Refined documentary weddings and elopements in Queenstown, on digital and 35mm film. For couples planning a destination wedding, with their guests along for the whole experience.
Weddings that linger, from the first toast to the last dance. That's what we love, and we've photographed over 200 of them. Editorial where it suits, nostalgic where there's film in the camera.
Refined documentary weddings and elopements in Queenstown, on digital and 35mm film. For couples planning a destination wedding, with their guests along for the whole experience.
Weddings that linger, from the first toast to the last dance. That's what we love, and we've photographed over 200 of them. Editorial where it suits, nostalgic where there's film in the camera.
Real film alongside digital. Photo and video covered by the same team. Eight years of doing it this way.
Real film alongside digital, and photo and video from one team. Eight years in, and we still love a good party.
Queenstown Wedding Photographer for destination weddings, on digital & film
Documentary wedding and elopement photography, from Arrowtown to Glenorchy
Documentary means we shoot the day as it unfolds, with light direction when it counts. Elopements get the same approach, just a little more unconventional.
Most of what ends up in your gallery happens without anyone asking for it. Your dad going off script in his speech, a surprise haka during the reception, a quiet minute together out on the lawn, and your mates taking over the dance floor. And that's the beauty of a candid approach.
Some elopements start with a helicopter, others with a short wander through the tussock to a grassy clearing. Either way, finish with a cheeky cocktail in hand at a cosy bar in town. Queenstown wedding photography the way we like it, anywhere from Arrowtown out to Glenorchy.
OUTSHINE THE USUAL
OUTSHINE THE USUAL
Photo & video from one team
Photo & video from one team
Considered composition and clean edits, so the photos feel polished and still look like the two of 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.
Ned at Summit Films takes care of the wedding videography, so there's one plan and one crew for the day.
Refined photos that still look and feel like you
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.
Mostly candid, with an editorial streak. We'll borrow you for a few minutes when the light turns golden. We're always keeping an eye out for a dramatic shadow or a clever frame in a little nook at your venue.
Dancing the line between documentary and editorial
Dancing the line between documentary and editorial
Digital covers the whole day, with 35mm film in the mix when you want it. The scans come back nostalgic and true to colour, and there's more on our 35mm film page.
Digital and 35mm film, side by side
What Makes
us Different
What Makes us Different
Splendour Visuals
ABout The Studio
Pop the sparkling. Revel in the memories. Savour the magic.
I'm Kate Alexandra, the face behind Splendour Visuals photographing weddings professionally since 2018. My work has been published in Together Journal and featured in Hello May and Wild Hearts.
I fell in love with photography because a single image can tell a story or capture a feeling. I've always had an eye for the finer details, and for noticing the little moments as they happen.
Outside of work you'll find me mountain biking, exploring the hills, at a dance class or down at the lake with Honey, our little rescue dog. There's more about Ned & I and the studio over on our About page.
Where we shoot around Queenstown
Where we shoot around Queenstown
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.
Portraits out in the open landscape as the afternoon light softens, then into town for a long, candlelit reception and maybe a nightcap under the stars. We love a day that moves between the two.
Our Queenstown wedding photography covers everywhere from Arrowtown to Glenorchy, including Jack's Point and the town centre itself. Some of the area's best-known venues include Ayrburn, The Wine House, Thurlby Domain, Millbrook Resort, NZ High Country and Belle Luce. Lake Hayes, Moke Lake, Bob's Cove, Skippers Canyon, Deer Park Heights and The Remarkables are elopement favourites for good reason.
We also love Eichardt's Penthouse, Waikākā Church, Thomas Brown Gallery, The Sherwood, Matakauri Lodge and Amisfield Winery. If you've got a piece of private land you'd like to turn into something epic, Gather & Gold's tipis and sail tents really know how to make a blank canvas spectacular (think mini festival vibes with your crew).
Some of the more remote and rugged mountain spots are best reached by helicopter, including Cecil Peak, Vanguard Peak, Lake Lochnagar, Mount Crichton, Big Geordie, Earnslaw Burn and Rees Valley. Queenstown is also the gateway to Milford Sound and Fiordland, home to Lake Erskine and Lake Quill. And we cover the rest of Central Otago too.
You want the grand vistas and a little nightlife in the same day
A few rolls of 35mm alongside the digital, for photos that feel like they came out of your parents' albums.
You want a little film in the mix, for the nostalgic feels
Heritage charm and manicured gardens, with the mountains sitting magnificently behind them. We can't get enough of that mix. Lucky for you, we know these venues well, and we're still finding new favourite spots within them.
You've fallen for a heritage venue or a garden, and want the mountains in frame too
Some couples fly their crew in for a week or two. We can capture the welcome drinks through to a slow lunch to wrap up the celebrations, or anything in between.
You're making a holiday of it, with your favourite people along for the ride
We'd be a pretty good fit if
We'd be a pretty good fit if
Elopements & Pre-Weddings
weddings
Couples, Engagements
& Proposals
What we offer
We photograph and 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. Welcome dinners and day-after celebrations can be added on.
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.
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Just the two of you, or a small handful of people, somewhere that suits you rather than a guest list. Fly in by helicopter or keep your feet on the ground, with photo and video to match the vibe.
Queenstown wedding photography, elopements, pre-wedding and couples sessions, with video available alongside.
Four steps, from the first email till the full album drops.
A sneak peek lands within one week of your wedding date. Speedy, we know. Film scans follow (like Christmas morning), then the full collection. There's a full rundown over on The Experience page..
Sneak peeks, then relive it all
Enjoy the magic that's about to unfold. We're here to make sure you're looking and feeling amazing while it does.
