Congratulations to Annabelle & Gareth, the winners of my $2,700 Queenstown Elopement Photography Giveaway!! They won for themselves; A Queenstown Elopement Photography Package with yours truly worth $2,700. Free bouquet and button-hole from the super-talented Kyla at Bespoke Weddings and Events. Heavily discounted Celebrant Services from the awesome Sharyn Payne Celebrant A 25% discount on a helicopter flight or Heli …
It was a total pleasure photographing Jenna & Tim’s Elopement at St John’s Presbyterian Church in Arrowtown. Jenna and Tim and their family were just such lovely kind and relaxed people and their wedding day was down to earth, totally natural and also very relaxed. I loved every minute of it!
Katie & Rob decided to Elope while cycle touring around New Zealand and I was the lucky guy they chose to be their photographer! Katie & Rob represent pretty much my dream couple – they are super relaxed, outdoorsy /active people who wanted an Elopement that was simple, relaxed and fun. I went out on limb by suggesting they get …
Regardless of how you feel about Covid-19 itself, there can surely be little debate that financially the world as we know it is going to see a huge impact from the Covid-19 fall out. After all, never in human history have multiple countries closed their borders to all visitors and put a halt to all but essential industries. And the …
As if planing a wedding wasn’t hard enough…then stupid Covid-19 comes along and takes the stress to a whole new level! Suddenly Covid-19 wedding planning is a thing! As I write these words (Saturday 11 April 2020), New Zealand has closed its borders to any who aren’t NZ citizens or residents. Many other countries have done the same. And many …
Update 27 May 2020 Yesterday, the Government announced an increase to the number of people who can gather together at Alert Level 2. These changes will take place from 12 noon on Friday 29 May. From 12 noon Friday 29 May, gatherings can be held with up to 100 people. The new limit applies to gatherings at your home, events …
Does an Automatic Wedding Day Timeline Generator sound like science fiction? Too good to be true? I have written a couple of blog posts about Wedding Day Timelines over the years but now I have taken things one step further. I have created a Google Sheets spreadsheet that will allow you to create your own Wedding Day Timeline in a …
Back in October, I had the pleasure of shooting Cyrano and Anna’s Hamilton Southwell School Wedding. Now I don’t often shoot weddings in the north island*. However, Cyrano and Anna are a totally awesome couple and I had already photographed their surprise proposal. On top of this, Cyrano & Anna were having their ceremony and reception at Cyrano’s old school, …
The Heritage Queenstown is a great option if you are looking for a stunning stress-free Queenstown Hotel Wedding Venue. In fact, I believe Heritage Queenstown is the best Queenstown Hotel Wedding Venue. Here are 7 reasons why I think Heritage Queenstown is the Best Queenstown Hotel Wedding Venue. #1 Rooftop Views For Miles… Heritage Queenstown has a rooftop ceremony venue …
A DIY Queenstown Elopement that was “Eclectic, intimate and cheeky”. Chantelle & Joshua’s DIY Queenstown Elopement was indeed “eclectic intimate & cheeky”. And these three words summed up exactly what Chantelle & Joshua wanted their big day to be. Chantelle had fallen in love with the old stone stables at Thurlby Domain the very first time she saw a photo …
Moke Lake Queenstown is a stunning spot for an Elopement or even a full-sized wedding. Moke Lake Queenstown is off the beaten path. It is located about 20 minutes drive from downtown Queenstown. The lake itself is tucked away in the mountains down an unsealed farm road and is both remote and majestic. There is a popular campground on the …
Imagine a Queenstown Restaurant Wedding Venue set on top of a mountain with stunning views of Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains. Picture all this set right in the heart of central Queenstown. Not only that, but you don’t even need a car to get there – you can just hop in the gondola! (Or fly there and take advantage …
