Behind the scenes 2019

Christmas is just days away which means it's that time of year again for our annual behind-the-scenes blog post. Easily my most viewed blog post of the whole year! I did think perhaps people will be sick of seeing the same ol' behind-the-scenes photos year after year but I have literally been cracking up (and grimacing) going through this year's pile - it never gets old!

We have photographed 15 wonderful weddings this year. We've been from Te Anau to the Catlins, Queenstown to Gore. 2019 was a year of new venues for us too! The Winehouse at Gibbston Valley, Kuramea Lodge in Pounawea, Glendhu Station and Criffel Station both just out of Wanaka. And some of our old favourites too! Rounding it all out with a couple of farm weddings in between (private property weddings are always so fun because as photographers we know it's often the only time us or any other photographer will get to photograph a wedding at that location which makes it very special).

This year's weddings have of course all been beautiful to photograph and so much fun to be a part of, but even better is the friendships we have made this year with our couples, bridal parties and families! This community aspect of our business continues to blow me away.  (In fact when we had our house-warming recently I had a wee chuckle as there were a number of our past couples present, who have become our good friends).

​So many gorgeous couples to add to our growing wall of love in the studio!

​Now shall we start with a quick round of spot the photographer?

Sometimes we even dress in camouflage so we blend in...

It's always an incredible honour to be invited into each of our couples' wedding days. We might be there to do a job, but the privilege of being a part of their day never escapes us; helping in any way we can and celebrating them alongside their families and friends.

​And if that sometimes means we have to do the occasional heli ride up a mountain and explore new beautiful places then we're happy to oblige!

I'm not even going to explain what's happening in that golf cart photo...

This year we've employed quite a few wedding dress fluffers and veil holders.

But Matt's still the best at fixing ties and boutonnieres.

And I'm still pretty good at on-location veil re-attachments. That is my concentration face...

This is Matt's concentration face.

Us standing around yarning - we do love a good yarn!

I've started this annoying prank on Matt where at a wedding reception (during down time of course) I'll take an up-close photo of him when he's not expecting it and blind him with my flash! He doesn't find it particularly funny...

Some evidence of us doing the actual job we're paid for...just in case you were losing faith in our professionalism.

Sometimes I am truly amazed by my photographic talent.

This little series shall be titled "When bridal party members think they can use our cameras"...

Actually these two aren't bad - they're nicely focused.

How many hairstyles can a girl have in one year?!

I bet this next photo has got you thinking; Wow Heidi you've grown taller! 

The classic 'photo bomb' series. It's a timeless game, but I'm not sure Hamish & Morgan were that impressed...

Matt pretending to be a ghost on the dancefloor:

Even after 6 years of shooting weddings together, Matt is still my favourite lighting test subject.

Meanwhile year after year I continue to take out the top spot for worst facial expressions!

Lucky one of us is smokin' hot. Yeow! He can even rock fur.

Two photographers means two different perspectives captured on your wedding day. Nailed it.

Cakes! So many delicious cakes!

A few drinks too. Even my trusty stepladder got in on the action!

I won't lie, working with your spouse isn't always easy. Here Matt is trying to hitch a ride after I told him he could walk back to town because he hadn't turned off the rain for me.

Just kidding guys! In fact Matt is the secret to my success (not that it's a secret anymore, I think anyone watching him work on a wedding day knows he's awesome) and I couldn't imagine doing this job without him!

Team work makes the dream work friends.

My very favourite behind the scenes photo from 2019:

Thank you to all our 2019 #heidihortoncouples for having us as your wedding photographers! You are the reason we get to have this awesome business. It means so much to us that you trust us with documenting your special days (although looking at these photos I wonder why you trust us haha!).

A shoutout also to all the families and bridal parties who welcome us with such warmth, to the incredible fellow businesses we work alongside, to the epic venues we get to shoot at, to our friends and family for the on-going support and for dog-sitting our precious Henry while we're away shooting. We are grateful. Thank you.

Have a very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and we will see you in 2020! xx