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Wedding Photographer in NZ
(Southland & Otago)
Your wedding photos are more than just pretty pictures – they’re time machines. They’ll take you back to that nervous laugh before the vows, your grandma tearing up during the speeches, and that epic dance move you maybe wish you’d kept between you and the DJ. That’s why choosing the right wedding photographer in New Zealand is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your big day.
This guide explains why you need a photographer, how to choose the right one, what it all costs, and why our packages are designed to make life easier.
Quick navigation // Table of Contents
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>>> Send me a personalized quote! <<<
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Where can I find an affordable wedding photographer in NZ?
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What is included in a wedding photography package?
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How far in advance should I book a wedding photographer?
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Do wedding photographers provide edited photos?
This Is Why You Need a Wedding Photographer
Yes, everyone has a smartphone. But let’s be honest: you don’t want blurry, badly lit photos taken by your cousin who wandered off halfway through the speeches. A professional photographer knows how to capture the moments you’ll want to relive forever.
Here’s why it matters:
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Professional Skill – A wedding photographer understands lighting, composition, and timing.
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Storytelling – Your day is more than snapshots; it’s a narrative filled with emotion.
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Reliability – They’ll be there, start to finish, no matter what. (Yes, even in Southland’s unpredictable weather.)
These are memories you can’t redo.
Invest once, enjoy forever.
Baylee & Liam - Lake Monowai / Borland
How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Photographer
So, how do you find the one? Start by asking yourself what style you love. Do you want bright and airy shots? Moody and cinematic tones? Something documentary-style that feels natural?
Here are a few practical tips:
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Check Their Portfolio – Past work shows you how they see a wedding day.
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Ask Questions – Do they know the local venues? Can they handle tricky lighting?
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Budget – Make sure their packages fit comfortably within your overall wedding costs.
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Location – Hiring someone local to Queenstown, Wanaka, Dunedin, or Invercargill can save you on travel fees.
The perfect photographer is someone who not only takes stunning images but also makes you feel comfortable in front of the lens. After all, forced smiles rarely make timeless photos.
Gabby (and Josh) - Sandfly Bay / Dunedin
How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost
Let’s address the elephant in the room: price. In New Zealand, wedding photography packages typically range from NZD $2,000 to $6,000+, depending on experience, hours of coverage, and extras like albums or second shooters.
Factors that influence cost:
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Coverage Time – Full-day weddings cost more than a 4-hour elopement.
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Travel – Photographers may add travel costs, especially in remote areas.
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Editing & Delivery – Thousands of images need careful editing before they’re delivered.
Yes, it’s an investment, but think of it as paying for peace of mind. Photos are one of the few wedding details that last long after the flowers fade and the cake is gone. (And cake goes fast.)
Gemma (and Matthew) - St. Patrick's Catholic Church / Arrowtown
What Does Our Wedding Photography Package Include
When you book us, you’re not just getting someone who clicks a button. You’re getting a full experience designed to tell your love story. Our packages include:
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Pre-wedding consultation to understand your vision.
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Full-day coverage with professional equipment.
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Hundreds of carefully edited, high-resolution photos.
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A private online gallery for easy sharing with friends and family.
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Optional extras like albums, prints, or engagement sessions.
No hidden fees, no nasty surprises – just photos you’ll treasure forever. For our most up-to-date offers, reach out and we’ll walk you through the options.
Taylah & Jim - Family Farm / Waimumu
Why You Should Choose Us
I’m George — lead creative at Red Guy Films. Since 2005, I’ve been crafting emotional, story-driven content across television, advertising, and weddings.
After moving to New Zealand, I’ve filmed dozens of unforgettable celebrations throughout Southland and Otago — each one as unique as the couple at its centre.
There are plenty of talented photographers out there, so why choose our team?
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Dual Service – Besides photography, you can also book a videographer with us. That means one team, one travel fee, and a consistent style across photos and film.
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Local Knowledge – Based in the South Island, we know the best spots in Queenstown, Wanaka, Dunedin, Invercargill etc.
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Experience – With years in the wedding and film industry, we know how to stay calm under pressure. (Yes, even when the flower girl runs off with the rings.)
