We sit down with leading wedding photographer, Kate Roberge.
Today on the journal, we have a chat with one of New Zealand’s leading photographers, and all round beautiful human, Kate Roberge.
Tell us a little about yourself and your journey into weddings and events.
I’ve started out my journey to weddings in the fashion industry in Vancouver, Canada. There I shot campaigns and creative projects while going to school for darkroom chemistry and hair and makeup (to be able to fix and communicate H&M with the artists I was working with). When I moved to Queenstown almost 9 years ago, there wasn’t much fashion to be found so I found my passion in the weddings I was asked to capture and have never looked back!
Explain your style in one sentence.
A collection of moments full of joy with an effortless and editorial edge.
Wedding trends you’re excited to see more of in upcoming seasons
I love when people take what truly makes them happy and they play with that in theirwedding day to create something that’s not just the textbook ‘wedding’. Whether that be wearing the red Prada mules they’ve been wanting FOREVER and can finally justify because of the ‘wedding budget’ with their dress, having a single steam of their grandma’s favourite flower as their bouquet to honour her or having crepes as their cocktail hour food because they can’t imagine a better snack to share with their friends. When couples can truly do that, you can just feel who they are in every moment of their day and the love that emanates from them is infectious and are the days I still remember after being a part of over 800 wedding days.
Favourite wedding or event from this past year.
A wedding in October where the couple invited 25 of their favourite people to one of Queenstown newest venues Wonder & Full and did everything THIER way. It was unimaginably stylish, so relaxed and they had all of their favourite things (crepes, margaritas and a sax for the dancefloor) to make their day not just what wedding magazines or instagram feeds promote as ‘a dream wedding’ (although it was that too) but just a day full of everything they loved as a couple.
What is something you wish clients understood when discussing wedding photography?
That your wedding day isn’t about the photography, almost ever. It’s about you having the best day, whatever that means to you as a couple, then with the right photographer, the photos will simply reflect that in the style you love!
Career highlight so far and a goal you’re striving to work towards?
Although I’m so lucky to have had a lot of amazing things happen in my time as a wedding photographer, this year I had some of my wedding editorial work featured on a billboard in Time Square in New York City. That was a goal I didn’t even know I could have so when the bridal company let me know and sent through the video, it was truly a heart stopping moment!
What does a typical Saturday morning look like for you?
First... I sleep in as much as my two cats will let me (which is usually roughly 7am..) then have a shower, do my skincare routine, meditate, stretch and go upstairs to put on a record and have a matcha with my husband Hamish as he drinks coffee. Then usually we just refill our cups as many times as we’d like, put on as many records as I have time for then I start getting ready for a wedding day around 10am for what usually is a 10 hour wedding day.
Benefits for you when your clients engage a wedding planner.
I can always tell when a couple has a good wedding planner, because the experience by the end of the process is still full of so much joy and excitement. Logistics can get anyone down, especially if it’s not their job, so giving that to someone else to handle can be an absolute dream (even if it’s just the end of the planning process!).
Imagery: Kate Roberge
