HAWKE’S BAY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
RECENT WORK
Christel & Dan - Black Barn Underground Cellar & Bistro wedding
Sometimes the stars align and I find myself working with a couple who think and feel about weddings so much like I do that the buzz, for me, almost has echoes of being a bride all over again. I felt that way when I first met Christel and Dan and they told me that not only were they to be ‘Mr. & Mrs. Eva’, but that they were getting hitched at the same location as me and loved the style and feel from my own ceremony so much that they’d used a photo from it for their invitations.
Disaster to Happy Ever After - Jenny & Neil, Valley D'Vine
Weddings are all about turning long-held dreams into reality, but for Neil and Jenny, their wedding turned to a nightmare before it even began. Having paid their venue in full, it went into receivership, taking with them thousands of dollars worth of hard-earned savings. It seemed like a saddest end to what should have been a fairytale story for this couple, until the Napier wedding industry pulled together to help give them the dream they had saved so hard for…
And...lift off! Family photography in Hawke's Bay just before the kids fly the nest
I spend a lot of time doing family photography in Hawke’s Bay with young children, whom we all know change so quickly, so it’s important to invest in a professional photographer to make memories with them before that happens. But it’s often overlooked just how precious it is to be able to remember your family just before it ceases to exist in its traditional tight-knit sense.
Wee Evie - One week old and chilling out at home.
They say never work with children and animals but I have to say that (even though it’s challenging) I totally disagree. Some of my all-time favourite photos have involved children AND animals, and this first photo of Evie with Chopper is up there with them. I
Authentic rustic DIY country wedding - Char & Russ at Taniwha Gardens
The first thing I ask a couple when they are considering working with us on their wedding day is ‘what elements are most important for you?’ This helps me understand who they are as a couple and how Andrew and I can work with them to create bespoke photography that reflects all their priorities. Every couple is different but the ones we enjoy working with the most talk about a sense of celebration and a focus on friends and family ahead of styling and colour schemes.
Natalia & Andy's nod to tradition at St Matthew's Church & Sileni Winery
These days thanks to the beautiful but relatively new tradition of getting hitched in the great outdoors, we don’t get to document many church weddings. That made Natalia and Andy’s day a real treat for us, as there is a sense of ceremony, history and spiritual significance that comes from exchanging vows in a church. With a cathedral-length veil, morning suits and a long row of little attendants to lead the way, the ceremony almost had the feel of a royal wedding…and who doesn’t like a bit of that?!
Rob & Angela's tiny wedding at The Farm, Cape Kidnappers
It is hard to imagine anywhere with more beautiful views of New Zealand’s ruggedly beautiful coastline than The Farm at Cape Kidnappers. But the exclusive nature of the luxury lodge has meant I haven’t been able to share images from a real wedding shot there before. So I’m really excited that Rob and Angela so generously have let me do so, but also that their tiny wedding was perfect in every way - not just beautiful to look at, but emotionally quite special to be part of.
Charlotte & Friends - Hawke's Bay Newborn Photographer
Bringing baby home to meet their older siblings for the very first time is always a major deal for a family, but for Charlotte’s tribe, the Big Reveal had a distinctly rural Hawke’s Bay feel to it, as she was introduced to first-born fur-babies, Deersey and ??.
Les Misérables - Napier Operatic Society, 2019 production photos
’ll admit it…I’m a musical theatre geek. I love me a good live show and nothing gets my bum on a seat quite as quickly as Les Miserablés. I’ve seen this powerful story about the French Revolution about 10 times and every time it’s a tear-jerker. The personal stories of triumph and tragedy are heart-breaking. Add in songs I’ve been singing since I was a little choir girl and it’s a recipe for a great night out. This week, I’m especially excited as I’ll be seeing Napier Operatic Society’s production of Les Mis, directed by my clever big sister, Lisa-Jane Easter.
Home & studio shoot for the NZIA Architecture Awards 2019
I thought I’d share these photos with you as they represent one of the biggest achievements of my life (apart from creating two little humans!). Our house in Bay View, Napier, is kind-of like my third child. The design and build process was every bit as exciting and challenging as a pregnancy and took twice as long so we were stoked when it got awarded at the 2019 Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay Architecture Awards.
Keeping it Classic - Amy, Ryan & the kids
What sort of bride are you? It's probably the biggest question to consider after 'will you marry me' and for classic bride, Amy, planning her perfect wedding to Ryan was easy after answering that second big question.
Escape to the Wild - Poronui Elopement
When you're in the business of being front and centre at dozens of big white weddings every year, how do you decide to exchange your own vows? For Taupo celebrant Samantha Johnston, the answer was simple; very differently. With only eight guests (plus me tagging along in lucky 9th place), Sam and Brad eloped to exclusive New Zealand hunting lodge, Poronui, tucked away in the crisply beautiful Taharua Valley.
Saasha & Michael - Orlando Country Club
One of the most wonderful things about being a wedding photographer is seeing how an event with so many common elements can be interpreted so differently by individuals who bring their own story and aesthetic to their day. Michael and Saasha were a fantastic couple to work with because with their wedding, as with their love for each other, they knew right from the start what they wanted.
Elyse & Ashlin - Crab Farm Winery
Ashlin and Elyse got hitched in Hawke's Bay at a lovely, laid-back little winery called Crab Farm, just on the edge of the coastal settlement of Bay View, near Napier. The wedding they wanted was 'chic boho' with a chilled and relaxed vibe. "That's why we chose Crab Farm, because it ticked all those boxes'.
Hawke's Bay Elopement - Ryan & Beckie
"By sticking to our guns and keeping our wedding so small we were able to capture every moment more intensely and be in a position where we were able to focus on each other and absorb all the beautiful moments our day created. There were no distractions, it was just about us and our love."
The Old Church - Georgia & Sam
How many true love stories begin with a girl looking across a crowded room and locking eyes with an 'energetic, sweaty, mess'? Sam must have had quite the pulling power as his future bride, Georgia, was seduced by the dashing airforce chopper pilot (ok so I had to get that bit in early to off-set the sweaty mess vision) as he was grooving away on the dance floor of the Beer Barrel in Palmerston North (affectionalty dubbed 'Paradise City' by the new Mr. & Mrs. Hatrick).
Hawke's Bay Country Wedding - Nikky & Sam.
Hawke's Bay weddings pose a bit of a conundrum: coast or country? There is so much of both that it can often be hard to decide, so Nikky and Sam found a little off-the-beaten-track place where they could combine both. Clifton Cafe is authentically Kiwi. From the red corrugated iron through to the simple number-8 fencing wire separating the paddock from the wide expanse of the South Pacific Ocean. Under a home-made floral arch in front of their friends and family, this is Nikky and Sam's love story. We hope you enjoy it!
Coast meets country - Birdy & Jono at Ocean Beach
Hawke's Bay's Ocean Beach is a special place filled with memories for so many of us from this part of New Zealand. But for Birdy Hansen, this long stretch of coastline has a history so deeply connected to her family, it was impossible to imagine her wedding to Jono happening anywhere else. Michelle Fey and Rebekah Trafford illustrated her day with their images, and Birdy has relived the special moments here on our blog in her own words. As always, we feel so honoured that our couples generously let us share with the biggest, most personal day of their lives.