ClickinWalk 2016 Auckland {New Zealand lifestyle wedding photographer}

Last sunday I been happy to took part in worldwide ClickinWalk in Auckland, New Zealand next day after shooting wedding in Hamilton NZ. A little bit more about it from official website:

"The online relationships that have blossomed within the Clickin Moms community of over 16,000 photographers are heartwarming. ClickinWalk is an opportunity for women who know one another in the virtual world to come together in the physical world and bond with others who share their passion for photography.  This event is designed not only to give women (and men) an occasion during which to nurture friendships and professional networks, but also to provide a chance to challenge both their photography and creative skills."

It was a great opportunity to us, lifestyle photographers to meet each other, had a relaxable walk and talk and capture some images along the way :) I been proud to be one of the ClickinWalk leaders with Clair and we been thrilled to met amazing women-photographers in our New Zealand ClickinWalk. Time went really fast and we met sunset at Auckland Viaduct and Wineyard Quarter.  

Enjoy this gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

World around us | Auckland lifestyle photographer

What can take your attention and make you remember and capture the moment? Is it something really special, happening once a life, is it beauty of everyday moments or something else.

Im really enjoying to see the world around us from new perspective, especially during 365 project, what makes me wonder what else around what I not see, not noticed, but what deserve to be captured. Its my everyday moments, kids, lifestyle shots and some new pictures what I feel like to take.

Im happy to show you just a one day of world around me. Luckily I spend this day with kids in Hamilton Gardens - beautiful place, a must see. I even don't know how I manage to take a pictures with my active little ones, but thats the life. Happy to share with you these moments:

And one more in black and white conversation:

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

Creativity Exercise. Lifestyle Photography LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

It's time for new creativity exercise for you and your kids!

Take a camera, dress kids appropriately and go explore!

Yes, today creativity exercise: to capture the exploring moments. Kids just love to go to new places, playgrounds, parks, search and explore everything around. It can be so much fun. Just have camera ready and follow them, watch around for best composition, wait when they come at this point, or create this moment with different questions (not just boring - "Can you stand there" (what of course could work :) But maybe use some playing moments ask "Looking for fairies", or "treasure" or " pirate ship" or just a new bird or animal depends what your kids love to do, what their interests are.

We with kids been exploring a new playground at far school. We drove around and found great place with few playgrounds and a secret passage, and a boat, and a playhouse. What a great place to be! Kids just love to explore everything around, and adults as well. We just followed them :)

Here is a few pictures, we all had fun!

One little day at Nana's place. Lifestyle photography Auckland

My everyday moments full of positive moments with kids photography, documentary lifestyle moments and doing family storytelling, mostly outdoor photography at natural light (and sometimes indoor). I want to share with you today my personal little moments with kids visiting grandmother just before Mother's Day. 

Kids just love to go to Nana's place. They wake up at morning and ask to go there. You can't just put them down and say No :) So we decide to drive over to North Shore to visit Grandmother. I took some lifestyle pictures at the house, around the place, at little playground and on the way back home. 

What a lovely day and beautiful light!

Lifestyle photography

Contact for book your family session - info@levienphotography.com

Photography Walkshops, PhotoWalk and Mentoring in Auckland, New Zealand

I'm happy to announced a few new services that we start to offer at LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY - photography WalkShops | Photowalk and Mentoring |  Coaching in Auckland, New Zealand. Due to many enquiries from friends I decided to make official service and happy to share my knowledge and love of photography with you.

I love to teach people. Actually I have a pedagogical education (worked as geography teacher and lecture in University back in Russia, even study hard enough to get PhD in education - something what I could be proud of :) So I love to teach and know how to do it, in a fun and interesting way, and obviously I have some photoknowledge to share :) 

So here we go - detailed information:

Photography WalksShops | PhotoWalks in Auckland, NZ (individual and group sessions available):

You learn how to use your camera in Manual Mode, how to find the best shot, how to choose the best composition, how to explore and see a beauty in details, and even more! Also you have the opportunity to get stunning portraits at beautiful locations!

