Documentary means we shoot your day as it unfolds. Light direction when it counts, without the performance. We work calmly and a step ahead of the day. The secret glances, your Nan welling up in the front row, the bold dance floor moves, someone stuffing their face at the dessert table (been there, done that, would do it again). The honest, relaxed bits are the ones you might forget on your own, and they're the ones worth having.
Elopements work the same way, with fewer people watching and more room to move. Some of them start with a helicopter.
Documentary wedding and elopement photography, in Wānaka and across Central Otago
Wānaka Wedding Photographer with an artistic approach, on digital & film
Real film alongside digital. Photo and video covered by the same team. Eight years of doing it this way.
Real film alongside digital. Photo and video covered by the same team. Eight years of doing it this way.
Candid, documentary wedding and elopement photography in Wānaka, on digital and 35mm film. Over 200 weddings, from Queenstown through Central Otago. For couples who'd rather enjoy the day than work through a shot list. Editorial where it suits, nostalgic where there's film in the camera.
Candid, documentary wedding and elopement photography in Wānaka, on digital and 35mm film. Over 200 weddings, from Queenstown through Central Otago. For couples who'd rather enjoy the day than work through a shot list. Editorial where it suits, nostalgic where there's film in the camera.
What Makes us Different
What Makes
us Different
Digital and 35mm film, side by side
Digital does the heavy lifting, with 35mm film in the mix when you want it. The rolls come back nostalgic and true to colour, with all the feels.
Dancing the line between documentary and editorial
Dancing the line between documentary and editorial
Think candid and honest, with an editorial streak. When the light's worth it we'll borrow you for a few frames with more intent behind them.
Think candid and honest, with an editorial streak. When the light's worth it we'll borrow you for a few frames with more intent behind them.
Photos that look and feel like you
Photo and video from one duo, with Ned at Summit Films on the video. One plan for the day, and no one elbowing anyone out of the frame.
Photo and video from one duo, with Ned at Summit Films on the video. One plan for the day, and no one elbowing anyone out of the frame.
We blend in with your guests, so what comes back looks like the day you actually had. You'll recognise yourselves in it, which is the whole point..
Photo & video from one team
Photo & video from one team
OUTSHINE THE USUAL
OUTSHINE THE USUAL
We'd be a pretty good fit if
We'd be a pretty good fit if
You want it relaxed, with the atmosphere captured
Everybody loves a good party, and Splendour Visuals is here to capture a good time. You'll get the vibrant atmosphere of the day as much as the people in it.
You want a little film in the mix, for the nostalgic feels
Add a roll or two of 35mm and you'll have something vintage sitting alongside the digital.
You're marrying in the mountains, or eloping somewhere remote
We know which spots are worth the walk and which ones need a helicopter. Wānaka and Queenstown are home ground, and mountain weather is part of the job.
Your place is an urban one, and it means something to you
Splendour Visuals is based in Wānaka, and most of the year runs close to home. Queenstown, Arrowtown, Glenorchy, Lake Hāwea, Cromwell, Clyde and Alexandra.
Further out, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Dunedin, Invercargill and Christchurch are all on the list, and we'll travel anywhere in New Zealand for the right day. We've even been invited as far north as the Bay of Islands, to venues like the Duke in Russell and Baylys Farm in Paihia. What a treat.
The mountains aren't compulsory. If the place that matters is the bar you always end up in, or a rooftop above the traffic, that's where we'll be.
Life's for sneaking into the cookie jar with your special person. We're relatable, kind humans with a knack for connecting the dots and championing your love story.
Where
we SHoot
Where we Shoot
Just the two of you, or a small handful of people, somewhere that suits you rather than a guest list. Photo & video to match the vibe.
A short session, no wedding attached. Good if you've recently got engaged, or if you simply want decent photos of the two of you together. And if you're about to get a knee dirty and pop the question, we're in for that too.
We photograph & film whichever parts of the day you want us there for, from getting ready through to the dance floor. Peak season Friday and Saturday weddings start at five hours.
