Before Sydney, Australia-based couple Kristina and Laurent tied the knot in New Zealand, Laura and Tommy of Lato Photography documented the loving couple’s engagement session on Waiheke Island. “We established a really great connection with this couple early on,” Laura explains. “We shot their engagement session in a very remote spot of the island, which is just 30 minutes by ferry from Auckland and has a very European influence, many vineyards and small, sunny beaches. For the wedding itself, they choose an amazing venue, Mudbrick vineyard, which is a well-known place for stylish weddings and a perfect spot for a romantic ceremony outside at sunset time, just above the wine cellar.”

In addition to the location, the photographers (who also happen to be Rf Rising Stars from 2016) really loved the couple themselves. Says Laura: “Kristina has Macedonian origins and Laurent is from Mauritius. They had a really crazy party in the evening that we enjoyed so much, as we love to shoot weddings with different traditions and cultures, and this one was full of crazy dances, Macedonian music mixed with Caribbean sounds…it was a perfect match up that every guest enjoyed.”

The only down side to the day, say Laura and Tommy, is that the light during the ceremony was really hard to navigate, because “sunset was approaching while the light was reflecting on the sea behind bride and groom,” Laura says. “The right exposure was hard to have so we decided to find more lateral points of view to catch the best light on their faces.”

“Kristina and Laurent definitely know how to have fun,” Laura sums up. “They enjoyed the entire day—from the getting ready with friends to the party with every guest. They were always smiling and everyone was very relaxed. We feel so lucky when we find couples like them to photograph.”

GEAR FOR THE DAY

Cameras: Canon 5D Mark IV, Canon 6D

Lenses: Sigma ART 35mm f/1.4, Canon 85mm f/1.8

Lighting: Natural light for daytime and dinner; Nissin 866 flash for dances 

Submit your wedding to Rf editor-in-chief Jacqueline Tobin or features editor Libby Peterson for a chance to get featured here.