Looking for a South Island wedding photographer who brings a cinematic feel and an editorial eye, but still captures all the things you couldn’t have planned? That’s where I come in. I’m Kassandra, a wedding and elopement photographer based in a quirkly little town called Reefton on the West Coast, travelling throughout Canterbury, Christchurch, and Nelson–Tasman. I spent a large part of my career down south in Dunedin, so Otago & Southland also hold a special place in my portfolio. I’ve spent nearly 15 years photographing celebrations across the island, from mountain & coastal elopements with just a handful of people to weddings where everyone ends up on the dance floor.

My photography blends candid moments with editorial portraits: movement, atmosphere, beautiful light and photographs with a bit of presence. You don’t need to know how to pose or feel completely comfortable in front of a camera. I’ll give you direction when you need it and space when things are unfolding.

Planning a South Island elopement and wondering where to start? I can help with location ideas, photography timing and backup options for our famously unpredictable weather. I’ve got you.

Whether you want a grand celebration that goes until midnight, or something intimate with just the two of you on a mountaintop or empty beach, I’ve got you covered. My work is rooted in the South Island of New Zealand, from Dunedin and Otago, where I spent nearly fifteen years, to the West Coast, which I now call home. After years of exploring this island’s valleys, mountains, beaches and forests, finding the kind of location that makes your jaw drop has become something of a specialty. That local knowledge comes with me wherever we’re heading, whether you’re planning a Canterbury wedding, a Nelson–Tasman celebration or an elopement around Queenstown, Wānaka or the West Coast.

Not sure where to elope in the South Island—or how to choose somewhere that works for you? Tell me what you’re imagining. Mountains, ocean, forest? Somewhere we can drive to, or an adventure with hiking boots and your wedding clothes tucked into a backpack? We can talk through the options, how much walking you’re comfortable with, who’s coming along and how much of your day you want to spend exploring. A jaw-dropping backdrop is wonderful, but you also want to enjoy getting there and have time to take it all in.

And if you’re having a bigger wedding, you don’t have to disappear for hours to get beautiful portraits. We can look at locations close to your venue and build photography into the day around what matters to you. Want to spend cocktail hour with your guests? Keen to slip away for a few photographs when the evening light comes through? Let’s plan for that. There’s room for the photographs you’re excited about and the celebration you’ve brought everyone together for.