love | light | laughter
AUCKLANd wedding PHOTOGRAPHER | fine art documentary photography
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:
We spent amazing time in West Auckland at Cassels where Kim & Nathaniel celebrated their special day with their friends and family. We as New Zealand wedding photographers been so excited to capture candid, natural and emotional moments, with a documentary approach.
Matt, my associate photographer, together with Melissa did a fantastic job with photographing this beautiful wedding in such challenging rainy conditions, but even rain can't stand on the way of warm and cosy celebration in Cassels with a photo shoot at Bethells Beach.
The couple shared their love story: "We've been together 4 and a half years, we met online although we've since come across many times our paths must've crossed before we met. We work together in our own business so spend most of our time together - we're a real team". The proposal was: "On the shores of Lake Wakatipu (Queenstown) - I knew it was coming, but he managed to catch me off guard with when he did it".
Great Creative Team:
Dress - Churchwood Bridal
Bridesmaids - KILT
Suits - Barkers
Mens shoes - Rodd & Gunn
Make Up/Hair - Lipstick and Co
Flowers - Pineapple Sage
Celebrant - Ursula Rajkumar
Photographers - Matt at Levien & Lens Photography - Auckland based photographer, and thank you Melissa for great work!
Enjoy this video slideshow and photo gallery highlights!
Why do I love to capture cultural weddings? Because they have rich traditions, warm and cosy atmosphere and colour! Like this Darshika and Joneet's colourful Indian wedding with a church ceremony in Auckland, NZ. It such a pleasure for wedding photographers to meet such fantastic inspiration. We started our day in Manukau, follow to the church at East Tamaki, then bridal party and bride and groom photos in Auckland Botanic Gardens and finish the day with the amazing reception at Pukekohe. Ladies had a chance to change their outfit and showcase their beautiful sari.
Great Creative team:
Great Creative Team:
Wedding planner - Eleven eleven events & Styling NZ.
Videography - Revera Studio
Celebrant/pastor - Ps. moses singh.
Dress - Bridal Brilliance alterations - amie (Bow & Lace Dressmaker / Designer Auckland NZ).
Shoes - Chaos & Harmony
Grooms outfit - Rembrandt
Makeup - Heather Vette Makeup & Nails
Hair - Olga Gill Makeup Artist
MC - Dakshay prakash (brides brother)
DJ - Jastin raaj.
Florals - Joie De Vivre & Little Leaf Florals
Cake - Magnolia Kitchen
Arch for wedding - Event Styling Co.
Flower wall - The Flower Wall Co
and Olga at L & L - Levien & Lens Photography - Auckland wedding photographers. Thank you Mala for second shooting!
Enjoy this video slideshow and highlights in photo gallery:
We so excited to share with you our recent Clevedon Farm wedding where Olivia & Mark get marries in Vin Alto Winery, bride's home full of such a sweet childhood memories. This wedding was shot by Matt, my associate photographer and husband, together with Kimberley, second photographer. I think they done such an awesome job. I could FEEL the atmosphere, emotion and moment while I been editing this wedding in my custom style. It's so great to realise we have such amazing team of talented Auckland wedding photographers!
Couple shared the story of their proposal: "We were meant to go for a walk in our favourite park one afternoon, and Mark had hid champagne and flowers under the bed for when we returned, and booked dinner - but it ended raining - so it was in the lounge!" They love cooking together and their ideal date night "A lazy Sunday afternoon in the kitchen together making dumplings from scratch and eating them :)"
Enjoy this video slideshow and a photo highlights in the gallery:
Great creative team:
Dress: Martina Liana from Alma J Bridal Boutique
Suit: Tailor made from Working Style
Makeup & Hair: Olivia Davies from Servilles Academy Newmarket
Celebrant: Val Moore - Celebrant
Flowers: Clevedon Flowers and Mother of the Groom
Rings: Diamonds On Richmond
Zest String Quartet ; DJ: MIX it DJ
and Matt at Levien & Lens Photography - Auckland based wedding photographers. Thank you Kimberley for second shooting!
I spent such fantastic time with such emotional moments in Christchurch with many talented New Zealand wedding-elopement photographers who come all the way from Auckland, Kerikeri, Tauranga, Rotorua, Queenstown, Wanaka to visit a great non-workshop - workshop {Badass}. It was so good to spent this time away as Im just about to launch my own workshop | ebook for modern photographers with Click Photo School - such incredible resource of online education for any photographer. I needed to change the atmosphere! {you can find more details about my educational project follow the link to Mentoring | Portfolio Review | Tutorials | Ebook | Breakout}
The idea of this educational for photographers event was to catch up, share some knowledge, recharge at the end of wedding season, get some new inspiration and have a rest in gorgeous old classic style mansion.
