I met Michelle and Jason for the first time when we went out for their engagement shoot. On the way there, they warned me (as so many couples do)... "We are both absolutely terrible in front of the camera... so, ah...good luck".
So I told them that was sweet as, there's an easy fix for that - we'll just do the whole shoot like this....
So I told them that was sweet as, there's an easy fix for that - we'll just do the whole shoot like this....
... pfffft whatever! As soon as they turned around, all seriousness and any apparent 'unphotogenic-ness' went aside.
Michelle and Jason are AWESOME. They are awesome individually, and even more awesome together. They make a great team, and I can't waaaait to photograph their gorgeous Central Otago wedding in March!!!
Michelle and Jason are AWESOME. They are awesome individually, and even more awesome together. They make a great team, and I can't waaaait to photograph their gorgeous Central Otago wedding in March!!!
They love each other in a very playful, fun way. They laughed the whole way through the shoot. The made faces at each other. They made complete fools of themselves. They are the best of friends! And I loved capturing that.
Jason's got his pick-up lines sorted. It all begins with "call me"...
They have spent most of their relationship doing long-distance. I have huge respect for any couple that can make that work... and make it awesome! They LOVE any opportunity to hang out together, because it has been pretty rare. What a huge blessing it is going to be when they can hang out together every day, as husband and wife!
When they look at one another, it's pretty obvious they mean the world to each other.
When they look at one another, it's pretty obvious they mean the world to each other.
I was ohhhing and ahhhing over Michelle's gorgeous ring... then she told me that is just the 'pretend' one!! Still real gold and totally beautiful... but she is getting another one designed just for her! Luuucky girl!
We were super lucky with the weather too - they travelled up from Invercargill especially for the shoot, which thankfully took place in the small 2 hours window of dry weather that whole weekend!
I can tell that Michelle and Jason are the kind of loveable people with a lot of awesome friends and family surrounding them and supporting them. I didn't know they were going to bring them all along to the shoot too though... ;)
It's veeeeery important to stretch. In front of the camera. I didn't even have to ask... not once.
Not only are they fun, and hilarious, and just generally lovely people... Michelle is totally stunning, and Jason can pull out a sweet manly male-model pose when he needs to.
That was the beautiful part of the shoot. Then things turned messy.
Normally it is me putting the crazy ideas into my clients heads for shoots.... so who am I to say no when Michelle and Jason came to me asking for a mud fight in their stubbies?!?! They are both true born and bred Southlander's... and being a builder, Jase spends 99% of his life in stubbies and gumboots. Michelle is very nearly finished her nursing degree, and she loves going home and helping on the farm. So naturally, we had to find a giant mud puddle.
Normally it is me putting the crazy ideas into my clients heads for shoots.... so who am I to say no when Michelle and Jason came to me asking for a mud fight in their stubbies?!?! They are both true born and bred Southlander's... and being a builder, Jase spends 99% of his life in stubbies and gumboots. Michelle is very nearly finished her nursing degree, and she loves going home and helping on the farm. So naturally, we had to find a giant mud puddle.
So braving the rain and even snoooow (hellooooo spring)... Michelle and Jason got amongst the elements and expressed their, uh, love for one another... I think.... ;)
It wasn't until I picked up my cameras the next day that I realised how covered in mud they were! I thought I managed to keep pretty clean... turns out I was wrong.
And then a make-up kiss at the end. Sigh, true love is a beautiful thing!
Covered in smelly, disgusting mud, we cranked up the heat and drove back down the hill through snow, and then more hideous rain. The best bit was looking in my rear vision mirror and seeing the muddy, bearded cave-man in my back seat!! Too funny.
Michelle and Jason, you guys are absolute troopers - thanks for braving it and being so much fun to shoot! I hope you love your photos as much as I enjoyed taking them! Can't wait to do it all again in March! (Minus the mud perhaps?) xoxo
Michelle and Jason, you guys are absolute troopers - thanks for braving it and being so much fun to shoot! I hope you love your photos as much as I enjoyed taking them! Can't wait to do it all again in March! (Minus the mud perhaps?) xoxo