Pre-wedding photo shoot in Auckland - Muriwai Beach {wedding and couples photography}

Exciting season ahead and we are catching up on last moments of the 2020 - exciting pre-wedding photo shoot in Auckland on Muriwai beach - where Lisa & Adam had their photos done before the wedding, such amazing couples photography}.

We met at the top of the hill and walk down to the beach, walking and talking about couples wedding plans and their relationship. it was cloudy day but we managed to get a little bit of sunshine at split moments. Love is all around!

Enjoy highlights of couples engagement gallery!

{I can not wait till their wedding! First date was postponed because of Covid, but hopefully onwards and upwards from there!}

P.S.: Do you want to learn photography? Join 4 weeks online workshop “Love, Light & Laughter” at Click Photo School and push your photography to another level!

Best Moments of the year 2020 {Pre-wedding natural fine art and documentary photography in Auckland}

As new year begin, its time to share with you best moments of the year 2020 {pre-wedding natural fine art and documentary photography in Auckland and beyond}.

Enjoy these photo gallery with my favourite moments from engagement, weddings and family photo shoots {I may miss some as there so many galleries to look through and still few not edited from the end of 2020 ;):

By the way, today is my birthday, what a great way to celebrate - remembering these moments!

Thank you so much to my awesome couples for this amazing time!

P.S.: Do you want to learn photography? Join 4 weeks online workshop “Love, Light & Laughter” at Click Photo School and push your photography to another level! {registration open soon}

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Happy New Year! {Auckland wedding | couples photographer} Top 9 on Instagram

Happy New Year! It was not an easy year 2020 with lots of up and downs, but its great to finish on the positive note and look forward to next year, what it brings to us {and me, Auckland wedding | couples photographer}.

It’s time to look back at this amazing year and reflect, sharing best of 2020, top nine on IG!
This year been not easy with lots of changed plans, but everything happening for a reason!
I enjoyed slow down time with family, teach three online workshops, still managed to shoot lucky weddings, couples and family shoots. and won a few awards {The Voice, SLR Lounch etc}

It was an incredible experience ❤️
Another exciting year ahead!

Enjoy my Top 9 on Instagram {personal and business accounts}: I can not wait to see what next year will bring!

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Couples photo shoot in Auckland - Julia and Michael

Amazing time with Julia & Michael on couples photo shoot in Auckland - Muriwai Beach, so much fun and positive emotions as well as romantic atmosphere and love in such a stunning backdrop at West Auckland beach.

Such a perfect opportunity to better know each other, walk and talk, just one month before their wedding in Mantells to feel on ease on the wedding day. It was just incredible!

Enjoy highlights of this gorgeous people photo shoot in the gallery:

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Muriwai Beach Engagement Session {Auckland pre-wedding photographer}

Amazing time at Muriwai Beach with Lisa & Adam at their engagement session in Auckland {such a honour to be their pre-wedding photographer}. I can not wait till their upcoming wedding {still one year ago as first date was postponed because of coronavirus pandemic}.

Everything happening for a reason, and Im glad we had a chance to walk and talk and capture some stunning photos before their wedding.

Enjoy highlights of this sneak peek! I will share a full gallery shortly!

Shutterstock: Photographers share lessons learned from the coronavirus pandemic {Auckland family-wedding photographer}

Im so excited to share with you a recent publication in Shutterstock where Photographers from all over the world share lessons learned from the Coronavirus Pandemic, such a tough time fore any small business owner. Its such a honour for me, Auckland family-wedding photographer to be featured in this publication.

Enjoy the wisdom advice from many photographers and their directions!

Here some of my words published:

“Coronavirus pandemic affected the wedding photography industry in a big way, as so many weddings have been rescheduled/postponed and some are cancelled. The amount of income dropped significantly. But, I learned to enjoy the downtime during lockdowns. I spent more time with my family and, work-wise, I decided to shift my focus on online photography education and also started offering more branding and lifestyle shoots. Wedding inquiries recently started to pick up again, but I truly enjoy the variety of different genres that allow me to switch perspective and atmosphere, and to refresh.

