Magmod - a life changer | Photography products {Auckland wedding photographer}

I happy to share with you a recent publication in Click Magazine, where 21 pros {including me, Auckland wedding photographer} sharing their favourite photography products that became a game changer for them.

For me the answer was simple - Magmod Kit and Sphere. Its such amazing tools that allows you to master the artificial light  and control it {on or off camera flash}, get soft and beautiful light. There is no more fair of reception or dark spots {outside and inside indoors}. 
Have a look at this publication and enjoy all these amazing photography products, maybe you can find something new for yourself!

Contact me with any questions!

New Zealand winter maternity session {Auckland family-wedding photographer}

SO excited to share with you a sneak peek from breathtaking New Zealand winter maternity session with Conny & Stewart. Im as family-wedding photographer always happy to meet amazing people with beautiful souls and spent such a special time together. It is so amazing time with expecting their baby - newborn.

We walk and talk around Muriwai forest and beach {Auckland}, near beautiful rocks and such a stunning landscapes!

Enjoy this sneak peek, more photos coming soon in our Blog with full session gallery!

P.S.: I will include a culling video with this maternity session in my upcoming Breakout Tales of the Moment. Watch this space for more details!

The Travelling Dress Collective {New Zealand pre-wedding photographer}

I'm so excited to share with you a new publication of our amazing The Travelling Dress Collective project - where nine photographers from Australia and New Zealand come together to photograph just one dress with their unique Voice and Style.

It was such fantastic experience and so talented group of artists. Can't believe how this turned out. This dress was so gorgeous - made by Purity Lace Design. It's so amazing to see how different artists found something unique with their approach. You can look up their gorgeous work following the links: Camilla FrenchFrancisca JorgensenDanielle DobsonPeta HoodHelen WhittleKristle RicciMelissa BrownJulie Guertin and me, Olga Levien.

Have a read all stories in The Travelling Dress Collective project Blog and have a look at more photos in our recent engagement publication. Tina & Tony made their way from Australia to have a pre-wedding photo shoot in New Zealand. It was a great pleasure to capture so special for couple moments. Tina, this breathtaking dress and wild secluded Karekare beach {Auckland , New Zealand}  - all come together to create some magic! Love every single moment of our session!

Lookslikefilm feature {daily update | best photos - wedding photographer in Auckland}

Im so excited to share with you amazing news: Lookslikefilm just published a feature - daily update with best photos. Such a great honour for me, wedding photographer in Auckland NZ to be alongside with such talented photographers from all around the world.

Check out these top photos of the day and find my one with amazing Celeste & Leo {they had such an awesome wedding in stunning venue - Kauri Bay Boomrock}. Cant wait to move through their final wedding gallery and share it with you!

Enjoy this Lookslikefilm Choo-Choo publication with best photos | daily update and contact me with any questions!

{Another news - Im finishing working on my Breakout | Workshop | Ebook with Click Photo School {yay!!!} that go live next month!!! Cant wait to share everything I know in PDF, shooting and editing videos! Its a perfect resource if you want to improve your photography, find out more about your voice and style and get on track with inspiration - online education for photographers!}

Junebug Weddings - Top 10 New Zealand wedding photographers {Auckland photographer}

Im so excited to announce: we {L & L} just been listed on Junebug Weddings in Top 10 New Zealand wedding photographers directory. Its such a great honour for me, Auckland wedding photographer to be featured in the row of such amazingly talented photographers from all around New Zealand.

It is not an easy task to make it through to this top 10 photographers as they are strictly evaluating the work, portfolio, other vendors recommendations and feedback from other wedding photographers. Just couple of years ago I can't even dream about making this list and now I just been contacted by Junebug Weddings to be listed in their stunning directory. It is a great honour and such a spark of positive emotions today!

Check out our listing and contact me with any questions!

Junebug Weddings - Top 10 New Zealand wedding photographers {Auckland photographer}

Together Journal - Mary and Philipp elopement {Auckland wedding photographer}

I'm so excited to announce: Together Journal just published Mary & Philipp elopement in Auckland {couple from Germany contacted me to be their wedding photographer}. It was a surprised ceremony on the Karekare Beach as groom thought it going to be a couples photo shoot! You cant even imagine how happy and relieved newly weds felt right after the ceremony. You can feel the harmony in their photographs. 

