Gisborne DIY farm wedding {New Zealand destination weddings photographer} Kathleen & Steven

Kathleen & Steven {06.02.2017}

Congratulations to amazing couple who celebrated their special day with close friends and family on their parents farm in Gisborne {New Zealand}. I shoot two destination weddings over those hot weekend in Gisborne {yes, it was over 34 degrees, crazy hot! but weather can't stop love and celebrations :)}.

This wedding had some special freedom atmosphere, unique spirit and great people around on the day, Im always glad to meet open and kind people as it was in Gisborne. Farm DIY environment add to the atmosphere. "Lots of DIY items; my mother gave me a necklace that used to belong to my granny - her mum. The groom's ring is based on the father of the bride's wedding ring."

Couple shared their story:

"We met on a night out when our groups of friends came together. Steve was living in Gisborne and I was just back for a month before heading to Europe for 4 months. We spent about 3 weeks together before I went overseas. We kept in touch the whole time, and by the time I got back we were basically together. I then went back to Christchurch for a year and we continued our relationship long distance with many trips back and forth! I moved back to Gisborne and we lived together for a year before I moved to Hamilton to do further studies. After a few more months long distance, Steve moved up to Hamilton as well. We stayed there for the rest of the year before moving to Auckland so I could work and Steve could start studies. We've now been here for 4 years - together for over 7."

How was made a proposal: "On his graduation day he arranged for us to go up the Sky Tower for dinner. He hid the ring in a handmade box in one of his socks. I'm very scared of heights so he was a bit worried at first when I was so uneasy, he then started feeling a little bit seasick from the rotating restaurant. But after the food came out we got used to it. After dinner but before dessert, he pulled out a card with a poem in it that he had written for me. The end of the poem was his proposal, and he produced the ring in a beautiful wooden box that he had carved himself." Such a beautiful and romantic story from Kathleen!

Happy future together!

Great creative team:
Dress is a Rue de Seine from Secret Lace Bridal {Kumeu, Auckland};
Suits - Hallenstein Brothers
Celebrant is Norman Maclean, a drama teacher from Gisborne
and New Zealand & International destination wedding photographers - Levien & Lens Photography

Enjoy this video slideshow and gallery:

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Happy Wedding Anniversary - Landsendt Tropical Gardens {Auckland weddings photographers} Maria & Ben

Im so excited to congratulate with 1 year wedding anniversary beautiful couple - Maria & Ben which wedding been held one year ago in Landsendt Tropical Garden - amazing venue for any Auckland weddings with such a special atmosphere which bring you the same feelings as Pacific Islands environment.

This wedding was so beautiful, fun and romantic with many real moments!

Enjoy this highlights! Many more years together Maria & Ben!

x Warmly,

Olga, your New Zealand & International destination wedding photographer 

Contact us with any questions!

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Best of personal everyday moments in 365 Project - February 2017 {Hamilton lifestyle family photographer}

Exciting month and new events, emotions and photographs in my personal 365 project where Im documenting my everyday moments with kids | family, practice and keep going on :) February 2017 been amazing, we spend some time in Hamilton, some in Gisborne, Leigh, Auckland and surrounding areas as I been moving through busy wedding season and also spend as much time as I could with my family.

Enjoy this highlights with my active children, these natural moments are messy, beautiful and definitely worth to remember!

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Im accepting limited number of family lifestyle sessions, Day in the Life, kids photo shoot, let me know if you have any questions!

Bushmere Arms - Gisborne Wedding {New Zealand destination weddings photographer} Megan and Chris

Megan & Chris

Such amazing time in Gisborne with shooting beautiful destination wedding - Megan & Chris get married in Bushmere Arms - stunning garden venue with traditional atmosphere! Need to mentioned I captured two weddings in Gisborne on this Waitangi weekend, its great to meet so many amazing people and document important for them story.

Day started in Megan nana's house on the farm, follow with first look on picturesque hills and forest, groom getting ready with his groomsmen in family house and ceremony with reception in Bushmere Arms {Gisborne, New Zealand}. We also had a short drive to a vinery, we just can't miss this opportunity especially knowing that its part of Chris's family routs.