What we offer
Couples, Engagements
& Proposals
weddings
Elopements
How it works
How it works
You want it relaxed, with the atmosphere captured
Everybody loves a good party, and Splendour Visuals is here to capture a good time. You'll get the vibrant atmosphere of the day as much as the people in it.
You want a little film in the mix, for the nostalgic feels
Add a roll or two of 35mm and you'll have something vintage sitting alongside the digital.
You're marrying in the mountains, or eloping somewhere remote
We know which spots are worth the walk and which ones need a helicopter. Wānaka and Queenstown are home ground, and mountain weather is part of the job.
Your place is an urban one, and it means something to you
The mountains aren't compulsory. If the place that matters is the bar you always end up in, or a rooftop above the traffic, that's where we'll be.
Four steps, from the first email to the full album drops.
Our portfolio
EXPLORE
A selection gathered from across the years. Weddings and elopements, picked for the frames rather than the full story of any one day. From big days with a full guest list, some from mornings where it was just the two of you.
There's a dedicated film portfolio too, and one for our commercial work.
It’s your day. Let’s make it look like you.
We've got a massive soft spot for analogue photography - its perfectly imperfect qualities and all the feels of nostalgic, make it forever a win in our books! There’s an organic quality to this medium that adds an extra layer of authenticity and wonder to each image, making a memorable statement in your photo album.
A collection of our Fav Film
Need help showcasing the essence of your brand or project? We’ll lend an eye to focus on the finer details and sling our signature artistic approach to craft a story that captivates and excites your audience.
Commercial, Lifestyle & Brands
Some of our favourite days, start to finish. Handy if you're weighing up a venue, or picturing what your day could look like with us.
A moody, romantic and intimate wedding at Rippon Wanaka — vibrant florals, candlelight, and heartfelt moments captured in the Southern Alps.
Intimate Wedding at Rippon Wanaka | Tamara & Jason
This insanely stunning Lake Erskine heli elopement with Victoria & Jossi Wells blew our socks off – simple, elegant romance amidst the beautiful Fiordlands, NZ.
Lake Erskine Heli Elopement – Victoria & Jossi
Georgia & Todd’s Lake Hāwea Station wedding at The Hide was a festival-inspired celebration under a sailcloth marquee. A stunning day filled with love, mountains & a night of dancing to the Sweet Mix Kids, in one of New Zealand’s most breathtaking locations.
Lake Hawea Station Wedding – The Hide – Georgia & Todd
Madeleine and Sam threw their engagement party at The Barrel Room of Ayrburn in Arrowtown, with some of their tight-knit New Zealand crew. Surrounded by the stunning gardens and views of this impeccable estate.
Ayrburn, The Barrel Room | Arrowtown
Real weddings and elopements
Recent work
Yes, we shoot digital on Sony cameras with 35mm film alongside, included in our 10-hour wedding package and available as an add-on for any other wedding or elopement. Our film is developed by a professional lab that matches the tones and contrast to the film look we're after, then scanned in high resolution. The scans land in the same gallery after your sneak peeks, so you get three drops: sneak peeks, film, then your full gallery.
Yes, we're a Wānaka wedding photographer studio who also covers Queenstown, Central Otago and a limited number of weddings around New Zealand. Travel around Wānaka is free, and travel fees for other areas are in the wedding package info we send you. Weddings overseas, in Europe, Asia or Australia, are quoted case by case.
We mostly stay in the background and photograph the day as it happens, so you can relax and enjoy it. We still help coordinate family photos and bridal party moments, and when the light's right we'll guide you into place for something a bit more editorial. Some couples like a cheeky pose now and then, others would rather forget we're there, and both are completely fine.
Our weddings start at $4,500 for 5 hours, and elopements start at $2,400 for 2 hours. Elopements can also be tailored to something simpler if that suits you better.
Most couples book us 9 to 18 months ahead, and a signed contract and 30% deposit lock in your date. The balance is due one month before your wedding, and dates are booked first come, first served.
