Happy Mother's Day!

I want to say Happy Mother's day to all my friends and clients! It's a special feeling being a mother and to celebrate Mother's day with all mums on the planet. I remembered how special I felt to be a mum on this day for the very first time and get a present from my husband/kids  - some fun cup with picture about shopping (my son was less then one month old at this point and go shopping for me looks like impossible task! Now I have two babies and can go shopping easily! At least food shopping, ha-ha :)

So I want to wish a wonderful day to all Mums, had a lot of positive emotions, get all love and nice surprises from your family! Hope they make you really happy and not only at this day. but every single day! :)

And I just want to remember my last sessions with beautiful Mums and their gorgeous kids. Im so happy you spend such treasured time with me and I'm so pleased to look at these pictures, its something really meaningful for me!

So lets celebrate!

Photography Walkshops, PhotoWalk and Mentoring in Auckland, New Zealand

I'm happy to announced a few new services that we start to offer at LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY - photography WalkShops | Photowalk and Mentoring |  Coaching in Auckland, New Zealand. Due to many enquiries from friends I decided to make official service and happy to share my knowledge and love of photography with you.

I love to teach people. Actually I have a pedagogical education (worked as geography teacher and lecture in University back in Russia, even study hard enough to get PhD in education - something what I could be proud of :) So I love to teach and know how to do it, in a fun and interesting way, and obviously I have some photoknowledge to share :) 

So here we go - detailed information:

Photography WalksShops | PhotoWalks in Auckland, NZ (individual and group sessions available):

You learn how to use your camera in Manual Mode, how to find the best shot, how to choose the best composition, how to explore and see a beauty in details, and even more! Also you have the opportunity to get stunning portraits at beautiful locations!

Ideal for beginners, intermediate, travellers and people with love of photography! You need your DSLR, comfortable shoes and clothes and be ready to explore and have fun!

Duration - 2 hours.

Price - $250 individual, $125 per person for group sessions (min 2 person required)

Coaching | Mentoring $250

1:1 private sessions online or in-person in the areas of lighting, shooting, creativity, processing, and business. Any levels from beginners to intermediate and higher.

Please contact me for detailed information!

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!

Behind the scene | Couples-Engagement documentary photographer {Event photography Auckland}

Event photography is a lot of fun, dynamic and creative type of photo shoots. 

It's stressful for some people and fun for others :)

You get opportunities to meet new people, make new friends and practice different type of photography styles: formals, documentary, storytelling. From shooting portrait, couples, big group of people to decorations, details and food photography :) From photographing babies, kids at parties, to adults and seniors. So many opportunities! Shooting in dark conditions, inside to sunny outside, nature environment or streets, offices and halls.

You should be well prepared to handle variety and different tasks. Thats why I love shooting parties (birthday, engagement, baby shower, anniversary), weddings and other events. It gives freedom to shoot what you see around and love; so much different things with beauty inside and raw emotions.

Here are some quick tips for events shooting:

1. Check your camera settings - every time when you move from different lighting conditions (or light change at your location - especially happens fast before sunset).

2. Be creative, open your eyes - try to see beauty in details, all these little things around make this atmosphere and will be treasured in future.

3. Be fast and patient - conditions changes fast and you should too. But not too hurry, you still need be patient and capture this special moment.

4. Think outside the box - shoot with different angles, perspectives and sides.

5. Turn around, capture all these events and people. Especially little ones could bring a lot of interesting shots and fun moments.

6. Be flexible - all things changes around, conditions, planned schedule etc. Don't be upset, try to find new direction and fast change your vision and plan.

Here few pics from my last engagement party, kids made atmosphere so special. Just love to capture these alive moments!

 

Contact me with any questions!

My 365 Project. April. Auckland lifestyle family and wedding photographer

One more month in 365 Project. One more milestone. One more achievement.

Its become natural to take a pictures every day, looking for new opportunities, angles, new emotions and stories.

