Gabby and Josh first met at church at the start of 2009, when they were both studying at university down here in Dunedin. Gabby fell for this spunky boy pretty quickly. She couldn't stop thinking about him... she knew she had to have him as her own. Sundays were happy days, when she got to hang out with him again. Josh, being a boy, was a little more oblivious. Gabby was an awesome chick in an awesome bunch of friends. He really enjoyed hanging out with her... but did he pick up on her hints?! Nope.

Gabby persisted subtly and gently... trying to figure out whether or not this relationship could, or would, ever happen. She decided that the real test was whether he would choose to attend her 21st.... over Bathurst.

Wooooo. That's a big call for a boy. Did Josh pass this test???

Nope. V8 Supercars won on the day.

It's a very good thing that Gabby is so happy, bubbly, fun, easy going... and forgiving! She decided, out of the good of heart, (and perhaps because she liked him sooo much)... that he deserved another chance.

But then Josh moved back to Christchurch to work as a surveyor, and Gabby moved home to Ashburton as an interior designer. Some might have thought this would have been the end of what could have been. But nothing stops a girl in love, and Gabby conveniently started heading to Christchurch most weekends, just to go to church. And what do ya know... it just happened to be the same church that Josh went to!! What are the chances?!

The next year, he chose Gabby's birthday over Bathurst. A change of heart perhaps?!

Love is a funny thing. Sometimes it may take longer than you think... but when you are created to be together, the timing will work out. Josh got to know Gabby more and more... and as in any good love story... he fell head over heels for her too! A long-distance relationship has had to become the norm for these two awesome people... but thankfully the Ashburton-Christchurch journey is workable!

Macaroons and heart shapes. Life is good with these two things.

Gabby and Josh are getting married on May 26th in Ashburton... and I am soooooo excited about photographing their wedding!!! If this engagement shoot was anything to go off... it will be immaculately prepared and designed... and Gabby and Josh just adore each other so much, so photographing them is too easy!

Josh and Gabby are toooo much fun!!

Simplicity. Prettiness. And gorgeous bling.

How good do they look?!

Wahoooooo... pleeeeease come sooner 26th May!! I wanna go get you guys married and have more fun with you! Can't wait. You both rocked the engagement shoot... thanks for all your amazing preparations and all the effort you put into making it awesome!!! Hope the final few months of planning go well... I know you have it completely covered Miss Gabby 'Organisation' Ward! And Josh, you are doing great too! XOXO

Blind dates. You hear about them in movies, but you don't think they actually happen.
Are they kinda awkward? Yup. Kinda ridiculous? Yup. Kinda exciting?! Yea, a bit. Do they ever work?! Weeeeell... I wouldn't have thought so. But this time I'm going to tell you one of the best "getting together" stories I have ever heard.

Jess and Mickey both grew up near Gore. They each spent five years at Gore High School, but Jess was two years above Mickey. They never reeeally knew each other, apart from the fact that Mickey was the younger brother of one of our good school friends, Natalie. After finishing high school, Jess headed to Lincoln University to study. Two years later, Mickey followed...

They went about life reasonably oblivious of each other, apart from seeing each other around every now and then. Then in her final year at Lincoln, Jess got set up on a blind date. She was auctioned off as part of a fundraising event, after finishing a stint as a leader at the christian fellowship group. Petrified about who she might have to spend one very awkward evening with, Jess hid in her room (and even in her wardrobe for a wee while!!!), waiting for this Mr. Somebody to come along.

Walking out to to meet her date, she couldn't have been more relieved to see Mickey's face. At least she knew him a little bit, and they would have some things in common to talk about. They chatted away, time flew by... and they both left feeling pleasantly suprised about how un-awkward the blind date (that they had both been chucked into very unwillingly) had been.

Life carried on as normal afterwards. They saw each other occasionally, but nothing more than that. It wasn't long though before Jess started catching herself dreaming up ways she could bump into Mickey more often.

Those dreams (and some cunning plans) turned into reality, and gradually they got to know each other better and better... and fell more and more in love.

Jump forward a couple more years... Mickey proposed on his birthday last year, and they are getting married in less than two weeks!!!!!! I am sooooo excited for them and just can't wait for the day to arrive! Marriage is the best thing ever and I just love seeing my friends getting engaged and preparing for a lifetime of happiness with the person they love.