The big day. We've got it
We'll go through the timeline together and sort the bits that trip people up. We work closely with planners and coordinators, so the day runs without anyone chasing anything.
Nail the details
Let's have a chat about your day, over a coffee if you're in Queenstown or over the phone or video call if you're not.
Discovery call or over coffee
How it works, from first chat to the full gallery
How it works, from first chat to the full gallery
It’s your day. Let’s make it look like you.
A selection gathered from across the years, picked for the frames rather than the full story of any one day. Weddings and elopements, from big days with a full guest list to mornings where it was just the two of you. Have a wander through the full portfolio. There's a dedicated film portfolio too, and one for our commercial work. - click on across.
A collection of our Fav Film
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.
Some of our favourite Queenstown days, start to finish. Handy if you're weighing up a venue, or picturing what your day could look like with us.
Questions couples ask about Queenstown weddings
What's the weather like in Queenstown at different times of year?
Are there spots near our venue for portraits with mountain views?
We want photo and video. Can you do both?
How much does a Queenstown wedding photographer & Videographer cost?
What is the difference between a Highlight & a story style video edit?
How many hours of coverage do we need to capture the whole day?
Can you recommend vendors, or have you worked with ours before?
We're choosing between a few Queenstown venues. Which would you pick?
We'd rather not fly. Are there good locations we can reach on the ground for Elopements?
What can we do after an intimate wedding or elopement in Queenstown?
What's the best time of day for photos in Queenstown?
Every season works in Queenstown: long warm days in summer, crisp mornings and soft light in autumn, calm clear days and snowy peaks in winter, and fresh greens with the strongest winds in spring. Summer settles in its second half, and autumn is usually calm with less wind. Winter suits the brave, with short, cool days and still spells between the snow storms. If you're eloping in spring, leave room for a plan B or C day.
Yes, and location scouting is included in every wedding collection, so we'll find them for you. Lake Hayes, Moke Lake, Bob's Cove and Deer Park Heights are a few favourites, and plenty of venues have views right on site. There's even a few local spots closer to town we can work our magic in to include mountain-scapes.
Yes, photo and video come from one team, with Ned from Summit Films on the video. That means one plan for the day, and no one ending up in each other's shot.
Our wedding photography starts 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.
Videography starts at 2 hours - $2,800 for elopements, and 5 hours - $5,100 for weddings with larger guest parties. This is for a highlight style film. Story style edit films start from $7,650.
A short, highlight edit that includes the best moments . For couples who just want the essence of their day captured. This includes limited moments from the ceremony and speeches.
- About 45 seconds of runtime per 1 hour of coverage .
- Includes a 30 second teaser video for you to share shortly after your day .
- Includes any ceremony & speech recordings.
A complete film. For couples who want their day captured , but also a story told about them and what makes their relationship special. This includes all the best moments from the ceremony, speeches, camcorder and archive.
- About 1.5 minutes of runtime per 1 hour of coverage .
- Includes a 1 minute teaser video for you to share shortly after your day.
- Includes any ceremony & speech recordings.
- Free camcorder and /or archival content
To capture the whole day, from getting ready to the dance floor, our 10-hour package is the one, with 5. 7 hours & custom also on offer. Five hours covers the core, like the ceremony, family photos, couple portraits and drinks. The 10-hour package also includes 35mm film. A quick discovery call is the easiest way to work out what suits your day.
Yes, we've worked alongside plenty of Queenstown suppliers, and we share our recommendations once you've booked in. If you've already got some sorted, let us know who and we'll tell you if we've crossed paths.
It depends on the kind of day you want - two of our favourites are The Wine House and Ayrburn. The Wine House works year-round, with manicured green gardens and spring garden party vibes, views over Gibbston Valley, a beautifully set up covered reception, and an in-house team handling the catering and planning. Ayrburn is the closer thing to a vineyard, a refined multi-venue estate for big and small celebrations, with its own vines, eclectic vintage charm, a ceremony spot near the lake and your pick of where to hold the reception. The gardens are a real drawcard for flower lovers, with the mountains still filling the backdrop.
Our thoughts on just a couple of the many amazing wedding venues in Queenstown, we cant wait to hear your pick!
Yes, and plenty of them: Lake Hayes, Moke Lake, Bob's Cove, Skippers Canyon and Deer Park Heights are all reachable on the ground. Glenorchy is a scenic drive away, and the Rees Valley can be reached by road with the right access and permit. For full elopement planning, our sister company Daisy & Moss Mountain Elopements can sort the rest.
Head out for a nice dinner, a winery, a cocktail bar or the bowling alley, or go back to your boutique hotel or Airbnb for a private chef. For the rest of the trip, there's hiking, jet boating and a bungee jump if you're game, or a spa day and a soak in the hot pools if you're not. Eat your way around town, take the steamboat to Walter Peak, drive out to Glenorchy, or head into Fiordland for Milford Sound or an overnight boat on Doubtful Sound. Or take a day trip over the Crown Range to check out Queenstown's little sister, with a quick jaunt up Roys Peak while you're there.
Morning or evening, when the light is softest, though the timing shifts with the season. Autumn and winter bring the most dramatic, gentle light, with the sun sitting lower, while summer gives you longer days but a high, bright sun for hours. We'll plan your portraits around the best of it, aiming for sunset or golden hour for weddings where we can, and sometimes suggesting sunrise for elopements.
"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."
"To say we are obsessed with the photos from ouR day is an absolute understatement!"
"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!"
"The Best decision we made out of all of the decisions for our big 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"
"your photos truly captured the heart and soul of our wedding day"
Enquire With US
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
Enquire With Us
