Nicole & Aaron {Eloped & Married]

Australian born Nicole went travelling with her friends to Europe one year. She expected to visit a few countries, have a fair few wines, a trolly full of laughs and to just generally enjoy her time travelling.
She certainly didn’t expect to bag a sweet Irishman while she was there! … But that she indeed did, and after 8 years together and many trips back to Ireland while now living in Australia. They have come quietly to New Zealand to tie the knot amongst the rich autumn colours  of Arrowtown.

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
And by ‘quietly’, I simply mean it was just Nicole and Aaron, the wonderful Celebrant Phillipa Cook. And Doug and I as their witness’. Yes indeed, these two eloped.
This was a specially planned elopement they had told their family about before they came. So Nicole and Aaron still got a handful of traditional pre wedding treatment! But I’m guessing some people… are still to find out… so to those people… SURPRISE!!!

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
Nicole and Aaron have holidayed in New Zealand just the one time. This time last year. It didn’t take long to A. Fall in love with the Arrowtown. And B. Fall in love with Arrowtown in the Autumn time. So all they knew when they booked their tickets was ‘We just want to get married in Arrowtown! The rest can more or less be planned when we get there!’.

They found Arrowtown House as their accomodation, and this is where they got ready. I loved Aaron’s shoes the moment I saw them… He did get a few compliments with anyone who did see them!

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
And don’t get me started on how much I love Nicole’s shoes.

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
Kirsty Lohmann, Make up Artist was there to help Nicole along the way to becoming a gorgeous bride!

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
And here is our groom Aaron. Looking ever so dashing in his velvet collar suit with matching velvet tie. They almost struggled to find a velvet tie. Stoked they did in the end!

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
Next door, the sun gently shows it’s face, the energy is a mixture of light, fluffy and excited.

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
And before we know it, it’s dress time!

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
While her groom chills out in the sunshine.

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
And then Aaron wait by the Stop sign, waiting for that tap on the shoulder…

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
Those smiles says a thousand words!

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
They chose a wee spot in a park. The warm yellow leaves that encompass them, act as their guests.

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot

Queenstown Arrowtown Elopement Photoshoot
Phillipa Cook gave a beautiful ceremony.

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
And just like that, they’re husband and wife!

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
The day before we scouted some beautiful locations, so the next 3 or so hours were spent on a photographic tour around Arrowtown and Queenstown.

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
Arrowtown was on FIRE!!!!

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
Blue was Nicole’s colour. So a visit to the little blue door was in order!

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
And back to the spot they had their first look.

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
Oh Arrowtown and your quaintness! I love you!

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
It was a beautiful Autumns day. Our next stop was Thurlby Domain to use this amazing property and have a picnic.

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
We got to Bob’s Cove just on the cusp of dark. It was calm, serene and totally magical.

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
The night did indeed end with magic!

Arrowtown Autumn Elopement Wedding
Nicole and Aaron. It was an absolute privilege to be your witness’ and capture your very special day. Thank you so much for choosing us and we wish you all the very best for married life and the road ahead!

Love Heather and Doug xox

Unbirthday Madness – The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

It all started with a tea party! …

Mad Hatter Tea Party

The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party… it’s one of those crazy, quirky and out right silly scenes that has happily been recreated time and time again in the land of cinema and photography.

And now….WE’VE DONE IT TOO!
There is nothing more fantastic than teaming up with another photographer and amazing friend to share a journey of ideas, creative flare and cross your legs to prevent from wetting yourself laughter (Omi GOSSSSHHHH do we love what we do!!!).
No it doesn’t feature Johnny Depp. No it doesn’t have a bazillion dollars going into the making. It’s a humble project with props made by our amazing husbands. Friends who were willing to act the part. And a little green location in the small town of Arrowtown in our young humble NZ.
A 17 month project from start to finish developed into a storybook of epic expression, enthusiasm and colour that
Kim of Kimberley Cheyne Photography and I are incredibly proud of!

Mad Hatter Tea Party Book

So… although I would TOTALLY LOVE to sit there and read it to you ever so enthusiastically (I have subjected that on many people, I may as well have tucked them up in bed afterwards…) here is the next best thing….
CLICK CLICK CLICK on the image below to enlarge our book ‘Unbirthday Madness’ and enjooooooy the read.

So Kim… what’s the next big project?! ;-)
xoxoxox

{The book can be shared but not sold, all written content was obtained from the Disney Movie, Alice in Wonderland}

A Snowmance. july adventures 2011

It’s been another colourful month. Theres not a single colour of the rainbow that hasn’t been used. I even had a rainbow painted for me.

This months adventures, featuring…

.

Portraits wedding photographer

Portraits wedding photographer

Portraits wedding photographer

Portraits wedding photographer

July 2011 = ACC. I broke my hand just over a month ago. My first bone ever. That was colourful. Therefore, I had 1 month off my day job.

What to do with myself? I panicked at first. But then the shock post break passed through, the X-rays were complete, my first cast was applied and the pain killers slowly ran out and it turned into a blessing in disguise.
Because, do you know the amount of things you can get done when your not at one place, that’s completely irrelevant to your passion?
A LOT!

Portraits wedding photographer

I am always coming up with ideas left right and center. But it’s just having the time to implement them. This month was that time. It showed me what it’s like to put my full energy into photography. Wow…WHAT A FEELING!
As I sit in a photo seminar, a seminar that I would not have been able to attend had I not had time off. A few ideas struck me. They struck me good.
So guess where I headed? No you won’t guess it, it’s too outrageous.

Queenstown!

But weren’t you there just 2 weeks earlier? why yes I was!
But I just had to do a Fashion shoot with my friend Jill. It was a must!

FruitAffair0711-(1-of-1)-55

She rocked ‘The Fruit Affair’ up, down, turn around.. blow a bubble, do a little dance. Rocked it!
These are some fun ‘out takes’.

Portraits wedding photographer

Fruit Affair Fashion portfolio

And then I had a date with Jules to Arrowtown.
Arrowtown, which is many driving moons away from where I live. Where I would very much like to do an engagement shoot! A quaint piece of magic 40 minutes out of The QT. I loved it!

Portraits wedding photographer

On the way there we climbed a tree, picked a pine cone the size of our head.
On the way back, we jumped into a field of snow.

Portraits wedding photographer

Snow, the phantom ghost I had been chasing.

Portraits wedding photographer
But GET EXCITED!!!

Portraits wedding photographer

The Snowmance had just begun!

Portraits wedding photographer

And look who started Snowboarding. (Yes, with a cast on).. and guess what? I LOVE IT!!!

coronet peak

Lake Wakitipu. The Remarks and Walter Peak have never looked more amazing.

Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown

Especially with a nice dumping of snow when the snow finally decided to show up.

Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown

And Lake Hayes means that I’m on my way out of town. But not without a friendly reminder that Queenstown is beautiful, and a gentle nudge that it won’t be long between visits!

Lake Hayes

Back in Christchurch. The lovely summer day in the middle of winter.

Woodend beach

Where I had recently posted:
Dear Photograph

“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow”

Dear Photograph

And then it did.

Snow July 11

Snow July 11

It was the frosting on the quake.

Snow July 11

It made the bare trees come alive.

Snow July 11

The snowmance continued…

Snow July 11

I celebrated getting my cast off.

Snow July 11

Doug crashed the party.

Snow July 11

I flew. Doug air leg guitared it.

Snow July 11

And onward and forth with an amazing and colourful year.

Snow July 11

Snow July 11

“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”
— Dr. Seuss