Just over a week ago, the temperatures dropped well below zero, and for the second time this winter, we awoke to a white-out around the city. There is something so magical about snow. Even the most ordinary looking things become serene and stunning when dusted with a few inches of white fluffy water. It is a bizarre concept.... but one that never fails to fill everyone with joy.

A good chunk of New Zealand came to a stand-still. People became more friendly and forgiving, and everyone down the street had something to yarn to you about. Young and old went out to enjoy snowfights, make snowmen, and ride real-estate signs down the steep streets. Some had to trudge to work with plastic bags inside their shoes, and socks outside their shoes (ahem, my husband?!), but even the boss didn't care if they were late. Some got a surprise day off work, and checked facebook every 5 seconds to read yet another status about snow. And some cuddled up beside the fire with a hot chocolate and a good book.

And me? What did I do? Oh, thanks for asking! I couldn't quite justify a snow-day because, let's face it, conditions just weren't that treacherous in the hallway between my lounge and my office. I had plenty of work to keep me busy at my computer, but I had a hankering to get out in the snow with my camera.

I called on trusty facebook to find me a 'liker' who a) had a wedding dress, b) would be willing to get out in the freeeezing conditions in her wedding dress, and c) could actually make it to a location I had in mind (close to my house!!) without compromising her own safety! While I had heeeeaps of interest, the location thing proved to be the limiting condition - especially considering I live up a hill, and most roads around Dunedin were unable to be driven on!

But in true Southern style, out came the 4WD and the chains... and I had a model! The beautiful, up-for-anything, and looovely Rebecca Griffiths met me in her stunning wedding dress... with a puffa jacket, long-johns and gummies to keep her warm in between photos! Rebecca, you are amazing! THANK YOU for putting your life (ok, maybe just your warmth) on the line for me to have some fun! Hope it was worth it for you! xx

We had beautiful, soft, floaty snow for the first half of the shoot. It was thick and amazing! As it slowed down, the wind, rain and hail picked up a little... but we carried on!

Rebecca's lovely husband, James, came along for the ride too! I am not going to give him quite as much credit tho, considering he got to stay in his beanie and puffa jacket! Ok, confession... I was completely rugged up in all my snowboarding gear... annnd I even had the cheek to exclaim how much I was cooking under all my layers. I think Rebecca's ears were too cold to hear that tho...

Rebecca and James are gorgeous together. They got married in 2007, and have been working in Fox Glacier (actually, ON the glacier), and also travelling the world. They moved back to Dunedin to study this year... so we got the pleasure of becoming friends! Yay! They are hard-out snow and adventure bunnies... so I knew I was onto a winner when she offered to do the shoot!

Beautiful. I love this.

You are an absolute champ Rebecca!! Thanks heeeeaps for coming and playing in the snow with me!! And for not complaining when I made you lie in the snow!! Thanks also to James for keeping Rebecca warm and loving her, so I could get beautiful photos... and to Jacqui for holding the jackets and bags and cameras! You all made my snow day waaaay more interesting! xoxo

I had the pleasure of photographing the wonderful Cosgrove family at Ross Creek on a beautiful winters day! Little Ethan is four, and he is CUTE!! The kind of dynamite cuteness that makes you just want to run all over the place with him.

We got rid of some bound up energy, and also played with some huge bubbles. If there is one thing that always makes a kid (and me) happy, it's bubbles!

Ohhhh bursting bubble splatters even!

When you have a big camera stuck in your face, it becomes ok to stick your tongue out!

Ethan is one lucky boy. He has two amazing parents who love him no end. It is always awesome seeing the beautiful interactions between parents and their children. Kerry and Kirsty just adore Ethan and he quite clearly loves them both back!!

Thank you so much for choosing me to capture this awesome family time for you! And for being soooo good during the whole shoot Ethan!! You are amazingly gorgeous. Have fun scrapbooking all of the images! xx

We want YOU to feel beautiful and to be treated to a fun afternoon out with your favourite girls - be it with your best friends, your sisters, your mother, different generations in your family, your old school friends - anyone!

Kimberley Cheyne Photography and Christal Allpress Makeup Artist are going to give four girls an afternoon of fun, friends, food and frivolity! All you need to do to enter is head to my facebook page, tag yourself in a competition image, and sit back and wait!

The winners will receive the whole shebang - you will be made-over with natural looking make-up by Christal, given pretty cupcakes & scrummy treats to eat, fancy drinks to share, a goodie bag of girlie treats to take home... and then you get the opportunity to have these precious memories captured in a fun and relaxed location-based photo shoot with Kimberley! Each girl will also receive a CD of images, and four professional prints!

If you are male and want to win this competition as a gift for your wife, girlfriend, mother, sister, or friend.... go on, tag yourself too! One lucky tagger will be drawn by random selection on Monday the 15th of August, and they will get to choose 3 friends. (Pssst...tell all your friends to enter too and make sure you are extra nice to them - bribery may help you get in on this too!).

Winner will be notified via facebook and must get in contact with us within 4 days to claim the prize, or it will be redrawn. The afternoon will take place on either the 3rd, 10th, or 24th of September 2011, and about 4 hours will need to be allowed. Must be within the Dunedin City boundaries (any travel expenses beyond this must be covered by the recipients).

One entry per person please.

If you don't manage to win this competition, but think this would be a great idea for you and your girls, please get in touch... we want to offer this awesome package to anyone - because everyone deserves to eat cupcakes, feel gorgeous and have beautiful photographs of themselves!! Please enquire directly with Kimberley (photography@kimberleychey​ne.co.nz) for our special introductory prices!