Ideal for beginners, intermediate, travellers and people with love of photography! You need your DSLR, comfortable shoes and clothes and be ready to explore and have fun!

Duration - 2 hours.

Price - $250 individual, $125 per person for group sessions (min 2 person required)

Coaching | Mentoring $250

1:1 private sessions online or in-person in the areas of lighting, shooting, creativity, processing, and business. Any levels from beginners to intermediate and higher.

Please contact me for detailed information!

info@levienphotography.com

Follow us on Instagram! Family and wedding photographer Auckland

I just love to use Instagram and see other work, its so inspiring, showing everyday moments and real voices. You can easily find us on Instagram.

Here is just a screensaver with my last Instagram posts. Most of them - just my usual life with kids and some splashes of creativity and fun, clients sessions fav shots, specials and other stuff :)

Feel free to follow, put likes and comments

Mama & Me. Mother's Day Special. FAMILY Photography sessions by Auckland based LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

Contact us

info@levienphotography.com

Family and Kids Portfolio

Everyday moments. Kids in the air. Lifestyle photography Auckland

We every day take kids to playground where they playing, running, sliding etc.

And a little bit climbing too. So I took my camera and captured these moments in the air. Just love to move back to them when my kids grow up and I will miss all these little cute moments.

So don't forget to take a pictures with your kids and other things what you want to remember!

Love this back light:

kids photo

children pictures

loving light

light

Lifestyle photography

Black and White Images. Photography Tips

Black and White - simple connection, clear vision, light and dark - it’s my love!
Yes, I am enjoying pictures in black and white. They tell me so much more then the coloured images. It’s my language and my passion.
I’m not sure what makes them so special to me - maybe it’s the retro feeling, or the ability to see the light, without anything that can distract you from the main subject. Clarity and atmosphere. Some images just ask to convert them into black and white.
Black and white conversation is not everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s absolutely fine, everyone has their own taste and language. And not every image will be great in black and white - you need special light, texture, dynamic range, highlights and shadows. And not every session is the same. Sometimes I would provide almost all pictures in colour, plus black and white variants; other times half pictures would be BW, and sometimes there is no need for black and white at all, so it’s all individual. The main pictures are still coloured, but I love giving you another option as well.
So let me share a few of my favourite images from clients sessions and everyday  lifestyle shooting (for 365 Project). They so different and so treasured!

5 month Baby-girl pictures {Auckland-Hamilton newborn lifestyle photography}

I just love taking pictures of babies. They are so small and so gorgeous! They have their own personalities and cute smiles.

I had an honour to photograph a 5 month old Mariam and her mama Sofi and grandmother Khatuna. This session was full of amazing moments!

We started our photoshoot at their place where we set up a little studio with some props - blankets, soft toys, necklaces (all girls love jewellery, even little ones! :), and also a few different outfits (every girl needs it too).

Mariam was just a perfect model: sometimes serious, sometimes ready to give a lot of smiles! What a cutie pie! After a while Mariam needed a break and we all happily followed suit and had a cup of tea with the most delicious hachaputi I have ever tasted. Hachapuri is a traditional Georgian bread baked with cheese and Khatuna made it nothing short of perfect. I will never forget that melt-in-the-mouth taste and most friendly and delightful company!

Then we moved to the closest beach for some shots in the nature. I just love all these ocean views, waves and the wind, great sunny weather and healthy fresh air for our little princess! She became really tired at the end, almost ready to sleep at mummy's shoulder. What a sweet little girl!

Thank you Sofi, Mariam and Khatuna for this amazing time together!

Have a look at this gallery:

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

Lets have some fun! Family and kids photographer Auckland

Let Kids been kids! They always doing unexpected things and ready to find something interesting in our usual life and have  fun with it!

So much surprises, mess, cleaning work, fun moments!

My little one sneak outside and I found him playing with leaves, through them up in the air, having fun and doing leaves rain what drops in his hair, under the clothes and nappies as well.

Big fun - big bath afterwards!

I love to capture these real life moments what brings some magic in.