We had such a blast - amazing time with beautiful people, where Ambers from Perspectives, Olga from Wild & Grace, Nardia from Nardia Burst photography, Tegan and host of the workshop Sarah Clements been talking all things weddings and we all together discussed so many questions, shared ideas and inspiration.
We also had a chance to get to the Port Hills where amazing couple Jenna & Scott been our models for the short time {it was freezing on the hills, they did such amazing job staying calm}, and Gemma gave us a chance to take some maternity photos {she is a fellow wedding photographer herself}. It was such a great time with beautiful people!
I truly enjoyed every moment! Thank you Tegan and Sarah for organising it and having all us there!
Contact me with any questions!
So excited to be included in Top 100 Wedding Photographers 2018 by Wedding Photographer Society - Best Weddings Photographers Worldwide Magazine.
It's such a huge honour for me, Auckland elopement-wedding photographer to be in this publication with premier international destination wedding artists. Such a great place to be! I amazed by the level of talent in this magazine.
Enjoy the featured publication and breathtaking imaginary!
Contact me with any questions!
Fantastic time with Sophia & Jethro in North Auckland at their farm wedding near Mangawhai and Puhoi. As a wedding photographer, I love to capture beautiful weddings all around New Zealand and beyond, but farm - barn weddings have such a unique, freedom atmosphere with great spirit. We start getting ready in Mangawhai and then went to the farm at Puhoi, also ha an excellent opportunity to visit Wenderholm Regional park for couple's session with the bridal party, and finished at the reception under the marquee with 200 guests. It was such amazing day with a great atmosphere.
The couple shared their love story with the proposal: "After an alpine hike in the Milford sound, on a snow-topped mountain at sunset (with wine and cheese) :) AMAZING!"
Great Creative Team:
Makeup- Kate Manihera- Makeup Artist
Celebrant - Sandra Turner
MC - Sarah Drum & Daniel Gillespie
Band - The Dukes of Hammersmith
Flowers - My little flower company, Mangawhai
and Olga at Levien & Lens Photography - Auckland based wedding photographers. Thank you Gemma for second shooting!
Enjoy this video slideshow and highlights in the photo gallery:
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!
So beautiful location and so lovely couple: Liz & Tony get married at Black Barn, Lake Tarawera. It was a pleasure as their wedding photographer to capture so beautiful, emotional and natural moments in a documentary approach. Need to mention we met the couple on their engagement session beforehand {check our Blog}, and had a fantastic time exploring Redwood Forest and Lake Rotorua.
We, Auckland wedding photographers, made all the way from Auckland through Hamilton and Rotorua to such a beautiful place at the lake. The bride was getting ready at Princess Gate Hotel while groom been getting ready at the venue. All day run so beautifully and unbelievably warm and cosy.
The couple shared their love story: " We have been together for nine years, we met when we were teenagers through mutual friends, and our paths crossed 2 or 3 times before we started dating. We are both from Tauranga, so it was great having so many friends who now got to know each other because of their connection to us and each other".
Great Creative Team:
Addictive DJ's New Zealand
Lemongrass Catering Company Limited
Hallenstein Brothers
Jessica Bridal - Dress
Our flowers
Forever New
Naveya & Sloane Jewellery - engagement ring
Hammond Jewellers - wedding rings
Final Touch MakeUp Artistry - NZ
@Love is in the Hair
Jackie Brown - celebrant
Love in a box - Vintage Caravan Bar - Caravan Bar
@Cake Away
and L & L {Levien & Lens photography} - New Zealand weddings photographers
Enjoy the video slideshow and highlights in the photo gallery:
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!
This wedding in Auckland Art Gallery - Mojo Cafe was exceptional. Anita & Jay decided to get married at night time when evening come up. My wedding coverage as their photographer started at 6 pm! That is a unique wedding with such a special vibe.
We started from getting ready at Hotel DeBrett in Auckland City. Such amazing two-level room with a just gorgeous staircase. I love to photograph there whenever I'm shooting in this stunning venue.
Couple get married under the arch and had a quiet celebration with their close friends and family {around 20 people in total!!!} with canapé and Indian sweets {I tried it and can confirm, so delicious}. The atmosphere in this place was so fabulous!