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Natural Style – We focus on authentic, candid moments – not stiff, awkward posing.
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Seamless Process – From enquiry to final delivery, we keep things simple, clear, and stress-free.
Your wedding deserves a team that understands both the cinematic and emotional side of storytelling. That’s exactly what we deliver. For the latest offers and availability, get in touch with us today – or check out our package options below.
"George was an amazing person to have along on the wedding day. His communication leading up to it was perfect, and we found George hilarious and joyful! On the day he was great at capturing candid moments and (...) his talent has shone through in the details and amazing quality. George bought no fuss at all and he was a joy to be around. We are so happy with our video it’s beautiful and so special to see captured from such a talented creator."
Gabby Caldwell
"George created a beautiful video for us - capturing the best moments from our special day, something we will be able to cherish forever. George delivered our highlight, reception and ceremony videos on time. He was super helpful from the start, great communication and amending his video package to suit what we were after and our budget. Thank you George for capturing our day so perfectly."
Julia Miller
"(...) I could not recommend George highly enough. From the communication and organization to the amazing film he put together, everything was done perfectly. His film was done to such a high standard and he had such attention to the small details which made for such a wonderful film. You can tell George is a perfectionist, from any of the films he has done they are all put together to tell the individual story. Also - I don't know how he done it but he is very discreet in the filming, did not even notice he was there which made for such a authentic looking film. (...)"
Abby Henderson
Elopement | Wedding
photography packages
HOW MUCH COVERAGE DO I NEED?
The ideal coverage time really depends on your wedding plans and what moments you want to be captured. For many elopements and smaller weddings, 4 hours may be more than enough. If you'd like your photos to include everything from getting ready through to the evening celebrations, 9+ hours is a safe bet.
CAN WE CUSTOMISE A PACKAGE?
Absolutely! The packages are designed to cover the most common requests, but we know that every celebration is different. Some couples ask for extended coverage on the day, or faster delivery — and we're always happy to explore those options. If you have something special in mind, just reach out and we’ll create a custom solution that suits you best.
PAYMENT DETAILS
To secure your date, we require a $600 deposit. The remaining balance is due two weeks before the wedding day.
Elope Pack
GREAT FOR ELOPEMENTS OR COVERING
THE CEREMONY AND COUPLE’S PHOTOSHOOT ON THEIR WEDDING
FILM
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up to 4 hours of coverage
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3-4 minute highlight film in 4K resolution
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60-80 second social media trailer
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separate 1-camera video of the ceremony
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these three videos will be delivered within 5 weeks
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up to 150 km of travel included *
PHOTO
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up to 4 hours of coverage
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200+ edited, colour corrected, high resolution photos
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private online gallery with a download link
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sneak peak photos delivered within a week
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all photos will be delivered within 5 weeks
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up to 150 km of travel included *
from
$2200
from
$1700
Combined (Film & Photo) from
$3800
Movie Pack
IDEAL FOR MOST FULL-DAY WEDDINGS,
FROM GETTING READY TO THE FIRST DANCE
FILM
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up to 9 hours of coverage
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5-6 minute highlight film (in 4K)
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70-90 second social media trailer
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separate 2-camera video of the ceremony
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separate 1-camera video of the evening speeches
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these four videos will be delivered within 6 weeks
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up to 150 km of travel included *
PHOTO
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up to 9 hours of coverage
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400+ edited, colour corrected, high resolution photos
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private online gallery with a download link
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sneak peak photos delivered within a week
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all photos will be delivered within 6 weeks
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up to 150 km of travel included *
* WHAT ABOUT TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION?
All our packages include up to 150 km of travel (75 km each way) from Invercargill. Beyond that, additional travel is charged at $0.90/km. If your wedding location is more than 150 km from Invercargill (for example, Queenstown, Wanaka, Cromwell, Alexandra, or Dunedin), an accommodation fee of $150/person/night applies. For longer distances or international travel, please get in touch for a custom quote.