Don’t bury your head in the sand… I feel bad even bringing up this subject. After all, if I hadn’t said anything you might never have thought about what happens when your wedding photographer can’t make your wedding day. And, it’s not as if couples planning a wedding don’t already have enough to worry about! But, the fact is that …
If you’re planning a Queenstown Elopement then you’ve come to the right place. Everything you need to know to plan and pull off an awesome Queenstown Elopement (with epic photos) is right here. So let’s get started… What exactly constitutes an “Elopement”? Now, as you’re already searching the topic Queenstown Elopement Photography, this might seem like a stupid question. But …
So, you’re getting married and you have your heart set on AMAZING Queenstown Wedding Photos… Maybe you’ve already found and booked your Dream Queenstown Wedding Photographer. Maybe you haven’t. Either way, there are some simple things you can do to dramatically increase your chances of Queenstown Wedding Photo Awesome-ness. IF YOU HAVEN’T BOOKED A PHOTOGRAPHER YET Call me! I’m kidding. …
I don’t want to make you paranoid, but have you ever thought about what happens if you lose your Wedding Photos sometime after the big day? Probably not. But that’s ok because; You aren’t (probably) a professional photographer so you shouldn’t be expected to know, and That’s why I’m writing this post. Why am I even writing this blog post? …
Bad luck, good luck. Ana & Nick’s Incredible Fiordland Post-Wedding Heli Shoot all came about through luck. At the time, to the casual viewer it might have seemed like bad luck. But looking back, it was one long string of incredible good luck that was all prompted by an unforseen event… It all started with an email… I received an …
So you’re searching for your dream Queenstown Wedding Photographer and you now find yourself comparing dozens of different Queenstown Wedding Photography Packages. There are A LOT of Wedding Photographers in Queenstown (especially for such a small town). So how the hell are you supposed to choose one option from all the Queenstown Wedding Photography Packages you have received? All the …
This Queenstown Wedding Day Timeline will walk you through what happens when photo-wise on your wedding day. After all, you’ve probably never been married before or had Wedding Photos taken before. So how the hell are you supposed to know what happens when and how it all works? In this blog post, I’m going to walk you through a full …
Getting Ready photos. If you’re planning your wedding right now, you will have heard the term. Especially if you’ve been in contact with one or more wedding photographers. But many couples have no idea what Getting Ready Photos really are and why they might want them. So, I’m going to try to break it down for you. Getting Ready Photos …
Squirrels versus EC120bs, time on the ground, civil twilight, what the hell does all this gobbledegook even mean? I get a lot of couples asking me questions about helicopters for their Wedding, Heli-wedding, Pre/Post-Wedding Shoot or Surprise Proposal Shoot. So, I thought I would make life easier for all you couples out there if I put all my knowledge and …
Jade & Teeps (aka Steven) tied the knot in front of their 5 kids in what was a totally awesome but also sub-arctic and super snowy Cecil Peak Winter Heli Wedding. Despite being up to their ankles in snow and buffeted by strong winds this crazy/beautiful family was all smiles and laughter (and slightly frozen fingers). Here’s how the day …
The Family Photos on your Wedding Day can totally make or break your Wedding Photos. Now, I know this sounds like I’m being a drama queen but bare with me and in this blog post I will explain; How and why the Family Photos can make or break your Wedding Photos, and How to Totally Nail the Family Photos on …
I think it’s about time that I share my Recommended Queenstown Wedding Vendors (and Venues). Hopefully this blog post helps you find some awesome Vendors for your wedding day. So, without further ado, here are the Queenstown Wedding Vendors and Venues that (a) do an awesome job and (b) I love to work with. My Top Recommended Queenstown Wedding Vendors …
Boooooooooooooring…..Why do you even need a Wedding Day Timeline anyway? In this blog post I’m going to walk you through the 3 simple steps to help you Create Your Own Wedding Day Timeline. “But why do I even need a Wedding Day Timeline?” you ask… Your wedding is going to be small and relaxed, why worry about a Timeline, am …
