I'm a photographer based in Havelock North, New Zealand, where I live with my husband, Joe, and our one year old son, Archer. Hawkes Bay has always been home for me, even after living in big cities and traveling overseas, I always seem to find my way back. Family life here is good.

I first began making images when I was in high school and I would spend my lunch time developing photographs by hand in the dark room. My first love has always been film - something I explored more when I continued my photographic studies at Massey University in Wellington. I graduated with a Bachelor of Design with First Class Honors in 2012 - the same year I was married and began my journey towards becoming a wedding photographer. Since then I have photographed over 100 weddings across New Zealand.

I'm inspired most by authentic moments, real emotions, love, light, and laughter. I'm terribly nostalgic and can connect almost every single significant moment in my life to an object, a smell or a song. As a photographer, it is my role to tell the story of your wedding day and it is always my aim bring you back to just how you felt as a newly married couple using imagery.

Whether you're planning a huge celebration of love on the family farm, an intimate elopement on a mountain top, or anything in between, I'd love to hear from you about your wedding.

Toni + Ben // Monica Loves // Napier Wedding Photographer

06/12/16

When one of Hawkes Bay’s most talented florists gets married, you know it’s going to be something pretty special. Having known Toni for a few years now, I always knew she wouldn’t go down the ‘traditional’ road when it came to planning her own wedding. With a date set, then began the arduous task of finding that perfect venue – somewhere with a bit of an urban/industrial feel and more importantly, not your typical ‘venue’. Cue Monica Loves which came to the party with it’s back alley vibe and New York loft style interior, right in the heart of Napier City. The space was styled impeccably (of course!) with the help of Toni’s friends and family – one of the many aspects which involved a real team effort on the day that in turn makes a wedding like this even more special.

So in the long alleyway outside Monica Loves, on a casual Sunday, Toni married her Ben with their two boys in tow. I hope you enjoy their wedding day story as told through these images.

BIG THANKS to the wonderful Melissa Mills for co-shooting with me on the day. Details for Toni and Ben’s dream team of vendors are at the end of this post.