Zealand wedding-elopement photographer}

I want to share with you my new project - an Auckland Creative photo shoot with Traveling Dress. 8 photographers from all over the world come together and send each other one beautiful dress. It was honour for me to join this amazing team as a New Zealand wedding-elopement photographer.

Look up this amazing artists: Summer Hughes, Brittany De Jesus, Jennifer Alsabrook-Turner, Nicki Bergeson, Steph Pate, Amanda LeAnn Canton, LeAnna Azolini, and your Auckland wedding photographer - Olga Levien at L & L {Levien & Lens photography}.

Enjoy these photo gallery highlights, we had such amazing time with gorgeous Juliette at Karekare Falls {at west coast Auckland, New Zealand}

Contact me with any questions!

The Secret Revealed: Tales of the Moment - Education for Photographers {Online course | Photography Workshop}

I'm so excited to announce: The Secret Revealed!

"Tales of the Moment: Your Secret Formula for Picture Perfect"

Registration is officially OPEN for a project I been working for a year now - "Tales of the Moment: Your Secret Formula for Picture Perfect" with Click Photo School. It's a perfect education for modern photographers working in any genres. This online course include 100+ PDF, two bonus PDFs, 6 shooting videos, 5 editing videos, custom Lightroom presets + my heart and soul!

Learn more at photography workshop registration page.

I would love to have you join! All materials are downloadable and yours to keep. If you snag it in now, before it goes in the store it's not only $10 OFF, but you also get the opportunity to ask me any questions during almost two weeks!

What's Included:

- 100+ pages exclusive Ebook;

- 5 Editing Videos {Lightroom, Photoshop and PhotoMechnic} couples, maternity, newborn, self-portraits;

- 6 Shooting Videos {3 couples & 1 lifestyle newborn | family & personal everyday moments & REAL wedding shot}; 

- 2 BONUS Ebooks:

"In the Moment: a Guide to Couple's Storytelling"

"In the Moment: a Guide to Everyday Family Storytelling"

- 4 of my custom Lightroom Presets and more.

What will you learn?

// SEEING AND USING LIGHT {How Olga uses all types of light to create her images}

// COMPOSITION {How to incorporate different elements of design for stronger composition}

// VISUALIZATION {How to use visualization in your everyday photography to create compelling images}

// STORYTELLING {How to see and shoot through the moment, creating authentic & emotive images}

// CREATING EMOTIVE IMAGES {How to effectively communicate and direct your subjects to create images with heart}

// POST PROCESSING {How Olga finishes her images post-processing using vision and mood}

// PSYCHOLOGY {How to use psychology to create better images}

// FINDING YOUR SWEET SPOT {How to find direction in your photographic journey, refine your style, and stay true to yourself}

Get your copy and learn more at Click Photo School: https://www.clickinmoms.com/cmu/tales-of-the-moment/

Join me on this adventure!

Inspiration Boho 70s styled shoot {New Zealand - North Island wedding-engagement photographer}

We, wedding photographers, artistic natures :) Each photographer need to shoot for yourself and be inspired, motivated and get fresh view in between of busy wedding seasons, travelling around New Zealand and truly be exhausted sometimes and needed a set up some styled shoot.

This inspiration Boho 70s styled shoot took place in Pirongia, Waikato, New Zealand. Its been collaboration of amazing creative team: Kimberley wright makeup artist, hair by Voluptuous Devine mobile nail & beauty services, 3 models and been organised at family batch in Pirongia, there was a beautiful old style building with deck, patio and porch. Models been ready at the morning and photo shot been in different spots around the house (at garden, near sheds or drive way with tall trees, model even sit on the branch of one amazing tree with beautiful structure). There endless opportunities for photographs, also inside the house - to get mysterious feeling at the windows, fireplace and old style chairs.

It was amazing time, full of inspiration, passion, and special moments.

Great Creative team:
Models: Hannah Ireland, Tayla Marriner, Jessie Thomson
Make-up: Kimberley Wright Makeup Artist 
Hair: Voluptuous Devine mobile nail & beauty services 
and Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty lifestyle wedding photographer: Levien & Lens Photography 

Enjoy this gallery and video slideshow!

Contact me with any questions!

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Little one having fun in the bath {Hamilton lifestyle family-kids photographer}

It's a real treasure to capture everyday moments with kids. Today my little one (3 years old boy) had some fun in our bath and I used this opportunity to shoot these lifestyle family moments.

Im a mum but I also a photographer who looks at beautiful life, atmosphere, emotions and moments!

Enjoy this few pics from my little one's morning fun! 

Happy New Year! Best lifestyle-wedding photographs {Auckland-Hamilton documentary couples-family photographer}

Hello everyone!

Hope you having a great holidays!

