I’m recently back from attending the live judging of New Zealand’s only photo print awards, the annual NZIPP Iris Awards in Wellington.
This is the first time I’ve entered since 2017 when I won the title of Wedding Classic Photographer of the year! This year, I was also extremely happy to not only get an all elusive Gold Award but also be a Finalist in Wedding In Camera Artistry!
The awards are open to all New Zealand and International professional photographers and the art of printing is a huge part of the judging. I printed my images myself this year for the first time, so extra happy to achieve a GOLD!
These images were created for my lovely couples at their real weddings in Auckland, Wanaka and at Mt Nicholas Station in Queenstown.They each have beautiful stories around them and all remind me of exactly why I shoot weddings and why it is so fulfilling!
When I think of Anna & Andre’s wonderful wedding, I think firstly of how welcoming and fun they and their families are, all the preparations for the traditional Tongan feast, travelling to Andre’s grandfathers land to take sunset photos amongst the coconut trees, the smell of the Umu, the taste of taro and Lu Pulu, the watermelon drink Otai, heavy tropical rain downpours and diving into the ocean.
Their heartwarming ceremony was held on a pier just outside the house and was only interrupted by the sea snake swimming past. I loved documenting this special wedding and of these two families becoming one, and I’m still daydreaming about going back and swimming with whales.
When I first met Steph & Cam, they told me they wanted to get married at a music festival, rather than hold a wedding, and from there, things just got more and more exciting! A first look on the edge of Lake Wanaka, Tipis, bands, smoke bombs, flower crowns, hilarious and also emotion-filled speeches, NANA AS FLOWERGIRL! great dance moves… what is not to love!
Anita & Kelsey planned a romantic and relaxed wedding with 70 close friends and family at Lake Hayes. Two beautiful women and two beautiful dresses! I felt extremely lucky to witness this wedding and also be in on the secret that they were 11 weeks pregnant and no one else knew! Since their wedding day, Anita & Kelsey have been featured on Grace Loves Lace and also in print in Volume One of Dancing with Her the first Australian magazine of its kind celebrating Women in love.
Libby & Tom traveled over from Australia to marry at Wanaka’s Rippon Vineyard, with their closest family and friends. They were the warmest, loveliest group of people who welcomed me like I was part of the group. After their ceremony, Libby & Tom surprised everyone when a helicopter arrived to whisk them away for a mountaintop photoshoot with views of Mt Aspiring & the Southern Alps, before landing at Horseshoe Bend for their intimate reception & dinner.