My husband and I recently celebrated our one-year wedding anniversary and decided to treat ourselves to a South Island road trip. Lake Hawea View hosted our wedding, and we simply adored the Otago region.
We couldn’t wait to revisit it, and we knew that our cats would enjoy a change of scenery too from their apartment life.
I wanted to get some beautiful photos for our first anniversary. I did my research and just loved Andy Brown’s photography work. He’s a wonderful photographer who does a lot of wedding photo shoots, and we were lucky enough to book him for a photo shoot on 8th December.
Raining Cats & Dogs
Embarking on our South Island road trip, Picton and Christchurch welcomed us with open arms. Each stay held its unique charm, particularly our Picton Airbnb with kayaks we could use! Jono got to know the water well, with an accidental dip/turn into it!
When we got to Ashburton, the weather decided to pack in. Unfortunately, all rising water closed bridges, and we couldn’t travel further south.
When we told Andy that we couldn’t make the booking, he remained relaxed and flexible with changes, which made a very stressed Ren, happy again. We rescheduled the photo shoot for the 11th of December.
With the anniversary road trip itinerary busted, we worked out a new plan. Hanmer Springs became an unplanned retreat, with its Hot Springs providing the perfect respite. Amidst the thermal waters, we found unexpected serenity, turning a few days detour into a cherished memory.
Day of the Shoot
When meeting Andy, I thought he was just so lovely and friendly. Just like with all of our previous conversations, he was relaxed, and went with the flow. Which in turn made us do the same.
I hadn’t arranged anywhere specific for the shoot to take place at. I liked that Andy knew of a couple of spots that were off the beaten track. We went to a couple of spots just outside of Queenstown, on the banks of Lake Wakatipu, and to Moke Lake.
It was a lovely time being photographed by Andy for our anniversary. The photos turned out wonderful, and we will cherish them for years to come. I highly recommend him for any photography work. Thank you so much Andy!
The rest of our anniversary South Island road trip was made all the more special by the inclusion of our two cats. While they were mostly confined to the car, they enjoyed watching the sights go by from the window and seemed to take great interest. Festo even loved hanging his head out the window like a dog! 😂
It was wonderful to have them along for the ride, and they made the whole experience even more memorable.
Here’s a few of the beautiful photos Andy Brown took:
Lore & Tempo is where motherhood meets adventure. I’m Ren – storyteller, explorer, and single mum in Wellington, New Zealand. I’ve been lucky enough to wander through 45 countries. 15 of them with my +1, Kaydes, either strapped to my front, on my hip, or running ahead on her own adventures. I created this space to share single parent life, travel tips, and the joy of exploring the world.
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