Kia ora!


I am Ces, a New Zealand wedding and portrait photographer based in Christchurch and also contribute to the betterment of our community. I also travel around New Zealand to capture beautiful weddings.


I am an introvert. I don't infuse another personality just for you to book me. If you don't want an introvert - I am not the photographer for you - and that's perfectly OK!


I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and work as a full-time software developer. However, photography is purely for fun for me. When I say "fun," I mean that I offer affordable photography services as a way to pursue my creative interests and capture meaningful moments for others.


Photography and painting allows me to express my creativity.



Giving back to the community

 

As a software developer and photographer, I have always believed in the power of giving back to the community. That's why I have made the decision to donate $50 for every Platinum Wedding Photography booked with us.

I have always been passionate about helping others, and I believe that even small contributions can make a big difference. This approach allows me to support causes that are close to my heart. By choosing to work with me, they know that their booking is contributing to a greater good, and that's something that can bring a sense of fulfillment and purpose to our work together.

In a world where giving back is more important than ever, I am proud to be able to contribute to the greater good through my photography business. It's a small step, but I believe that it can make a big impact, and I look forward to continuing to support charitable causes through my work as a photographer.

I am proud to support Heart Foundation New Zealand.

Total donations so far:

2024: $ 600.00

2023: $ 1,200.00



A small thing you might not know about me


I paint weddings too. It is another form of art I do.


If you are keen to have your wedding painted and photographed, please let me know so we can arrange something.


Please visit www.paintmywedding.co.nz or email ces@cesphotography.co.nz



Galleries


Contact Us

I'd love to hear from you!

Please fill up the form below and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Ces

021 436 773

Please use this contact form, sending an email directly sometimes ends up in my spam folder which is rarely checked.


I will reply to your email within 24 hours. If you have not received a reply, please check your spam folder as sometimes it ends up in there.



Kind words from lovely clients

Alyssa and Jevahn

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"Ces was amazing! He captured my wedding perfectly, I couldn’t have asked for anything better! Ces is so friendly and chatty which made it easy for Jevahn & I to relax and be ourselves in front of him. I was also very impressed with how fast we received our photos - with our engagement shoot it was only later that evening! I would 100% recommend Ces for anyone looking for a wedding photographer! You will not be disappointed"

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FAQ

Are you looking to do this full time?

Although I appreciate the creativity that photography offers, my primary interest lies in the technical aspects of software development. It's not my intention to pursue photography as a full-time career, as I indulge in photography purely for leisure.

My pleasure in photography is twofold: not only do I relish the act of capturing beautiful images, but I also value the chance to contribute to the community and create opportunities.

Why is your pricing reasonable/affordable/competitive compared to other services?

Several reasons why:

There is really no need for me to charge higher as I work full time as a software developer, I do photography for fun!

I believe that I should not charge higher simply because I am capable of doing so..

The way I charge for photography is just perfect for my small business.

I am not dependent on this income because I have a full time job, win-win!

I wanted to offer competitive wedding photography packages right from the start.

I am passionate about both photography and software development. This allows me to keep my pricing affordable, as I am fortunate enough to have the best of both worlds.

As a software developer, I manage my own website. I don't pay another tech guy to do it for me - this reduces the cost.

I choose not to pay wedding directories to be featured on their websites since it would add an extra cost that would ultimately be passed on to clients.

Are you a professional photographer?

It is a hotly debated topic at the moment on what makes a professional photographer. As you know, I work full time as a software developer, I don't say I am a professional software developer. Have a look at my gallery and if you love the photos, please get in touch. Like many other great photographers out there, I do not have any certification nor diploma about photography. I do use professional Canon equipment to give you great image quality.

What's your investment?

I want to clarify that I am not an investment company and I do not promise to grow your money. I am not setting up a retirement fund for you either. I simply offer photography services at reasonable prices, and I do not use the term "investment" to make it sound expensive. I don't like sugar coating it. In fact, I keep things simple and just call it pricing. I believe that your wedding photos will remain as colorful and beautiful even after 10, 20, or more years.

If you're interested in checking out my affordable pricing, please check the wedding photos page. You'll find all the pricing information there, so you don't have to worry about guessing if you can afford my already reasonable packages. Rest assured that I don't hide my pricing from my website, and you don't have to fill out a form to see it.

How long before we receive our wedding photos?

After the wedding, preview photos are usually available between 24 and 36 hours.

The rest of the photos usually takes between 3-5 weeks.

Do you use professional equipment?

To give you great quality images, I use professional Canon equipment.

Below is my equipment list:
Canon R5
Canon EF 16-35 f4 IS USM
Canon RF 35mm f1.8 IS STM
Canon EF 85mm f1.4 L IS USM (favourite for portraits)
Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 L IS USM II
Canon Speedlite 480 EX II
Canon R7

I also rent gear when needed.

Have you studied photography?

I am self taught like many photographers out there! Photography is a hobby since 2009. It all started in 2017 when my colleague asked me for maternity photos. I guess you can say the rest is history.

Do you travel?

Although we primarily photograph weddings in Christchurch, we are available for travel throughout New Zealand. Our work has taken us to various locations, including Timaru, Ashburton, Akaroa, Lake Tekapo, Wellington, Palmerston North, Blenheim, Nelson and Pleasant Point.

We are always excited to explore new locations and capture beautiful moments for our lovely couples.

Do you put logos/watermarks on your photos?

If photos are for my couples, then no. Personally, I am not a fan of pesky logos on my photos.

If vendors want to use the photos, then yes.

How many weddings did you photograph?

2018: 9
2019: 31
2020: 44
2021: 32
2022: 42
2023: 51

How many weddings are you photographing?

2024: 40 so far
2025: 12 so far

Do you edit photos?

Absolutely, I edit photos based on my personal style, which emphasizes natural and vibrant colors. I avoid excessive editing that can make photos appear unrealistic or fanciful. I do not modify the subjects' appearances in the images or add any artificial elements such as fake sun rays, fog, fireworks, etc.

It is not the washed out or desaturated colours.

However, I do have other ways to edit, feel free to check it out in the Editing Styles page.

Can we meet you?

I would love too! Please use the contact page or we can setup a Skype video chat as I am Christchurch based.

It would be a great time to show you more wedding photos not on the website and see if you are comfortable with me being your photographer. I will also show you a sample of a photobook. (Not the canvas as it is too big!)


Christchurch

Available anywhere in New Zealand