One of my most valuable lessons I learned through the coronavirus pandemic is that there’s no need to lock yourself in a box. Be open to different opportunities that come your way and stay positive. That is, keep working hard to get where you want to be or take a break and refresh your vision. Also, you need to have a safety pillow. Secure yourself. Have some savings and financial security, and also, special conditions in your contract to protect yourself from any unforeseeable situation—such as a global pandemic. Stay calm and carry on!”

together with one of my photos:

Tawharanui Lodge - Kristy and Nick {Auckland wedding photographers}

Im so excited to share with you highlights of this amazing event in Tawharanui Lodge up North where Kristy and Nick get married celebrated their special day with close friends and family coming mostly from Auckland. Its such a pleasure to be their wedding photographers and capture all the natural candid moments and portraits on this beautiful day!

Couple shared their story: “Kristy and Nick met when they were 16 and 19 years old at Whangaparaoa Tennis Club. This is where the couple first met and everyone thought Nick was Roger Federer’s twin. One day Nick managed to build up the courage to approach his sister, Victoria to ask her for Kristy’s mobile number. It wasn’t long before Courtney had set Kristy and Nick up on a date and the rest is history.” Proposal: “After waiting for 9 years and non-stop hints from the family. Nick thought that it was time to propose. He took Kristy on a surprise trip away to Paihia. When they arrived at their destination Nick thought it would be a great idea to go out and explore the area. They found a waterfall and Nick thought it would be the perfect setting for a proposal. Turning to Kristy, he asked if she would like to go for a walk to the bottom of the waterfall and of course she responded “No!”. That wasn’t the answer Nick was looking for so he responded “well, we are going anyway”. So off they went down the track to the bottom of the waterfall. After taking a few photos they then headed back up the track with Kristy walking on ahead and Nick sneakily got out his wallet and begun to unwrap the engagement ring that he had wrapped in bubble wrap. Nick then reached out to Kristy and asked her to stop and look at the scenery. He started to babble on about how fascinating the moss was on the rocks. Kristy thinking he was acting a bit strange at first pointed to a few other things in the distance and then carried on up the track not thinking to much about Nick’s fascination with the moss. Nick then built up the courage and grabbed Kristy’s hand saying “I have something to ask you”. A surprised Kristy turned around and in complete shock started saying “No, no, no, no,no”. Nick responded “yes, yes yes, yes, yes”. As Nick began to get down on one knee Kristy blurted out in embarrassment “stand up”. Nick was thrilled that he didn’t have to get down on one knee for long!. He asked Kristy to marry him and had to clarify if “no actually means yes”. A smitten Kristy responded “yes, yes yes”. She couldn’t believe this moment was actually happening!” What a beautiful story!

Great creative team: Bride dress: Astra Bridal; Bridesmaid dresses: Bridal Brilliance; Florist: Briar Rose Flowers, Warkworth ; Suits: Barkers; Bride shoes: Hush Puppies; Jewellery: Michael Hill; Makeup: Cindy Longley, PureMakeup Artistry; Hair: Vee ; Celebrant: Rebekah Sulman, Moments & Memories NZ; MC: Imi and Phil McCall and Auckland wedding photographers: Olga at L & L - Levien & Lens photography.

Enjoy highlights of this wedding gallery, contact me with any questions!:

Auckland pre-wedding session sneak peek - Muriwai Beach {engagement photographer}

Amazing time on Auckland pre-wedding session with Julia & Michael {Im happy to share with you a quick sneak peek of their session on Muriwai beach, as Im as their engagement photographer cant help myself to look through all the gorgeous photos and create a quick gallery for the couple just one day after the session :) }.

Yes, we get all wet right at the beginning of the session when big wave come unexpectedly {it happens often but you never ready for it, haha}, but there was so much joy and positive emotions!

I can not wait till these beautiful souls wedding in Mantells! Not long to go now {just over two months time!}

Enjoy this beautiful souls session highlights!

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Waterlily Gardens: Kelly & Hayden {Auckland-Waikato wedding photographers}

Congratulations too beautiful couple get married at The Waterlily Gardens - Kelly and Hayden! Their day was just amazing, celebrating with close friends and family in Waihi, not far from Auckland, in the Waikato region. I would be honoured to be their wedding photographer and we had such an amazing pre-wedding photoshoot but global pandemic took a different turn: planned in April wedding was post-ponned to the end of August {exactly at the time when second lockdown took place in Auckland!!!}. What a chance!

It was such a roller coaster ride with Alert level 3 restrictions extended and inability to travel from Auckland to Waihi for us. I’m so glad we have such a wonderful wedding Photographers community and two local Waikato photographers step in and saved the day! Thank you, Lisa and Emma! You shot such a beautiful moments on the day and it was a pleasure for me to select images in the gallery and edit them in my unique style.

Couple shared their story: “We are highschool sweethearts. We were in the same class when we were 6 years old. We have been together ever since. We completed high school and both attended the University of Waikato and flatted in Hamilton together.” The proposal: “I arrived home from a family function to find Taylor Swift blaring on the radio and red arrows on the floor leading up the hallway to our bedroom. There I found a new dress with wine, a candle, rose petals and a bouquet of flowers and a message in a card to get ready: My Love, you are my world. I couldn’t imagine my life without your laugh, your voice, your smile, your beauty, your intellect. Let’s celebrate tonight, no need to rush, wear whatever is comfortable. I’m waiting in the lounge when you’re ready. I found Hayden dressed up in a fancy new suit. He told me we had some time to kill as in my excitement I got ready very quickly, so we opened the wine and chatted and danced for a while. A short drive later, I found myself at the mall. Hayden led us through to the cinemas and up to a theatre where I discovered he had organised a private screening of Disney's The Little Mermaid (we are big Disney fans). He had also organised a picnic basket full of movie snacks and blankets and made me wait until the very end of the movie to pop the question!” What a beautiful story!

Enjoy highlights of this gorgeous wedding!

Great Creative Team:

Celebrant: Holly Gower-Rudman; Cake Maker: Noeline Watts (Groom’s Mother); Florist: Kelly Scawin (Hand-picked); DJ/Band/Musician: Justin Drift (Drift the DJ); Makeup artist: Krystal Hayward (nzmakeupgirl); Hair: Krystal Hayward (nzmakeupgirl); Dress: Vanilla Bridal, Tauranga; Suit: ASOS and Auckland wedding photographers Levien & Lens photography {selections and edit} and Waikato associate photographers - Lisa and Emma.

Family Graduation photos {West Auckland photographer}

I had a last minute request from my friend to take some family graduation photos with her son Michael {who just had a ceremony and earned PhD, such an exciting path!}. I drove to West Auckland to became a special occasion photographer to document these important moments for his close friends and family.

I love to shoot different events, especially weddings, so Im approaching the photo shoot with two ways - to get natural organic photos {when everyone happy, enjoying their time going with the flow}, get some behind the scene documentary photos and also capture some stunning portraits {with some elements of directions and posing, aiming for a casual look}.

We took some lifestyle photos in Henderson family home, when family been having some lunch and then got some beautiful photos at their backyard, memories that worth to remember!

Enjoy highlights of this family graduation photos gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

P.S.: my online workshop “Love, Light & Laughter” just around the corner! {begin 9 November}. Don’t forget to grab your seat at Click Photo School if you like to push your photography to another level!

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Headshots in Auckland Domain {commercial - website photography - branding}

Today we are taking a sneak peek in headshots that I done in Auckland Domain for gorgeous Julia for her commercial website, that needed photography refresh, to boost her branding. She an amazing person and kind soul helping others with successful homeopathy treatments.

You might be know that Im a wedding and family lifestyle photographer and love to capture natural beautiful moments, happening unfold. I do like posing and make sure picture and all the lines looks perfect!

I often get asked for personal photos, headshots and other branding photography and happy to help, bringing my vibe and vision in photographs as well as natural approach.

Enjoy highlights of our quick going with the flow session in Auckland Domain and Wintergarden Cafe!

Contact me to book your session!

P.S.: if you want to learn basics of shooting and editing - join my online workshop “Love, Light & Laughter” - begin 9 November at Click Photo School.