So, you’re planning a Queenstown Wedding and you know you need to book a Venue and a bunch of Vendors. But there are just so many things on your to-do list, it’s hard to know where (and when) to start and which vendors to book first. No sweat, here comes the cavalry! Below is a complete run-down of which Vendors …
GET YOUR EPIC QUEENSTOWN PROPOSAL LOCATIONS GUIDE HERE! Planning to Pop The Big Question to the love of your life while you’re in Queenstown? Overwhelmed by all the Queenstown Proposal Locations options? Then this blog post is for you… Apart from shooting surprise engagements and weddings for 17 years, I’ve also been a Location Scout in the Film Industry for …
Sample location photos and info for Queenstown’s Best Photo Locations I am always sending sample Queenstown location photos to my couples and talking them through the ins and outs and pros and cons of each in emails or messages. And today I was writing another email to a client. As per usual, part of my pre-production process included sending them …
Coronet Peak Surprise Proposal – Andy & Tejas / Fallon Photography I wrote this Coronet Peak Surprise Proposal Blog Post to help walk you through the steps it takes to plan, book and pull-off your own Surprise Queenstown Proposal. Hopefully you find it helpful! If you are planning your vey own Queenstown Surprise Proposal and have any questions, please comment …
Elaine & Richard’s Queenstown Backyard Elopement Star-crossed lovers Elaine & Richard’s Queenstown Backyard Elopement really was a dream come true for them. These two really are star-crossed lovers in every sense of the word. The fact that it took them 27 years to get to this day, the day they married the one true love of their lives, seems to …
Queenstown Bathhouse Wedding – Leanne & Steve / Fallon Photography Leanne & Steve really wanted their Queenstown Bathhouse Wedding to be relaxed, fun & elegant. And, as it happens, that was exactly how it turned out! Relaxed, fun & elegant Steve & Leanne are from New South Wales, Ozstralia They love Queenstown and decided when it was time decided that …
Sam and Kirk’s Akarua Wines Wedding Reception and Thurlby Domain Elopement was relaxed, fun and casual. And stunningly beautiful! (And bloody cold once the sun dipped – I think the roaring fires, toasted marshmallows and mulled wine at Akarua Wines & Kitchen By Artisan may just have saved a few lives that day!).
You’ve got mail. My computer makes a “ding!” sound and when I open up my emails there’s a new message sitting there in my inbox. The subject line tells me straight away it’s a wedding photography inquiry (I’m a wedding photographer) so I open it up. The email looks something like this; At this point I respond to the email …
Find Your Dream Queenstown Wedding Venue In 5 Easy Steps Still searching for your Dream Venue out of the hundreds of Queenstown Wedding Venues out there? Until you lock in your Dream Venue and a date, it’s almost impossible to book any of your vendors. This is why finding your Dream Wedding Venue (and a Date) should be your priority …
Relaxed Winehouse Wedding – Dayna & Nathan Relaxed, fun & Kiwi-style! Dayna & Nathan’s relaxed Winehouse Wedding could not have been any more perfect or any more perfect for them. It was “relaxed, fun and kiwi-style” – which was just what Dayna and Nathan wanted from their big day. The weather was amazing, Dayna & Nathan were surrounded by friends …
Queenstown Heli Wedding Photography – The Complete Guide No idea where to start? So, you are planning to make your big day extra special with some Queenstown Heli Wedding Photography. But… You have no idea… What a helicopter flight costs How to book it Which heli locations are the best How a heli flight works when it comes to photography …
Nick & Nina’s Unconventional Thurlby Domain Elopement Natural, simple & passionate Nick & Nina’s Unconventional Thurlby Domain Elopement was natural, simple & passionate – just the way a wedding should be I reckon! (Scroll down to read more). The back-story Nick & Nina Nick, of Italian ancestry, is a head chef working in Melbourne. Nina is a Kiwi. They met …
