Author Archives: chris

How to choose you wedding photographer- 10 Top Tips

You’ve heard it said that apart from each other your wedding photos are what you take with you for life from your big day so it would be fair to say you want them to be the very best they can be. There are large number of wedding photographers here in Auckland and around New Zealand. They vary in skill, cost and what they offer so which is the right one for your wedding day? Here are 10 things that you really should know about.

1 – “I love these photos”. This reaction has to be a great start. As you look through the wedding photographers website you need to be consistently pleased with what you are seeing. Some wedding photography websites may ‘showboat’ a handful of their best images. Look through the galleries carefully at all of the work displayed. If there isn’t much there contact them to see more work. Come back a couple of days later and look again with fresh eyes.

2 – How experienced and skilled is the photographer? This really is hugely important. A skilled photographers images will stand out. Simple things to look for that will show inexperience are blown out highlights (where wedding dresses have areas with no detail showing just a bright spot caused by over exposure). You went to great trouble to choose and totally love your wedding dress so if you can’t make out the dress detail and lacework in your photos you may well be disappointed………..

…….Look to see if the photos really do, ‘capture the moment’, from a great angle so you can tell the photo was meant to be shot like that rather than maybe a lucky snap that kind of got the moment or got the moment but with lots of other people in the frame that confuse the composition.
An experienced photographer will anticipate the action and will keep ahead of events to be in the right place at the right time with the right lens and the camera set to the correct exposure (vital to capturer that dress detail). You will see the difference as you look at a a few photographers work
.3 – Will the photographer you took these photos be my photographer? You love the photos you are seeing on the wedding photographer’s website. You would think that if you are looking at a set of wedding photos that you like that you would be booking the photographer who took the images that helped you make up your mind. They say is pays never to assume anything and this is a good example. Check whether the photographer who took the photos you love is the photographer that you will have for your wedding day. After all it is that skill, expertise and experience you are paying for so don’t get palmed off with a more junior or less experienced photographer who may not deliver the same high standard. Any wedding photographer worth their salt will make this clear to you at the outset. You need to be able to trust your photographer from the get go as there is only one chance to get right on the day.
wedding photograph by Auckland wedding photographer Chris Loufte www.theweddingphotographer.co.nz farm wedding
4 – Meet you photographer. Your photographer need to be someone you can get on well with from the outset. Someone you will have fun with and trust to do a great job. You don’t hire a professional photographer every day so try to make sue that you get someone you ‘click’ with. A great photographer will make your whole day fun and easy.

5 – How much time do I give to photography during my day? Probably the best way to work this out is to do a pre-wedding planning session with your photographer. Go together to visit your wedding and reception venues and scout out locations for a creative wedding shoot of site. You can time how long it takes to get form one location to the next and pick out the very best backgrounds for taking photos at each place. Then you can work out how long you require. Your photographer can put a run-sheet together for you so that on the day nothing is missed and the photography runs seamlessly through your wedding day. I do this with all of my clients. It’s included in every package in greater Auckland and definitely takes a lot of the stress and pressure away.

6 – What if it rains? Some sort of wet weather plan for your wedding photography is a must. Whether it’s dashing out in between showers (which can be the case here in Auckland) or an alternative plan that avoids the uncovered outdoors. Some venues offer pretty indoor areas that can work well others simply don’t have it so it’s good to have something else up your sleeve. I like to make sure that I always have a wet weather optioned planned just in case. Over the years I have found some terrific locations for photos on a rainy day. You wouldn’t know it was raining.

7- Do we take the whole bridal party on the creative shoot? Well you certainly can. Whilst it’s fun to get photos of you all together you might like to consider a second and or third location where it can be just the two of you. A chance for something more intimate and romantic. After all it is your day it might be nice to be just the two of you………..and your photographer.
VW Kombi van wedding photo by Chris Loufte Auckalnd
8 – Do I get all of my wedding photos? Okay so this does vary quite a lot. Be careful to check this out in advance before you make a booking. Some studios will make further charges here.
We deliver 600+ hand processed images as high resolution jpegs with all of your wedding photography packages. They are delivered with no copyright restriction so that you are free to print and share them with family and friends over and over again for ever! this has become increasingly popular as people seek to do their own thing with their photos rather than travel the traditional album route.
Auckland wedding photographr Chris Loufte www.theweddingphotographer.co.nz
9 – To album or not to album that is the question. When I show my gorgeous Queensberry feature albums to my couples there is little doubt that that is how they would choose to display their wedding photos. They are almost certainly the very pinnacle of wedding albums. Hand crafted, album bound, leather covered album with traditional silver halide photographic prints mounted onto a mat, overlaid with an ivory textured board and album bound, by hand mind you. ……….. Oh and they’re made right here in New Zealand too.

