Iris and Chris’s New Zealand Wedding
We head over to New Zealand for Iris and Chris’s special day captured by Diana V Photography.
About the couple & the day:
For me, Iris and Chris’s big day was the perfect Kiwi summer wedding. I’m fortunate enough to be photographing weddings in the UK and New Zealand and this was one of my favourite New Zealand weddings this season. It was a hot and sunny day, the Tuis were singing and there was beautiful bush and scenery all around. I had met Iris a couple of times before their wedding day and already knew that it would be a lovely day. And so it was, from the fun of the bride and bridesmaids getting ready in a cute vintage tea and beauty salon in Central Auckland to the wonderful happy family atmosphere throughout the day – it was just how weddings should be.
Stunning Kourawhero Estate, where the ceremony and reception took place, is just about an hour north of Auckland, set on a hill overlooking the Hauraki Gulf Island. I loved everything about this place, the interior of the cottages where the bride was getting dressed, the vast grounds, and oh that view! The venue has a wonderful luxurious yet relaxed country house feel, which created the perfect backdrop for this stylish but informal wedding.
Do tell us a little bit about yourself:
London is my home, but I have been photographing weddings in New Zealand for the past 3 years, and have loved every minute of it. As of 2017, I’m very excited to move back to London for 6 months every UK summer and capture weddings back on my home turf – the best of both worlds. I always feel very privileged to be part of people’s special day and being able to capture those unique moments for them. It’s wonderful to think that people will look at their wedding photos for years to come and that it was me who created those visual memories for them.
How would you describe your photography style?
My clients always tell me that they love how natural my photographs look, so I guess I would describe my style as natural documentary style photography. I aim to tell a story through my photographs, so when my clients look at their photos, it’s almost like they are watching a film of their wedding day. That said, I also mix in more posed photographs, which perfect for the mantelpiece!
What advice would you give to couples planning their wedding day?
Book your photographer early on and try to involve them as much as possible in the planning process. Usually, my clients really appreciate advice on the best direction to face during an outdoor ceremony for the best light, or the timing for the day. Your photographer will have attended dozens if not hundreds of weddings and can point out things that you might not necessarily think about.