"Wow. Holy smokes. The tears were flowing whilst watching our highlight film! George, you have outdone yourself! Just amazing, both Jim and I love it and even our wee boy Enari said 'Wow mum, that’s so beautiful!' Thank you so much for getting this done so quickly... your efficiency is amazing! I will be recommending your professional service to anyone (...)! Thank you for your assistance in preparing for our big day, weddings can be so stressful but I did not feel I had to worry at all about if you were capturing a moment, because you were right there all of the time. From my family to yours, thank you so much George! We hope you had fun filming our day ❤️"
Taylah King
"We had seen George's work through a local footy fundraiser, we seen his wedding videography online and fell in love! While on our honeymoon we received our first of 3 videos and were extremely happy with them! He was professional & prompt on our wedding day, mostly out of sight and worked in well with our timeline, requests and with our photographers! We couldn't have asked for a more suited video package and will most definately be recommending him to our family and friends!"
Baylee Egerton
"We organised our New Zealand wedding from Australia, and that’s how I came across George’s work. I really loved his films and all the positive reviews, so I reached out to him straight away. From then on, everything happened just as others had described: the communication was fast and smooth, which made a huge difference given we were organising from overseas! George is reliable and kind, and at the same time he delivers amazing work. Everything turned out so beautifully, all thanks to the effort and teamwork he and Caleb put in. We truly appreciate the dedication and hard work, we will always cherish the beautiful moments you’ve both captured and made them even more special. Thanks again, we appreciate you both so much!"
Donna Bernardino
How to Request a Quote?
Ready to chat? Here's how it works:
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REACH OUT — YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE
Get in touch to see if your wedding date is available. We’d love to hear about your plans too — the more details you share, the better we can tailor our services to fit your day perfectly.
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TAILORED PACKAGE — BOOK & CELEBRATE
If it feels like the perfect match for both of us, we’ll make it official with a signed agreement and a deposit — and from that point on, we’ll be counting down to your big day together!
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CRAFTING THE DETAILS
Before the wedding, your photographer will work with you to create a schedule for when and where photos will be taken. We'll go over those details with you, and you're always welcome to reach out if anything comes up in the meantime.
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YOUR WEDDING DAY
We show up ready and focused, so you can relax and truly soak in the experience with the people you love. While we keep a low profile to capture the moments as they naturally unfold, we’ll gently step in with guidance whenever it’s needed to keep things flowing smoothly.
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DELIVERY — YOUR STORY, TOLD IN BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS
A preview selection of your photos will be delivered within one week after the wedding. Every image is edited with care and attention to reflect your story in a unique way. Once your complete gallery (and film) are finished, you’ll receive a private link to view and download all your captured memories.
"George is brilliant!! The footage is absolutely perfect and was delivered quickly. Communication before and after was really good, and on the day he had such a nice relaxed vibe, discreetly capturing so much excellent footage. 1000% recommend working with Red Guy Films!"
Lyndsay Peek
"(...) From the start, George was incredibly friendly, making us feel comfortable and at ease. His organisational skills were top-notch, ensuring everything ran smoothly on the big day. Communication was excellent throughout the entire process, and he really took the time to understand our vision. Most importantly, his creativity truly shone through in the final video. We’re so happy with how it turned out and would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a talented and professional videographer!"
Angus Larsen
"(...) There is something special about his films that others don’t have. (...) He knows what he is doing, his passion for each couples film is just incredible. (...) I honestly cannot express how amazing George is at what he does. The thought, the detail and care he puts into the videos is noticeable. Am over the moon and cannot thank you enough, definitely definitely DEFINITELY worth the money. Thank you George, so much ❤️ (...)"
Erin Egerton
FAQ
Where can I find an affordable wedding photographer in NZ?
Start by comparing local photographers in your region. Wedding Films by Red Guy offers packages across the South Island to suit different budgets.
What is included in a wedding photography package?
Most packages cover full-day shooting, edited high-resolution photos, and an online gallery. With us, you can also add extras like albums or engagement sessions.
How far in advance should I book a wedding photographer?
Ideally 9–12 months ahead, especially for popular summer dates in Queenstown and Wanaka. The earlier you book, the better your chances.
Do wedding photographers provide edited photos?
Yes – professional editing is standard. At Wedding Films by Red Guy, we carefully edit every delivered image so your gallery looks consistent and timeless.