Lisa first got in touch with me about wedding photography back in 2017! I don't think they were engaged yet at the time, but they were dreaming of their forever after together that's for sure. And I remember meeting with them both a couple of years later and being humbled at how excited Lisa was to have us as their photographers. Brian, well I doubt Brian gets excited about much - but he told me at that very meeting that this wedding was all about his Lisa, giving her the day she dreamed of and making the love of his life happy. How blimin' cute is that?!

These two have faced many challenges getting to their wedding day but through it all they've always be so upbeat and focused on the big picture which I've really admired. And now the date is just around the corner now and I am so happy for them both! Their wedding day is going to be filled with love, emotions and lots of down to earth fun I am sure.

Last week we caught up with them both in Thornbury, a special place for them, not only home but where they first met years ago at the local young farmers.

It was Lisa who proposed to Brian, with this specially made model tractor. 

Thanks for braving that cold Southland wind and getting out for these engagement portraits team. We had a great afternoon catching up with you both and know great things are in store for your wedding day. Bring on October friends! x

Couples often include their furry family members in portraits but Jess and Ben may have set the new record for how many dogs we've had join us for an engagement session!

Last Thursday evening we trekked over to Blackmount to catch up with these two on the family farm. The farm Dunluce has been in Jess's family since the 1800's! Jess is the fourth generation. It was very special to spend some quality time with her and Ben in their patch of paradise. 

Ben and Jess actually get married here on the farm on New Year's Eve and we can't wait for the epic celebration that it will be. When Jess first got in touch with me about wedding photography she said they'd toyed with the idea of a New Year's Eve wedding but had no idea if it was really logistically possible. I reckon celebrating love and the start of a beautiful marriage is a pretty darn awesome way to bring in a New Year!

We started off Ben and Jess's engagement session around the yards, including the original farm woolshed with all it's character, then we took the trucks up the hill to let the dogs run wild and soak up the sun rays.

Our last stop for the evening was right up to the very top of the farm to watch the skies change to evening as the moon came up. What an epic place to live!

Ben and Jess we loved our time with you both last week, thank you for having us out to the farm! Bring on New Year's Eve!!! x

We met Nikolai & Courtney for their engagement session up at the family farm in Balfour last week and got one of the best farm tours ever, ending right up the top of the farm with views as far as the eye could see, from Lumsden right down the Hokonui's towards Gore. It was a beautifully calm evening & we were spoilt with a stunning sunset to match the scenery & this gorgeous couple.

At the start of every engagement session I give my couples some pointers; how to relax, to get comfortable in whatever position I put them in and not to overthink anything - it's meant to be fun and even better if they can laugh their way through the session. Well Nikolai and Courtney shook off any nerves about being in front of the camera so fast and were laughing before I'd taken the first shot! I absolutely love this! Their fun, friendly personalities shine through in every photo and we had such a great evening getting to know them both better.

This magical light - this is why I always suggest a sunset session to our couples when we plan their engagement photos!

From the yard we headed up a rocky, winding farm track to the very top of the farm and when I hopped out of the truck I was practically dancing around with joy at how good the lighting was, paired with spectacular views. Insert this amazing couple and I was in photographer nirvana!

Tom the dog loved being part of the engagement session!

These sort of portraits don't happen by sheer luck, it takes a couple's willingness to have some fun, be up for an adventure and a few laughs. Not that Courtney minded at all being picked up and carried by Nikolai - an excellent way to avoid any scratchy thistles!

Nikolai and Courtney have been together for almost ten years and it was awesome hearing about some of the adventures they've had.

And as the sun dipped below the horizon we cracked into the picnic basket and watched all the colours in the sky intensify. The perfect ending to a magical engagement session!

Wow Nikolai & Courtney! If your engagement session is anything to go by, your wedding is going to be EPIC! Thank you for such a fun evening on the farm with you both last week. I hope you love the photos, I'm obsessed with them haha!

​We can't wait to see you two get married next summer. x