Jess and I go back about eleven years. We met as geeky little third formers with bad hair cuts and no fashion sense, yet with an unspoken but mutual feeling that we could be good friends! Over the years we became really close, and now some of my very favourite stories involve Jess! I have sooo many awesomely fond memories of long nights giggling and gossiping, tramping together, never getting any work done in sewing class together, leading at camps together, talking about boys and many other more intellectual things... and just generally laughing a lot!

_And as I sit here, counting on my fingers and trying to remember how old I am at the moment, I realise I have actually known of Mickey for probably about eighteen years! Woah. I was very good friends with Natalie (Mickey's older sister!) all through school... so he probably just knew me as another one of her annoyingly giggly friends, who hung out at their house sometimes.

These guys are awesome together. Like, actually awesome. They are fun, and they laugh at each other.

And they share a deep level of respect and love.

They aren't an overly touchy-feely couple though, so they asked me if they could stand at least one metre apart during the shoot.

They had the infamous hens and stag nights the day before... so there were pleeeenty of stories to tell each other when they met for the shoot! They spent most of the time just chatting away, laughing and getting a little horrified at what went on... while I just quietly snuck around with my camera. Mickey got to bed at about 4:15am, and started work at 5:15am.... so he had only had 45 minutes of sleep! Yuuuuuk! And you can't even tell....

Too cute for words!

Eeeeep I can't WAIT for your wedding day! Jess you are going to be a gorgeous bride!!! Hope the last week or so of preparations go well, and that you get a bit more sleep before your big day! Lots and lots of love to you both XOXO

"Dearest Kimberley...
I have been waiting for this moment ever since you became a professional photographer, that I would be sitting here emailing you about an *engagement* shoot!!! The proposal was super cute, totally un-rehearsed, but just perfect and under the most beautiful sunshine and laughter of children playing in a playground. _I would love (love love love love) you to be my official Engagement & Wedding photographer.
Love Becky xxxx"

This is the kind of email that puts the hugest (and probably most ridiculous looking) smile on my face. And this is exactly the email I got from Miss Becky Baird in August! Becky and Omid fell in love two years ago, and they are getting married in April!! Here are the happy and beautiful couple...

Becky has always been a keen follower/stalker of my blog... and I looove that! I always appreciate her lovely comments and her support. So when I got this email, I definitely didn't think twice!

Despite the freeeezing wind, we had so much fun doing their engagement shoot! We went out to Aramoana, where they had some of their first dates. It is a beautiful wee area... with an awesome rock shaped like a heart!! Perfect-o.

I am soooo excited about their Queenstown wedding... it is going to be in the most magnificent venue, and as Omid is Persian, there will be both a Christian ceremony, and a Persian ceremony! It will be very awesome and different.

Beautiful Becky needed another excuse to get another wear out of her fabulous ball dress!! I love all the greys in these images, they both matched the rock face so well! I think Becky was giving just a tiny taster as to how amazing she will look in her wedding dress.

It was really windy and cold, so poor Becky was nearly hypothermic in her dress!!! I was fully clothed, and wearing my jacket AND Becky's puffa jacket (so that it didn't blow away!), and I was still cold!! Plus I looked like a hephalump. Good times.

Becky and Omid brought along helium heart balloons, but it was far too windy to use them at the beach, so we went and found a wee sheltered reserve. They had lost a little of their oomph when we pulled them out of the car tho! Omid was playing a little hard to get (more with the balloons than his kisses tho).

Loving the lens flare rainbows!

Becky and Omid are an answer to each others prayers, they are a blessing to each other, and they are completely themselves together. Whenever Becky has talked to me about Omid in the past few years, her face has just lit up with a big smile. They are in loooove and it shows!

Earlier in the shoot (when we were still at the beach and Becky was in her fancy ball dress), I asked them both to lie down, with Becky resting on Omid. I can't post photos of what happened next... the wind was so strong that Becky ended up with her dress nearly around her ears!!! Strong wind + poofy dress + lying down = not a good combo. So we tried again later...

Here's the clouds you wanted Becky!!

Thanks for braving the cold and getting all dressed up to get some fantastic images! You are both so awesome and I can't WAIT for the wedding!! Wahoo!!
Hope you enjoyed your debut on the blog (I know you have been looking forward to this for a long time, Becky!!). I know you are doing an amazing job at planning your perfect wedding!! Lots of love to you both xoxo

Juliet and Matthew are getting married very soon!! Wahoo!! They are perfect for each other. Their relationship is full of life and abundant in love, they are going the same direction in life, and they are two of the loveliest people possible!

