This Blog has MOVED! please come over and play…

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Firstly, sorry everyone for not posting more posts recently, but I have been extremely focused on our new website. It is now live, AND it is home to our blog from now on. Please come over, take a look, give me some feedback and let me know what you think. All the old posts are in the process of migration but it is taking some time. Thanks everyone.
www.delafuenteweddings.co.nz/blog/

Our first wedding of the season a little while ago – Anna and Graham

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We went into shooting this wedding with a lot of excitement. As it was our first for the season, Vero, Andrew and myself were chomping at the bit with our cameras ready to take on everything Pencarrow and the rugged Wellington coastline had to throw at us. Rachael had abandoned us to go overseas on her big “OE” so she missed this one! It was a lot of fun – helicopters, dusty tracks and loud dance music can sum up the day. Both Anna and Graham were fantastic to photograph and were such a cool neat couple! Check out some of the images below and the slide show.

Ok, I am getting an Ipad!

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Ok – after what seems decades of waiting, Apple has finally got round to sending NZ its beloved ipad… tomorrow! And I am going to get myself one.

The quandary I have however: What store to queue up at; what time should I get there and who is coming with me?

1% vision – 99% alignment, then implement like hell!

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Spent the day today with all our team doing a strategy planning session with Results.com in Wellington (Another life I lead)
Chris, our specialist today drilled us and drilled us until we were Crystal clear on where as a company we are heading and how can we add the most value to our amazing clients! I am now knackered, drained, but not surprisingly, extremely excited!!! Thanks Chris and a big thanks to the duo team

Check out my other life (well Tuesdays/Wednesdays anyway)

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/RESULTSdotcom?ref=ts

How to use facebook for business

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I found this video on how to use and manage Facebook for your business – I found it very useful. Follow the link below. If your like me and are a bit slow on learning new stuff to do with technology then this is a godsend overview of how, why, what is Facebook. Check it out, let me know if was helpful.

http://www.hubspot.com/archive/facebook-for-business/

Portrait sales for non-pushy portrait photographers

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NNZIPP cafe this Friday all welcome. Change of Venue: 126 Vivian ST. Level 2, (FineLine’s Studio) In Wellington New Zealand.
This week I have been asked to do a demo on using Pro Select for portrait sales fo non pushy portrait photographers.
Usual time of 9:30 onwards. See you there if ya interested!

THE NZIPP WELLINGTON PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2010

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News from the NZIPP

Its official, there will be a Wellington regional Photographer of the Year and it could be you!  Enter a minimum of four prints into this years Epson Iris Awards in September and the (Wellington) photographer with the highest scoring four print total will be nominated NZIPP Wellington Photographer of the Year at our regional meeting later in September.
It would be great to see Wellington take out some of the top awards this year,  so feel free to test drive some of your images at our print critique afternoon  on the 13th. See below for details.

Only 2 Weeks away…this is for YOU!

And if this event is to happen we need your registration now!

Sunday 13th June is print critique afternoon

Where : The Back Bencher upstairs
When  : Sunday 13th from 1.00pm

HOW IT WILL WORK

1. You are allowed to submit two prints,  there will be no charge.
2. Judging will be based on the same lines as the NZIPP Iris Awards (although we don’t have a flash scoring system, but Robyn will average the scores with a nifty little computer program on her laptop)
3 . As per last year, each of five judges will write a score out of 100 on a slip of paper and hand it to Robyn, the average will me recorded against your print number.
4. It is recommended that print presentation should be in  - line with the Iris awards, see http://www.nzipp.org.nz/NzippWeb/Default.aspx?tabid=234
5. You will need to register your indention to submit  two prints in by emailing Robyn robyn.greening@xtra.co.nz  by 4th June 2010. On registering with Robyn,  you will be given two  numbers. This will keep everyone anonymous .
6. Use  one of the supplied  numbers on the back of each print please, only Robyn will know who the print belongs to.
7. When all of the prints have gone through we will announce the top scoring print and also the person with the highest combined score of the two prints.

Time permitting there will be a chance to talk to the judges about your print one to one after the prints have gone through.
Anyone wanting to stay for a meal at the Back Bencher  later in the day will most likely be in good company.