The love story and proposal: "We first met on my first day of work where I was starting a new at the Auckland City Hospital as it's new liver transplant team pharmacist. We worked in very different departments so the only time we managed to interact each other was via mutual friends or after work we'd stop and have a chat with each other before going home. It was before Christmas in 2016 that we were invited by mutual friends out for a kayak trip (Helen and Ricky, who are present today) out at Puhoi. I had thought about asking her out before this but wasn't quite sure of the circumstances, so this kayak trip was an excellent opportunity to get to know each other better and see if anything could eventuate... And here we are... So we started dating on the 17th of December 2016, where we had brunch and went back to Puhoi.
It was very clear from the first few dates that she was the one I'd like to spend the rest of my life with, and so I had forward planned multiple trips of time, with hoping that we were on the same boat. By this time I had already thought of three occasions to propose that was already in our calendar, Waiheke for her birthday, June where we would be visiting the Franz Josef Glaciers and August where we would be going to Wellington. I had hinted it would be June with the glaciers as we would be taking a helicopter up and so it would be an exceptional occasion but little did she know I was thinking of the soonest date possible straight after her birthday on Waiheke. We arrived in Waiheke when the weather was less than ideal; I had booked us to stay at the Oyster Inn, one of Anita's favourite places on the island. We started the day by having a small picnic by the beach, I would have done it then, but the wind was just too much, and I would have had to shout my lungs out and she probably still won't hear and I might not even be able to her answer... so that was a no. We went back to the inn and had a bit of tea, I also had brought bottle of our favourite champagne (Perrier Joet, even at our wedding) to have possibly after I have proposed, but Anita suggested we have this with dinner, so I thought okay well I guess I'd have to do it before dinner. Now coming back to after our picnic, we had a bit of tea at the inn and then retired to our room, I just felt it was the right time, we were alone, private and intimate and I decided to get on my knees and asked her to marry me there and then in the room and of course she said yes. Now we get to enjoy the other two activities I had set up earlier." Such a romantic story!
Enjoy highlights in video slideshow and photo gallery:
Great Creative Team:
Getting Ready - Hotel DeBrett
BALENCIAGA bridal top, skirt by Céline Rita
Wedding stylist: @Holly Buckley
Celebrant: Keeley Jenkins, Celebrant
Mojo Supervisor: @Donna Hutchins
and Olga at Levien & Lens Photography - Auckland based wedding 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:
Excited to share with you great news: Trelise & Alan's wedding in Markovina Vineyard Estate {Auckland} just been published in Love & Lavender, such a beautiful weddings blog. It's such a pleasure to see our photos in this prestigious international publication.
Bring back memories! Such a beautiful day in West Auckland with the couple and their close friends and family. Have a look at this feature - publication in Love and Lavender {love this name, by the way, so gorgeous!} and more wedding details on our Blog!
Contact me with any questions!
So thrilled to receive fantastic news - one of my photos won Lemonade and Lenses Spring'18 International Contest - third place in Wedding Category. Such a great honour for me, wedding - elopement photographer in Auckland {New Zealand}, to be in the row with such talented photographers from all over the world.
Have a look at all winners in newborn, child, senior, family, birth, boudoir, maternity, and of course weddings categories!
Thank you so much for this award, it means a lot to me! Such a pleasure to receive a winning notification second time in a row!
Mary & Philipp
So excited to share with you a surprised elopement with Mary & Philipp. The couple come all way from Germany to New Zealand to get married on wild Karekare Beach. {can't even imagine how bride organised everything from overseas, what a surprise for a groom!}. Philipp was amazingly pleased. We had such a special time on West Coast Auckland fall and beach. There were so much love, care, and positive emotions!
When Mary contacted me with this idea to surprise her groom {he thought it will be just an engagement photo shoot and not expected to see the celebrant and two witnesses!}, I right away jumped in the opportunity to capture something unique and beautiful {risky as well, but I believed in this amazing story happy ending}.
Great Creative Team:
Make-up and hair - Lipstick and Co
Flowers - Blossom and Wild
Celebrant {German speaking} - Aurora Ward - Celebrant
and Olga at Levien & Lens Photography, Auckland based wedding - elopement photographers {serving New Zealand and worldwide}.
Thanks to two witnesses and unexpected helper {owner of accommodation in Titirangi where couple stayed in Auckland, he helped with transport the bride to the ceremony site, as well as accessories: table {carried it all the way on the hot beach through the sand dunes}, and rug as well. It was unforgettable emotions and memories!
Enjoy these video slideshow highlights and photo gallery:
Contact me with any questions!
