A Playful St Arnaud Engagement Photoshoot
When Ella and Marcus reached out to me after finding my website on Google (thank you, 80+ five-star reviews!), they knew exactly where they wanted to celebrate this special chapter in their love story: beautiful St Arnaud. For Marcus, the lake edge and jetty at Lake Rotoiti hold a deep connection—he grew up in Nelson, and the area has always been a special place for him. Even though they now live in Wellington, St Arnaud was the perfect destination for their engagement photoshoot.
We met on an early spring day that turned out to be wild and wet. Instead of the soft golden light we photographers usually hope for, the rain poured down, clouds rolled in, and fresh snow capped the mountains. But here’s the magic: the stormy conditions gave us the most atmospheric backdrop. The mist hung low over the lake, and because of the weather, we had the entire jetty and shoreline completely to ourselves. It felt like nature had carved out a private moment just for them.
Ella and Marcus leaned right into the weather with big smiles and even bigger laughs. They snuggled under an umbrella, danced in the drizzle, and recreated that famous Notebook kiss (after Marcus had to be filled in on what it was all about). Between the raindrops, we had plenty of playful moments—Marcus skipped stones across the lake, they went eel hunting along the shoreline, and neither could stop laughing the entire time.
Their choice of soft, neutral clothing was spot on. The tones blended beautifully with the moody colours of the lake and surrounding mountains, letting their joy and connection shine as the real focus of the images. Honestly, I think the photos turned out better than if it had been a sunny day—the drama of the clouds and rain told their story in such a unique way.
That’s what I love most about engagement sessions: no two are ever the same. Whether it’s golden light, wild weather, or something in between, the experience becomes part of the memory. For Ella and Marcus, this wasn’t just a photoshoot—it was a chance to play, laugh, and soak up a place that means so much to them.
If you’re recently engaged and dreaming of photos that feel personal, natural, and full of connection, I’d love to create something magical for you too. Get in touch today to start planning your very own St Arnaud engagement photoshoot.
Here’s what Ella had to say about their photoshoot: “Book her immediately! We had such a wonderful experience with her during our engagement shoot and the photos are stunning. With me be an awkward turtle when getting photos taken Francesca made our shoot fun and easy going!”
