Nikolai & Courtney's Farm Engagement Session

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