I just want to wish you a Happy New Year and share with you our best lifestyle moments - couples-engagement , wedding-elopement , and family-kids-baby-newborn sessions what I been capture in 2014 year.

It was an amazing year with a lot of positive emotions. Thank you for share with me your special moments!

Enjoy this gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

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Bridal Portraiture | Photography Tips {Auckland-Hamilton wedding photographer}

Bridal Portraiture is one of my favourite genre, and one of the most exciting moments on the couples wedding day. Maybe because Im myself a women and want to capture all this beauty and happiness on bride's special day. 

Im always full in love with my brides when I see how they getting ready during the wedding day, putting make-up on, dress and vail, walking down the aisle, being with the groom. Its such special moments!

Then comes all hectic and busy time but I always love to make special time for them to relax, take a big breath, have intimate moments with groom along at location photo shoot. Then comes time to take just a few shots with bride, show her character, personality and beauty.

If you ask me how to make the most beautiful bridal portraits on your wedding day I can tell you: its not a secret - just need ask bride to look at love of her life, at her groom | husband will see in her eyes all the beauty, passion and love. Its special moments!

Bridal portraits can be romantic, editorial, but also fun and crazy :) It all depends from personality of the bride and photographer of course. I like to go with the flow and feel my couples what they love to do, what pictures can be special for them. Sometimes you can be surprised when even fun loving brides found after the wedding session romantic photographs in their final galleries and full in love with them. You never knows ;) 

So lets create these beautiful moments, have some breath in between of this hectic day and capture beauty and happiness!

Here is my recent bridal portraits with my stunning brides, thank you so much for sharing these special moments with me. Love you all!

Enjoy this gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

My style | Lifestyle wedding photographer | Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty photography

People often asking me what means lifestyle photography, Why I'm doing lifestyle pictures, is it mean Im not doing portraits at all?

So lets talk about it and bring it all out, so it will be easier for you to understand what to expect from me, my photography services, and your final pictures :)

1. Lets start from definition. Yes, I know it sounds boring, but will give us a base for our thoughts.

Lifestyle photography is a kind of photography which mainly aims to capture portrait/people on situations, real-life events or milestones in an artistic manner and the art of the everyday (Wikipedia).

So I'm capturing, documenting moments and people in situations in an artistic manner, bring the art into your everyday moments.

You can ask me: Is it just documentary style and capturing all stuff around? No, its much more. I am not just capturing what I see, I am creating an art, I find the beauty in all these moments - what speaks to me and I hope what I created will speak to you, and mean a lot to you!

2. Weddings | Events. If I'm shooting your wedding or another important event I am capturing all natural moments through the day, If you laughing I will capture that, If you are crying I will capture that too.

St Matthews Church wedding

I will do posed moments as well (as family portraits or intimate session for bride and groom), but I will do it natural and happy way so everyone will really enjoy it and have a positive experience with "happy family" pictures :)

Family pictures on Lisa's 21st Birthday Party

As for moments for bride and groom they will be based on your personalities, story and naturally relaxing for you. There will be posed shots and unposed and intimate as well. If your a fun loving couple we will have a lot of fun and can create even dynamic, a little bit crazy pictures, if you prefer to have your quiet moments of happiness I will do my best to capture it in romantic editorial style. All these moments really speak to me, then I'm creating and telling your story through the art of the lens! 

Daria & Dmitry

Bridesmaids

If we're in getting ready moments and there a lot of stuff around (make-up, bags and all other items) I will do my best to create pictures that focus on the main subjects, of course will take some details shots, which form part of the story and maybe even show with wide angle lens all these mess and people around. But also I will try to use blocking and framing for get artistry shots of you and people around even in these hectic conditions! :)

I love to capture raw emotions, candid moments, details what is a part of your story and all these connection and love between two of you, its just magic moments!

3. Newborns, family and kids.

I'm a mum of two little ones, they are so active and cute and little nightmares sometimes. I realised how important and treasured every moment of their and our life together, how fast they grow, and how important for us to remember these moments.

I'm doing 365 project this year and documenting my everyday moments with kids and family. It's fun, interesting, sometimes usual moments, morning routing, play time and all other stuff. I'm planning to print a book at the end of project with all these images. 

Lifestyle everyday moments. 365 Project

But its not about me, its about you. About your family, about your life.

I love to capture the moments when baby appear in this world, capture everyday moments and routine of your first day with baby, your connection and emotions, everyday things that you are used to with the baby: baby on the big parents bed, baby in the cot, on the changing table, in parents arms, on dad's big shoulder, little fingers in mums hands.