Enjoy this real wedding publication in Together Journal and have a look at New Zealand elopement photos in our Blog.

So gorgeous and crazy in love couple! Happy future together!

Contact me with any questions!

LooksLikeFilm Feature - Daily Update {New Zealand wedding photographers}

LooksLikeFilm is amazing platform of photographers from all around the world including New Zealand, who are supporting each other. It such a pleasure to be featured on their Daily update with best photographs in different photography genres. It is a great honour to be in the row with such talented photographers, have a look at their amazing imaginary! It is a fun feeling, and great to see your work noticed, so great to see this daily inspiration from all other artists!

Enjoy this publication with my image from Port Hills, Christchurch with beautiful people - Jen & Scott!

LooksLikeFilm feature - Daily Update {New Zealand wedding photographers}

Contact me with any questions!

 

Matakana Weddings in Sweetened and Romantic {Published wedding photographers in Auckland - New Zealand}

So excited to share with you amazing news: one of our Matakana Weddings with Alexandra & James just been published in Sweetened and Romantic, so honour for us, their wedding photographers from Auckland, New Zealand be featured internationally. This is always a great pleasure to see our natural, romantic and real photographs go live around the world.

This wedding in St Andrews Church and Stables {Matakana} was truly amazing with such a beautiful and emotional, warm and cosy atmosphere. Alexandra & James celebrated their special day with close friends and families in such a stunning surroundings.

Enjoy this international blog publication and see more highlights in couple's gallery.

Alexandra & James with bridal party - Big Omaha Wharf 

Alexandra & James with bridal party - Big Omaha Wharf 

Contact me with any questions!

Brides Dress - Trish Peng
Brides Shoes - ALEXANDER WANG
Brides Earrings - Custom made by K. Amani Fine Jeweller 
Grooms Suit - Working Style
Bride and Groom Rings - Partridge Jewellers Cufflinks - Tiffany & Co.
Bridesmaid Dresses - Miss Crabb
Groomsmen Suits - Hallenstein Brothersi
Flowers - Flowers w/ Flare
Makeup - Shona Stevenson Makeup Artistry
Hair - Hair by Hannah
Celebrant - Jannette Marie Brown - Marriage Celebrant
Cake - Amy's Secret Kitchen 
Flower Wall - @Wallflower
Band - @Matt Stone and Coachella
MC - Simon Harris
Videographer - Rohan JBK
Wedding Coordinator - Karma Roberts

and wedding photographers in Auckland, New Zealand and beyond - L & L - Levien & Lens Photography, Olga & Matt

Tips on wedding planning for our awesome couples {Auckland - New Zealand weddings photographers}

It's time to reflect last season and create some tips on wedding planning for our awesome couples {as we shot so many Auckland, New Zealand weddings and as photographers can see what can help you to make your wedding day go flawless!}. Let the adventure begin:

pre-wedding photography New Zealand {Auckland engagement photographer}

Before the wedding day:

  1. Delegate tasks. {ask your parents, bridesmaids, and even groom!!! to help you with different tasks, it can make your wedding planning less stressful. You know they would love it! You can find their secret talents and passions {organise flowers, dance teacher, invitations etc.}
  2. Be well prepared for the wedding day and be ready to go with the flow {expect the unexpected!}. Get water, snacks - you will be starving after the ceremony!!! Prepare gifts for your bridesmaids, groomsmen, and letters for each other {its a nice touch and allow us to capture more emotional moments}
  3. Think about your timeline - allow yourself to have time to breathe and not rush into every event of the day. Consider to do a first look with Dad {it is such a particular moment when dad sees you for the first time in the wedding dress}.
  4. Let's go for an adventure on your pre-wedding | engagement photo shoot {we recommmend to schedule it at least 2-3 months before your wedding, earlier is better!}. You can choose a different to your wedding venue location {beach, waterfall, city landscape, lake, river, farm, lifestyle at home or cafe | library etc.}
  5. Plan a photography coverage: start getting ready at least 1-1.5 hour before leaving for the ceremony and finish time 0.5-1 hour after your first dance. First, things can run late and second, it helps to add to the story some moments before the ceremony - backstage and let you get used to the cameras and after the first dance - fun and party spirit with guests dancing - to tell a complete story of your wedding day. Note, we no need to have 2-3 hours for dancing photos as often same people are dancing and equal people are not dancing! :) You can extend your coverage if you feel you want to capture some special events {boys play golf or shooting at morning, girls do something special together, or there sparkles exit, many traditional dances at the reception, etc.
  6. Send us a complete questionnaire one month before your wedding. Create a family groups list. We recommend to limit it by up to 10 groupings as each group take 3 minutes and big groups up to 10 minutes each. Make sure you have a shepherd - the person who quick will gather the family together.
  7. Check the weather day before the wedding and get clear umbrellas for bride and groom or full wedding party {just in case}, you can get them in 1-2-3 dollars shops.
  8. Get plenty of sleep and rest before the wedding day to look your best!
elopement photography New Zealand {top wedding photographer in Auckland }

