Hey! I’m Max from Moments & Waves Photography.

First, congratulations on booking the best venue in the Bay of Islands!!! One reason why I LOVE shooting at Baylys’ Farm… you have a bunch of incredible spots which are all so close to the venue, all of them being on-site! This means less time travelling for your photos and more time sipping on cocktails and soaking up the sun with your guests! How good!?

So… Baylys’ Farm, your dreamy private backyard, with so much space it might get a tad overwhelming when it comes to choosing where to get your photos done. Some are often overlooked or even unknown so I’ve put down some of my favourite spots to goof around with my couples and get some gorgeous photos.

Let’s get stuck in!

1) The Point

Without a doubt this is the staple spot for every couple, with breathtaking 360 views of the Bay of Islands – you can see why it makes for an epic backdrop whilst you soak up the last of the sunlight.

*I personally love the shooting here on a sunny day at sunset or just before, as that gorgeous evening light peeks through the gorgeous Pohutukawa trees and creates a beautiful soft glow, the tree makes enough shade for you, your bridal party and anyone else to keep cool. Then as the sun sets, we can move into the open to soak up the full 360 views.

Travel time from marquee: 5 minutes by foot
Best time for Photos: Late afternoon to sunset
*Note on an overcast day you can choose here whenever as the clouds will diffuse the light
Ideal for: Couple Portraits, Bridal Party photos & Group/Family photos
Notes: I love photographing your group photograph & family photographs post-ceremony here if the weather permits

2) The Rolling hills

The rolling hills and the sunsets right behind these gorgeous rolling hills make the perfect spot to soak up that rich golden light, whilst admiring the views all around you. There are two ridge lines to note here, the first one which you can access by foot is only 5-minute walk from the marquee. It is a nice stroll to reveal beautiful views of the bay. If by chance time has escaped you during golden hour, you can jump into a 4WD and drive up to the 2nd point which is roughly another 80m higher. This will give you another 20-30minutes of that gorgeous golden light. A perfect backup option to be aware of.

PLEASE NOTE: you/or your photographer need to chat with the Baylys’ Farm Team about this, for health and safety reasons your photographer will need to be signed off *4WD is essential

Travel time from Marquee: The First Ridge Line is 5 minutes by foot | The Second Ridge Line is a 5-8minute drive up | *4WD car and sign off by venue is essential*
Best time for photos: Golden Hour
Ideal for: Bridal Portraits & Bridal Party photos
Notes: Please check in with the Baylys’ Farm Team about this before do not attempt without permission or being signed off.

3) The Beaches

Yup, there are two beaches that you can access. First, the smaller of the two is located northwestern side of Baylys’ Farm, covered with beautiful Pohutukawa trees creating an elegant Kiwi summer feel to your photos. A perfect private spot to enjoy some time out. The second beach is located right in front of the marquee, being more of a pebbly beach it has beautiful dark rocks and cliff faces which make for a perfect backdrop for a punchy feel to your photos.

Beach One (Pictured Above)

Travel time from Marquee: 5 minutes by foot
Ideal for: Bridal Party photos, First look, Couple portraits
Best time for photos: Mid to Late Afternoon & Golden Hour
Notes: You need to check your tides, if it is high tide, you won’t be able to access much of this beach

Beach Two (Pictured Above)

Travel time from Marquee: 3 minutes by foot
Ideal for: Bridal Party photos, Couple Portraits
Best time for photos: Mid to Late Afternoon
Notes: You need to check your tides, if it is high tide, you won’t be able to access much of this beach

4) The Farm track

This location is en route to the rolling hills so is a perfect stop-off spot on your way to or back from the rolling hills. This is a nice flat piece of ground which holds a beautiful hill-scape as your background. A timeless spot for any pair or bridal party to have some fun!

Travel time from Marquee: 3 minutes by foot
Ideal for: Couple pPortraits & Bridal Party
Best time for photos: Late Afternoon & Sunset
Notes: This is a great spot to stop off for a quick photo or two on your way to the rolling hills

5) The woolshed

Your classic Kiwi woolshed. This is the perfect spot if you’re faced with some heavy rain on your wedding day and prefer to stay dry. It has a rustic barn look, with ceiling windows which provide some natural light. Perfect for any farm lovers or those who want to stay dry when it’s raining.

Travel time from Marquee: 5-minute drive
Ideal for: Bridal Party Photos, Family Photos & Couple Portraits when it is raining.
Best time for photos: Raining Weather | Mid Morning till Mid-Afternoon
Notes: I would only choose this spot if it was raining or you’re serious farm lovers

6) The Lawn

Located just a few steps from the marquee is a spacious neat lawn for you to enjoy. With views straight out to the bay – this is an epic spot for your family photos, big group photos and even your ceremony if it is too windy on The Point.

Travel time from Marquee: 1 minute by foot
Ideal for: First Look, Group Photo, Family Photos & Ceremony if it’s really windy at the point
Best time for photos: Mid-Day to Late Afternoon
Notes: A perfect spot to get your bigger group photos done, with toilets, bar and food all close by making it a hub for your guests to relax, making it easy to wrangle up your guests for photos. There’s plenty of room to fill everyone together for your big group photo.

7) The Brampton Coastline

The most unknown of all the spots… making it the most unique of them all. Located along the southeastern coastline of Baylys’ Farm is an incredible cliff rock face paired with ocean views. You do need a car, preferably a 4WD to get to this hidden gem, as well as someone who knows the route there (you don’t want to get lost on your wedding day). Along here you can find lush tracks, ocean views and even a jetty right at the end/beginning. Speak with the Baylys’ Farm Team to get directions to this location.

Travel time from Marquee: 10-minute drive
Ideal for: Bridal Party Photos, Couple Portraits & First Look
Best time for photos: Mid-Day to Late Afternoon
Notes: This is off the beaten track so is a perfect spot to sneak off with your bridal party or even a great choice to have your first look

These are some of my favourite spots to celebrate on your big day. But what I personally LOVE when shooting at Baylys’ Farm is you have the option of being able to walk from one key spot to the other, stopping at different spots along the way. This makes for a fun photo walk of sorts, you’ll get a range of beautiful photos from a bunch of different scenes, whilst keeping your portrait sessions more flowy not stiff and stagnant in that one spot!

So, with so many spots to choose from, how do you choose? I always ask my couples whether they’re beachy/water people if so, I’ll try make sure to get some beachy or scenes with the ocean in the background. Otherwise, it comes down purely to what backdrop you like the most, the time of day and your weather. For example, I wouldn’t recommend 4WD’ing up to the second ridge line if it was an overcast day. Have a chat with your photographer and see what they reckon with the light of the day. Trust your photographer, they work with different lighting situations and know what/when will be best for your photos.

Feel free to check out some wedding and elopements that I’ve shot at Baylys’ Farm to see how where I’ve taken couples for their photos throughout the day at @moments_and_waves_photography and momentsandwaves.com

Happy wedding planning and please reach out for any photography questions!