Booked, booked and booked to the brim!

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We are fast approaching our limit for wedding bookings for Aug 2010 - April 2011 wedding season. We will be closing off soon to new couples. I want to keep our service exclusive and 43 weddings (booked now)  is close to our limit of 45. I know some companies can do more, and good on them – I just don’t want to, and whilst I know this can be a disappointment for some clients it enables us to keep ourselves original and fresh and more importantly, enjoying it.

Open to feedback on this… what do you think?

Warm and cosey at our NZIPP cafe

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Thanks to everyone who joined us for coffee this morning in the warm and cosey Lighthouse cafe in Petone. Welcome Jane, Brendon and Jo, look forward to learning more about your great work this year. Thanks Jane for sharing your social media expertise. Hope you enjoyed your run Colin and did not get to out of kilter for… the weekend! Catch you all next week, same time, same place… Adrian. Useful link…

www.timeexposure.com

NZIPP cafe in Wellington – share, learn, engage.

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NZIPP cafe is now in full swing!  Whats the point?  What do you do?  Why should I care?

Photography can be a lonely mistress if its your own business. Who can encourage you up when your feeling down? Who has been through it all before? What about your work? Is it good enough? Could it be better? But then who is going to tell you? How can you help the newbies? How can you contribute to your industry and make a difference?

Any of these questions resonate with you?

Come and join me and others every week and be a part  of our big family.  Share, learn, engage.
we meet every Friday for coffee from 9:30 am and this week we are trying the Lighthouse cinema cafe in Petone (52 Beach Street, Petone, Wellington)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Light+House+Cinema+Petone&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=64.92025,135.263672&ie=UTF8&hq=Light+House+Cinema&hnear=Petone,+New+Zealand&z=17&iwloc=A

CS5 and loving it!

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I now have upgraded Photoshop to the latest version of CS5 and loving it. Content aware fill… Wow! This combined with my new 27″Mac and we’re unstoppable!

Now I am just waiting for Lightroom3 – come on Adobe, lets go.

Catherine and Paul – our last wedding of the season!

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Well it is always sad to shoot the last wedding of the season and this was no exception. Catherine and Paul’s wedding was a fantastic final shoot for us. I even went up in one of the choppers whilst the rest of our crew had to slum it in my car along the long and dusty Pencarrow road!
The ceremony was held at Old St Paul’s then all the guests piled into busses to ferry them to the reception. I took the bridal party for a saunter around Queens Wharf and they had a picnic of toffee pops and Champagne! Soon after, off into the sky we went and over to the Lodge at Pencarrow we flew.

No “unlikely events” happened and we landed safely on a big H for a real Hollywood entry. More photos were asked for so off we went again battling the promise of poor weather. After some more sauntering around the rugged coastline below the hilltop, the food and guests beckoned from the warmth of the orange glow of the lodge – the kids settled down to some parent approved DVD entertainment on a big rug whilst everyone else ate and drank all they could get their hands on! Great food, great wine and a whole lot of great company.   Thanks to everyone who was there for being accommodating to us and a big congrats and a thankyou to the bride and groom, Catherine and Paul for your awesome patience and generosity.

 Wedding Tips

Helicopters are great fun and make a dramatic entrance but have a back up plan just in case the weather turns for the worse
Before your pick your reception location, decide on the approximate number of guests that you will invite to your reception. The room should comfortably accommodate all your guests, without being too small or too large. A small reception in a large room, which makes the reception feel empty. A large reception in a small room can make for an overly snug evening!
The route to Pencarrow is private and requires arrangement and keys. Speak to the lodge and they will fill you in.

Follow us…
Duo facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Photography-by-Duo/140239369384?ref=mf
wedding facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adrian-De-la-Fuente-Wedding-Photojournalism/136549893539

My low down on exhibiting at Wedding shows – 3 hot tips… how to make it work for you.

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I love exhibiting at wedding shows, but my word they are hard work! They can cost a lot of money too.  The biggest challenge that face exhibitors is lead generation and conversion. Lets face it, it is very easy to spend thousands of your hard-earned profit on fancy large stands in prime locations at prime shows, but that is not the essential criteria for success although it sure helps. Over the years and after working many shows I have distilled effectiveness down to three key success factors for exhibiting at a show.

