Piha Beach is a location I regularly recommend for couple and engagement sessions, especially for visitors wanting a true West Coast experience while in Auckland. This young couple were travelling through New Zealand and Australia and wanted a relaxed couple’s photography session that reflected their time here in the Auckland region.

We began the session around an hour before sunset, which is ideal for making the most of the changing light and avoiding any rush. Piha offers plenty of space to move freely, and we embraced that by running along the shoreline, playing in the sand and keeping things light and fun. My approach is always to minimise posing and focus on interaction, which allows genuine, candid moments to unfold naturally. The result is a set of images that feel energetic, honest and full of personality, set against one of Auckland’s most iconic beaches.

Piha Beach is one of my favourite locations in Auckland for surprise proposals, particularly at sunset. Its vast, open shoreline makes it easy for me to keep my distance and stay unnoticed, which is crucial when one half of the couple has no idea what is about to happen. For proposal shoots, I always communicate closely with the person planning the surprise, keeping things simple and low key so nothing feels staged or suspicious.

This proposal was full of genuine surprise and emotion, made even more special by the fact that family were quietly in on the plan. After the proposal, the session naturally shifted into something fun and relaxed, with time spent running in the water before slowing things down and enjoying the sunset on the beach. Piha’s dramatic black sand, rolling waves and soft evening light created the perfect backdrop for a beautiful and joyful session, capturing the excitement of the moment in a natural, unobtrusive way.

One of the most rewarding parts of being an Auckland portrait photographer is capturing milestones for the people I care about. Recently, I had the privilege of photographing my friends Carmen and Sam during their maternity session at the Auckland Botanical Gardens.

The gardens offered countless stunning backdrops for this special shoot. From lush, tree-lined paths to vibrant seasonal flowers, each setting added a unique touch to their portraits. Carmen and Sam were great fun to capture, constantly making each other laugh and smile, it was such a joy to witness their love and anticipation as they prepared for the arrival of their little one.

Maternity sessions like this highlight how meaningful photography can be, not just for documenting a moment in time, but for celebrating new beginnings. I’d also like to take a moment to congratulate Carmen and Sam on the recent birth of their beautiful daughter—she’s already so loved, and I can’t wait to see what’s ahead for their growing family.

If you’re looking for an Auckland portrait photographer to capture life’s milestones, whether it’s maternity, couple, or family photos, the Botanical Gardens and other gorgeous locations around Auckland provide the perfect backdrop. Let’s create something special together!

One of the things I love most about being an Auckland engagement photographer is capturing raw, emotional moments. Cuong’s surprise proposal to Mary at Piha Beach earlier this year was no exception. Despite the unpredictable weather typical of this time of year, Piha’s rugged beauty provided the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable sunset proposal.

We had it all—strong winds, bursts of rain, and just when we thought the shoot might be over, the sky cleared, revealing a stunning golden sunset. Piha’s black sand beach and dramatic cliffs framed Cuong and Mary’s candid, intimate moments perfectly.

Cuong had coordinated everything with me from Hawaii, and we kept in touch via email and WhatsApp to make sure the plan went smoothly. His clear vision allowed me to blend into the background during the proposal, ensuring they remained the focus.

As Cuong got down on one knee, Mary’s surprise and joy were captured effortlessly. With the wild beauty of Piha and that vibrant sunset, the final images exceeded expectations.

It’s moments like these that make photographing proposals so rewarding—capturing love as it naturally unfolds. If you’re looking for an Auckland engagement photographer to discreetly capture your special moment, feel free to get in touch. Piha and other stunning locations in Auckland provide the perfect backdrop for stories like Cuong and Mary’s.

While I’m accustomed to guiding and assisting individuals and couples who may feel a tad camera-shy, there’s a special joy that comes with photographing couples who exude comfort and confidence in front of the lens. Such was the delightful experience I had with Leia and Bokul, who effortlessly radiated their connection in every captured moment.

Our photography session unfolded against the stunning backdrop of a magnificent sunset, casting its golden hues along the shores of Seven Mile Beach. Leia and Bokul’s chemistry, paired with the natural beauty of the surroundings, made for a truly enchanting shoot. They were at ease with each other, and it translated into the most captivating and authentic photographs.

Although this captivating session didn’t take place in Auckland, New Zealand, where I now proudly embrace my role as an Auckland Couple & Engagement Photographer, it epitomized the essence of what I strive to capture in every couple’s story. It reminded me that the magic of photography isn’t just about images but about preserving the emotions, connections, and unique narratives that unfold during these once-in-a-lifetime occasions.

Every couple has their own extraordinary journey, their unique love story that deserves to be celebrated. Leia and Bokul’s session was a poignant reminder of this fact. It’s a privilege to be entrusted with the responsibility of documenting these stories, and it’s one that I wholeheartedly embrace.

As I look ahead to the days when my lens will focus on the picturesque landscapes and vibrant culture of Auckland, New Zealand, I carry forward the invaluable lessons and the warmth of this unique celebration. Each couple I have the honour of documenting enriches my journey as an Auckland Couple & Engagement Photographer, inspiring me to continue preserving the essence of love, one frame at a time.

2022 had some of my most fun photo sessions yet and this amazing session was one of my personal favourites. This young, attractive couple were naturals in front of the camera, which resulted in some stunning beach portraits at the beautiful Kimpton Seafire Resort on Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman.

We mostly focussed on capturing very candid, romantic moments as though I wasn’t there and it was just them two, alone on the beach and in the water. Another stunning sunset and as a result, beautiful couple photos on their stay in the Cayman Islands.

Beautiful, fun couple photography session at Sunrise at Cemetery Beach, Seven Mile/West Bay, Grand Cayman. If you like the idea of doing couple, engagment or professional vacation photos on Seven Mile Beach then you can’t go wrong with Cemetery Beach in West Bay. This part of Seven Mile is surrounded with beautiful Seagrape trees and rocks on the waters edge that result in better photos than other parts of Seven Mile which lacks some of these features.

Although sometimes getting up early to do your session at sunrsie can be touch, I always recomend it as at that time the beach is almost always virtually deserted and the morning sunrays have something really magical about them.

Personally what makes the most stunning couple sessions isn’t blue skies and a warm sunset but photos where you feel the couple are having fun, and this session with Sarah and Craig was just that. The waves were wild and the beach was quite desolate that day due to spots of rain, but this wonderful couple were totally up for getting in the sea and making the most of every minute. Not everyone is up for getting wet but I feel it makes for much more interesting and romantic images, especially when the waves were crashing like they were on this day.

What better way to tell everyone “she said yes”? Professional engagement photos of course! Starfish Point in Grand Cayman is as good as it gets for romantic couple photos, and this session with Brianna & Justin was a pretty good one! Not only were they a wonderful couple who were totally up for posing and splashing in the water but they brought their dogs along – dogs always make photo shoots even more fun!

What I love about Starfish Point is the variety of shots you can do. The thick pine trees, long flat baths for walking, and calm sea pared with Cayman’s beautiful sunsets makes for couple photos to dream of.

Planning a surprise proposal is nerve racking enough, but worrying about capturing the moment with a tripod and a self timed camera must be a nightmare! A better option is to hire a professional to capture the special moment. Will and I discussed timing and locations and planned exactly where it was going to happen; as a result it all went perfectly to plan.

After capturing the proposal I got some wonderful shots of the newly engaged couple strolling down Seven Mile Beach and embracing as the waves crashed and the sunset.