It was great to meet couple again after our engagement | couples photo shoot few months ago in Hamilton Gardens, such a great memories! Bride and groom met each other 10 years!!! ago in high school and as Megan said: "Going strong since then". :)

Happy future together!

Enjoy this highlights in the video slideshow and gallery:

Contact me with any questions!

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Great Creative Team:

Dress: Bridal Solutions {Tauranga}, Veil - Handmade
Suit: Bond & Co {Tauranga}
Flowers - made by Nana and Aunty Jo
Makeup - RaquelHair&Makeup {Gisborne}
Hair - House of Hair
Celebrant - Judith Wright; MC - Steve Burke; DJ - DJ Magik
and New Zealand & International destination wedding photographers - Levien & Lens Photography 

Vintage Russell Wedding {The Duke of Marlborough} published in Paper and Lace {Bay of Islands, New Zealand destination weddings photographers}

Its unbelievable but second week in a row Im congratulating Hana & Aidan with another publication of their classic vintage beautiful wedding in stunning location The Duke of Marlborough Hotel, Russell {Bay of Islands, Northland, New Zealand} - Paper and Lace, stunning NZ wedding blog cared be Jax.

As destination wedding photographers we love to travel all around New Zealand and worldwide, but this wedding and location been truly special. I love the historical feeling and atmosphere in this cozy town. Also ability to breath in all the nature and landscapes around crossing the space between Paihia and Russell on the ferry just priceless! Such a great memories.

Enjoy this publication and have a look at Hana & Aidan wedding's highlights in our Blog.

Great Creative team:

Grooms suit - Barkers; Groomsmen suits - Hallensteins
Wedding gown- Secret Lace Bridal; Bridesmaid dresses- Made by Julie Smith; Wedding bands and engagement ring- John Franich Jewellers
Hair- Laurel Stratford Wedding Hair Stylist
Make Up - W.I.X Makeup; Flowers - Donna Nicholas

Celebrant - Ida Birch MC - Andrew Brees

Videographers - MATA Films {check out their amazing videography - highlights from the full wedding day coverage}

and New Zealand destination wedding photographer {Hamilton based} - Levien & Lens Photography

Contact me with any questions!

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Oreti Village | Lake Taupo {New Zealand - International destination wedding photographers} Sonny & Powhiri

Sonny & Powhiri

Their wedding in Oreti Village {Lake Taupo, New Zealand}  was just amazing and totally worth to travel as destination wedding. Even rainy weather can't stand on the way of real emotions, candid moments and love. We document all so treasured for couple moments in Taupo, Oreti Village and Waihi Village.

It was a great pleasure to capture all the moments during the wedding day, full of traditions and cultural meaning {maori families}.

Enjoy this video and gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

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Bride of the Week in Woman's Weekly Magazine - Hana {New Zealand wedding photographer} Your weddings

Im so excited for Hana & Aidan and want to share with you amazing news: their photographs just been published in Women's Weekly Magazine. Congratulations to beautiful Hana who became Bride of the Week {Your Weddings} in popular New Zealand magazine.

Its great to see again their images what I took as their wedding photographer in Russell {Bay of Islands, Northland, New Zealand}, especially been published and went live all around the country :) It was just magic wedding with special atmosphere in The Duke of Marlborough Hotel, ceremony at Pompallier House Gardens and photo shoot at the Long beach.

Congratulations to lucky couple and happy future together!

Here is just a sneak peek into publication: {feel free to look through their wedding day in our wedding photography Blog}

Contact me with any questions!

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Bracu wedding - Simunovich Olive Estate {Auckland weddings photographers} Chauntelle+Jayden

Chauntelle & Jayden

Chauntelle & Jayden celebrated their special day in Bracu Restaurant and Pavilion {Bombay, Auckland , New Zealand}, - Simunovich Olive Estate - with close friends and families and warm atmosphere, full of love and positive emotions. Congratulations to this amazing couple, its such a honour to be your wedding photographers and document so special for you moments. 