1. Stand out. Be different but speak to your market. It is simply too average to have a stand like everyone else. e.g. If you sell cakes and the average stand has a handful of their best cakes on display that mustn’t be touched, then have a stand FULL of tempting cakes that people are also digging into!

2. Engage. Reactive or proactive? I have seen many good books being read at trade shows! Why not put the book down and engage prospects as they saunter near? It’s not about being “pushy” or about a ”hard sell” but it is about being interested! Remember prospects at shows have given you permission to speak with them via their entry ticket!

3. Find an excuse or reason to follow-up. Competition entry forms is an old favourite, but there are many more strategies, what’s yours? It would be wonderful if people kept their promises and come back to you or called you within the week, but the reality is not like that. People are too busy, they procrastinate, they forget; If you don’t follow-up on the hot lead you had, who will? It may be your competition!

And an extra one…

Have fun! You are your brand.  At a trade show, you are on show. For weddings for example, a lot of the business made is founded on the relationship, therefore it pays to be warm and inviting rather than tired and achy!

We are having fun, being proactive on our mad stand today at the Wellington Wedding show… come and see us!
www.thewellingtonweddingshow.co.nz/

Who judges your work? Seth Godins blog – so true!

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Who judges your work?

Here’s the mistake we make in high school:

We let anyone, just anyone, judge our work (and by extension, judge us.)

Sue, the airheaded but long-legged girl in Spanish class gets the right to judge our appearance.

Bill, the bitter former-poet English teacher gets the power to tell us if we’re good at writing.

And on and on.

The cheerleaders are deputized as the Supreme Court of social popularity, and the gym teacher forever has dibs on whether or not we’re macho enough to make it in the world. These are patterns we sign up for, and they last forever (or until we tell them to go away).

In high school, some people learn to ship, they learn to do work that matters and most of all, they learn to ignore the critics they can never possibly please. The ability to choose who judges your work–the people who will make it better, use it and reward you–is the key building block in becoming an artist in whatever you do

Last wedding of the season!

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We are off to shoot our last wedding of the season today – sad :(  Hope the weather holds out because I am going up in the helicopter whilst my assistants Andrew and Rachael have to endure the long dusty, bumpy road to Pencarrow! Looking forward to todays’ wedding, shame it’s the last one for a little while.

Join us for coffee every Friday

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For those that are local or in the area on their travels and are interested in photography as a career – Join me and others at ENZIP CAFE as a weekly way of photographers staying in touch. The meeting place will be ” The Screaming Turtle Cafe” 274 Jackson street, Petone. Wellington, NZ 9.30 to 10.30am on Fridays. Be there for a caffeine fix and chew the fat with your peers

Te-Aroha and Sams’ wedding, fun, friends, family and fairytales.

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Being Lawyers, these guys wanted their formal bridal photos at the Law school and Parliament building in Wellington. Both these locations are superb for architecture and they lend an air of sophistication to any wedding. However it is still all about the people. It is very easy to get caught up in making big epic monumental dramatic photos from great locations but  most clients I have asked want more of the photos that matter, and those are the ones with the people in it! Ones that show their friends and family happy.

This wedding honored the memory of Te-Aroha’s mother, Te Araki, who passed away in 2009. We put together a slide show of some old family photos for them to play during the reception. A few tears followed.
Te-Aroha and Sam got married in the garden at Sams parents huge house up in Paraparaumu. Blue skies, white marquee’s and flowers adorned pergola, setting a perfect scene and the drinks flowed, bubbles flew and children danced and got into hi-jinx. 
They had a rustic Pizza wagon tucked away in a leafy corner of the garden that kept the guests fed for the afternoon. Sparklers, fireworks and a beautiful fairyland garden theme of candles and tree lights helped sweep the night into the early hours of the morning. Thank you Te-Aroha and Sam for a great time and for all your accommodation during your day.

