Sometimes as photographers, we need to just get out and play. Play to learn, play to grow, play to perfect skills, play to have fun, play to recharge. 

This shoot was a 'play to learn, and play to have fun' shoot! We teamed up with the lovely Shelley from Shelley Povey Photography one evening to try out some new gear, and to begin learning some new skills to add to our bag of tricks! So thankful to our awesome models, Marina & Pete, and Melissa & Trevor for bearing the freezing winds and hanging out for ages while we sussed out different lighting things!

Firstly, meet Marina and Pete!

Just a bit of last minute natural light loving before it disappeared and we got into using off-camera flash and our awesome 'Ice Lights' (which, just quietly, sounds a lot like 'Arse-Lights' when you are South African...eh Shelley?!)

I have known both Pete and Marina for years, and they are one awesome couple! They also have the most gorgeous one year old girl called Marissa... I get the feeling she is pretty much the best thing that has ever happened to these guys. They are natural parents, and they just ooze with love for Marissa, and each other.

Marina is the kind of girl who just makes you feel happy every time you see her, because she is so lovely and bubbly and gorgeous inside and out! And she is one smokin' hot mummy too! I can't get over these people who can look so amazing after having a baby!

We brought out their inner movie star - something a little different from their typical Tuesday night!

I hope you can see how drop dead gorgeous you are, Marina. 

Totally gorgeous and so in love. The perfect couple to photograph!

And then after date # 1, we carried on to date #2... with Melissa and Trevor! Another awesome couple, who were in NZ holidaying and had had en engagement shoot earlier in the day with Shelley!! They are super in love as well, and laugh together a lot! We only had a few minutes with these guys really, but they rocked the night shoot!

Seriously, you guys were all amazing! Shelley and I were on such a high after figuring out some new things and having such easy going and beautiful couples to practice on! Thank you!!! xoxo

Negative temperatures in the middle of a Dunedin winter are pretty typical. But even that didn't stop Kylie and David from getting outside for a wee night-time date! When you are with the one you love, the cold becomes an opportunity for snuggling close. Kylie and David are a beautiful and awesome couple - lots of fun and super lovely! Knowing they had babysitters taking care of their beautiful daughter back home, they relaxed in front of a fire... with giant marshmallows and giant amounts of love for each other. A perfect combination. 

They are both so natural and wonderful together... (and in front of the camera!)

Pretty lights at night are always romantic...

Thank you soooooo much for getting out in the freezing cold so that we could have a play with some different lighting! You are both perfect models, and it was so nice to hang with you for the night!!! Hope you had fun too! xoxoxo