Bay of Islands · Northland, New Zealand
Bay of Islands
Wedding Photographer
Documentary and cinematic wedding photography rooted in the Bay of Islands. Rachel Jordan has spent over a decade learning this place... its light, its venues, its spirit, and that intimacy shows in every wedding she photographs here.
Check your date View galleriesA Bay of Islands wedding. Lucky you.
Honestly, the Bay of Islands is one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand to get married - and we might be a little biased... but only a little.
You're probably deep in the planning by now... venues, flowers, all of it. And somewhere in that mix, the photographer question comes up. Maybe you're thinking you need someone from a big city studio, someone with a city-sized portfolio. It's a natural assumption. But here's something worth knowing: some of New Zealand's most talented and awarded wedding photographers aren't in the cities at all. They're scattered across the countryside, in small towns, in places that drew them in and kept them. The Bay of Islands is very much one of those places.
Have a look around, and if it feels like a good fit, we'd absolutely love to hear from you.
A thought worth considering
The value of knowing a place
It makes complete sense. You've found a photographer you love back home, in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, or wherever you're based, you trust their work, and the Bay of Islands is just "the venue." You'll sort the flights, the accommodation, the travel time... and everything will be fine.
And maybe it will be. But there's something a visiting photographer can't replicate, no matter how talented they are: knowing a place. Not just its venues and roads, but its light. The way a summer afternoon rolls across the harbour at Russell. The moment golden hour hits the pohutukawa at Waitangi. The way Kauri Cliffs transforms when the coastal wind changes direction. That knowledge isn't something you pick up on a scouting visit the day before.
The Bay of Islands has a spirit to it, something unhurried and wild and genuinely its own. A photographer who has spent years here doesn't just know the locations. They've absorbed the place. And that shows.
There's a quiet assumption that talent pools in cities. That if a photographer has chosen to build their life in a small town or a rural region, it must mean they couldn't compete elsewhere. We'd gently suggest the opposite is often true.
Some of New Zealand's most internationally recognised photographers have deliberately chosen a life outside the main centres, not because they couldn't succeed there, but because the work called them somewhere else. The Bay of Islands has a way of doing that. It draws people in, and keeps them.
The Bay of Islands isn't a destination you visit to photograph. It's a place you learn to see. That's the photographer you want documenting your wedding here, someone who already knows how to look at this place.
"The light, the spirit, the unhurried wildness of this place... you can't fake knowing it."
Rachel Jordan
Someone who actually lives here
I'm Rachel, and I've been in Kerikeri for well over a decade now. What makes me the right fit for your Bay of Islands wedding isn't really about credentials... it's just that I know this place. I know the light here. I know the pace of it, the wildness, the way everything kind of softens in the late afternoon. That took years to absorb, and it shows up in the work.
I photograph in a documentary way, but that doesn't mean I disappear into the background. I'm right there with you, chatting, checking in, helping people relax into it. A lot of couples are a bit nervous in front of a camera and I love that part of the job, just getting people to laugh, breathe, forget I'm there... and then the real moments start to happen. That's where the good stuff is.
Travel throughout the Bay of Islands and Northland is covered with qualifying packages, so there are no surprise costs on top of what you've budgeted for photography. And if you'd like a cinematic wedding film alongside your photos, we offer videography and content creation too.
More about Rachel → | Kerikeri coverage →
Wedding galleries
Bay of Islands weddings
Recent weddings photographed across the Bay of Islands.
The Bay of Islands
Venues and locations we know well
From the clifftops of Kauri Cliffs to the waterfront streets of Russell, from intimate Kerikeri gardens to remote island ceremonies - this is our landscape, and we know every corner of it. The Bay of Islands is also one of New Zealand's most sought-after destination wedding locations for Australian and international couples, and we'd love to help you plan from wherever you are.
Russell & Omata Estate
New Zealand's first capital, and one of its most romantic. The Duke of Marlborough, Omata Estate vineyard, and a charming waterfront that feels unchanged by time.
Kauri Cliffs
World-class luxury destination weddings on clifftops above the Pacific. The light here is extraordinary, and we know exactly when and where to place you in it.
Paihia & Waitangi
Beachfront ceremonies, coastal farmland, and waterfront venues with sweeping Bay views. Iconic in New Zealand's story, and breathtaking as a backdrop for yours.
Kerikeri & Liddington Gardens
Our home base. Liddington Gardens, the Stone Store, Rainbow Falls, and the orchard-covered heartland that gives the Bay of Islands its soul.
Takou River & Magic Cottages
Lush, subtropical, and utterly private. Riverside retreats perfect for elopements and intimate gatherings - places that feel a world away from everything.
Islands & hidden spots
Boat-access ceremonies, private beaches, clifftop lookouts, and corners of the Bay that most visitors never find. We love an adventure and know where to look.
Bay of Islands venues we've worked at
Words from couples
Rachel is a magician behind the lens. She managed to photograph so many memories we didn't even see on the day. When we received the photos, my goodness - so much love for her work.
Looking through the photos flooded us with the exact emotions we were feeling on the day - a true moment captured in time.
What Rachel captured was just spectacular. She is an amazing creative and talented photographer. We could not be more over the moon - we will treasure these photographs forever.
How it works
Simple from the first message
Whether you're based around the corner or on the other side of the country, getting started is easy.
Say hello
Send us your date, your venue, and a little about yourselves. We'll check availability and get back to you promptly.
We have a chat
A relaxed video call to get to know each other, talk through your day, and make sure it all feels right. No pressure, just a conversation.
You're booked
Once you're happy, we lock in your date with a contract and deposit. From there, we're your photographer - and we can't wait for the day.
Common questions
Booking a Bay of Islands wedding photographer
Is travel included, or do we need to cover your costs?
Travel throughout the Bay of Islands and Northland is included with qualifying packages. Being based in Kerikeri means the whole region is essentially our backyard, and you won't be covering the flights, accommodation, and travel time that come with bringing a photographer up from further away.
Will you know our venue if we've never met in person?
Intimately. We've photographed at Liddington Gardens, Kauri Cliffs, the Duke of Marlborough, Omata Estate, Baylys Farm, Magic Cottages, and many more. We know the light, the grounds, and the moments that make each venue come alive, without needing a pre-wedding site visit.
Shouldn't we trust a city photographer over a rural one?
It's a fair instinct, but we'd gently push back on it. Talent doesn't live in postcodes. Some of New Zealand's most awarded wedding photographers have chosen to base themselves in small towns and rural regions, not because they couldn't compete in the city, but because they didn't want to. What matters is the work, and whether the photographer knows how to work this place.
Can we meet before the wedding if we're not based locally?
Of course. Video calls work beautifully for getting to know each other, and many of our couples are based elsewhere in New Zealand or overseas and hadn't met us in person before the wedding day. It works, genuinely and warmly.
Can you travel to us for an engagement shoot beforehand?
Yes. If you'd like an engagement shoot or a pre-wedding session closer to where you're based, we can discuss that. Travel costs would apply, and we're happy to talk through options when you get in touch.
How far in advance should we book?
9 - 18 months is ideal for popular Bay of Islands spring and summer dates. Peak season (December through February) books especially fast. Reach out as soon as your date is set to check availability.
Let's talk
Ready to talk about your Bay of Islands wedding?
Send us your date and venue. We'd love to hear about your day, and tell you a little about what we know of the place you've chosen.
Get in touch View pricing