Wedding tips
You need to seek permission to have photos taken around the Parliament buildings. Contact the  Speakers Assistant in the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Children can be great at Weddings but need to be fed and entertained. Simple food with Ketchup keeps them busy for a while and so does a swing and some bubbles!
Cup Cakes can make a gorgeous alternative to a traditional wedding cake and is easier to share around.
Sparklers can be a lot of fun at night after the lights have gone down – just make sure you have an adult with you!

Useful links
www.darawakely.com (make-up & hair)

Follow us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/?act=51630403#!/pages/Adrian-De-la-Fuente-Wedding-Photojournalism/136549893539

Louise and Joe Shotgun Wedding – well, Lee Enfield .303 more like!

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I have heard of shotgun weddings before – we have even photographed one or two in the past, but Louise and Joe was a little different. It was not shotgun at all. They had a couple of WW2 .303 rifles that they used to sign off their big day however, and their whole theme lent itself to a bush-like casual affair. “Wild Foods” catering and an old LandRover all added a spin to their celebrations.
The celebrant was one of the best we have come across, but like most celebrants, did not have his business card on him so we can’t link him here. Shame.

 All outside was this wedding under a bright New Zealand summer Sun. Into the bush we went for the formals, these guys are hunters, they love the outdoors so that is what we tried to portray in our photographs.

Wedding tips
Hosting the wedding on a family or friends private land can save a lot of money and add a personal touch.
What passion do the couple share? How can you bring that to the wedding?
Multiple cakes make cutting up and sharing easy.

useful links
www.gourmetshuttle.co.nz/nzwildfoods 

Louisa and Andrew Wairarapa Wedding

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Weddings in the Wairarapa are becoming more and more popular over the last few years and it’s not hard to see why. The picturesque little town of Martinborough rests gently between the rolling foothills of the Rimutakas and the grassy flatlands of this beautiful district. Home to countless farmers and vintners this corner of New Zealand plays host to many varied events and attractions including the famous Martinborough Fair.
Weddings are another another appeal and is certainly a growing tradition. Want to get away from Wellington? Want to enjoy a stylish rural flavour to your wedding and have the luxury of great venues, good wine and plentiful accommodation? Then perhaps this place may be just for you!

Louisa and Andrew set their big day in this space and they took full advantage of what it had to offer. The venue for the ceremony and the reception was Parehua. A lovely country estate set on 2.25 hectares with established grounds and its own private lake.
Andrew was flown in from Wellington by Helicopter as a surprise to him and Louisa was driven in a Classic vintage Holden Statesman.
For the bridal formals’ we played about in Martinborough square, I really wanted to capture some natural playful images with the iconic Martinborough Hotel as a context to help support the story of their wedding.

The Noodles rocked the night away whilst the guests danced, jumped, knocked, embraced and shouted along loudly to the heavy thump of live music under the stars. We finally got back to Wellington after 1am having shot close to 4000 images! Oh what a day.

Wedding Tips
A helicopter can be a great way to get to a venue in style and surprisingly not too expensive.
Cutting the cake after the service can add a further touch to the ceremony.
If you have the cake outside and its chocolate, then remember to keep it in the shade!
Have a backup music plan for your grand entrance or any other part of your day; even a simple carry along stereo will do just in case everything doesn’t quite go to plan!

Useful Links

 

Internship available!

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Internship available!

Following on from the success of our last internships during 2009, we now a placement available for 2010. Exciting!

An internship is a great way to learn, grow and get into this amazing industry.

We’re very fortunate to be surrounded by a constant supply of photography students from surrounding colleges and universities, which is why this internship is unpaid and quite competitive. Last year’s internships resulted in one permanent full time and one part time position being placed with us.

If you can commit to spending 2 days a week with us including a weekend day for location shooting and in our Upper Hutt digital studio, for a term of 6-12 months- that would be an ideal internship schedule. We can negotiate which days and hours will work best for you. At the end of the internship, we can evaluate if you’d like to continue with the internship or if there’s an opportunity to bring you on as a paid employee or contractor, depending on your strengths and the needs of the studio.