Jules and my sister, Kirsten, are very close friends, and she is forever raving to me about how awesome and amazing Jules and Matthew are! She wanted to do something for them for their engagement, so this shoot was a gift, before they get married in Arrowtown in November! And Kirsten is right, they are the sweetest couple ever!

They just giggled through the whole session...

They were a bit iffy about kissing in front of the camera in the beginning... but I knocked that out of them as soon as I could!

And they had the best body builder poses I have seen in a very long time!

Beautiful Juliet has found her Romeo...

...sorry, had to be said...  :)

You guys are gorgeous!!!! All the best with your last few weeks of wedding planning... enjoy this time!! I hope you can look back on these photos for years to come and be reminded of the exciting feelings of being engaged and very soon to be married!! I am sure you will be very happily married! Lots of love xoxox

Giselle and Daniel are getting married in 17 days!! I am so excited for them... they completely adore each other and have three beautiful kids! After shooting their engagement shoot out at Brighton Beach, I cannot wait for their wedding!!

Giselle and Dan got engaged at a picnic table in the Brighton Domain. It is such a stunning spot out there... and we struck a beautiful blue sky evening! It was really windy and cold, but we found some shade, found some gorgeous evening light, and some very cool textures and rocky areas! They were both soooo natural and gorgeous with each other! I hardly had to direct anything... being snuggly, cute and loving just comes naturally to them.

You are going to make a stunning bride Giselle!

I loved the contrasty colours and shapes out at Brighton...

Beautiful bling...

Eighteen months ago, Dan and Giselle sat at this very table, and Dan asked his beautiful girl to marry him. And I get to be part of their wedding!! Exciting!

I am excited about some different ideas that they have for their wedding, and about shooting such a good looking couple...

Looovely evening light! Gorgeousness!

Ohhh I can't WAIT for the 11th of November!! You are both sooo lovely together. I hope you get better really soon Giselle, and you can get on with planning the last little details of your big day! All the best!! XOXOOX

Meet Laura and James. They have known each other for like, forever. They went through school as best friends, and have been together for nine years! They are getting married in December, and I am ridiculously excited about photographing their wedding!!

They have travelled the world together, and are now dairy farming down in Clinton. Laura kept telling me they were both the most unphotogenic people in the world, so they wanted an engagement shoot to practise in front of the camera, and to get nice photos for their wedding invitations. I find it very hard to take anyone seriously when they tell me they are unphotogenic - just about every couple assures me I will have my work cut out for me... but I am yet to find a couple who challenge me in this way. Either nobody is actually unphotogenic, or some people are veeeery good at hiding their lack of photogenic-ness in front of the camera ;)

James is a pilot - he flies those awesome yellow planes that look like they have come out of the olden days. I really wanted to capture the essense of Laura and James - who they are, what their interests are, the fun they have together, the things that are meaningful in their relationship, and they way they interact. Paper planes? Yes please! Laura had spotted my latest wedding photos in front of the yellow Briscoes wall, and was super keen to go there too... especially since yellow would tie in nicely with their wedding.

I decided to make the paper planes out of old maps. When I pulled them out of the car at the shoot, Laura laughed and said how perfect it was, because maps have been the biggest cause of arguments in their relationship! Especially when they were living in London apparently... and guess what?! Many of the planes I had made were from London maps... what a happy accident!

Cute!

I had been really looking forward to this engagement shoot. Laura and I used to play squash together when we were really young... and I don't think I have seen her since I was about 13! She happened to stumble across my work when searching for a photographer, so it was awesome to see her again. Especially seeing her so incredibly happy with the man she loves.

I love this street-side brick. It kind of reminds me of something out of Coro Street, but obviously not as boring and not only for old ladies. Laura and James rocked it here. They are so in love and so great together - any excuse for them to kiss was a good one.

Laura and James brought along their crazy little foxy dog, Gus. He is the love of their lives. There may have even been a confession of being crazy animal people! So our final stop was the park, where little Gus could jump out and play.

OK, perhaps this isn't your regular engagement shoot shot, and I hope Laura and James don't mind me sharing this... but it was very, very funny. Like any dog would, Gus needed a toilet stop...so he ran off into the bushes to do his deed. He came back wimpering and hanging around James like a bad smell (literally), looking up at him with the biggest puppy eyes that just screamed "Help me, Dad".