We offer 5, 7 or 10 hours of wedding coverage, and a quick discovery call is the best way to work out which suits you. 5 hours covers the core parts, like the ceremony, family photos, couple portraits, bridal party and some candids over drinks, while a full day covers everything from getting ready right through to the dance floor. Coverage can also be completely customised to suit your day, and if you'd like us at a day-before event or a next-day celebration, we'd love to hear about it. We'd always suggest giving the day room to breathe rather than squeezing it into a tight timeframe to save a bit.
Every wedding collection includes pre-wedding consultations, location scouting, ongoing planning support, our wedding guide, and a private online gallery with high and low resolution images and a print store. Our 10-hour package also includes 35mm film. Extra film, a second photographer, and video with Ned from Summit Films can all be added.
Yes, timeline help is included in every package. Our wedding guide has sample timelines built around the time of year, sunset and light, and we'll help you shape yours from there. We're not on-the-day coordinators though, so where you can, have a planner or coordinator run the day.
We plan ahead for it, with a sheltered plan B for weddings and a backup day or two for elopements. For your ceremony, that could be an indoor space at your venue, a clear marquee, a tipi or a sail tent. On the day we shuffle portraits around rain breaks, and if you're keen on rain photos in a light sprinkle, we're into it.
Yes, we help you choose your location and plan your timings, and for full planning we'll point you to our sister company, Daisy & Moss Mountain Elopements. Location scouting is included, with a shortlist of spots and photos from other couples, matched to how active and how private you'd like it to be. We also line up backup locations in case of bad weather and sort any private land access. Daisy & Moss can book your celebrant, sort your marriage licence, recommend hair and makeup, and book it all in.
Can you help us plan our elopement and choose a location?
What happens if the weather isn't great?
Do you help with the timeline for the day?
What's included in your wedding collections?
How many hours of coverage do we need?
How do we book you, and how far in advance should we book?
How much does a Wānaka wedding photographer cost?
What's your approach, and what does documentary wedding photography mean on the day?
Do you photograph weddings outside Wānaka, like Queenstown and Central Otago?
Do you shoot on film as well as digital?
FAQs
Kind Words
"To say we are obsessed with the photos from ouR day is an absolute understatement!"
"Kate - you are an absolute superstar! To say we are obsessed with the photos from our day is an absolute understatement. You also brought the perfect mix of chill, professionalism and hype gal to the role - it was like having a friend there with us! Thank you for taking on the task the whole bridal party to Alta Tarns - we got it done and the images are incredible! Cannot thank you enough for how grateful we are that you captured our day so perfectly."
"The Best decision we made out of all of the decisions for our big day"
"Having Kate as our wedding photographer was probably the best decision we made out of all the decisions for our big day. Her communication before the event put us at such ease and on the day she was the most fabulous presence and made everything relaxing and enjoyable. Our photos are also just so special and we look forward to treasuring them forever - we were truly blown away by how good they are!"
"your photos truly captured the heart and soul of our wedding day"
"Kate has this incredible gift of capturing each and every special moment of your day in a way that makes you want to relive it all over again. Beyond pure skill and talent, which she certainly has plenty of, she adds her own brand of sensitivity, personality, and fun that not only translates into the photos but also makes her an awesome person to be around. Kate - your photos truly captured the heart and soul of our wedding day. We can't think you enough"
(The fun part)
Your date, your venue if it's locked in, and whatever you're picturing for the day. We'd love to hear about it.
(The fun part)
Get in touch
Enquire
If you’ve found your way here & our work speaks to you, chances are we might just be a good match! Whether your wedding is set in Wanaka, Queenstown or somewhere further afield, we’d be delighted to capture it with the care, intention and the artistry it deserves. Tell us more about your plans using the form provided — we can’t wait to hear what you’re envisioning. Cheers! Kate & Ned
If you’ve found your way here and our work speaks to you, chances are we might just be a good match. Whether it’s a branding session, couples or engagement shoot, a family gathering, or something a little outside the box — I’d be honoured to capture it with the same care, creativity, and intention we bring to every story. Share what you’ve got in mind using the form below — I’d love to hear what you’re planning. Cheers! Kate
Thank you for your patience!
Thank you for your patience!