XOXO

Love is one of those things that you just can't get enough of. People ask me if I ever get sick of going to weddings... and I can tell you, the answer is a flat-out no. Every wedding is sooo different, and sharing in the marriage of two people in love is honestly one of the biggest privileges in this world. And being part of the wedding day of a family member... now that is extra special.

July 16th, 2011... a day that changed the lives of two amazing people. I am sure you all remember my cousin Rochelle and her smitten fiance, Guy, from their crazy fun engagement shoot in Napier! Well now they are all grown-up and married! And I was lucky enough to capture their whole wedding day. I know some of you have been dying to see this blog, so I do apologise that it has taken a while! I am getting swallowed up by mountains of images at the moment, and the moral of the story is... you can't rush a perfectionist.

The weekend began with a family road trip for us, which is always fun! We arrived in Napier to meet an incredibly relaxed couple at the rehearsal. Rochelle was all blocked up with a cold and sniffles, but that wasn't going to dampen anything for the next day.

Saturday morning came soon enough, and we headed to Guy's house first to capture the boys. But first up... some details. Guy teaches horticulture, so he and his mother, Lynne (a fabulous gardener herself!) made the girls' bouquets! Ahem, did you read that correctly?? Who is impressed?! The groom made the bouquets. And look how beautiful they are!! The day was off to a good start...

Guy prepares for the biggest day of his life - a day to add to the history books of the Arnold Family.

I was stoked to have Liam shooting with me for this wedding. This is just one of the many reasons I love him... coming home from a wedding and uploading the images from Liam's cards is always such a nice surprise.
The rings went for their own adventure around Guy's backyard.

Every wedding has to reflect the couple's personalities. This one did completely and absolutely. Right down to the boys' shoes.

The Arnolds have 9 goats! The girls are all called names beginning with M, and the boys all begin with B. This is Missy, who is clearly more vain than the others. What a poser!

Moving on to the Frame's house, we met the girls who had just had their hair and make-up done, and were trying to figure out how to tie up Rochelle's dress. Always tricky that one...

Some more of Liam's detail handywork... gosh he is good to have around ;)

And the first glimpse of the bride... absolutely s.t.u.n.n.i.n.g.

Little Brianah is Guy's niece... and she was so cute that I almost need a whole blog dedicated to adorable photos of her. She took her flower girl role very seriously, and I was soooo impressed with her through the day! She was so happy, so willing, so easy, and soooo gosh darn cute!

I like this photo. It reminds me of the happy chaos of pretty much every wedding day. Lots of girls getting ready in a small space, with so many different things happening at once gives such a mix of excited nerves, stress, anticipation, and a buzzing atmosphere! And the bride just gets to sit back and be pampered and get everything done for her. Bliss!

When a father sees his daughter as a bride for the first time, an emotion springs up that I think even surprises the father. I love hearing Dads speak about incredible feeling of giving away their precious little princess to another loving man. Rochelle is Alan's only daughter, and this first look says it all...

Guy and Rochelle had these awesome little people running as a theme through their whole wedding - from invitations, to ceremony sheets, to tree and chair decorations, to one of the coolest wedding guest favours I have ever seen (more on that later!). I even got my own 'reserved for the photographer' people sign!

Rochelle walks up the aisle to her adoring boy... and even shares a wee giggle with her parents on the way up!

She had the most gorgeous long and poofy veil, part of which she wore over her face until the first kiss. But Guy was a little too keen and reached to unveil her well before he was meant to!

But boy it was worth it when he did... one of the cutest kisses I have ever seen!

Standing for the whole ceremony is just a little too hard when you are three.

Guy and Rochelle had been together for exactly four years and 22 days on their wedding day. They became Mr. and Mrs. Arnold in a suitably gorgeous and fun ceremony... surrounded by a wonderful crowd of friends and family to give their full support.

They had picked out some awesome locations for the photo shoot - the first was a tiny little gelato shop! The shop owners tried to remain composed, the bridal party all stocked up on refreshing gelato, and we squeezed in a few photographs.

Location number two was a gorgeous gift shop called 'Madison's'! While I was taking this portrait of Rochelle, Liam caught this gorgeous photo of Guy looking at his beautiful new wife!

Mmmhmmm... Brianah had the right idea... it was bitterly cold!

Hello bridal party! These guys were all amazing. Being smack bang in the middle of winter... it was freeeeezing, but they toughed it out so well, and still looked amazing!

The gorgeous girls - Meredith, Brianah, Tamara and Amy! Thank you all for being so beautifully lovely and amazing! You were all perfect supports for Rochelle and made my job very easy... look how amazing you all look!

And the boys - Nathan, Courtney and Philip - I am sure Guy couldn't have had any better boys around him for his wedding day! You made the day full of fun and laughs.

And let's be honest... you weren't afraid to work it for the camera.

What I love about Guy and Rochelle is that are very real in front of each other - they know each other so well, and aren't afraid to be honest and transparent.

A final dance practice in some golden light at a train station...

As the light fell, we spent our final minutes at the gorgeous pillars next to the reception venue. This is one of my favs... so happy and natural together.

Weddings that are full of details are so fun to photograph. The reception was certainly not lacking anything - it was full of class and elegance, and good old fashioned fun. Gold fish centre pieces, and 'decorate your own' gingerbread men!

Spot the bride and groom?! And 10 points to anyone who can pick my one! It's pretty super.

And what could be better than ending a perfect day with a good boogie!

We had the time of our lives at your amazing wedding Rochelle and Guy!! Huuuuge thank you for giving us the privilege of capturing it all for you. We have a record number of photos for you! You were both so incredible and so great to photograph. I hope you have had the best honeymoon ever, and that you have a life full of joy and happiness together.

Lots and lots of love! xoxoxo