Who love to play outside, have fun and made a mess? Guess! :)

Here our lifestyle moments!

Kids portraits

Mother-Daughter family photographs - 1 year sweet baby girl {Auckland-Hamilton lifestyle photographer}

What is so special about mother-daughter relationships?

It’s the love and the sweetness of the two souls that are connected with each other. Each woman who became a mother understands it. When you gave birth to a baby (no matter – a boy or a girl) your life changes and sometimes you have no idea how huge this change is!

I love doing lifestyle photoshoots when you could capture real life, like a documentary, to tell a story, to capture everyday moments that we treasure forever - how kids are playing, eating, drawing, how they are reading a book with parents, sitting together, laughing, giving each other a hug, singing a song and having fun.

That’s why I’ve been really happy and excited to do a lifestyle family photo shoot for Inga with her gorgeous daughter Mia at their place. Really wonderful moments together! It was amazing time and experience, I totally loved how pictures turned out!

Enjoy it step by step.

My favourite picture from this set - Mother and Daughter in the wood:

Thank you Inga and Mia for wonderful time together!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

One little girl and a Big hat. Lifestyle children photography

I just want to share with you my everyday moments with kids. Its great to capture all these little moments what we will treasure in future when kids grow up. Sometimes its really handy to have a camera beside.

I been with kids at playgroup today and did some shots with their play and craft.

Brother and sister

But then my daughter found big hat, and I just follow her with camera (lucky I had it with me) :) Its looks so gorgeous and cute! I just can't help myself :) So here big picture share. I like this old style retro feeling what give us these pictures:

Its shows how many interesting moments you could capture for shot moment with kids :) Just have camera ready :)

Lifestyle photography

Kids Portrait

Makeup in Photography {Auckland documentary wedding photographer}

Very little details can make a big picture. It could be good light, emotions, colour, composition etc. But there is one more important detail (especially if you want to picture a portrait) – it’s make-up! It corrects little details, smoothes the skin, makes eyes brighter, bring attention to lips etc. And it also helps in post processing – I don’t have to spend long hours on correction.
Good make-up makes you feel more beautiful and confident, prettier and happier. And we can capture this happiness in our pictures.
I highly recommend using a professional makeup service for any photo session - (portrait, family, couples and especially wedding photo-shoot when you need cosmetics that could stay perfect for a long time on the face (getting ready, ceremony, location shoot and reception - it’s a long day! Professional makeup touches could save the day! Also professional Makeup Artists know exactly what type of cosmetics to use to avoid shiny reflections on faces when we need to use a flash.
I have a few MUA contacts, so do not hesitate to contact me with any questions!

Here is a beautiful work from my last wedding photo shoot with a very professional and talented makeup artist from Mac Cosmetics - Jun Chen (I could highly recommend his work, not only did he use the best cosmetic product, but also made the bride and family feel comfortable - you can see a lot of smiles and happy moments. And he was always ready to help - not only with makeup, but with other little details too. Have a look at these pictures:

What an amazing work!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

2 Minutes With... Photography Project. Lifestyle photos

2 Minutes Project - Its a great opportunity to capture different events or emotions during two minutes. You will be surprised how much could happened just for this short time!

Its works good with capture people's emotions, especially if its little kids. They full of energy, fast change their attention, move from one thing to another... You need same fast react on all these changes :)

You could try to do it with own kid or other family member (its could be static position on the chair and just close capture face with emotions or move around the room with your subject - especially if you have active toddler)

I could show you example with some lifestyle shots with my little one what I took today during 2 minutes. You can see how much happened for this time. 

Lifestyle photography

Other sample of 2 minutes pictures at playground with my kids, full of beans :)

Kids Portraits. Photography tips. Auckland family photographer

You want to have your kids portrait, but sometimes its really hard to get it, especially when kids so active and always move around. I have a few tips for you.

