Making memories in the Golden Hour - Te Mata Peak Engagement Photography

There are lots of things that can feel overwhelming and even a little intimidating about getting married. A photographer (or two!) following you about for the day is definitely one of those things for some people, so I really love it when a couple decides to spend some quiet time alone with me to get used to the process during an engagement session.

Jennifer and Mitchell are getting hitched at Te Awa Winery in Hawke’s Bay next month and decided to make the most of a planning visit to the Bay from their home in Christchurch to meet me and make some really beautiful memories of their engagement at the same time.

It meant we got to go to a favourite location for all of us (Te Mata Peak) at sunset, something that is almost impossible to do on a wedding day when there are so many other competing priorities, not least partying with all people you love!

Engagement photography is probably one of my favourite ‘genres’ because there are no deadlines, no expensive big dresses to be careful with, no bridal parties. Just two cool people in love that I get to chat to for ages as we wander about shooting and waiting for the light to change.

After our session I asked Jenn what it was that she and Mitch got out of the experience:

‘Mitchell and I met Eva via Skype early on in our wedding planning journey. As we lived out of town, we spent the months leading up to our wedding flying up to the Hawke’s Bay to meet with each of our vendors. It therefore made sense (to me anyway) to have an engagement shoot at the same time as my hair and make up trial. It was an opportunity to meet with Eva and get a feel for how she shoots, in the hope that it would ease some nerves on the big day.

After some 90 minutes of strolling, dancing and (in my case) climbing due to my excellent choice of hiking heels, we had become completely comfortable with Eva and in fact it felt like we were chatting with an old friend. We couldn't wait for the photos to come through!

Now not only do we have a stunning record of our evening, the photoshoot infused fun, laughter and romance back into what can be a somewhat overwhelming wedding planning process.’

It’s people and their relationships that make me passionate about photography (rather than the tech or other aspects of the craft) so I really loved just sitting on the Peak waiting for the light and learning all about how Mitch and Jenn met, fell in love and ended up deciding to spend forever together. It was a classic yarn that involved Jenn trying to set Mitch up more than once with her single friends and just goes to show that not all of life’s great moments hit us like a bolt out of the blue. Sometimes you have to look at something standing right in front of you for a while to realise it’s exactly what you wanted all along.

I drove home as the sunset turned to dusk feeling super grateful and lucky to be so fulfilled by my ‘job’ even after 15 years behind the lens. The only question now is how I top this picture-perfect e-session with Jenn and Mitchell’s wedding photos in a few weeks? It’s a challenge I’m really looking forward to.

To find out more about engagement sessions, click HERE.

Jenn’s Hair by Rochele Marr at Whitefox Bridal

Makeup by: Vania Bailey