Merry Christmas and Happy New Year + Christmas Holidays!
I decided to prepare a special gift for my awesome clients | friends and followers - ENGAGEMENT SESSION GIVEAWAY!
1-2 hours on location photo shoot with all best hand-edit high resolution files and my time and talent!
1. Like my Facebook page Levien & Lens Photography if you still not and post with Giveaway ;)
2. Leave a comment - tag your friend or fiancé;
3. Share post with your friends if you would like :)
Conditions applies: You might be engaged. Session can be scheduled during 3-5 months based on availability in Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga-Rotorua and surroundings areas. Photos can be used for Levien & Lens Photography portfolio and promotions.
Results will be announced after Christmas Day, 25 December 2016.
Contact me with any questions info@levienphotography.com!
Bokeh online.com international publication - interview with photographer {New Zealand destination wedding photographers}
Im so excited to share with you amazing news: interview with me {your New Zealand destination wedding photographer} just been published in international magazine Bokeh Online.
Its such a great honour to be interviewed, tell about my photography journey, what had influence on me and my wedding photography, how I progressed and grow.
I loved how editors chose the name for this article: "Believe in Yourself" and is means word to me.
You can have a look at publication online and Im happy to share with you a couple of pages with my interview. Its unbelievable!
Thank you so much for sharing my story and photos!
Contact me with any questions!
Follow me on Instagram {New Zealand: Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga wedding photographer}
Do you know that now you can find me and follow my wedding photography on Instagram? If you followed my personal account, now is a time for changes - I created a new business account @levienlensphotography, so you can find there my clients work from weddings around New Zealand: Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Northland etc.
If you still interested to see my lifestyle everyday moments with kids and family, some fun and different style of pictures welcome to visit my personal account @olgalevien.
Im happy to see new people and ready to share my personal moments like my awesome clients sharing with me so special and treasured moments from their amazing wedding celebrations, Im so excited to see their families grow in years to come!
Thank you for your love and welcome to follow me!
See you on Instagram!
Contact me with any questions!
Warmly,
Olga
Photography tips for shy couples {New Zealand lifestyle wedding-engagement photographer}
Everyone have unique character and personality: some of us easy going open people, some naturally shy, especially with unknown people. I decided to put together a few photography tips for shy couples on the wedding day, which really important for me as a photographer {serving destination weddings all around New Zealand: Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and surrounding areas}.
Its always hard to relax in front of camera and know what to do {believe me I just did 5 years anniversary self-portrait with my husband and it was so hard to understand what to do when we can't see ourself from the side}. It was a mess! Thats why good to choose photographer who you can truly trust and who can direct you.
This trust can be build on engagement session beforehand {so you already have experience together, understand each other and how you are roll :)} or at pre-wedding consultation {when you can have a chat not just about the wedding, but about pretty much everything and find common interest and feel the connection}. I always try to understand couples personalities and their needs, had a meeting or good talk via the phone and sending a wedding Questionnaire with some personal questions beforehand.
Also remember - its natural to be stiff in front of camera first 15-20 min {believe me everyone having this experience}, thats why you need to allow yourself enough time on intimate session along from the guests {i would recommend at least 1-1.5 hours - add extra time for more locations}.
As a photographer I would suggest for shy couples more actions - mix of posed and unposed shots, interaction including chatting with each other and photographer {walking together, sitting relaxing, telling each other what they thought at first meeting, what they most exciting about, laughing, breath each others in etc.
And last tip - just enjoy the moment, you just married, so happiness naturally shining through your eyes and everyone around can feel it {camera too ;)}!
Enjoy these moments together and don't forget to have fun! I will be there for you :)
Contact me with any questions!
How to choose wedding photographer {Auckland couples-engagement photography}
Choosing a wedding photographer one of the most exciting parts of the wedding planning! Its feels so important and so right when you found a good fit. So how to choose wedding photographer for your couple?
I will talk about few steps which feels really important to me as a lifestyle wedding photographer.
1. Wedding Portfolio.
Check wedding photography portfolio - best photographs which represents photographer's style, favourite things to shoot, editing preferences {some of us love airy light images, another ones draw to moody dark atmosphere, or even do mix of both depending on session}.
2. Check full wedding galleries.
You checked best images in photographer's portfolio, now time to see a full wedding from start to finish { getting ready, ceremony, formals, intimate bride and groom session, reception etc.}. You can find full weddings in the Blog or contact photographer via email and ask for pass online complete wedding galleries.
