My lovely model Lucy Oakley and I recently headed to a local beach in the beautiful Bay of Islands for a play session... golden sand, warm afternoon light, and a little creative experimentation.
The technique we used is one of my absolute favourites: a clear lens filter with a small amount of Vaseline applied to the corners. Not on the lens itself, just the filter - an important detail. What it creates in camera is a super dreamy, ethereal glow that softens all the lines around your subject. The amount you apply controls exactly how subtle or dramatic the effect is, which I love.
I also combined it with crystals held in front of the lens to get some beautiful light refraction and extra magic in the frame.
You can achieve something similar with diffusion filters, but there's something about doing it this way... tactile, analogue, happening right there in the moment... that a digital edit never quite replicates.
I don't use this at every wedding, but for couples who love that soft, romantic, slightly otherworldly aesthetic, it's one of the tools I will occasionally reach for.
Photography is always about playing, exploring, and finding artistic ways to express yourself. The Vaseline trick is for sure a favourite - and the Bay of Islands, with its beauty, is always the perfect place to play.
Rachel Jordan - 5x Master of Photography, Sony Alpha Wedding Photographer of the Year 2025, based in Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, Northland, New Zealand.