I would encourage ANYONE who’s interested to apply, provided that you can make the time commitment. We’re not looking for perfect photographers or students with certain skills, although a passion for the work is essential. We’re just looking for AWESOME PEOPLE with energy and passion to learn and help out. The internship will be tailored to utilize your strengths as well as challenge you in a few ways that will round out your natural talents. So much of what needs to happen behind the scenes is more related to running a business rather than just taking great photos. If this is something that excites or intrigues you, then you could be a great fit!

We’re planning to conduct internship interviews during April, So please e-mail me on aden.del@paradise.net.nz with the following info;

- Your name & phone number.
- Why you’re interested in the internship.

I will be returning enquiries over the next couple of weeks in order to set up your interview, so don’t worry if you don’t hear from me right away. Feel free to follow me on Facebook in the meantime, so that you can get an idea of what we are like in advance!

A Wilton Wedding. Mike and Phyllis

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The rain held off! A beautiful tear dropping, leafy green, guitar playing ceremony concluded. It was a melting pot of different people, cultures and perspectives, a wedding about friends and family coming together. Wilton House played host and the team did their usual service of excellence. DJ Tom rocked the night away and we had fun capturing it all. Thanks Mike and Phyllis for allowing us to be apart of your day.

Wedding tips
Make sure someone is ready to hit “play” on the music and they know when to do so.
Bring some relevance to your wedding – Mike and Phyllis held a traditional tea ceremony after the vows. This helps add your personality to your wedding.

Useful links
www.wiltonhouse.co.nz
www.djtom.co.nz

Home-made cookies, American Hot Dogs and some balloons lifting of in Masterton

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They are beautiful! There is something wonderfully peaceful about hot air balloons. I took Friday afternoon off and took my wife Nicky and my two boys over to Masterton to take a look at these amazing things. There was a bit of a gust (bad news for balloon pilots), but not enough to prevent their flights. I have never seen these so close before and I am a tad disappointed that I did not have my pro cameras with me. My 16mm lense would have been just the ticket!
I clicked these snaps on Nicky’s Canon G10.  As they say, the best camera in the world is the one thats with you.

We bought home-made cookies, a burger each,  American Hot Dogs and a cardboard cup of hot chips – great times!

My BIG soal serching question…

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Selfish taker wakes up – wants to help change World

I was awake at 2 in the morning, failing miserably to get to sleep. This has been happening a fair bit over the last year or so, not all the time but often and its the same question that keeps me awake. Why am I not completely happy?

Missing

Well,  I should be. I have all the reasons to be – beautiful wife, awesome kids, four great businesses, comfortable home, a passionate skill in photography. All the right things. Then what is missing???

It dawned on me just the other night whilst lying awake. I was bought up as a survivor. One of many children in our household that roughed through the turmoil of a broken marriage. Step-brothers and sisters, step-mums and dads. No family normality, somewhat violent and a whole lot missing. I had to eat fast or I went hungry.

Taking

After leaving  home at the young age of thirteen I had to survive again but in a different space. I had to make money to pay for my bus fair to school and to by my lunches. I really learnt how to take and to look after myself every day. I learnt some more of this in the Army and then in my first years in business. I grew more survival skills whilst travelling the world for five years, until I ended up settling  in New Zealand.

Contribution

Thankfully I have grown up with a sense of morality, a strong sense of right and wrong. I have a good heart but over time I have learnt to take – to think firstly of myself. I don’t blame myself for this, its only natural given the path my life has taken and the choices I have made, but I understand now that this is the cause of what is missing. Contribution.

Help

I need a cause that is bigger than me, that will allow me to help make the world a slightly better place. So this is where I need your help. Just one more take from me.

Firstly, I lack inspirational ideas – not sure what to do, how to help. What cause to contribute to. Please share with me your thoughts and the thoughts of all those you know.

Secondly, I know that I am not the only person who ponders this question. I know there are many takers out there feeling the same way I do. Something missing in their lives. If this is you, or you know someone, then please spread this word.

Reply or comment if you want to help. Thanks…

Escalation issue – Macs Vs Pcs for photographers

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The problem is escalation of commitment. In the early nineties, when working in the Middle East in newspaper world, I used a Mac. My old friend David Perez showed me the ropes and we put together all the graphic components of the paper through it. Back then they were wildly expensive. Not so now. Why have I let go with both hands of this heritage and travelled the route of the PC?