Rustam & Harustat’s Surprise Glenorchy Heli Proposal Weather or not… Even as we were minutes away from jumping in the helicopter, to be honest it was hard for me to believe that Rustam & Harustat’s Surprise Glenorchy Heli Proposal was actually going to happen! Rustam and I had been planning this day together for months. However, in the final few …
PLANNING A SURPRISE QUEENSTOWN HELI PROPOSAL? THEN READ ON… Recently I have been shooting quite a few Surprise Queenstown Heli Proposals. I always get asked how it is possible to shoot a Surprise Queenstown Heli Proposal without giving the game away. So, I thought I would write a quick Blog Post walking you through the process. Particularly, how I photograph …
Stunning Backyard Southland Wedding – Megan & Simon / Fallon Photography Megan & Simon tied the knot on the 30th of December with an absolutely stunning Backyard Southland Wedding. Their wedding was simple, natural and beautiful – and one-hell-of-a-lot-of-fun. (I don’t think I have ever laughed so hard in my life!). TOTALLY DIY AND TOTALLY STUNNING! Megan, Simon and friends …
EVANNA & LIAM’S MOUNT NICHOLAS WEDDING FOR THE WIN! RESPECT FOR PRIVACY Evanna & Liam’s Mount Nicholas Wedding was absolutely stunning. Not only is it one of my favourite weddings ever, it was also my first ever wedding at the stunning Mount Nicholas Station here in Queenstown. So, needless to say I was super keen to share this wedding here …
Harshal & Rajvi’s Surprise Cecil Peak Heli Proposal Ok, I admit it. I love shooting Surprise Queenstown Heli Proposals. So when Harshal called me up and told me he wanted to enlist me to shoot his Surprise Cecil Peak Heli Proposal to Rajvi I was in straight away. And the fact that it was winter and Cecil Peak was covered …
LUKE & SARAH’S ST JOHNS CHURCH WEDDING ARROWTOWN (With a Snap-On Tools & Dairy Milking Theme!) THE WHY & THE WHEN Luke & Sarah’s St Johns Church Wedding Arrowtown was a pretty freakin’ amazing mix of traditional and quirky. (With a theme they described as “Snap-On Tools & Dairy Milking”, I knew right from the start that their wedding was going …
Edu & Paulo’s Queenstown Elopement is living proof… All you really need for a beautiful Queenstown Wedding is the person you love most in the world, a celebrant and two witnesses! Brazilian couple Edu & Paulo, with a tonne of planning help from the super-lovely Eva Hooper Celebrant, planned to get married on a mountain-top somewhere in Queenstown. However, they …
AUTUMN QUEENSTOWN POST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION – SHINJI & AKANE Recently I had the pleasure of doing an Autumn Queenstown Post Wedding Photography Session with the lovely Shinji & Akane. Like many couples, Shinji & Akane came to Queenstown on their honeymoon and wanted to take advantage of the beautiful scenery here. (I was also – secretly – stoked to …
APRIL & NICK’S DIY THURLBY DOMAIN WEDDING April & Nick’s Big Day April & Nick tied the knot on the 21st of April surrounded by their closest friends and family in a very DIY Thurlby Domain Wedding. The weather was perfect for a Queenstown Autumn Wedding. There was not a breath of wind and the skies were a brilliant clear …
MINDSHIFT BACKLIGHT 36L REVIEW I don’t normally do product reviews. So why do I now find myself writing this Mindshift Backlight 36L Review? Well, it took me sooooooooo looooooooong to find a Camera Backpack that met my specific requirements. In fact, the Mindshift Backlight 36L was the only Camera Backpack (with one exception) that ticked all the boxes in terms of …
What a day Lauren & Andy’s Thurlby Domain Autumn Wedding turned out to be! Now, I had been looking forward to Lauren & Andy’s Thurlby Domain Autumn Wedding for a loooooong time and for a number of reasons. But in the end, Lauren & Andy’s Wedding was even more fun and even more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. …
WHY FINDING YOUR DREAM QUEENSTOWN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IS A LOT LIKE ONLINE DATING (Updated 29/3/19). You may think I’m crazy but I reckon finding your Dream Queenstown Wedding Photographer is a lot like online dating. With online dating, unless both parties share the same goals and desires and are committed to the relationship it is probably doomed to fail. The same …