Wedding Day

  1. It's time to relax and go with the flow. No matter how the weather looks like, or if something goes wrong {celebrant lost in the middle of nowhere, the band is few hours late, or caterers taking their time. You will be fine! Just enjoy this time of your life!
  2. It's not a photo shoot; it's your wedding day! We need you to feel relaxed and allow yourself to go with the flow. Its the happiest day of your life {you will have sparkles in your eyes, and we will capture it}.
  3. Try to spend time with important for you people. Firstly, they appreciate it, second, we can get special for your family and friends photos of natural, candid moments where you are talking with them.Take your time to take congratulations and hugs right after the ceremony. No need to jump into family formals photos right away. Enjoy this time! It will give us the opportunity to capture more natural and candid moments!
  4. Don't forget to eat and drink. We found if you drink enough water on the wedding day you feel much better next morning!
  5. Try to have some time away from the bridal party during our photo shoot. You no need any audience for such intimate photos of two of you along.
  6. We can also sneak out of reception during the epic sunset {weather permitted}, you can plan around 20 min for it, while guests are eating or enjoying their conversations. There also a chance of nighttime creative photos with flash if wedding coverage allows.
  7. We will come to you 10-15 min before our finish time to check if there any more photo requests, to not miss anything significant for you.
  8. Relax, enjoy the party and dance away! We will make sure to document these moments!
best documentary fine art wedding photography | Auckland elopement photographers

After the wedding day

  1. Sneak peek with your wedding highlights will be ready in 2-3 days after your wedding.
  2. Enjoy your honeymoon, time of your life.
  3. The link will be sent to beautiful online gallery 8-10 weeks after your wedding. You can share it with your friends and family {in New Zealand and overseas}.
  4. The package will come your way a few weeks after online gallery went life: USB with artistic retouched high and low-resolution images and hand-picked 6x4" prints on fine art paper. I love this real touch!
  5. We will start working on your custom album design. Choose your favourites in an online gallery or let us decide on the final look. Its so good to hold something real in your hands, treasured memories for years to come!
  6. We appreciate all your kind words to your friends and family as well as testimonial | reviews on Social Media, our Website and Google. We so in love with our awesome couples!
  7. Don't want to say good buy? We too! We are offering a limited number of maternity | birth| lifestyle newborn | family sessions during our off wedding season time. Let's catch up again for other unique moments!
  8. Thank you for sharing such special moments with us!

LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN!

Remember, we will be there for you!

New Zealand pre-wedding photo shoot: Danielle and Jarryd {Auckland engagement-wedding photographer}

Im blown away by my recent New Zealand pre-wedding photo shoot with Danielle & Jarryd, such amazing crazy in-love couple! We had such a blast in our Auckland engagement photo shoot, such a honour to be their wedding photographer, cant wait till their wedding!

We met at Karekare falls and had explored around a wild secluded Karekare Beach with so beautiful landscapes, just before the sunset.

Enjoy this video slideshow and session highlights in photo gallery:

West Auckland - Cassels: Kim and Nathaniel {New Zealand wedding photographers}

We spent amazing time in West Auckland at Cassels where Kim & Nathaniel celebrated their special day with their friends and family. We as New Zealand wedding photographers been so excited to capture candid, natural and emotional moments, with a documentary approach.