If last month was about to see beauty in details, this month for me about simplicity and consistency. Just a quiet month full of different moments - excitement and quiet feelings. It's interesting to look back and see what done for this month.

It's me, it's my story and my progress.

Follow us on Instagram! Family and wedding photographer Auckland

I just love to use Instagram and see other work, its so inspiring, showing everyday moments and real voices. You can easily find us on Instagram.

Here is just a screensaver with my last Instagram posts. Most of them - just my usual life with kids and some splashes of creativity and fun, clients sessions fav shots, specials and other stuff :)

Feel free to follow, put likes and comments

Emotional couples photo shoot {Auckland Engagement documentary photography}

What a great couple I met this weekend - Nicole and Jon.

It's a pleasure for me to be involved with storytelling and to capture their love story special moments.

So here is just pure love and relationship. No need words, just pictures:

 

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

 

Sweet Couple | Engagement Party Pictures {Auckland Event-Wedding photographer}

Congratulations to Juliette & Jonny! What amazing couple and great engagement party I visited this weekend. It was a cosy event at Juliette house in Ellerslie, Auckland.

Happy future together! Look forward to your upcoming wedding!

Thank you for inviting me!

 

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

 

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

Winter Wedding Special.Auckland wedding photographers

Don't miss our Winter Wedding Special:

$800 wedding day coverage (from getting ready to the beginning of the reception) which includes plenty of pictures of the wedding party prior to the wedding, ceremony shots, group/family shots after the wedding (or before if desired).

All good images from 800+ photos will be edited, stylised, and retouched. You will have the rights to print your pictures.

Not interested in a full day coverage? We will set up a special package just for you!

All best images are edited and given to you in high resolution, saved on a beautiful wooden USB stick.

custom USB

If you book your wedding with us, we have a special romantic offer for you - an engagement (couples) session for only $150 (two outfits, one location of choice).

 Contact us to arrange a tea/coffee, Skype session, or to enquiry!

021438887

info@levienphotography.com

LEVIEN & LENS PHOTOGRAPHY - Auckland based photographer specialised in natural light on-location photography. Happy to travel nationwide and international (for extra milage fee).

bridesmaids

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wedding

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:

 

Autumn special - $85 Mini Sessions! Auckland family, couples, kids photographer

Autumn Colours are here, and it's warm! A perfect chance to have some stunning portraits taken with us at three Auckland locations: Waiake beach, Cornwall Park, Kariotahi beach. Its a great opportunity to have special present on Mother's Day too!

30min mini sessions available over the next couple of weeks. Email us for details.

info@levienphotography.com

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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:

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR EVENT}

5 month Baby-girl pictures {Auckland-Hamilton newborn lifestyle photography}

I just love taking pictures of babies. They are so small and so gorgeous! They have their own personalities and cute smiles.

I had an honour to photograph a 5 month old Mariam and her mama Sofi and grandmother Khatuna. This session was full of amazing moments!

We started our photoshoot at their place where we set up a little studio with some props - blankets, soft toys, necklaces (all girls love jewellery, even little ones! :), and also a few different outfits (every girl needs it too).

Mariam was just a perfect model: sometimes serious, sometimes ready to give a lot of smiles! What a cutie pie! After a while Mariam needed a break and we all happily followed suit and had a cup of tea with the most delicious hachaputi I have ever tasted. Hachapuri is a traditional Georgian bread baked with cheese and Khatuna made it nothing short of perfect. I will never forget that melt-in-the-mouth taste and most friendly and delightful company!

Then we moved to the closest beach for some shots in the nature. I just love all these ocean views, waves and the wind, great sunny weather and healthy fresh air for our little princess! She became really tired at the end, almost ready to sleep at mummy's shoulder. What a sweet little girl!

Thank you Sofi, Mariam and Khatuna for this amazing time together!

Have a look at this gallery:

 

 

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

 

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:

parfume
wood
corn
animals
fan
magic

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:

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!

Hair Style - couples photography {Auckland wedding photographer}

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.

mother and daughter

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}