James' face says it all. Yup, never has this happened before, but just when there is a camera around and everything is meant to be beautiful and romantic... little Gus needs his bum wiped with a stick.

Back to all things beautiful and romantic... Unphotogenic?! I think not! Check out this gorgeous little family. Sooo good together!

Little Gus had a LOT of energy to burn off. He was hilariously psycho, but very cute. Gus has a very important job at the wedding, so Laura and James have set out to do some serious training before the end of the year!

I had so much fun with these guys - they were keen for anything and looked amazing doing it. They were so relaxed with each other, and in front of the camera..

The beautiful bling to seal the deal...

Laura and James (and Gus!), thaaanks for choosing me as your photographer!! I had heaps of fun with you on Monday. It was so good to see you again after all these years! I hope you like these photos... I can't wait to see you again in December looking gorgeous!

Good luck with training Gus. Perhaps train him to wipe before the wedding too...! :)

Kim xoxo

When boy meets girl, strange things happen.

Boy is attracted to girl's smile. Girl likes boy's playful humour. They have fun, they laugh, they tease each other. They stay up late talking, they share bags of chips, and they make each others heart beat fast. They playfight, and occasionally boy will even let girl win. They hug, rub each others back, and sometimes, their lips connect. They get soppy, they become stronger, and the real 'them' gets known.

Boy and girl are good together. They complement each other and are made for each other. They cannot imagine how they ever coped when they didn't have boy or girl to share their bag of chips with. And then, when things are really going well... boy gets down on one knee and asks a question, and everything girl has ever wanted clicks into place, and dreams become reality.

A story about boy and girl. But this time, it's not necessarily the typical boy and girl story. It is Guy and Girl. Guy and Rochelle to be precise. They loooove each other. They have their own awesome story, and are preparing for an amazing future together. In just 6 weeks, they will become husband and wife!

I am so excited for them! Rochelle is my beautiful cousin and I have the massive privilege of photographing their wedding! Annnnnd I was even lucky enough to get flown up to Napier to photograph their engagement! Rochelle and Guy are crazy. Crazy, fun, silly, and all those good things which I love! We had an awesome time photographing who they are as a couple. So prepare for a very cute, and very fun engagement shoot....

On the day that they got engaged, Guy and Rochelle had spent the whole day together doing lots of fun, romantic and adventurous things... like kayaking, sharing a cheese platter, going out for tea, watching DVD's, and eating dessert. However, Guy chose to pop the question at probably the most appropriate time... when Rochelle was getting the washing off the line at 12:15am! I love proposal stories that aren't necesarily elaborate. I think underneath the clothesline is super adorable.

Sooooo I had been thinking about this and we had some great creative ideas lined up (excuse the pun). Napier apparently thought it was a good day to blow an absolute gale though, so most of those ideas went straight out the window. But, we did have a very short moment in which the sheet stayed on the line...

Napier is awesome. I never knew! I had only been there when I was a baby, but it a very funky and beautiful city! They had heaps of locations sorted out, so I just went along for the ride. And what a ride it was!

Despite it being ridiculously sunny and warm (I am nooot used to that at this time of year!), we did need to find some shelter from the wind. So, we headed to a gorgeous little cafe/gift shop, which had the cutest outdoor area and a stunning wee alleyway. Napier's Art Deco architecture and stylish downtown area is amazing! I am looking forward to doing wedding photos there too. Rochelle, you are going to make a gorgeous bride!

Beside the cute cafe was a big empty carpark building with these awesome gates, so I decided we must make use of them. Aren't they a stunning couple?!

I was warned by quite a few people that it might be ridiculously difficult to get Rochelle and Guy to be serious, and to both smile at the same time. I don't know what they were talking about, because they managed to smile in synchrony here....

And then things got really interesting!

So with that out of their system, we found some extra awesome locations to be extra awesome in...

I'll be honest, I did feel quite stalker-ish just at this moment. Making out amongst the row boats, with photographer in tow... hmmm.... but look how cute they are!

We climbed a hill next to Guy's house, for amaaazing 360 degree views around Napier.

Guy is a high school teacher and Rochelle is training to be an early childhood teacher! I can tell they will both be very well-loved and respected teachers.

They are matched so well together - they know each others perfections and weaknesses, and they make the best of them.

The night before the shoot, Rochelle said to me "We are both photogenic... just not in a great way at all..."! Ha, I honestly don't know what they were worried about - look at them!!