We love Queensberry because they really are the best as you will see when we show you one next to the next leading manufacture but you will need to put aside a sensible budget for one, from a little over $2000.00 up to $12,000.
Take your time to choose the right cover and take part in the design process with your photographer and you will have something that you will truly treasure for ever.
It’s best not to book a cheap photographer so that you can afford that amazing album. Poor wedding photos will not look any better in a fabulous album but fabulous wedding photos will look however you choose to display them.

10 – So how much should I spend? As with most things in life you get what you pay for. I would say that the most important cost consideration by far is booking the very best photographer that your budget will allow. As I said at the beginning you take each other and your wedding photos away for ever. The true value you get for what you spend is in the wedding photographs you receive at the end. With a set of terrific high resolution photos you have options to do anything from albums to books and famed prints and canvasses either professionally or by your self.
As a guide:-

If you would like some photos of your wedding day just as a a record and not too concerned about getting a portfolio of beautiful wedding photos taken by an experienced photographer your budget may only need to be around $1600 – $2500. Make sure that you are still paying for a full time photographer here and NOT say a taxi driver who does some wedding’s at the weekend.

If your wedding photos are important to you and you want an experienced and skilled photographer to be with you all day and you are
happy to have your photos delivered on a USB then it will be worth budgeting:
$3500 – $4500.

If you want to add a nice album but are not to concerned about it being absolutely top end then will probably need to budget:
$6000 – $7500.

If you would like a beautiful top end album as a treasured memento of your wedding day then you will probably need to budget:
$7000 – $12000

To browse through some of our galleries hover over the Gallery tab on our website.

There is always stuff I haven’t covered in an article like this one so if there is something you want to find out about I’m always here to help. There is never and obligation to you. [email protected] or call .

Engagement rings – Uniquely designed or jewellery store range?

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Nothing says,” Will you marry?” me quite like an engagement ring. The sparkling glow of a solitaire diamond or the glorious sheen of a coloured gemstone set in precious metal. You’re a guy so generally, not always though, it’s going to be you that will pop the question. It’s a bit nerve-wracking and exhilarating all at the same time and you want it to be perfect and special, after all, here’s your chance to sweep her off her feet and ask to join your lives for ever.

A marriage proposal is a once-in-a-lifetime event steeped in years of tradition. Tradition is great. For ever the boys having been asking the girls.

Generally it follows a time honoured course that comprises of three parts. The all important ring to symbolise your public declaration, a favourite and treasured location where you will ask her and what you will say to persuade her to say yes.

Where to ask her? After all this is the girl you’re going to spend the rest of your life with so you want you proposal to be unique, personal and special something a little bit different to everyone else. You choose a favourite place, a romantic or even a crazy fun location. This can be anywhere as long it’s important to you as a couple.

So you know where you are going to pop the question but have to decided what you will say. Well that should be easy after all you love her she loves you but give it some thought because it’s a wonderful opportunity to voice something that really defines the two of you as a couple. Keep it simple, just tell her how you feel. Make it good because you’ll be telling everyone just what you said for years to come.

So we have a location that is unique and special and you are ready to pour out your soul to you beloved as you ask her to marry you. What about the engagement ring? The ring is the physical representation of your intention to spend the rest of your lives together. She will have it forever so choosing the right one is pretty important. The right engagement ring shows a great deal about how much thought you have put into it. After all, you have gone to some considerable effort to ensure a unique and wonderful location, the words you use to ask her are carefully crafted and represent you as an uniquely individual couple, so the engagement ring you choose should reflect all of that.

There is little doubt that high shopping mall jewellers are crammed full of a sparkling array of choices when it comes to engagement rings.. A bewildering choice of shapes, styles, stones and settings. As you go from jewellery store to jewellery store you might notice how a lot of the styles seem kind of similar. Having said that, you may well find the perfect ring at any one of these stores but if you can’t find something that really says unique or individual then there is always the option or having a ring custom made.

I know that as a wedding photographer here in Auckland, I am always trying to push the boundaries to find new, creative and imaginative ways to photograph my weddings. The more unique each couple’s planning decisions are the more special everything about their wedding day is and that translates through to the wedding photographs.

Having an engagement ring made especially for your fiancée means that you can get exactly (and I mean exactly) what you want, making it truly unique to you as a couple. Something you just can’t achieve when buying from a jewellery store. Investing your own design ideas as a couple can really pay off if you are after a ring that reflects you as a couple.

A bespoke engagement ring will be designed just for you. You voice your preferences and a talented jeweller will start by drawing out your ring design. You will get expert gemstone advice and certification and the best setting options for your chosen gem(s).

“Yeah, I hear you but it will cost heaps more right?” Well actually no. Not necessarily. Take a look at Auckland based Jewellery Designer Julian Bartrom. A craftsman who specialises in designing and making jewellery from scratch for his clients at his studio in Ellerslie.