Matt, my associate photographer, together with Melissa did a fantastic job with photographing this beautiful wedding in such challenging rainy conditions, but even rain can't stand on the way of warm and cosy celebration in Cassels with a photo shoot at Bethells Beach.

The couple shared their love story: "We've been together 4 and a half years, we met online although we've since come across many times our paths must've crossed before we met. We work together in our own business so spend most of our time together - we're a real team". The proposal was: "On the shores of Lake Wakatipu (Queenstown) - I knew it was coming, but he managed to catch me off guard with when he did it".

Great Creative Team:

Dress - Churchwood Bridal 
Bridesmaids - KILT
Suits - Barkers
Mens shoes - Rodd & Gunn
Make Up/Hair - Lipstick and Co
Flowers - Pineapple Sage
Celebrant - Ursula Rajkumar
Photographers - Matt at Levien & Lens Photography - Auckland based photographer, and thank you Melissa for great work!

Enjoy this video slideshow and photo gallery highlights!

Darshika and Joneet: Colourful Indian Wedding | Church Ceremony {Auckland weddings photographers}

Why do I love to capture cultural weddings? Because they have rich traditions, warm and cosy atmosphere and colour! Like this Darshika and Joneet's colourful Indian wedding with a church ceremony in Auckland, NZ. It such a pleasure for wedding photographers to meet such fantastic inspiration. We started our day in Manukau, follow to the church at East Tamaki, then bridal party and bride and groom photos in Auckland Botanic Gardens and finish the day with the amazing reception at Pukekohe. Ladies had a chance to change their outfit and showcase their beautiful sari. 

Great Creative team:

Great Creative Team:
Wedding planner - Eleven eleven events & Styling NZ. 
Videography - Revera Studio
Celebrant/pastor - Ps. moses singh. 
Dress - Bridal Brilliance alterations - amie (Bow & Lace Dressmaker / Designer Auckland NZ). 
Shoes - Chaos & Harmony 
Grooms outfit - Rembrandt
Makeup - Heather Vette Makeup & Nails 
Hair - Olga Gill Makeup Artist
MC - Dakshay prakash (brides brother) 
DJ - Jastin raaj. 
Florals - Joie De Vivre & Little Leaf Florals 
Cake - Magnolia Kitchen 
Arch for wedding - Event Styling Co.
Flower wall - The Flower Wall Co
and Olga at L & L - Levien & Lens Photography - Auckland wedding photographers. Thank you Mala for second shooting!

Enjoy this video slideshow and highlights in photo gallery:

Auckland indian wedding with church ceremony {New Zealand wedding photographers}
indian wedding with church ceremony {Auckland weddings photographers}
Auckland botanical gardens wedding
beautiful indian wedding by L & L {Auckland wedding photographers}

Clevedon Farm Wedding: Olivia and Mark {Auckland weddings photographers}

We so excited to share with you our recent Clevedon Farm wedding where Olivia & Mark get marries in Vin Alto Winery, bride's home full of such a sweet childhood memories. This wedding was shot by Matt, my associate photographer and husband, together with Kimberley, second photographer. I think they done such an awesome job. I could FEEL the atmosphere, emotion and moment while I been editing this wedding in my custom style. It's so great to realise we have such amazing team of talented Auckland wedding photographers!

Couple shared the story of their proposal: "We were meant to go for a walk in our favourite park one afternoon, and Mark had hid champagne and flowers under the bed for when we returned, and booked dinner - but it ended raining - so it was in the lounge!" They love cooking together and their ideal date night "A lazy Sunday afternoon in the kitchen together making dumplings from scratch and eating them :)"

Enjoy this video slideshow and a photo highlights in the gallery:

Clevedon farm winery wedding {Auckland wedding photographers}
Clevedon farm vinery wedding {Auckland weddings photographers}

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

Great creative team:

Dress: Martina Liana from Alma J Bridal Boutique
Suit: Tailor made from Working Style
Makeup & Hair: Olivia Davies from Servilles Academy Newmarket
Celebrant: Val Moore - Celebrant
Flowers: Clevedon Flowers and Mother of the Groom
Rings: Diamonds On Richmond
Zest String Quartet ; DJ: MIX it DJ
and Matt at Levien & Lens Photography - Auckland based wedding photographers. Thank you Kimberley for second shooting!