Our final destination, after an amazing meal out, was this gorgeous fountain which they want wedding photos beside too. We thought we would have a little more fun this time though...

I had such a great weekend away with you two! Thank you so much for being so fun and making my job so easy. You are a perfect couple and it was awesome to see that shine through so clearly! You have so much fun with each other and are so obviously best friends. I can't WAIT to photograph your wedding!! It will be the best day ever.

Keep smiling and making silly faces, but careful, that Napier wind may change...
xoxoxo

Jeremy and Louise are very good friends of ours! We have watched their romance blossom from being complete strangers, to loving each other deeply! They are very different, but yet they match so perfectly. They are absolutely and totally smitten, and it is the cutest ever. It is less than 3 weeks until Jeremy and Lou commit themselves to each other for life - it has been a quick but wonderful engagement, and they are totally ready to take this next step.

One of the ONLY bad things about being a wedding photographer that I can think of, is the fact that your weekends get booked up, meaning sometimes you miss the weddings of close friends. Especially when they don't give you much warning and plan the whole thing in 5 weeks! I am very gutted to be missing Lou and Jeremy's wedding, so the best I could do was an engagement shoot. We headed out to Port Chalmers, and began at the church Lou will be walking down the aisle at, in just a mere 19 sleeps. I am soooo excited for them! Ah, engagements, weddings and love... beautiful.

Louise's nieces - Hannah and Esther - came out for the shoot too, and Hannah made Louise this gorgeous bouquet to practice with at the church! Amazingly creative for a little girl! They also did a practice run of her hair for her... cute!!! And Louise still looks amazing, even with 'antlers', as the girls said.

Port Chalmers is a seriously awesome little township. It is retro, antiquey and funky, and has a multitude of awesome locations.

Jeremy often gets called 'G' (I'm not actually sure why)... but that created the 'G's Louise' title. Liam thought he was quite hilarious thinking of that. I agreed. Small things amuse small minds I guess!

Lou is full of enthusiasm and life. She is absolutely gorgeous and I love her dearly! She is one of those people who just radiates energy and love - who it is always such a pleasure to be around. We giggle and laugh, talk deeply, and get excited over the details of weddings together.

Totally adored this little bus-stop by Carey's Bay Historic Hotel.

We were driving along to a different location when we passed this stunner of a location, and I screeched on the breaks. Looooove it so much! Awesome colours. And awesome subjects!

The wee girls decided they needed to make the scene more "romantic" (as if Jeremy and Lou weren't enough already)... so they went in with their violins...ha!

I think the violins helped, because after that, we couldn't stop them kissing...

This is what I love about these guys. They are fun and so great together. I told Jeremy to whisper sweet nothings in Lou's ear. That done, Lou decided she had something to whisper to him... the sweet nothing something came in the form of a wet willy!

More cool locations! I love the shapes here. Lines, lines everywhere.

You guys are so awesome together. I wish you the happiest years ever, filled with the laughter and love you share now. I do hope your wedding day is absolutely magical - I am so sorry I can't be there to share it with you! Lou you are truly beautiful - you look amazing in these, imagine what you are going to look like on your wedding day!!! Jeremy, the way you look at Lou is incredible - you are gentle, caring and thoughtful - such a genuine good guy! You are going to have such a happy future together. Lots of love and hugs to you both xoxoxoxox

After our engagement shoot with Heather Ellis Photography the other day, Liam and I were talking about how beneficial engagement shoots really are. Let's be honest - before the session Liam was a bit critical about the idea. He knew I really wanted to do it, so he definitely obliged... but I did feel like I was dragging him along! Once we were in front of the camera though, he was sweet. We realised it was actually a huuugely beneficial thing to do before our wedding day...because you can only do that once! While Heather isn't actually shooting our wedding (although I would have absolute confidence in her doing so!), we got used to having cameras in our faces and managed to still have fun and show genuine affection for each other. This is me and Liam... courtesy of Heather! xx

It is all about having fun, showing the photographer how much you loooooove each other, and doing what you do best as a couple. Let me show you just a few behind the scenes shots of our recent engagement shoot! I was lucky enough to have Liam second shooting with me on this - so here are some "during and afters"...

 

 

Liam just doing his thing...

 

 

 

This is when I know I have a shot they will looove... :)

 

If you think an engagement shoot could be a good idea for you, or someone you know, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me! They are super fun shoots.

I hope you are all having a stunner of a day... I am!

Kim xo