You can see how we capture moments, emotions, details, posed shots, unposed images etc. Its truly represent the ability to keep it up during this hectic day and produce amazing images which speaks from the heart.
3. One of the most important - Connection.
Get in touch with photographer and check the connection, communication and mobility {Im trying to answer for inquiries as soon as possible, often during first few hours}, but please allow a couple of days delay, especially on weekends, as we can be away on the road at destination wedding. :)
Sometimes really hard to get a personality via email especially if English not a mother tongue {I love to catch up with my awesome clients for cup of tea / coffee, have a chat and discuss their wedding plans}. We usually build a good trust and its make us feel comfortable during the wedding day {photographer the only one person who all the time with you without any minute of break, so its important to find the right person, feel relaxed and comfortable}.
4. Last but not least - Packages and Pricing.
Please contact photographer to find out pricing details and collections {how many hours, how many photographers, if there engagement session included, any prints | products what you would like to add}. Feel free to share your wedding plans and needs as a lot of photographers can create a custom package which best suits your needs.
For example I working in a team with my husband and have options with one or two photographers on the day, coverage from elopements with capturing just ceremony and bride and groom intimate session to full day packages including engagement - pre-wedding session and album + wall fine art print. There options for every couple!
You found your dream photographer, but can't afford your dream package? Still get in touch, tell about your wedding plans and planning date. There always a chance you can find the compromise as your wedding sounds just amazing and photographer in love with your couples personalities {you can also order prints | products when you discover your images, or make its a part of wedding registry}.
Follow your gut and go with the flow! Good luck with your wedding planning!
Please contact me with any questions that you might have!
Look what inside {New Zealand award-winning lifestyle wedding photographer}
Look what I received this morning, parcel been laying at the door steps. I discovered it when come back after drop kids to pre-school and post USB to my awesome wedding clients.
It was a postage which fly all over the world from USA, from Lemonade and Lenses, beautiful magazine. I been excited to open the package and found the fine art print with my award winning photograph {first place} in Winter International Contest 2016 by Lemonade and Lenses. There also was a lovely note with congratulations and one of the issues of this gorgeous magazine. I'm so excited!
Thank you so much for the great honour to be a winner of the international winter contest in wedding photography category in a great company of so talented photographers from around the world. Im really appreciate it!
Look what inside the parcel :)
Contact me with any questions!
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!
Fun couples photo shoot {Auckland wedding-engagement photographer}
What a positive, full of fun and laughing, photo shoot I had last weekend in Auckland. Kylie & Warwick just amazing couple.
Guys met each other 2 months ago and feel strong connection. It was first their pictures together.
I love to shoot these special for couple moments with relaxable atmosphere, fun and joy. It's a treasure to see their raw emotions and feelings!
Enjoy my new couples-engagement photo gallery!
Contact me with any questions!
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron | Russian Orthodox Church | Auckland wedding photographer
DARIA & DMITRY
What a great traditional wedding I been photographing in Russian Orthodox church in Auckland and Royal New Zealand Royal Yacht Squadron last weekend. Daria & Dmitry - amazing couple, so beautiful and crazy in love! It was such special moments to capture!
It all started at a small Russian church where guests, parents and groom patiently been waiting for brides appearance. It was just a magic moment when the bride come to the groom on the little passageway.
Ceremony been in Russian orthodox traditions. Not my first time taking pictures on traditional ceremonies like this, but every time its so special. I just love this atmosphere and some moments when souls come together to start new life.
There was not much space to move around but I tried to do my best in these conditions and capture special moments from different angles.
Then was congratulations, family shots, way to Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron - amazing place for reception, and our small location shoot near the water, yachts, Harbour Bridge with view on Skytower from the balcony and amazing pictures! Pity starts to rain but we manage to get through it really fast :)
Our guests been waiting for young couple to come in and been introduced by our host Anna Moroz (wedding MC). She with her husband Andrey (DJ) done an amazing job with organised different contests, games and running all evening smoothly with fun and relax atmosphere. Well done! Highly recommend this team for your special event! :)
Evening was full of different traditional events (karavai ceremony, prayers and speeches, different activities (magic heat, guess the bride, guess the groom, bride bouquet toss, groom bow toss), family candle ceremony) and a lot of dancing! Everyone had so much fun! Grooms friends lift him and his bride up to the air, what fun!
It was a pity to leave this wedding but so many enjoyable moments to move through the pictures when I downloaded them to computer. Amazing moments!
Enjoy it!