Moments in Christchurch {New Zealand wedding-elopement photographers}

I spent such fantastic time with such emotional moments in Christchurch with many talented New Zealand wedding-elopement photographers who come all the way from Auckland, Kerikeri, Tauranga, Rotorua, Queenstown, Wanaka to visit a great non-workshop - workshop {Badass}. It was so good to spent this time away as Im just about to launch my own workshop | ebook for modern photographers with Click Photo School - such incredible resource of online education for any photographer. I needed to change the atmosphere! {you can find more details about my educational project follow the link to Mentoring | Portfolio Review | Tutorials | Ebook | Breakout}

The idea of this educational for photographers event was to catch up, share some knowledge, recharge at the end of wedding season, get some new inspiration and have a rest in gorgeous old classic style mansion.

We had such a blast - amazing time with beautiful people, where Ambers from Perspectives, Olga from Wild & Grace, Nardia from Nardia Burst photography, Tegan and host of the workshop Sarah Clements been talking all things weddings and we all together discussed so many questions, shared ideas and inspiration.

We also had a chance to get to the Port Hills where amazing couple Jenna & Scott been our models for the short time {it was freezing on the hills, they did such amazing job staying calm}, and Gemma gave us a chance to take some maternity photos {she is a fellow wedding photographer herself}. It was such a great time with beautiful people!

I truly enjoyed every moment! Thank you Tegan and Sarah for organising it and having all us there!

Contact me with any questions!

Top 100 Wedding Photographers 2018 | Best Weddings Photographers Worldwide {Auckland elopement photographer}

So excited to be included in Top 100 Wedding Photographers 2018 by Wedding Photographer Society - Best Weddings Photographers Worldwide Magazine.

It's such a huge honour for me, Auckland elopement-wedding photographer to be in this publication with premier international destination wedding artists. Such a great place to be! I amazed by the level of talent in this magazine.

Enjoy the featured publication and breathtaking imaginary!

Contact me with any questions!

North Auckland Farm Wedding: Sophia and Jethro {New Zealand weddings photographer}

Fantastic time with Sophia & Jethro in North Auckland at their farm wedding near Mangawhai and Puhoi. As a wedding photographer, I love to capture beautiful weddings all around New Zealand and beyond, but farm - barn weddings have such a unique, freedom atmosphere with great spirit. We start getting ready in Mangawhai and then went to the farm at Puhoi, also ha an excellent opportunity to visit Wenderholm Regional park for couple's session with the bridal party, and finished at the reception under the marquee with 200 guests. It was such amazing day with a great atmosphere. 

The couple shared their love story with the proposal: "After an alpine hike in the Milford sound, on a snow-topped mountain at sunset (with wine and cheese) :) AMAZING!"

Great Creative Team:

Makeup- Kate Manihera- Makeup Artist
Celebrant - Sandra Turner
MC - Sarah Drum & Daniel Gillespie
Band - The Dukes of Hammersmith
Flowers - My little flower company, Mangawhai
and Olga at Levien & Lens Photography - Auckland based wedding photographers. Thank you Gemma for second shooting!

Enjoy this video slideshow and highlights in the photo gallery:

Top 60 Elopement Blogs and websites for Eloped couples {New Zealand - Auckland wedding photographer}

It's incredible news: we are included in Top 60 Elopement Blogs and websites for Eloped couples by Feedspot. "The Best Elopement Wedding blogs from thousands of top Elopement Wedding blogs in our index using search and social metrics." 

This list based on utterly organic search results and amount of visitors as well as a quality of the content.

I'm so excited and honoured to see these fantastic results. Thank you to our beautiful couples for constant support and love. Elopements are one of my favourite events to capture, there so much intimacy, beauty and emotions in a short time frame, in most stunning locations of Auckland and New Zealand.

Its so big honour for me, wedding photographer to be chosen for this amazing adventure!

Hope you enjoy it!

