5 minutes with... New Zealand Wedding Photographer Anne Paar

We're excited to introduce you to New Zealand Wedding Photographer ANNE PAAR today. Based in the coastal town of Raglan, Anne is dedicated to creating beautiful photographs that are full of joy and life. She tells us, "I find it a tremendous honour to be invited amongst your best friends and family, and to memorialize the special moments of your wedding. From the details to the emotions to the long awaited kiss, I will make sure everything gets covered." Read on to find our more about her and you can see more of her portfolio in our VENDOR GUIDE HERE.

HOW DID YOU BECOME A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER? In my previous job I was working for a council in The Netherlands, whose goal it was to help kids in underprivileged neighbourhoods have a happier and healthier lifestyle through sports. For some of the projects I started taking photographs of the children, which ended up being used for various marketing purposes. I decided that I wanted to make this hobby into a profession. When I met my partner and moved to New Zealand, I got all the support I needed and slowly started building my business.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? My style can describe itself best as romantic, clean and documentary.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WEDDINGS? What I love most is the people I meet along the way, I get to work with some seriously cool couples that I can consider my friends. Second best would be difference that I can make in somebodies life. To deliver the photographs and hear their emotion as they give their feedback is what makes my job so rewarding.

CAN YOU RECALL YOUR FAVOURITE WEDDING EXPERIENCE? There's been so many, I'm not sure if there's one that wins.... but there's one that springs to mind. This super nice couple had planned their wedding at the most beautiful location, lakes and volcano's and all, but unfortunately after the ceremony everybody had to flee inside and the downpour of the day begun. We ended up going to a beautiful old forest for photos, embraced with umbrella's, and the whole time the couple was just the best in embracing the rain and being the most happy they could be. We all ended up absolutely soaked. Then just after sunset the rain suddenly cleared, so we rushed outside to photograph some of the photos we were hoping we would get all day. The couple ended up taking a photo of my good friend (and second shooter), wet as a drowned cat but happy as larry.

ASIDE FROM FAMILY & FRIENDS, THREE THINGS YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT? Cheese, a toothbrush and airplanes.

WHERE WOULD WE FIND YOU ON A SUNDAY MORNING? Coffee and croissants at Casa Anne and Dean (partner) in Raglan (New Zealand).

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND YOUR IDEAL DAY OFF? I enjoy the little things in life, so probably a good coffee get's me a long way. A little surf could be next, then some gardening, finished off with dinner with friends.

SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE IMAGE WITH US AND TELL US WHY: Oooo a favourite image, that is so hard! I change my opinion all the time but I suppose for now it will have to be this picture below I took from a helicopter at an English wedding. This was at the latest wedding I photographed. The couple were keen on having a group shot taken from above, and asked me if I was keen on going for a ride. Hell yes! The challenge was on because the helicopter driver explained it couldn't hover in one spot (the engine would become too hot?), so all it could do was fly in big circles back and forth. On top of that communication with the driver was hard, there was only a mini window to shoot though and I had to share the fly time with a videographer. Although the group looks pretty small, I love how it shows the English countryside with the beautiful venue.