You see, PC’s in my opinion are just not up to the task of managing work flow as fluidly as a Mac. Fact? Pc’s crash, they do random stuff that really annoy me and they pick up bugs like my hypochondriac Aunt!

The problem is this… a number of years ago, I invested in a PC in my first  studio in New Zealand because of the short-term gain embedded within the price. because I bought one, I needed another eventually to talk to it and I  used software under licence for both of them. Then my escalation really started and I bought another.  And then again. My whole studio now is built around them and I can honestly say I now pay back that short-term gain ten fold each week in downtime due to poxy computer issues. I pay wages to staff whilst they are rebooting for the umpteenth time (not the staff – the PC’s!)

Some of the special software I have grown dependant upon has also caused me to stay with PC.

It is going to cost me to convert. How much not to, I hear all the business coaches asking?(me amoungst them). I know I have to bite the bullet and I will. I am only a decision away, one station at a time I say. I know I am moaning and I should just get real – my fault in the first place, but it’s my blog and I am bleating as loud as I like because I can!

Boutique bridal show – big thanks!

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Thanks everyone who came and stopped by at our stand at Wallaceville House on Sunday. We met so many great people and the venue as always, was stunning, so was the service. It is the only Wedding show we have been to as exhibitors, where we got fed great food and drink during the day! I spent $36 on munchies from the su…permarket for my team and did not even need to!! Go Lynne, Bruce and the rest of you guys for a great do! Check them out if your still looking for a wedding venue… www.wallacevillehouse.co.nz

Abbie and James – a flag in the sand – a wedding to celebrate

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Joy, laughter and a celebration of two people coming together. Abbie and James built their wedding around what they stood for and what they believe in - a day, I am sure they will both remember for ever.
They both enjoy a medical background; James being a doctor in the emergency department at Wellington Hospital and Abbie being a nurse in Neo-Natal. So, in our tradition of  sticking to relevance in our photography we had to hijack an ambulance and then we spent time traipsing around their home suburb of Newtown dancing with the buskers. Ceremony was held in Old St Paul’s and their reception at the Boatshed. Both these places marked the official aspect of the day and planted their “flag in the sand”.

We had a lot of fun in Newtown and the shoot reinforced to me the importance of originality and relevance to the “story” that we are trying to tell. Every wedding is different because every couple is different.

A heart warming thanks goes to Abbie and James and their gallant wedding party for making their day, theirs!

Useful links
www.isbliss.co.nz (hair & makeup)
www.simplyfood.co.nz (catering)
www.theboatshedvenue.co.nz (venue)
www.historicplaces.org.nz/placesToVisit/…/oldStPauls.aspx

 

Julia and Johnny’s wedding

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They just wanted to laugh, and they did. They just wanted to have a good time, and they did that, absolutely. They wanted to have a celebration, a “production” with all their friends and family, and they did just that. Holding these guys back from being wild was our challenge, so we didn’t. Cadillacs pumping up and down on hydraulic suspensions whilst pimping it down in Island Bay was just part of the excitement of the day. The bridal formals were shot before the ceremony at Old St Paul’s, a strategy I would not normally recommend to the stressed and anxious sort, and these guys were’nt. It also allows you to have a late service if that is a concern.

The Pines in Island Bay hosted the party/gig/rave/fest, with the sun kissing the evening horizon in a way that only the Pines can boast about.
As usual it was a big day for us. I should not have eaten 4 chocolate e’claires just before midnight, and I certainly should have stopped at the gourgous apple crumble and ice cream!Thanks Julia, Johnny and the rest of the gang for such a cool and enjoyable time. See below for a few (unfinished) photo highlights.

Useful links
www.hawthornlounge.co.nz
http://www.historicplaces.org.nz/placesToVisit/lowerNorthIsland/oldStPauls.aspx
become a fan of ours on facebook; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adrian-De-la-Fuente-Wedding-Photojournalism/136549893539
The Pines
50 The Esplanade
Houghton Bay, Wellington 6023
(04) 387 9853