Their love story and proposal just beautiful: "We meet through friends when we were 16 within our religion, we've liked each other since... We went out to dinner at wildfire in Auckland icity, talked heaps ate heaps, was really nice to be alonge togther, was our only official date we've had (it's because in our religion we follow very closely older traditions) than we walked along the viaduct . We found a beautiful place to sit and chat and he pulled out this little book I had made him more than a year ago, it had pictures and little memories in there. At the back of the book on the last page I left empty and he wrote in it will you marry me, and that's how he proposed! Was beautiful :)"

Happy future together and hope you are enjoying your honeymoon on Bali :)

Great Creative Team:
Celebrant - Colin Pitkethley
MC -Andrew Beard
Venue - Bracu, Simunovich Olive Estate; Flowers done by Bracu's decorator;
and Auckland wedding photographers - Olga & Matt, Levien & Lens Photography

Contact me with any questions!

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Best of 365 - January {lifestyle personal project} NZ wedding photographer

I had a decision to continue participate in 365 Project third year in a row. Its a lifestyle personal everyday shooting - capturing moments with kids and family. I just been reviewing images which I took over two years ago and its such a big difference: its so exciting to see kids growing, they are not a babies anymore :)

Im not taking a commitment to everyday shootings last year 2016 its been a "mostly 365" as I been so busy that been missing some days, so this project can transform to "Project 52", so will see.. But I love to keep it and practice, grow and document my family everyday, try to find creative angles and inspiration especially at moments when you not feel as shooting, but when you push through you find yourself and your voice.

So let keep it going! :)

Enjoy these highlights of January 2017, such a busy months with 3 weddings, couples photo shoots, one of them been in such beautiful destination as Lake Taupo, NZ. Also day trips with family as one to Raglan and waterfalls. Great memories and emotions!

Contact me with any questions!

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Intimate engagement - couples photo shoot {Auckland wedding photographer} Tania and Vincent

We met with Tania & Vincent just before the sunset on Sunday evening in Parnell Rose Garden for their couples - engagement photo shoot. Lucky couple won our Giveaway with Auckland weddings. Im so excited about their upcoming wedding, congratulations and happy future together!

As photographer I love to capture special for couple moments in natural and artistic style. We had such amazing time together, pictures turned so beautiful, emotional and romantic with some intimate feeling what I really like.

Enjoy this video slideshow | gallery.

Contact me with any questions!

Two Bright Lights Editors' Choice Awards | Levien and Lens photography | New Zealand wedding photographers

Excited to share with you amazing news: Levien & Lens Photography just received a prestigious Award: Two Bright Lights Editors' Choice Awards Winner. Its such a big honour for New Zealand wedding photographers to be chosen in company of amazing wedding photographers in USA and worldwide. Im really appreciate it!

Editors' Choice Award Winner Selection Process

"The Two Bright Lights Editors' Choice Awards are a signature program that recognizes photographers and vendors whose number of published features in 2016 ranks them among the top 5% of all Two Bright Lights members. Winners were published across many of the most respected lifestyle, wedding and other print and digital publications in the United States and worldwide.

The 2017 honorees reflect those that have demonstrated a superior quality of work for their customers, and have used Two Bright Lights' online platform to quickly and easily get published by submitting their authentic, stunning imagery and services directly to the top industry publications and editors.

Among thousands of photographers and vendors competing for publication, the Editors' Choice winners represent the best­-of­-the­-best."

Im so thrilled to share with you this award as its became possible only because of YOU, my awesome clients who shared with me such special and treasured moments of their lives. All those weddings was just amazing!

Thank you again!

Contact me with any questions! 

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Villa Maria Vineyard Estate | Cornwall park {Auckland wedding photographers} Jessica-Chris

Amazing day in Villa Maria Vineyard Estate {Auckland, New Zealand} where Jessica & Chris celebrated their special day with close friends and families. We been happy to be around these awesome people as their wedding photographers and document each treasured for them moment: laughing and crying, emotional and calm. We just love this! 

It was beautiful wedding with special atmosphere, unforgettable and unique as each of them, such a great personalities around!

Couple shared their love story: couple got together 6 years ago while they both been living in London {UK}; Chris proposed to Jessica "down in Queenstown (one of our favourite spots!) at Mt Difficulty vineyard while enjoying the beautiful views and wine in August 2015."

