Engagement shoot competition

So excited that you would like nominate an engaged couple to win this engagement shoot.Here are a few T&C

Terms and Conditions 1. No purchase, entry fee, or payment is necessary to enter this competition. 2. How to enter: to enter, an eligible participant must find and respond to at least one promotional post on Lavara Photography Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Lavaraphotography. Entrants must comply with the instructions contained on the promotional posts. 3.The Win and Engagement Shoot promotion commences on the 14th of March 2014 and closes on the 11 th of April 2014. 4. The promotion Prize is a 90 minutes Engagement Shoot in a central Auckland Location or as otherwise negotiated. 5. The Engagement shoot must be redeemed before December 2014 6. The prize is non-transferable and is unable to be redeemable for cash or other goods or services. 7. Prize draw winners will be notified by a comment on their winning entry. It is the responsibility of the prize winners to contact hello@lavara.co.nz once they receive notification of their win. 8. If prize winner is ineligible to receive the prize or does not respond to the notification within five working days, Lavara Photograpy may, at its sole discretion, announce alternative winners. 9. Entrants must be New Zealand residents 18 years or older 10.You agree to release Facebook from any and all claims and demands arising out of or in connection with your participation in this competition or with any of the prizes offered.

Lavara Photography is the promoter of this competition. This competition is not in any way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

Love is a big deal

From meeting these two I new I wanted to photograph them. From the way they looked at each other I could tell that Love was a big deal for them.Here are a few photos from their engagement shoot. I can't wait for their wedding this Saturday.

Engagement Ideas and Gondolas

So you're looking for some engagement ideas? I'm a guy (no, not Lavara, the husband Jeremy) and have heard my fair share of great and dastardly engagement ideas over the years. Here's three random engagement tips for you from stories I've gleaned...

Don't rely on someone else to plan the romance.

My brother learnt this the hard way. Called up the restaurant at the top of a romantic gondola ride. "Can you leave a bottle of bubbly out on the secluded balcony near your restaurant, I want to propose?" He calls to confirm and is assured it's all OK.

On their arrival there was a beautiful view but the bottle was only visible on a table in the half closed restaurant nearby. With his girlfriend wondering what's going on he walks into the restaurant and begins to grab the bottle, as she follows. The waitress interrupts and says "I'm sorry, this bottle is reserved for a couple getting engaged tonight. <pause> Oh that's not you is it...<awkward silence>" Way to kill the surprise.

If you're going with fire keep it hidden.

Or your quiet evening on a secluded beach might get interrupted by a couple of overly zealous fire fighters. It makes for a great story afterward as my cousin found, but wow the awkwardness as you try to maintain romance with red lights and a bunch of burly guys hanging around waiting for you to finish.

Fake it.

Is your lady friend thinks she's got you all figured out and is expecting a ring any minute? Bring back the balance of power and keep her guessing. Take her on a romantic date or three during the lead-up and the real event is bound to be a surprise again. Be sure to include a box and bended knee somehow on each date. As a mate of mine found though, you'll have the female friends sticking their nose up at you and all will be expecting something huge when it really happens.

That's it from me for now. If you've heard any stories that could act as lessons in the 'do's and don'ts of proposals' - feel free to share them by adding a comment below. I'm sure I don't have an exclusive on this stuff.