Muriwai Beach post-wedding session Sneak Peek {Auckland engagement - elopement photographer}

I had such amazing experience on this Muriwai Beach post-wedding session, where I met my couple that I shoot in early February in Auckland Landscendt Garden. Its always a pleasure to meet my couple again as an old friends!

SO much positive emotions! 

Emma brought her two dresses from the wedding day and one extra red dress. You know I just love beautiful dresses and cant help myself to capture this beauty all around in such a stunning location!

Enjoy this sneak peek highlights! Cant wait to move through couple's final gallery!

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Winter maternity session in Auckland {New Zealand wedding-family photographer}

I just love to shoot winter maternity session as this one with Charlotte and Farres. Couple come over to Auckland - New Zealand from Abu-Dhabi. Its such a honour for me, wedding and family photographer, to capture so special for this couple moments!

Its so exciting to create these treasured memories of expecting a little miracle. We went to Riverhead Forest and Muriwai Beach, and had such amazing time at stunning New Zealand landscapes.

Enjoy these highlights of sneak peek! Cant wait to move through their final gallery!

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Winter engagement session Sneak Peek: Courtney and Jason {wedding photographers in Auckland}

I'm so excited to share with you our recent winter engagement session sneak peek with Courtney & Jason, such adventurous couple. We chose Riverhead forest and Muriwai beach, such a perfect locations to shoot for any wedding photographer in Auckland! It give us a perfect variety for incredible pictures!

This day was so amazing, couple also prepared a little surprise for their pre-wedding session - they brought a few smoke bombs! We had so much fun playing with them!

Enjoy these highlights in sneak peek, cant wait to move through their final gallery!

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Top 50 Best of the Best Destination Photo Contest Winner by Junebug Weddings - L and L {Auckland - New Zealand wedding photographers}

I'm so excited to announced one on my photos with Tina & Tony at Karekare Beach made it in Top 50 Best of the Best Destination Photo Contest by Junebug Weddings. Its such a honour for me L & L {Levien & Lens photography, based in Auckland New Zealand photos by Olga Levien} to be in such talented company of wedding photographers from all over the world.

Its truly unbelievable to make this list of best wedding photographers in the world!

I appreciate this opportunity and truly grateful for this acknowledgement.

Have at look at all these amazing international destination photographers art work and enjoy this photo with Tina & Tony who made their way from Australia to have their photos taken by me, Olga Levien, Auckland based wedding photographer!

We had such a blast! 

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Best of 2017 | 2018 {Auckland wedding photographers}

Its time to reflect and look back at our amazing season when winter is a half way through and say Thank you to our awesome couples for constant love and support, we treasure every moment with you and so glad you choose us to capture so special for you moments.

Enjoy this Best of 2017 | 2018 {from yours L & L - Auckland wedding photographers}. We cant even count amount of epic weddings and engagement photo shoots, publications in prestigious magazines and awards. We been included in many top lists of best wedding photographers worldwide, such a big honour and such a pleasure to make all dreams come true. Thank you our awesome couples for this experience, it is impossible without you!

Can't wait and see what 2018 | 2019 season will bring {we booked up for most popular dates, but there still some chance your date is still available, don't hesitate to contact us}.

It was amazing year and we also have such amazing news - our big educational project that we worked on during one year!!! goes live - "Tales of the Moment: Your Secret Formula for Picture Perfect" BY OLGA LEVIEN with Click Photo School. Check it out if you want to improve your photography, find your sweet spot!

This photo gallery even can't fit all our fantastic engagement and wedding photo shoots!

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20 Top Wedding Photographers by Hongkiat: TOP 12 Wedding Photographer Society 2017; 100 Photographers to Watch in 2018 by Click & Company; Rangefinder Contest Winner, TOP 100 photographers Shoot & Share contest wedding couple category; NZIPP Iris Awards {9 awards}, Top 60 Elopement Blogs; Lemonade & Lenses International Contest Winner, Editor's Choice 2016-2018

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Engagement session on Muriwai Beach - Riverhead forest {Auckland pre-wedding photographer}

This engagement session on Muriwai Beach - Riverhead forest {Auckland} with Aishani & Janak was truly breathtaking. Couple wanted to do a pre-wedding session in New Zealand before they come back to UK after few years live in Auckland. It was a last minute call and Im so happy to be their couples photographer.

We spent amazing time walking around the forest and exploring the wild West Coast New Zealand beach with cave, rocks and stunning landscapes. Couple been so brave and adventurous and even walk in the cold water {its a winter here in NZ!}. I always love when couple brings traditions in their wedding | session so it was a great surprise to see their traditional Indian outfits - sari.

Couple shared their love story: "We met at university 10 years ago, were best friends for 3 years until Janak anonymously sent me flowers on Valentines Day. We pretty much immediately went travelling to India, Nepal & Malaysia as a brand new couple for 3 months. It was intense being with each other 24/7 right at the beginning of our relationship, but it showed us that we were a great couple... and here we are 7 years later!" 

The proposal was so amazing: "He flew me on a seaplane to the winery I really wanted to go to on Waiheke (Man O War). We had a wine tasting, then while we went for a walk on the beach and he got down on one knee! The proposal was a complete surprise as I thought the seaplane experience was a belated birthday gift."

Enjoy this video slideshow and photo gallery:

{by the way if you are interested in improving your photography, wait no longer! My online photography course is available for registration at Click Photo School, grab your seat and enjoy loads of materials: 100+ pages exclusive ebook, bonus materials, 6 shooting and 5 editing videos in Lightroom and Photoshop, culling in PhotoMechanic and introduction videos! Watch me shoot and edit this session! I'm so excited and would love to have you join!}

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Pre wedding session in New Zealand {Auckland engagement photographer} Photography Workshop

Alice & Sam come over to their pre wedding session in New Zealand , Auckland such amazing place for engagement photo shoot and Im so pleased to be chosen to be their photographer and document so special for couple moments!

Need to mentioned I know Alice from Clickin Moms photography forum, such a supportive community of amazing and talented women-photographers. I been so thrilled when she contacted me with their plans to come over to New Zealand from USA.

This moment was so amazing, we had such a blast on Karekare Falls and Piha Beach, such amazing and stunning locations. The love and connections that you can clearly see between Alice and Sam so insane. We had some exploring moments and fun as well. Its so great to introduce to someone so wild and beautiful nature and see their excitement and instant love to this country. Bring back memories!

Enjoy these highlights in video slideshow and photo gallery!

{by the way, if you a photographer and seeking the ways to bring more connection and soul to your photographs, check out my photography workshop with Click Photo School. You can see how I shoot this session, all my tips and tricks - hips of shooting videos, culling and editing videos, and 100+ pages exclusive Ebook plus hips of BONUSES!}

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Auckland forest-beach maternity session: Conny and Stewart {New Zealand wedding -family photographer}

Im so excited to share with you a final gallery from Auckland forest-beach maternity session with Conny & Stewart. Im as New Zealand wedding and family photographer truly enjoy capturing so special moments with expecting a little miracle.

Couple shared their story: "We met in 2010.( Been together for 8 years now- time file). at a festival in South Africa I was playing hard to get, however once he convinced me that he is one of the good fish out there we moved in together and a year later he proposed In 2014 we got married and moved to New Zealand the following year. We waited till we felt settled and secure in our Jobs before starting this new and exciting adventure of becoming parents."

We had amazing time on Muriwai Beach and Woodhill forest, so beautiful memories!

{P.S.: I recorded a video screen share with this session culling, have a look at my Online Course "Tales of the moment: Your secret formula for picture perfect", OPEN for registration}

Enjoy this video slideshow and maternity session highlights in the photo gallery:

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

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

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

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

Learn more at photography workshop registration page.

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

What's Included:

- 100+ pages exclusive Ebook;

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

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

- 2 BONUS Ebooks:

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

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

- 4 of my custom Lightroom Presets and more.

What will you learn?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join me on this adventure!

Muriwai Beach {Auckland} post-wedding photo shoot {New Zealand wedding photographer}

SO excited to share with you a session at Muriwai Beach {Auckland}, amazing post-wedding photo shoot with Nwe & Rohan. I, New Zealand wedding photographer, ben happy to offer a couples session for them as the weather on their actual wedding day was very rainy.

We had amazing time walking and talking on the beach and taking photos on the way, just before the sunset, when light is most soft and beautiful!

Enjoy this highlights in video slideshow and session gallery:

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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 French, Francisca Jorgensen, Danielle Dobson, Peta Hood, Helen Whittle, Kristle Ricci, Melissa Brown, Julie 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!

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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:

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!

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!

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:

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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!

{BOOK YOUR ELOPEMENT} 

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!

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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:

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The Travelling Dress 2018 in New Zealand {Auckland wedding-elopement photographer}

As promised, excited to share with you fantastic project that I took part in recently - The Travelling Dress Collective, where nine photographers from Australia and New Zealand {this is me - your Auckland based wedding-elopement photographer} come together to photograph one gorgeous dress. We had it only for 2-3 days and posted to each other, taking photos inspired by one piece of clothes. Receiving this parcel was like opening a Christmas present as you don't know what to expect inside. 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 French, Francisca Jorgensen, Danielle Dobson, Peta Hood, Helen Whittle, Kristle Ricci, Melissa Brown, Julie Guertin and me, Olga Levien. See their images further.

My travelling dress project found the heroes in my beautiful couple, who funny enough fact - come over from Australia {where I send dress after the photo shoot}. Tina & Tony contacted me for pre-wedding | engagement photos, and we did a breathtaking photo shoot at Karekare Beach {New Zealand}. Halfway through the session, I shared with them a story about the Travelling Dress and couple been so kind to agree to participate and try it on. We had so much fun, dress perfectly compliment the wild New Zealand landscapes and an amazing relationship with these beautiful souls - Tina & Tony. I truly appreciate they agreed to take on this challenge and we got a fantastic result! You can find another half of their session following the link to our Blog.

Enjoy this video slideshow and highlights in the gallery:

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I will share with you a photo from each photographer who participated in the project so you can get feeling how amazing to see different photographers Style and Voice, as well as creativity:

Camilla French 

Francisca Garreton

Danielle Dobson

Peta Hood

Helen Whittle

Julie Guertin

Kristle Ricci

Melissa Brown

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West Coast Beach New Zealand Pre-Wedding | Engagement Session: Tina and Tony {Auckland weddings photographer}

Tina & Tony come all way from Australia to New Zealand to meet Tony's family in Auckland {including his favourite grandma} and asked me, Auckland wedding photographer, to capture for them so special moments on their engagement | pre-wedding photo shoot. It was such a great pleasure documenting such emotional and true love candid moments.

Excited to receive such amazing feedback right after the gallery delivery:

"Dear Olga

Thank you so much for the amazing pre-wedding photos you took for us at Karekare. We had so much fun shooting with you and you’ve managed to capture our love for each other in such a beautiful way. Thank you for also letting me be part of the story of the travelling dress. It was 100% worth flying in from Sydney and definitely the highlight of our holiday. Throughout the whole process you have been so friendly and approachable. We love your style, enthusiasm and professionalism. Will definitely be recommending you to friends and family!

Love, Tina & Tony"

Lucky chance that exactly at our session time I received a Travelling Dress from Australia for the project, where around 10 photographers from different countries capture one dress. I can't share images with this dress at this moment, but watch this space next week, so amazing couple's moments in breathtaking and emotional photographs! Can't wait to share it with you!

Couple's love story: "Tony was raised in Auckland whereas I was born in Sydney. He moved over to Sydney for University and we were very fortunate to have met at a friend’s birthday party. After a few months we officially became a couple and have now been together for just over 3 years. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him!" Tony proposed "In the beautiful city of Kyoto, Japan", such a beautiful memories!

Enjoy this highlights in the gallery and check this Blog next week for video slideshow and photos for Travelling Dress project!

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Campbells Bay Beach Engagement | Pre-wedding photo shoot: Josh and Linda {North Auckland weddings photographer}

Excited to share with you a fresh engagement session | pre-wedding photo shoot: Josh and Linda on Campbells Bay Beach {North Shore, Auckland}. Im so excited to be couple's wedding photographer and can't wait to capture special for them moment on their weddings day.

We met at the beach at one of January afternoons and spent amazing time together walking and talking about their plans and just everything. SO much fun, positive vibe and a great feelings.

Enjoy video highlights in the slideshow and gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

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Bethells Lake {West Auckland} engagement | pre-wedding photo shoot {New Zealand weddings photographers}

Fantastic time with Kim & Nathaniel on their engagement | pre-wedding photo shoot at Bethells Lake {West Auckland, New Zealand}. We met with couple one Saturday afternoon just before the sunset not far from the beach, walk through the forest, sand dunes to the lake, had fun and laugh and then walk all the way back to the car park through the stream.

Amazing time with gorgeous people! It was a pleasure to get to know the couple before we as photographers capture their wedding {not long to go now! less than two months!}

Excited to share with you highlights in the video slideshow and a gallery!

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