Enjoy this video slideshow with best photographs and hand-picked gallery:

{Great Creative Team:

Dress: Tiffany's Vancouver Bridal
Suit: Barkers
Flowers: Orlando Flowers
Shoes: Trousseau
Make up: Martina Phillips
Hair: Makeup Station
Celebrant: Auckland Marriage Celebrant, Suzanne Teague 
MC: Giovanni Pericolini
DJ: DJ-Marrs
and Auckland wedding photographers - Levien & Lens Photography {thank you Fengjin for assistance}

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Happy wedding anniversary Olga and Zydon {Parnell on Rose Garden - beach wedding | Auckland weddings photographer}

Really excited for 1 year wedding anniversary of amazing couple - Olga & Zydon. They celebrated special day with their friends and families in Parnell on rose gardens and St Heliers beach. We het some amazing photographs. 

I really happy for this couple! Many more happy years together!

Their wedding was truly unforgettable.

Contact me with any questions!

Classic Maketu Beach backyard wedding {Tauranga - Bay of Plenty weddings photographers} Sonya and Ryan

Amazing way to meet a New Year - wedding on New Year's Eve :) Sonya & Ryan celebrated this special day with their families and friends in Maketu on the top of the cliff with views to Mt Maunganui and beach {near Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand}, with relaxed, fun and warm atmosphere.

Couple shared their romantic proposal story: "During a trip to Colorado we went for a hike in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Ryan managed to convince Me to go off the track to a river where he went down in one knee, opened a ring box and proposed. We looked at the map on return to the car and it turned out the river was called the "Thompson" river." Such a great memories! Couple together for 10 years and their feelings only getting stronger with their two little ones. :)

Thank you Sonya & Ryan for sharing with me special moments of your wedding day! Happy future together!

Great Creative Team:

Wedding Dress - Corina Snow Bridal Couture
Suit - Mohan's Custom Tailors, Singapore
Boys suits - Next.
Wedding Cake - Spongedrop
Catering - Good things kitchen
Flowers - Te Puke Florist
Music for ceremony - Fletcher Oxford - Musician and Song Writer
Band - Adam and Kyle; Tent - Stretch Tents Bay of Plenty ; Celebrant - Carol Rickard
and your Tauranga - Bay of Plenty wedding photographers - Levien & Lens Photography

Enjoy this slideshow and gallery!

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Best of 2016 - WeddingWise Awards {Levien and Lens Photography - New Zealand destination wedding photographers}

What a great news coming at start of the year - Levien & Lens Photography just received a WeddingWise Awards "Best of 2016", Editor's Choice Award. Its such a great honour to be in so talented company with other best New Zealand vendors {photographers,celebrants, make-up artists, venues etc.}.

Thank you so much for choosing Levien & Lens Photography. Past year 2016 was just amazing and full of so many emotional, beautiful and real moments on the wedding day and couples/engagement sessions on different destination around New Zealand.

We will do our best to continue positively surprise our clients | friends and followers with our photographs. Also want to say Thanks to our awesome wedding clients for sharing with us such special moments! Me and my husband Matt {who is also a second photographer} really appreciate it!

Contact us with any questions!

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Rustic Garden Wedding published in Paper and Lace {New Zealand destination weddings photographer}

Im really excited to share with you amazing news - Elisah & Heremaia's rustic wedding in Liddington Gardens {Kerikeri, Northland, New Zealand} just been published on Paper & Lace, one of he biggest NZ publishers and such amazing wedding blog. Its happened right on my birthday and its not accident, amazing editor Jax planned it on purpose.

I been so happily surprised to read a birthday wishes right inside the publication. Thank you so much Jax, Paper & Lace, Im really appreciate your kind words, and so happy to be a friend of such amazing company with so much care around! You doing beautiful job with helping brides around New Zealand with their wedding planning and inspiration, Im happy to be featured and be part of it!

You can have a close look at ELisah & Heremaia's wedding day in our Blog and also enjoy brand new publication in Papare & Lace.

Enjoy it!

Contact me with any questions!

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Karekare Beach post-wedding | elopement photo shoot + Secret Letter {Auckland engagement-weddings photographer}

Im so excited to share with you photographs from our post-wedding | elopement photo shoot on Karekare Beach {Auckland, New Zealand} with Benedikt & Lisa and their little daughter Tabea. Couple decided to do elopement in Germany and instead of big wedding in home country to have amazing trip to New Zealand and have a special post-wedding session on beautiful NZ landscapes. Im so honoured to be chosen as their wedding photographer and capture so special for couple moments. Im used to shoot weddings around Aukland area and all New Zealand and overseas, but these type of sessions so special for me, allow better to know couple, walk around, talk, and have amazing time together.