Daria & Dmitry, wish all the best to you, your & family, happy future together, harmony and understanding!
Gallery:
Contact me with any questions!
Wedding Photography Giveaway Winner | Auckland | Hamilton Lifestyle wedding photographer
Thank you so much everyone for coming to the Grand Wedding Show and viewing my lifestyle wedding photography stall, LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY.
We have a special surprise for our guests who entered the draw to win a FREE wedding photography experience for up to 6 hours!
I am delighted to announce the winner - Ailsa Reilly. Congratulations!
But there's more good news for all who visited our stand….
We are offering 20% OFF any wedding package to our participants which includes a free engagement shoot! I am committed to making your wedding day the best day you could ever ask for, so the couples' session/engagement shoot will help me get to know you better so you feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible in front of the camera on your wedding day so we can capture your true emotions of joy and love, without the nerves!
Please feel free contact me with any questions and tell me more about your wedding day! I can't wait to hear from you!
* if winner is not reachable during 7 day | date is not available | or any other reason for cancellation, prize will go in a draw again
Big Changes | Lifestyle wedding photography | North Island, New Zealand
If you wonder why it was so quiet in our Blog during the week, the answer is simple: we were really busy moving house from Auckland to Hamilton, New Zealand.
Yes, thats right, we relocated :) Its so exciting! New changes, new hopes, new life! (and a lot of packing, cleaning, unpacking, big task, ha-ha!)
If you ask me is there any changes for clients / friends, I will answer: absolutely nothing and everything :)
Aucklands clients still get the same level of service, Hamilton just 1 hour away what sounds like nothing for girl originally from 5-million citizens city St-Petersburg where travel to work could take 1-2.5 hours one way :)
Its also means wider zone coverage: we service now not just big Auckland area, but also Hamilton and all Waikato area (Thames, Coromandel, Taupo, Otorohanga) and Bay of Plenty as well (Tauranga, Rotorua) and surroundings!
More opportunities and we love to travel. Destination weddings and lifestyle family sessions are welcome!
Look forward to all exciting changes!
Contact me with any questions!
Cornwall park Couples-Engagement Session | Auckland Wedding photographer
What a beautiful couple I met last weekend for their engagement session at Cornwall Park, Auckland.
Julie and Ettienne such an amazing and fun loving couple!
I love every single moment of our session together: all these lyric, romance and fun moments, posing and un-posing, relaxing talking and moving around. We even been dancing!
This couple is so gorgeous! It was interesting to hear their love story, how they met and where they come from: Julie a real kiwi girl and Ettienne from South Africa (name sounds really French and romantic! :). We found a lot in common - passion to dance (Julie doing latin dancing) and figure skating (Ettienne love to skate and practice on ice as me :).
What a great time together! Thank you guys!
So excited about your upcoming wedding!
Happy future together!
Contact me with any questions!
Wedding celebrant - Featured Guest in the Blog | Auckland wedding photographer
Meet a new guest in our Blog - beautiful wedding celebrant Valeria (Lera) Antipenko!
I love to meet a new people in the industry and hope this information can help our brides to made their wedding day run smoothly. More surprises coming soon in the Blog ;)
First what I think when remember Lera its a high energy and passion: love to her profession, to dance and how she speaks and care about people. So meet Lera Antipenko (www.nzcelebrant.nz):
"Choosing a celebrant is an important part of your wedding planning process. These days, not everyone is after the same thing.
I am a registered marriage celebrant and have completed a celebrant course through the Celebrant School of New Zealand. I design wedding ceremonies with traditional international customs that are tailored to create special intimate moments for your ceremony.
Are you looking for an open minded, passionate, energetic, well organised, committed, approachable, flexible person who will guide you through your ceremonial process? Then I would love to assist you create your special day.
I'm all about creating a fun, relaxed but enthusiastic environment. After all, you're getting married and this should be one of the most special days of your lives! The only thing that limits you is your imagination.
This process is all about your dreams, your personalities, your relationship. Every wedding ceremony is as special as the couples with whom I work. A great deal of time is spent creating a custom-designed ceremony.
In addition to being your celebrant I can also coordinate your special day and provide entertainment. As I am a professional Latin American dancer and entertainer I can provide dance lessons so your first dance will be one to remember.
Available for marriages anywhere in New Zealand. I'm contactable 24/7. Any questions or queries please give me a call 02102432052 or send me an email info@nzcelebrant.nz."
Thank you Lera! Look forward to our next meeting (possibly on another wedding in excited environment :)
Contact me with any questions!