Photo: Black Diamond Photography
Who are we?
Hi! We are Steve and Jackie, a husband-and-wife wedding team. Steve, an award-winning wedding photographer and Jackie a celebrant who was voted ‘Celebrant of the Year'.
Steve loves capturing the fun and emotion of our couples' wedding day in a relaxed and creative style. We're not fans of formality, and while we do shoot a limited number of group shots on wedding days we aim to make these fun, informal and very relaxed. We put a great deal of focus on building a rapport with couples and this really helps them to feel comfortable in front of the camera. We're delighted to be recommended photographers for a number of lovely venues (all of which we would highly recommend).
Steve also recently won two silvers and one bronze in the World Wedding Portraits held in Europe.
What's so good about booking a husband-and-wife team?
One of the best things about working as a husband-and-wife team is that we really understand what it's like to be in our couples' shoes on their wedding day.
Steve has a second shooter included on many of his collections. Having two photographers at your wedding or portrait session means that you get comprehensive coverage from different angles and perspectives. It also means you will get coverage that you simply cannot get with a single photographer. For example, while Steve covers the bridal preparations, our second shooter can cover the guys getting ready (or having a drink!) While Jackie creates an animated ceremony that never fails to have your audience totally engaged in the ceremony.
Where are we based?
We are based in Omokoroa but we also shoot weddings across NZ as well as destination weddings in Las Vegas, Italy, France, UK, Cambodia and Thailand.
About Steve
I love taking fine art style portraits and journalist shots. I always feel incredibly privileged to shoot couples' weddings – it's so much fun, and incredibly uplifting!
Each year I attend the WPPI, (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International). For five days each year, portrait, wedding, and photographers and videographers come together in Las Vegas to be inspired.
My career began with hunting and fishing photography however I chose wedding photography over other genres, it made sense with Jackie my wife being a celebrant, hence I changed my focus – pun intended – from wildlife to weddings, winning the WIA's award ‘NZ's most outstanding wedding photographer' and when I got third in the world for the Italian competition, it was the icing on the cake!
About Jackie
The mere fact that two people have fallen in love is awesome. So, to get married, that's an occasion worth celebrating. Weddings should be the most fun ever. I am all about marriage. I think it's the best thing two people can do together unless you count winning Lotto and flying around the world.
Honestly, I am such a fan of two people committing themselves to marriage that I always go that extra mile to ensure your ceremony has that ‘wow' factor. There's no chance this will be an irrelevant or meaningless affair. I can guarantee even the audience is engaged! By choosing me as your celebrant, you are not just hiring someone to conduct your ceremony. As your celebrant, I will guide you through a journey to design and build a tailor-made wedding that is as traditional, meaningful, fun or quirky as you want it to be. With more than 400 weddings to my name, I have the expertise to make your day simply incredible, incredibly simple.
Do you shoot portraits and events?
Yes we do. We are available to photograph parties, portraits, events and other commissions. We regularly shoot engagement shoots for couples, as well as family lifestyle portrait sessions. We have also shot many ‘rock the frock/trash the dress' sessions and have been commissioned to shoot for charities and commercial organisations. We've even been commissioned to photograph the NZ artists album covers.
Are you really expensive?
We think not, Steve's collection is $3499 for all day shooting and two photographers, while Jackie charges $500 and brings, a powerful amp, two microphones, table and decorations and she also downloads and plays via Bluetooth all the music for the ceremony.
We love working as a team, however we will work separately.
Steve Brown: Black Diamond Photography NZ. Email: steve@BDP.co.nz Check out our gallery: www.blackdiamondphotography.co.nz
Jackie Brown, email: info@jackiebrowncelebrant.co.nz Read up on what I do www.jackiebrowncelebrant.co.nz Let's chat!
Photo: Black Diamond Photography