Benedikt told couple's story:

"Lisa and me met seven years ago during our studies at university. Since that time we both knew that we definitely belong to each other. Even one year of separation because of studies abroad did not come between us. We both love nature, especially sports in nature such as hiking, biking, swimming, skiing... We both love the silence away from the city noise and love to laugh and enjoy time with our close friends. After some time we decided to increase our family and 18 months ago our daughter Tabea was born. As in June 2017 our second child will be born, we decided that it is time to marry. But honestly we are both not friends of big ceremonies with many guests, where we are in the focal point for the whole day. The idea of a classical marriage with suit and gown just didn't feel right for us. Therefore we decided to marry secretly and inform our family members and friends with a surprise letter from New Zealand."

Thats really exciting part of our session: right after photo shoot we spent some time to move through images and choose the one to be printed and sent to all friends and relatives from New Zealand to Germany and Austria with wedding announcement. Its such an exciting surprise and Im happy to be a part of couples plan and organise all printing and posting for them {while they travelling around New Zealand in campavan letters will be flying to their families - surprise-surprise!!!}. Its so exciting to just imagine their faces :)

I loved every single moment of our session and happy to share with you this video slideshow and gallery:

Contact me with any questions!

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If you curious to see which picture was chosen and sent to families overseas, here its goes:

Happy Wedding Anniversary {Auckland wedding - photographer} Juliette and John

I want to say Happy Wedding Anniversary to my awesome clients - Juliette & John, such memorable wedding in Castaways {Auckland, New Zealand} and Waiuku church. This day was just amazing, this wedding is definitely one of the outstanding weddings in my last wedding season, full of love, positive emotions and warm atmosphere!

One of images unexpected won an NZIPP Iris Awards, such a special moment of the first look at getting ready Juliette and her father.

Hope past year brought a lot of adventures and amazing events. I keep in touch with couple and know they moved to Fiji, such amazing place {I would say its like all year honeymoon :)}. Hope everything goes smoothly! Look forward to see them again, maybe on our 1 year anniversary session ;)

Enjoy a few highlights from this amazing wedding!

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365 Project - 2016 {New Zealand lifestyle - wedding photographer}

Its hard to believe I keep my 365 project second year in a row { and planning keep going}! Its such a great experience, practice and progress and ability to document my lifestyle moments with kids, my family life and event around.

As a wedding photographer Im really busy, shooting mostly destination weddings and travelling around, spending some time away from my family and kids. Thats why its so treasured for me memories to see how they are grow, developing, playing, being a little nightmares and little personalities! {sometimes business take over and its really hard to balance it with family life, its familiar to any mum-photogrpaher, but I trying to separate things and do a better planning, organise it proper, which is hard, believe me!}

Enjoy these highlights for 2016. I think I will continue this journey in 2017, maybe it will be "mostly 365 project" or 52, ha-ha! :)

Contact me with any questions!

Happy New Year {New Zealand destination wedding photographer}

I would like to wish a happy New Year to all my couples | friends and followers and say a big thank you for your support in this 2016 year. It was amazing year with plenty of positive emotions, amazing couples photo shoots, gorgeous and emotional weddings and so many other events around.

I kept my "mostly 365 project" and document my family life with little ones, been travelling to different destination all around New Zealand: from Up North {Northland - Kerikeri, Paihia, Russel through Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington to South Island: Queenstown, such a magic place!}. I attended different workshop and helped with their organising as well. 

Numbers for this 2016 year:

18 Weddings shoot | 15000 km milage | 2 new cameras | 2 new lenses | 3 pairs of shoes | plenty outfits :)

Really excited about upcoming 2017 and what its brings :) Hope everyone will have a Happy New Year and lots of positive emotions! I promise beautifully capture all these emotional moments! ;)

Lets remember our beautiful 2016 weddings and couples {its so hard to choose just one photo as I loved all of them, ha-ha!}

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