Engagement session on Muriwai Beach {Auckland pre-wedding photographer} Meghan and Anton

Hello beautiful people!

I would love to share with you today a gorgeous engagement session on Muriwai Beach {West Auckland}, where I had a honour to take pre-wedding photographs as a couples photographer for Meghan & Anton. I can not wait till their wedding in Gracehill in February. Not long to go now!
We had an amazing time, walking and talking near the rocks and cave, looking at amazing landscapes and powerful ocean, discussing all the wedding plans and more.

The weather was really windy and frozen, but we moved around very fast capturing some real and natural romantic moments, going with the flow.

Enjoy highlights of this amazing session with beautiful souls!

P.S.: by the way, if you want to learn my ways and find your voice and style, join me on 4-weeks online workshop “Love, Light & Laughter” at Click Photo School. {over 200 page PDF and over 40 videos included! at www.clickphotoschool.com/love-light-laughter

Muriwai Beach engagement session {Auckland pre-wedding photographer}

Im so excited to share with you recent Muriwai Beach engagement session in West Auckland beautiful secluded location, such a perfect for pre-wedding photo shoot. Im so excited to be Kristy & Nick photographer. Not long to go till their wedding in Tawharanui! I can not wait for it!

We had a great time walking on the beach, talking, getting to know each other and how we roll, capturing some stunning moments and discussing an upcoming wedding as well. What a great time!

Enjoy highlight in this photo gallery:

P.S.: by the way if you want to know how I shoot and edit, learn photography basics and move forward in any photo genre, join me in 4-weeks online workshop at Click Photo School '“Love, Light & Laughter” - begin 9 November {registration open soon! Already opened for CM lifetime members!"}

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The Voice Image Collection Finalist - Stydying light {Olga Levien - Auckland photographer}

I'm so excited to wake to amazing news - one of my photos been chosen to be in The Voice image collection as a finalist in Studying light category! {I’m Olga Levien, Auckland photographer capturing weddings, engagement and family sessions as well as personal lifestyle work}.

So incredible and talented artists presented in this collection of art! Congratulations to all the talented photographers! Check out all the categories here https://voice.clickprophotographers.com

Thank you so much to my amazing couples {it would be impossible without you}. On this photo - people with beautiful souls - Dianna & Hui at Bracu {Auckland}

If you want to learn how to use the light, capture images and bring them to reality in post-processing, sign up to an online workshop “Love, Light & Laughter” at Click Photo School www.clickphotoschool.com/love-light-laughter

Albums and Prints {Auckland wedding - engagement photographer} Bring Back Memories!

Do you want something real in your hands after the wedding day? Believe me, Albums and Prints are the great options to keep your memories alive. Im as an Auckland wedding and engagement photographer know exactly, you are not often will be looking through your digital files on the USB drive, you need to have something real and treasured in your hands to Bring Back Memories!

That’s why I have an option to add on an album to your wedding/pre-wedding package and create some more beauty! Also I have a great news for you, I decided to run a special promotion:

BRING BACK MEMORIES! ALBUM SALE

$150 OFF ALL ALBUMS ORDERS

FREE SHIPPING

Orders before August 31st 12 pm.

Free shipping in NZ & AUS only.

Extra discount on any additional album orders.

Our Albums are designed in the old fashion way, by a human! I spend a lot of time placing every photo perfectly to retain the flow of a story.

I love seeing our images come to life! Being able to hold the finished product in the hands and feel it is a rewarding experience.

Together we will make an album so you can relive exactly how you felt on the wedding day!

Contact me to begin your custom Album Design - info@levienphotography.com

Let your memories come alive! <3

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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Winter Pre-wedding session on the beach - Kelly & Hayden {Auckland engagement } couples photographer}

Hello Beautiful People! I would like to share with you a recent pre-wedding session on the beach where we met Kelly & Hayden who come over to Auckland from Hamilton to celebrate their engagement. It was a honour for me to be couples photographer and capture all the special moments before their wedding at the end of the August.

Need to mentioned couples shoot and wedding been planned way back in March-April but could not take place because of government restriction on travel etc. Hopefully everything goes smoothly and their wedding will go ahead second time around.

I can not wait to document their celebration with close friends and family at Waterlily Gardens {Waihi}. Not long to go now!

Enjoy highlights of this pre-wedding session on Muriwai Beach {one of my favourite places to shoot} - such a stunning views, secluded location, rocks and dunes , if we get lucky {its hard to achieve at winter though ;)

Settlers County Manor {Waimauku - West Auckland wedding photographer} Megan & Carlo

Im so excited to share with you beautiful gallery - Settler County Manor {Waimauku - West Auckland} wedding, where I had a honour as a photographer to document all special moments for Megan & Carlo celebrated their wedding day with close friends and family. This is truly incredible chapter, as this wonderful event happened just before the lockdown when New Zealand put restrictions on travel, weddings etc. SO its really strange to see how we moved through this day smoothly without knowing what coming ahead.

It was a great day that started at getting ready moments in Te Atatu and Huapai, wedding ceremony and reception at Settlers County Manor and sneak out for quick photos to Riverhead Forest.

We spent some time with couple just few days before their wedding {couple fly all the way over from Australia}, it was such amazing pre-wedding session!

Couple shared their story: “We met at a high school social dance (we went to an all boys & all girls school and our schools were brother/sister schools). We were friends first and then lost contact. Megan moved to Sydney & Carlo one day reached out to reconnect. From there a long-distance relationship started before Carlo moved to Sydney. We have been together almost 10 years.” The proposal: “Carlo booked a fancy steakhouse restaurant under the pretense of an early anniversary celebration. He ended up getting nervous and wasn't going to propose, but luckily for him the waiter broke the ice by ruining the surprise! (When Carlo had made the booking he had selected the option of celebrating an engagement. The waitress was serving dessert and said "I hear you are celebrating an engagement" before he had actually popped the question!)”. Such a romantic story!

Enjoy highlights of this beautiful people wedding in our photo gallery!

Great Creative Team:

Wedding planner: Koko (K Inspire Events); Suit: Woolcott St; Makeup: Kate Solley Makeup; Hair: Huong Phan (Tousle); Celebrant: Matt Gould; DJ: Bo Marcelo; MC: Paula Bituin-Pita & Allan Pita; videographers - Jet (Jetmo Films) and your Auckland wedding photographers - L & L {Levien & Lens photography}.

Contact us with any questions!

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Winter Engagement Session {Auckland pre-wedding photographer}

Im so excited to share with you highlights of the winter engagement session on Muriwai Beach {Auckland} with Sheldon & Harry, who won this pre-wedding giveaway a few months back.

We don’t had the opportunity to shoot the session because the country was on the lockdown, but luckily no I had an opportunity as their photographer to document so special for couple moments!

Couple shared their story: “Harrison and I met back in high school where he asked me out but I had to say no due to not being allowed a boyfriend (had to concentrate on school work) once we finished school we started talking again and there was instant attraction. We started dating, have been together 7 years, living together and owning dogs together. We have been each other's rock and we are definitely each others better half” The proposal: “He wrapped a gorgeous frame up for Christmas - to which he had filled with pictures and a note saying will you marry me? When I looked up he was there with the ring a huge smile and then said so will you marry me”. So romantic story!

Enjoy highlights of couples engagement pre-wedding photo shoot:

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French Bay wedding - Diane & Jared with kids {Auckland weddings photographers}

Such a beautiful moments on this French Bay wedding where Diane & Jared celebrated their special moments with kids, family and friends. Its such a honour to document these special moments as Auckland weddings photographers. We gad such amazing time at couple’s engagement shoot before the wedding at Muriwai Beach {photos turned just amazing!}

Couple shared their story: “We have been together 21 years and engaged for 8 years. This has been a long time coming. Diane was 17 and Jared was 18 when we got together. It was a typical teen romance that evolved as we have grown and now with our three children in tow.” The proposal: “The proposal was a surprise for Diane, even after 12 years. We had taken a weekend away to the Coromandel together and Diane planned it all with a detour to Cathedral Cove. Jared thought it the perfect time to catch me unaware and got down on one knee to propose.”

It was a wonderful day full of love and laughter.

Enjoy highlights in the photo gallery:

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