Baby Nazar

What do you want to remember about these days, this period, what will be gone and only pictures will remind you about this moments? Details what making a way to your memories: babies name on the wall (or on the door), Teddy bears and other toys around, baby monitor on the shelf, cold cup of tea on the table and dummy nearby, mobile with Winnie the Pooh theme, basket with nappies and all other little things what telling your story. I will capture all world around the baby (your smile, your hair, his little fingers in it, favourite thing to play for your baby - your neckless...)

Baby Luka

Kids grow up and have own interests, love to spend their time playing soccer, colouring, making sand castles and all other exciting things. What do your family love to do together? What do you want to remember from this year?

Lifestyle session at home: Baking

Do you want to have classical portrait of all family together? I will do it at start of our session and then we will go and have fun, do all these things what you and kids love to do, document all these happy moments, emotions, feeling and connections between you in our 1-2 hours time together. I will try to capture these live moments, trying to get individual characters of each member of your family and you all together and you will help me with this. We can do outdoor session if you love to be in the park/ beach or I can come to your place and document all these treasured for you moments what you do around the house (reading books, playing play-dooh, colouring, playing games, maybe even bath or settling and sleeping time, anything what you want to remember).

Knott family in Auckland Domain

4. I hope I showed you what it means for me to do a lifestyle photography with capturing for you such special events or everyday moments (whats actually unique and special in their own way and never will be repeated again), how important for me the emotions and connection, how I treasure and love each single moment and every person on my sessions, how I want to help to tell your story through the art of photography.

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

I would love to have a chat with you!

21st Birthday Party-Morrinsville Lifestyle event photographer

I was so thrilled to be invited to capture Lisa's 21st Birthday Party at her parents farm near Morrinsville last weekend. 

What a great family, atmosphere, amazing guests and incredible surroundings.

Lisa is a fun loving girl, talented singer and song writer as her sister Anna Hawkins. What an amazing family. Lisa's parents are such a happy couple, celebrated 30 years together this year. So many big dates!

We start our photo shoot with taking some portraits for Lisa around her family house to have good memories about her birthday. Then was time for happy family pictures with a lot of fun and laughter. Guests start arriving and I just surfed around and captured candid natural moments with party flow. I just love to capture lifestyle moments and all these raw emotions - smiling and crying (believe me there was some at the speeches, what important and emotional moments!), fun and joy. Thats my style!

It was a real pleasure to meet all Lisa, her family and guests - friends and relatives. Some of these friendships for a very long time, through the years, I heard just amazing stories during the evening. What open and generous people!

I just loved every single moment of this event.

Hope you enjoy this gallery, pictures turned out just amazing!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

Engagement-Couples Photo Shoot | Auckland wedding photographer

Engagement and couples photography is one of the special genre of portrait photography with mix of lifestyle moments.

Its all about showing the connection, emotions and relationships. Sounds easy, but its not :) Of course some couples easy going, not shy at all to show to all world about their love. But what I found, a lot times successful photo shoots could be archived only when you pay attention to details, ask questions, understand couples character, interests, what they love to do together and apply this knowledge to create a perfect relax atmosphere at photo session. Its really short time, just 1-2 hours, which we need to use to create a little love story, from moments of starting love to really tender and strong feelings.

We can talk (and I love to talk a lot, ha-ha), make a jokes, dance, play around, have posed and unposed moments.

What helps a lot is a find real moments, leave couple along for some time and just watch their quiet moments, which show a lot how they connect to each other, how they speak and relax.

Everyone loves to have down time :)

Also good use of space (shooting in all possible points - shade, open sun, sampled light etc.), and different angles (shoot from the top, eye level, down, side, back, close, far etc.) helps to create unique images and gives more opportunities to make variety of shots what best suits this couple.

I love to hear all these special love stories, how you meet each other, who doing cooking, who is bossy etc. Ha-ha! Sometimes answers vary, but it always helps me to full in love with the couple and even become good friends, then we meet again at exciting special wedding day.

If you have the opportunity to have an engagement shoot before the wedding with your photographer, its helps a lot on your wedding day, believe me. Its makes it all more relaxable, enjoyable and everyone knows how we all roll :)

I also found couple in long relationships really treasure our sessions, its like special psychology session for renew / refresh their relationship. Im so happy to help with it.

Have a look at my last engagement | couples sessions. I just love all these moments:

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

Capturing joy | Kids Portraits | Auckland-Waikato Family photography

Capturing joy is the most important part of my photography. All these emotions, happiness, connection, what else could be more important? :)

This time in my 365 Project I choose to capture my little one jumping on the bed - its so much fun and positive emotions, look at her face!

These moments are so treasured!

Little tips: try to capture full frame with scene (to show what's happening), then concentrate on the details and face and emotions at the end. This makes for a complete set. Try to use different angles and perspective. 

I show you just a fast sneak peek how my little one having fun on brothers bed while he in pre-school. ha-ha :) :

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}