1. Catch the moment!

Try catch the moment when they in right place and right time! Its not so easy, but you can do it (just watch them playing and moving around and have your camera ready with fast shutter speed :) And when you see this special moment just made a click :) Better few in continuous mode for be sure you get it right :)

2. Create this special moment

Take kids attention -

smile to them and they smile in answer,

talk to them and take their attention, ask some question - where the bird? and sure they interested look at window or tree and show you the bird,

made silly faces, jokes - made them have fun and laugh.

ask them to make serious face - and you get the most funniest faces ever!

made something interesting for them - flash works good with kids, its a magic for them, so make this magic around and they will be happy repeat this moment, also you can took their attention with mobile phone or computer (and get more light from screen :)!

play with them - made for kids interesting task - jump as high as they could, run as fast as they can, made a secret, choose one person in family and jump in the hug, draw something, made mess (they love it!) etc. I use a lot of games and play moments during photoshoot and its always work well with kids, they just having fun and show their personality :)

3. Look for light - be sure your kids face in good light (without hot spots) and eyes had some catchlights, its looks really good. Half face could be in shade (if light goes from the side like window light) and its made more dramatic look (especially with black and white conversation).

4. Keep kids eyes in focus - be sure your focus right, check on eyes if they clear to see without blur.

5. Play with aperture - you could make blurry background with small aperture, just be sure your kid far from background (otherwise its will be same clear like kids face).

6. Watch the composition! - try get it right, so picture take attention (you could use rule of thirds, repetition, lines moving to subject, colour attention, isolation, using negative space etc. - its a lot of things to count but the main thing - picture just need looks right for you, all in harmony!

7. Just enjoy the process and have fun! Only if you relax kids relaxing and having fun too, be sure you made for them interesting environment and they even not put attention on camera. 

It will be great results!

Prints - Made your pictures alive (Wall display guide - print sizes). Portrait photography Auckland

I would love to see pictures printed - in album, photo book, canvas on the wall, framed prints, fine art work or even small prints. We often leave our digitals not printed on the disc, USB hard drive and forgot about them. But they became alive when they printed and took their place on the wall or in album.

I decided to show visually with Photograhers Wall Display Guide how different size pictures looks at your wall (above sofa, fireplace or just near chairs). Hope its helps a lot!

We took this beautiful bride's picture and look at it in different sizes. You will see how picture changes with each size and how this size looks on the wall. 

Bride

8x10. You see this standard size looks small in real room, unless surround by other pictures or artwork.

10x10

11x14

12x12

12x15

15x15

16x20

16x24

16x24

20x20

20x30

20x40

30x40

So as you see size is important and you could choose one what the best fit in your space! I hope this pictures will help with your choice. And i always happy to provide with your session few samples of wall guide specially customise for you! And we could play around with putting different pics in the frames :)

As for prints its really important to choose professional laboratory with perfect colours and best quality paper. One of the best printing place with high end quality is Queensberry

Queensberry provides the best quality and perfect designed products. I just loves their albums, especially popular at weddings shoot. Have a look at their products! They provide all type of prints for satisfied any client.

You free to choose any other company to print just be aware of low quality prints what could ruin your pictures. Thats my advice :) And I happy provide assistance with choosing print place.

I would love to see our pictures alive in your house, office and any other place what you would like. Its a special moments for me what you share and Im really appreciate our time together. Thank you for choosing LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY!

How to shoot everyday moments. Photography tips. Auckland family photographer

Hello ! Today we will talk about shooting everyday moments - your life, your family, your lifestyle or maybe your special moments. I believe we should treasure every moment like special, but sometimes we have particularly special moments – like on a wedding day or catching baby’s first smiles, first steps, or first impression when travelling around a new country or an unusual place.

It’s a lot to talk about, so let’s concentrate on main tips and everyday moments - personal, family, social.