” We’re usually more affordable than a standard jeweller. Where our clients really benefit is the uniqueness and value that goes on year after year because they have a piece of jewellery that they have put a little of their heart and soul into and that really is something special”. says JB.

So there it is, when you are popping the question if you want to do it in your own special way then think of those three simple steps. A special place, those special words and whether it’s a jewellery store dazzler or an item of uniquely designed jewellery that reflects your own togetherness as a couple, that very special ring!

If you want to find out more about unique engagement rings from a craftsman not a salesman drop Julian a line [email protected] or visit his website www.julianbartrom.com.

Josh & Jayne

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Is there anything more romantic that train travel? Not for Josh & Jayne who chose the old railway line in Kumeu, just outside Auckland, as a totally brilliant location to kick off their creative wedding photography. Not sure if it is still a working railway or not but it was certainly a very quite and uniquely pretty location for Jayne to reveal her beautifully finished self to Josh prior to their ceremony. The Boys, all from the mighty RNZAF made their preparations at Whenuapai air base( very cool place if you like helicopters which I confess I do) . No best men for Josh but two Wing Men to see him into married life…..

Simon & Carol

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Oh rainy, rainy Auckland. Pouring rain greeted us as we started the Carol’s bridal preparation photography. We continued to eye the weather nervously through the windows as we got closer to the time allotted for the creative wedding photography in Cornwall Park. It was time to ditch our fine weather plan and crack into a good wet weather option. but as we made a dash for the rotunda in the Auckland Domain as if on cue the shy’s cleared and the sun bathed us in it’s glorious warmth. Brilliant……

Aimee & Aron

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Auckland turned on the sunshine again for Aimee & Aron’s magical wedding day. Traditional church wedding ceremony photographs were followed by a trip to Musick Point for the bridal party photos. What a spot, a wedding photographer’s dream location. It’s all architecture and long sundried grass and with a couple this gorgeous it’s no wonder the photos went well.

Gal & Geoff at Bracu Olive groves

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WOW!!! We love the photos, they are absolutely amazing and take us right back to the great day.

we can’t wait to show these to our family and friends.

What a stunning setting the beautiful olive groves made for Gal & Geoff’s wedding day. And what a wonderful crowd. So much fun and joy and love in the air all day long. You can’t beat that if your a wedding photographer. I have had a tough time editing your photos as there are so many I just love but here is a sneak peak for you……..

Diane & Vaughan

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Wedding photographs in the heart of Auckland and then the crystal blue waters of the Hauraki Gulf. Auckland CBD provided some terrific backdrops with the edgy industrial look Vaughan was looking for in his wedding photographs and then it was ‘ahoy me hearties’! as we set sail from Auckland’s Viaduct harbour and hit the high seas for the wedding ceremony on board the Hauraki Blue cruises yacht. The bright sunny top deck was a terrific location for the wedding ceremony and a launch to ferry us over to Motutapu Island as the sun softened co continue with our creative wedding photography. What a glorious day!

Anna & Vaughan at Formosa Maraetai

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The South Auckland venue of Formosa was the setting for a sun sparkling day on the golf course. Wonderful wild areas on the edges of the fairways left untouched from the by-gone farming days making terrific spots for wedding photos. Zooming round on golf buggies like a scene from the opening of the Banana Splits( remember them – I’m showing my age). All topped off the a glorious sunset as the speeches got underway to bring to a close Anna & Vaughan’s wedding day celebrations.

Mr & Mrs Simandl

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Another sun-splashed Auckland summer day, glorious wedding weather and the most fabulous setting for a wedding ceremony, Diocesan School’s newly renovated chapel. We were treated to a full blast from their magnificent organ during Jennifer’s procession. Then into the classic cars for a stately trundle out of Auckland traveling south down to St Margaret’s gardens in Karaka for our creative wedding photography and the ensuing reception, speeches and first dance.

Tiffany & Travis – Gardens, Waiheke Beeches and Sunshine

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As the Auckland summer continues shine gloriously another perfect morning in Orewa to meet Travis’s Canadian family and friends as they made their preparations for the wedding day ahead. Though more at home at 26 below than 26 above they didn’t let the soaring Auckland temperatures stop them from hitting the beech all suited and ready to go for photos. Then to photograph Tiffany and the girls getting their pretty on before speeding away to the garden ceremony. (If you’re ever following a brace of Bentleys don’t be fooled by their size, they are surprisingly hard to keep up with). A completely beautiful ceremony accompanied by the lazy rumbling hum of bumble bees and the symphonious chants of cicadas in the fabulous garden setting.
A private beech on Waiheke to draw breath and relax and continue with the creative photography before returning to the buzz and hum of the evening festivities at Okahu.