Tag Archives: photos

Sam and Julia

Not long after meeting Sam and Julia for the first time, I knew that their wedding would be something really special. Both Matakana farmers, this down-to-earth couple picked an amazing time to get married (Autumn) and chose to do it in a style in which only they could pull off….

The girls got prepped in The Castle, a very classy and luxurious local bed and breakfast.

My second shooter Tony hung out with the guys before the ceremony and got some great shots of Sam with his son.

Everyone was waiting with anticipation as the bridal party arrived in black Fords.

With the vows given and the rings exchanged, it was time to jump onto the John Deere’s waiting out back, and go for a bit of a ride!

At this point Sam led the convoy off-road and up an incredibly steep hill, so Tony and I parked our cars and hitched a ride with them. With all the bumpiness, we somehow managed to get a few clean shots… was pretty awesome to see Tony hanging off the outside of his tractor with one hand, shooting with the other (that’s dedication to the job).

At the top of the hill we were met with a stunning panoramic view of Matakana, Omaha beach and the surrounding areas. One of the images below gives some idea, but you had to be there to properly experience it.

With tables and benches set up, it was the perfect spot to relax and enjoy some champagne, beers, crackers & cheese.

As the sun was starting to set, it was time to let the town of Matakana know that Sam and Julia were married.

So the convoy set off down the hill and into town to do some loops of the main roundabout.

Last location of the day, the beautiful Matakana wharf… where we took photos until the light faded away.

And if you run out of natural light, there’s nothing more romantic for a farm girl than to be kissed in the headlights of a John Deere…

So after working up a good appetite, it was time to head back into town for dinner (and a few more loops of that town roundabout).

Congratulations Sam and Julia, and thank you for picking me to capture your amazing day!

Happy Holidays!

Been really looking forward to these holidays, they have been a long time coming.

We’re not going away anywhere too far this year, just planning to enjoy the simple things… head out to the beach, catch up on lots of playtime with my daughter Alice and perhaps indulge in a few personal photography projects.

So what might those be? Well, in last year’s holidays I gave landscape photography a try…even though getting up before the crack of dawn is not something that my body registers properly with. This time I might try a bit of nature/scenery capture…see if I can find a nice enough spot (any suggestions of places close to Auckland are welcomed).

Another new venture for me to experiment with is the return to film/analogue photography. I was only a point-and-shooter in the days when I previously had film in my pocket, so it will be interesting to see how this format can be fully explored in today’s totally digital environment. I’m not really sure what I am in for, but that’s the fun about trying new things. Will post my results up at some stage, so stay tuned for that.

Film. Does it still have a place in this day and age?

The Mamiya 645AFD will help me in my introduction to proper film photography, she's an oldie but hopefully a goodie.

Third project is taking and compiling photos of Alice, with the intention to make her a baby book. Below there’s a sneak peek of a few pages shot recently.

Hope you all enjoy the holiday season, stay safe and be inspired to also try some crazy new things in 2012!!