Contact me with any questions!

elopement-by-olgalevien-246 copy.jpg
top 60 elopement blogs and websites for eloped couples {New Zealand Auckland wedding photographer}

Karekare Falls - Piha Beach engagement session {Auckland pre-wedding photographer}

Excited to share with you highlights of Nicole & Juan's engagement session on Karakare Falls and Piha Beach {Auckland}. We spent amazing time with this beautiful couple on their pre-wedding photo shoot, walking and talking with capturing some special natural moments in spectacular New Zealand landscape. Need to mention couple been a lucky winner of our Weddings Giveaway 2018, can't wait till their wedding next year!

This session was so gorgeous with love, romantic and real emotions! 

Enjoy highlights in video slideshow and photo gallery!

Auckland Art Gallery: Mojo cafe {Wedding-elopement photographer in New Zealand} Night weddings

This wedding in Auckland Art Gallery - Mojo Cafe was exceptional. Anita & Jay decided to get married at night time when evening come up. My wedding coverage as their photographer started at 6 pm! That is a unique wedding with such a special vibe. 

We started from getting ready at Hotel DeBrett in Auckland City. Such amazing two-level room with a just gorgeous staircase. I love to photograph there whenever I'm shooting in this stunning venue.

Couple get married under the arch and had a quiet celebration with their close friends and family {around 20 people in total!!!} with canapé and Indian sweets {I tried it and can confirm, so delicious}. The atmosphere in this place was so fabulous!

The love story and proposal: "We first met on my first day of work where I was starting a new at the Auckland City Hospital as it's new liver transplant team pharmacist. We worked in very different departments so the only time we managed to interact each other was via mutual friends or after work we'd stop and have a chat with each other before going home. It was before Christmas in 2016 that we were invited by mutual friends out for a kayak trip (Helen and Ricky, who are present today) out at Puhoi. I had thought about asking her out before this but wasn't quite sure of the circumstances, so this kayak trip was an excellent opportunity to get to know each other better and see if anything could eventuate... And here we are... So we started dating on the 17th of December 2016, where we had brunch and went back to Puhoi.

It was very clear from the first few dates that she was the one I'd like to spend the rest of my life with, and so I had forward planned multiple trips of time, with hoping that we were on the same boat. By this time I had already thought of three occasions to propose that was already in our calendar, Waiheke for her birthday, June where we would be visiting the Franz Josef Glaciers and August where we would be going to Wellington. I had hinted it would be June with the glaciers as we would be taking a helicopter up and so it would be an exceptional occasion but little did she know I was thinking of the soonest date possible straight after her birthday on Waiheke. We arrived in Waiheke when the weather was less than ideal; I had booked us to stay at the Oyster Inn, one of Anita's favourite places on the island. We started the day by having a small picnic by the beach, I would have done it then, but the wind was just too much, and I would have had to shout my lungs out and she probably still won't hear and I might not even be able to her answer... so that was a no. We went back to the inn and had a bit of tea, I also had brought bottle of our favourite champagne (Perrier Joet, even at our wedding) to have possibly after I have proposed, but Anita suggested we have this with dinner, so I thought okay well I guess I'd have to do it before dinner. Now coming back to after our picnic, we had a bit of tea at the inn and then retired to our room, I just felt it was the right time, we were alone, private and intimate and I decided to get on my knees and asked her to marry me there and then in the room and of course she said yes. Now we get to enjoy the other two activities I had set up earlier." Such a romantic story!

Enjoy highlights in video slideshow and photo gallery:

Great Creative Team:

Getting Ready - Hotel DeBrett
BALENCIAGA bridal top, skirt by Céline Rita
Wedding stylist: @Holly Buckley
Celebrant: Keeley Jenkins, Celebrant
Mojo Supervisor: @Donna Hutchins  
and Olga at Levien & Lens Photography - Auckland based wedding photographer

Engagement photo shoot on Muriwai Beach: Divya and Gino {Auckland pre-wedding-elopement photographer}

I would love to share with you this beautiful engagement photo shoot on Muriwai Beach {West Auckland}. I'm so excited to do this pre-wedding session and also look forward to being couple's wedding photographer for their upcoming wedding on Fiji. Can't wait! Not long to go now!

Need to mention I met Dyvia and Gino a few years ago in Farmers, and we became really good friends, such a destiny to meet them again and do the photography part for my dear friend's wedding!

Enjoy highlights in video slideshow and a photo gallery: