Beauty in details. Nature and landscape photography Auckland

Did you ever notice little things around you: flowers, branches, trees, clouds, sky? It's a lot beautiful natural details around us. But we too busy to notice it. We hurry, have a lot of things to do, problems, stress, and also when you have little kids its not an easy task to find time for yourself and look around, feel beauty and relax :)

As you know Im doing 365 project with daily shooting. I photograph mainly my kids, clients and some lifestyle moments. But sometimes I try to think out site the box and looking for new subjects. It's the beauty around us, nature. You could find it at the beach or park, or just in your yard near the house. I will show you some pictures that I have done just next to my house just one meter from each other. It's a real beauty.

You just need to see it and capture it!

Little tips: use your camera's manual mode, change aperture (small number 1.4-2.8 for blurry background, or over 8 for sharp to see details - like airplane in the sky below)

Here little gallery of things what I been shooting just in few days time apart from each other and around one spot.

Contact me with any question info@levienphography.com

Relax at Kariotahi Beach. Family lifestyle outdoor photography Auckland

Sometimes day can go unexpected ways. From quiet family time it can turn to busy full of people at crowded market - Steel on wheels in Waiuku or fast change to really relaxable time with family at Kariotahi beach.

That how our day goes. First few shots at Steel on wheels - market in Waiuku with a lot of retro vintage cars, and I just love all of them. Its been really so busy :)

So we took kids on playground afterwards and had an idea to drive to the Kariotahi beach which is located just few kilometres from Waiuku. Its a wonderful place, and was so nice just lay in the grass and watch nature around, waves, rocks and people hand gliding in the air. It was a real pleasure to capture all these little moments and feels really good to be at this atmosphere after busy environment.

Lifestyle photography

Contact Levien & Lens Photography info@levienphotography.com

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

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

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

What a lovely day and beautiful light!

Lifestyle photography

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

Everyday moments. Playcentre. Lifestyle photographer Auckland

My personal photography project: capture everyday moments - 365 days a year, family storytelling and documentary lifestyle moments.

I took kids to Playcentre for the first time today. It's a great opportunity for kids to play with a lot of different toys, painting, play role games, put costumes on and have fun outside at fully fenced playground; and parents can just relax and watch kids having fun, explore and develop their skills. Love this atmosphere!

Its been rainy today but my little ones still explore everything around inside and outside and I had the opportunity to take some pictures, capture fun lifestyle moments. 

Lifestyle photography

Contact me for book your lifestyle session info@levienphotography.com

Princess tea party {Auckland children lifestyle photographer}

How do you like to spend your family time with children? What do you love doing together?

We could capture these treasured lifestyle moments during your family photo shoot while you and your loved ones have fun outdoors!

That is what we did with Anya, Ben, Alice and Annie at their family session in the park: climbing trees, stone walls, picking up autumn leaves, running around, having a picnic, sitting in a princess tent, having a tea party with teddy bears and so much more.

It was an amazing time with this active and fun family. Girls were so gorgeous! And their parents love them so much! It was a real pleasure to capture these special family moments, their relationship, fun, freedom and spirit. We really enjoyed this time together and the little ones have been happy to play and explore everything around. Pictures turned out just amazing! 

Thank you so much for these moments!

Contact me with any questions!

Two little princesses - 2 years Birthday Party Pictures | Auckland event photographer

What a great birthday party I've been to recently! Two little girls turned 2 years old. Such a big date! And what a delightful little couple of princesses! Their parents should be proud to have such pretty and smart gorgeous girls!

I've worked on a few boys birthday parties now and can confidently describe them as rollercoaster adventures. Girls parties, on the other hand, are full of pink, butterflies, fairies and magic moments. Lovely little things!

I'm very pleased to shoot this birthday party of two friends - Madeleine and Rebecca! Their mums have been friends for a few years and even their daughters have been born close - pretty amazing, isn't it? I just loved these gorgeous girls, only pity, one had been slightly sick that day and couldn't fully enjoy her birthday party. But it was still really nice and lovely there: kids of different ages, their parents, a lot of toys and activities, great snacks for kids and parents, and beautiful decorations of course!

So much work to organise the party. Well done!

Have a look at these pictures!

Weather was really rainy and we couldn't do nice shots outside, but kids still managed to have a lot of fun inside.

Contact me with any questions!

Personal series. Everyday moments. Lifestyle photography

Im happy to capture my everyday moments with kids, how they playing, running etc. My 365 project helps a lot to get motivation and inspiration.Not every day the same. Some days full of exciting moments and events, others feels flat and boring. But there always chance to see beauty!

I show you my pics form 2 days. First from indoor playing with blocks, another one - kids at new playground (mazing place for kids to play!).

First series - Indoor:

Second series - Outdoor playground

Everyday moments. Kids in the air. Lifestyle photography Auckland

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

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

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

Love this back light:

kids photo

children pictures

loving light

light

Lifestyle photography

Black and White Images. Photography Tips

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

Easter theme outdoor party {Event photography Auckland NZ}

Happy Easter!
Kids just love all the Easter traditions with Easter eggs, Easter Bunny and Easter Hunt of course.
Today I’ve been honoured to watch Easter Hunt event that Lara organised for a few friends and families.I been happy to photography this event. Kids have been just happy to move from one spot to another searching for Easter Eggs. Lara did an amazing job with decorations, setting up little Ester stations around her place and she even prepared some storytelling for kids.
It’s a real treasure to see all those emotions on little faces - excitement, wonder, happiness.
Well done, Lara! It was the best Easter ever for all the friends and their families:

easter

Easter theme outdoor party {Event photography Auckland NZ}

Easter theme outdoor party {Event photography Auckland NZ}

Easter theme outdoor party {Event photography Auckland NZ}

Easter theme outdoor party {Event photography Auckland NZ}

Easter theme outdoor party {Event photography Auckland NZ}

Easter theme outdoor party {Event photography Auckland NZ}

Easter theme outdoor party {Event photography Auckland NZ}

Easter theme outdoor party {Event photography Auckland NZ}

easter cake

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR EVENT}

My 365 Project. March. Daily Photo. Lifestyle photography Auckland

Its a third month in the project and I feel really inspired to capture more and more everyday moments, family storytelling, details, usual life...

Not every day the same, some of them full of interesting moments but at some days you feel just flat and don't know what to shoot, or even don't have any time to do it.

But beauty around us, we just need to see it and capture. Look at beauty in simple things, your perfume bottle, or corn at the dinner table, pieces of wood after cutting tree, magic light at the leaves at your fence etc, toys animals at your kids playgroup- so much little details what we even not noticed, just stop, have a breath and look around to find this moment of beauty in world around us, beauty in details:

Look at beauty with everyday moments: kids sitting, running, playing - its so many moments for family story what you will open in few years time and will treasure it. Don't miss the opportunity to capture your everyday moments! 

Here my pics for this month:

Lifestyle Photography

Hair Style - couples photography {Auckland wedding photographer}

We already talk about Make-Up in Photography in our blog. So now Hair Style's turn.

How you imagine yourself in the pictures, what style you choose, what clothes you planning to wear? All these questions related to Hair Style. What you need to consider when you choose hair style type. 

If you have a long hair you will have a big freedom with ideas and styles (you could leave hair freedom, or put in tale, or make a bun etc.  Its all connected with your pictures style, clothes, accessories, make-up etc. Short hair give you less opportunities but at the same moment made it's more creative with modern or fashion hair cut what could create a special picture's atmosphere.

I love freedom of long hair what made romantic pictures with retro style, especially with couple / engagement photo shoot. You could imagine how partner playing with your long hair, how wind blow its all and made effective amazing look with freedom feeling. Partner could put his hands in the hair, or kiss them. It's so sweet moments!

Mothers and kids connection could be great to show on family lifestyle sessions when little fingers touching mum's hair.  Its a great way communication.

If you need to make fashion glamour look or retro vintage style you need special hair stylist who give you this special look. And pictures will turn amazing way! 

Hair stylist in wedding shoots is an absolutely must do service! You needs your hair looks nice and fresh all the day! And believe me - its a long day! I absolutely recommend to rehearsal check out (when you could try your idea and your hair artist work, so you not will be disappointed at the Big day, its a lot stress what you no need at all :)

So don't forget to book a hair stylist as well with Make-up Artist and Photographer of course :)

I have contacts of few hair stylist what I could highly recommend. So feel free contact me! I will be happy to help you with this choice.

One of the last wedding photo shoot I been honoured to shoot with great hair stylist - Alan Wang from Perfekt Hair Studio. He been working professional, fast, patient with bride, bridesmaids, bride's mum etc. So mach amazing hair done. And pictures turned absolutely stunning. Bridesmaids had a lot of fun with pillow fight on the bed and hair still stayed perfect :)

Enjoy this flashback shots!

Thank you, Alan for great work!  

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

Hair Style - couples photography {Auckland wedding photographer}

Hair Style - couples photography {Auckland wedding photographer}

Hair Style - couples photography {Auckland wedding photographer}

Lets have some fun! Family and kids photographer Auckland

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

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

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

Big fun - big bath afterwards!

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

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

Here our lifestyle moments!

Kids portraits

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

What is so special about mother-daughter relationships?

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

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

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

Enjoy it step by step.

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

Thank you Inga and Mia for wonderful time together!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

One little girl and a Big hat. Lifestyle children photography

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

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

Brother and sister

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

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

Lifestyle photography

Kids Portrait

2 Minutes With... Photography Project. Lifestyle photos

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

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

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

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

Lifestyle photography

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

Something old and something new. Everyday moments. Lifestyle photographer

My mum send to me an old preschool album and shoes. It was really unexpected surprise - parcel from Saint-Peterburg (Russia).

 I decided took picture for my 365 Project for memory and .... 2 little one come at this moment and started have own fun! They watch the album, explore all around and climbed on the table. Yes, Thats my everyday moments! No any quiet and restful second with kids, but so much mess and fun! All days so different and full of surprises (Im not open you all, you explore yourself with your kids - surprise-surprise!!! :)

Here our 2 minutes with OLD album and NEW for kids items and emotions:

Lifestyle photography

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact me info@levienphotography.com

My 365 Project. February. Daily photo.

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

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

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

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

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

Look forward to next month!

Lifestyle photography

Wedding photography

Couples photography

Family photography

Lifestyle photography. Auckland

Lets talk about Lifestyle photography today. Its really popular direction right now, and we heard this word often but we don't know what its mean :) Even me (in the past I have no idea what it is, just feels its sounds good. lol)

So here definition from Wikipedia:

Lifestyle photography is a kind of photography which mainly aims to capture portrait/people on situations, real-life events or milestones in an artistic manner and the art of the everyday. The primary goal is to tell stories about people's life or to inspire people in different times.

Lets pick main words: people on situation - artistic manner - art of the everyday - stories about people life - to inspire people. Sounds great!

I love lifestyle pictures because they capture everyday moments, joy, type of documentary storytelling. Its really important treasure every moment and remember all these little details about our feelings, day to day moments, emotions.

Its important - especially with kids because they grow so fast. And its really good look back at pictures and see what they love to do at different moments of life, looks how family love to spend time together. Thats why great to capture these lifestyle moments.

With couple shoot or weddings its work the same way, we not just take formal shots and posing, we try to tell story, show live emotions, laugh, kiss, feel love, smell, hair, joy.

I also taking personal 365 Project and doing my family storytelling with capture daily pictures. And I just love it, so many moments and memories, one little day shows so much details and feels just so important!

Lets heard some photographers voices:

Kasey McCoy: Lifestyle images are unrehearsed and unscripted. They tell a story that is unfolding and they are real moments of interaction and emotion and you as the artist can use the current story to your advantage by using creative compositions, light and shadows to help play it out (CM).

Brittany Chandler (Brittany Chandler Photography) : I love love love lifestyle/photojournalist/documentary/storytelling images. But no matter what you label them with, they are photos that someone is going to look back on in 10 years and think, "I remember this. That was the year you cut your own hair", or "took your lovey everywhere", or "that was when I held you for the first time", "our first kiss as a married couple". My only goal when taking these photos is to have a reminder of my or my clients' life exactly as it is today :) (CM)

Thats a great words and you feel true love and feelings through them.

I including lifestyle/storytelling images in every clients/friends sessions, and its making set not just 20-30 pics but even around 50-70 sometimes, just can't walk away just with few pics - really want to tell their story, document all these little moments, what could be really import and in 5-10-20 years time.

So here some memories what treasure for me and my friends, real life, storytelling moments: