Wairarapa & Wellington Wedding Photographer & Elopement Planner
A little about Sam
If you’re here, you’ve probably already realised this. Your wedding isn’t just an event. It’s a moment in your life that deserves to be felt, remembered, and honoured.
I’m Sam, the photographer and elopement planner behind August & Vine. I work with couples who care about meaning, connection, and creating a day that genuinely feels like them.
I don’t photograph weddings as a series of events.
I photograph the human experience unfolding inside them.
How I see the world
I am always looking for beauty. Not in a shallow way, but in a deeply intentional one. I’m drawn to light, atmosphere, nature, and fleeting details that give a moment its feeling.
Whether simple or extravagant, what matters about weddings is that they feel meaningful and true to the people at the centre of them.
That belief shapes the images I create. Elegant and refined, without ever being forced. Beautiful, but always real.
"When you do things from the soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy."
RUMI
Experience & Approach
With over a decade of experience in photography and a background in high-end event management in New Zealand and overseas, I bring calm, structure, and clarity to wedding days.
I understand just how many moving parts sit behind a seamless experience, and how to make them feel effortless.
I use humour to ease nerves and calm presence when things feel big. I will never ask you to push through discomfort for the sake of a photo. Your wedding is not a photoshoot. It’s your life unfolding.
When I’m not behind the camera, you’ll find me outdoors chasing light, travelling, or at home with my two cats, who are a big part of my world.
I love music, books, good food, time near the ocean, and places that feel expansive and grounding all at once.
I’m inspired by art, film, and photography, and I’m endlessly curious about people and the stories they carry. Beauty, intention, and meaning matter to me, in work and in life.
MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS TO CAPTURE HOW YOUR DAY FELT
Let's honour love
I take the time to understand what matters to you. The people you love. The things that feel personal and true. My work is about creating images that hold meaning, not just memories.
The couples I work best with value depth, beauty, and connection. They care about doing things with intention, and they want a wedding or elopement that reflects who they are, not what they feel they are supposed to do.
If you’ve been reading this and quietly thinking, this feels like us, I would love to hear your story.
Love is my focus.
And it always will be.
Client words
"She made us feel confident"
"She put us at ease with her down-to-earth & chill personality. We loved how easy it was to speak to Sam. She made us feel confident during our wedding day & asked us to pose in a way that made us feel natural & look beautiful. The whole portrait session was really wonderful & intimate. The photos were stunning, filled with that soft, natural light."
steve & libby - MARTINBOROUGH
"Felt like one of our friends"
"We had the most amazing photographer who we couldn't recommend enough. Sam from August & Vine was so lovely to work with in the lead up and on the day. She made us feel so at ease and it felt like one of our friends were taking the photos."