1. Have the camera ready! Sounds simple, but we really often don't have it with us and easily miss a moment what we want to capture. If you don't have a camera you can always use your mobile phone. I'm so used to my camera with 365 Project (Daily shooting), so I forget about my mobile that I can easily use too! :)

2. Know your camera. Believe me you should have time to work out how to shoot in different settings - manual, shutter speed priority, aperture priority or other ones, single or continuous shooting (good for moving subjects), focus points etc. Take a peek in your camera manual. For example if you are shooting moving subjects (kids, sport etc) you could use shutter speed priority and choose it not less than 1/125-1/250 sec, faster sometimes even better. :)

Aperture priority  good if you want a blurred background (f 1,4-2.8 - what I like) or make it clear (over 3.5 etc.). Of course it’s just a general tip, you can use special calculators that show you how much space will be in focus depending from the distance to a subject, f-stop etc. And you can just practice and work it out beforehand.

3. Watch for the light! Light makes pictures special. You obviously don’t want to shoot on a really bright sun, but if you have to then watch for deep shadows and hot spots on the face and for subject not blow away on the picture, you can also use covered spaces (open or covered shade, good to have sun from the side or back of the subject), morning and afternoon time are much nicer and give more diffused light. I especially appreciate the Golden hour - beautiful light just after sunrise and before sunset.

Window light is good to use when you are working at home with your family everyday moments, you can just use best light in your house (sun at the opposite side of the house) and position your subject at the end of the window or a little bit further (where it’s not too bright), also you could put additional blinds or open them for more light if you need it.

Of course when we talk about kids, it’s hard to imagine we could position a toddler at any spot, we just need follow them, watch the light and choose the best side and position to shoot, be flexible and changeable. So move to next tip:

4. Be ready for changes! Situation changes really fast and you need to be the same – fast! And go with the flow.

5. Use different angles and sides. Use different angles and sides. You see the shot what you want, you are ready, you get it - click! Don't be so fast, look from the other side, direction, perspective, angle. Maybe you missed something important. Practice a lot and you will get your best shot!

Here is my recent shoot for today, when my little one was drawing at the table. I love how concentrated she was on her task!

6. Look outside the box, be creative! This one connects with the previous one. You took pictures from all sides. Have you tired from the top, and bottom too? Did you move out from your comfort zone and did something unusual for you? You should!

7. Picture in details! You are shooting a scene and you see the picture, its great! But what is the special part of this picture that created this feeling? Emotions on the faces at a sport game, hands and rings at the wedding, little kids fingers and toes, baby's smile etc. Also you can photograph details and decorations of the event that make you move back in memories when you look at pictures in 5-10 and more years.

8. Share your pictures - print them out and arrange into albums, show them to friend and family (I’m hopeless - still haven’t printed my one, But I promise I will do!), share on Internet - Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest etc, just show, share, discuss them with friends, get some feedback. See which one you like. And I want give you an advice - take part in 365 Project - daily photos for a year. It’s a personal project and it motivates you to shoot everyday and capture you life. I’m happy I decided to do it this year (not that easy, but I love it! and it’s great to have support and ideas from other participants). It’s actually really hard to choose the best pictures. They are all yours, you like them all! But just try to choose one or two a day, share it and then after some time see if you still like it, see how your style changes, how your shooting subject changes, and how you grow. So it’s not only memories, it’s your photography journey!

There are so many other tips and questions so - Just Do It! Go and capture real life moments, shoot every day, enjoy it, document your life, do family storytelling. Doesn't matter how professional your pictures are – it’s YOUR voice, your story, your life.

And you will Progress with Practice, move forward step by step. And I’m happy to be with you on this journey! Just ask if you have any questions. :)

Contact me info@levienphotography.com

My 365 Project. February. Daily photo.

It's so important to document your everyday moments, capture family storytelling. And its  also  push you to progress to be a better photographer.

Its not so easy to find something new to shoot (every single day) and get more interesting angles, composition, light. But its made you looking for something special, what speak to you, what show something YOURS at this exact moment.

Its your STORY, your VOICE, your IDEAS, and your LIFE!

Here my February daily pictures (some black and white, some colour, some clients shots, some family, and a little bit of everything! Thats my story!

My wedding photo shoot from yesterday. Just can't walk away with one picture for 365 Project :)

Look forward to next month!

Lifestyle photography

Wedding photography

Couples photography

Family photography