Excited to share with you fantastic news: Tayvia & Kyle wedding just been published in Boho Weddings "Beautiful Bohemian New Zealand wedding with First Look by Levien & Lens Photography. Its such a pleasure for me, fine art and documentary photographer in Auckland, to capture so unique for couple moments, no matter rainy day!
Enjoy this publication in the prestigious international magazine and have a look at more details on our Blog with real wedding photo gallery highlights with video slideshow.
This day in The Hunting Lodge and HU's Art Farm {West Auckland - Kumeu - Waimauku} was so beautifully amazing!
Contact me with any questions!
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:
{CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS}
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
So excited about this fantastic news - I just received Shoot and Share contest results and images that I submitted got a great acknowledgement: one photo in top 100, two images as category finalists, 11 pictures in Top 10%, 17 photos in Top 20%, 12 photographs in Top 30%. Its such a pleasure to me, Auckland wedding photographer {New Zealand} to see such a high performance for my wedding and lifestyle family work. Such surprising results, mainly when you know, there were over 800000 submissions from over 150 countries around the world.
It's great to know; my favourite images got in the top rated photos, chosen by the audience. But there were surprises as well: one picture from my moody Styled Shoot got in the category finalists, and I even never got to share it as there were so many another fantastic images from this shoot. Such great teamwork from all vendors who made it possible.
Enjoy these photos - results with my wedding work. Have a look at my lifestyle website to see my project award winners and favourites!
SO excited to share with you: out beautiful engagement session | pre-wedding photo shoot with Silvia & Chris just been published in How He Asked by The Knot. So great honour for me, Auckland wedding photographer to see our photos go live around the world, not only in New Zealand. Bring back amazing memories!
Can't wait to move through couples entire wedding gallery. We had a fantastic wedding in Markovina just a few weeks ago; it was such incredible time with warm and cosy wedding atmosphere and beautiful people around! You can find a sneak peek on my Facebook page and Instagram. More images are coming soon on our Blog! Watch this space!
Enjoy this publication and see more images on our past Blog post!
Warmly,
Olga at Levien & Lens Photography
These beautiful people - Rochelle & Matt get married at such a stunning place as Eagle Ridge Estate {Tauranga, New Zealand} with fantastic views and warm and cosy atmosphere. It was a pleasure for us, their wedding photographers, to make a trip from Auckland to capture so unique for couple moments with their friends, family and all the emotions!
Lucky we already met at their family - engagement photo shoot {you can check gallery highlights in our Blog}, so it was a pleasure to see their boys and parents again.
There was a surprise twist as Rochelle prepared two wedding dresses, both of them was so amazingly beautiful with gorgeous details, especially at the back, love it!
The couple shared their romantic story: "Matt and I met 3.5 years ago through mutual friends. Matt facebook stalked me by looking through the mutual friend's friendslist and often asked them to "hook us up". They didn't do this and declined to do so for a long time, but I knew about it and him. About six months later, when I was catching up with the mutual friends, I thought to myself, I should and am ready to meet this guy, and I should ask them to arrange it. During lunch my friend says to me without my mentioning anything, "I think you should meet this guy, what if I'm getting in the way of love by not letting you two meet each other" So from there, I told her to tell him to add me on facebook which he did. At this time Matt and I travelled a lot for our work, we both happened to be in Wellington at the same time, and tee'd up a "date" which went well, so we need up to another more formal date the following weekend when we were back in Auckland. He took me to a romantic French Restaurant, I had an allergic reaction to either the Lesgargot or the French dessert wine, and he had to take me home really early.... Luckily my sneezy puffy face with crying eyes didn't scare him away.... and the rest is happily ever togetherness and foreverness history xxx" The proposal: "Poor Matt tried to Propose many many times. Apparently, the ring had been out with us many times while Paddleboarding, hiking and out on dinner dates, Fiji, and another promise type ring in Noosa. Eventually, he managed to pull it off during one of our hikes."
Great Creative Team:
Great Creative Team: Eagle Ridge Estate
Dresses - Jessica Bridal
Suits - Munns The Mans Store
Florist - Sweetpea & Jasmine
Makeup - Chrissie Callard - Make up Artist
Hair - Lynette Burlison Hairdressing
Stationery Paper Darling Celebrant - Robyn Paterson - Celebrant
photo shoot at Mount Tutu Eco-Sanctuary
and Levien & Lens Photography, Auckland based wedding photographers
Enjoy this beautiful wedding highlights in video slideshow and photo gallery:
