Through Emily’s Lens: Queenstown’s Finest Venues
Emily Adamson is a creative force in the Otago wedding scene and a long-term friend and contributor to Together Journal. Her work has graced our pages and digital platforms consistently over the years, always celebrated for its honesty and artistry. Known for her documentary and contemporary style, she weaves striking visual storytelling with a natural, authentic touch. Having photographed at all of these venues over the years, Emily knows them intimately in a way only a photographer’s eye can. With this insider knowledge of Queenstown,, she has curated a list of her favourite venues for Together Journal, offering couples a rare expert’s perspective on where to celebrate their day. We spoke with her about her artistic approach, her love for the region, and what makes these venues so extraordinary.
Ayrburn
You’ve prepared a list of your favourite Queenstown venues for our readers, in your personal view, what makes Queenstown so special for weddings?
Obviously the scenery plays a major part in attracting couples, and they often can’t wait to share it with their loved ones. They’ve often come here on a holiday and fallen in love or often have come here on family trips as a child and it holds very special memories for them. The amazing food & wine scene, accommodations, activities and road trips surrounding it, means they know that their guests will be able to easily make a holiday out of it too. Queenstown’s the kind of place people will always say yes to. Couples often invite extra guests, assuming half won’t make it, then suddenly everyone’s booking flights because, well, who’s turning down a wedding in QT? Plus, since it’s a proper destination spot, all the local vendors are absolute pros at handling online bookings and making sure couples (and their guests) are totally looked after.
Winehouse
Otago has everything from dramatic alpine peaks to intimate lakeside hideaways. How do these contrasting landscapes shape the way you photograph a wedding?
Those landscapes are often not just a backdrop, they’re part of the story. When I photograph here, I’m not only capturing the details of the day, but also the feeling of being wrapped up in it, the mountains, the lake, the light, all woven in with the people and moments that matter most.
Eichardt’s Private Hotel
Amsfield Winery
Do you have a favourite time of year or season to shoot in Otago, and how does the changing light and seasons influence your work?
The seasons can really shape things for your wedding day. All four are quite different and distinct here and are honestly all beautiful. Winter light could be my favourite, but a long cocktail hour in the sunshine in summer is pretty hard to go past! The different seasons have their own personality that can match with how a couple wants their day too. I could honestly write a book about the seasons here. Autumn means vivid colours, especially around garden venues and Arrowtown which really shows off. The light gets softer and warmer and sunsets time perfectly with dinner, so you get those cozy, candlelit receptions without missing golden hour. Misty mornings, open fires, the flavours of autumn foods and wines are also pretty special and always make me feel like gathering. Winter days are shorter, so ceremonies need to start earlier, usually around 1–2pm depending on what side of Lake Wakatipu you’re on. Winter is usually fairly settled with frosty mornings and blue bird days and being in the sun makes a huge difference to the temperature. The soft, crisp winter light and neutral colour palette are so beautiful for photos. Spring is fresh and green with blossoms popping and as unpredictable as it gets. It can be colder than expected and often windy, so plan layers and backup options in Spring in particular. Maybe suited to the more adventurous couples! Summer gives you long, hot days and sunsets after 10pm. It’s amazing for extended cocktail hours, relaxed evenings, and long hot days. Couples often take a short break from reception and pop out for some golden hour photos at 8 or 9, which is easy at all the venues I’ve listed. Parties seem to go later into the night in summer and weddings burst with colour and energy. Weather reports are notoriously changeable here, don’t bother looking 10 days out, it often changes the day before and if you wake up and its grey and misty in the morning, it usually burns off by 11.
Oakwood Estate
Wedding days rarely run to a perfect script. Do you find beauty in those spontaneous, unplanned moments, and how do you bring them into your storytelling?
For me the more spontaneous, unplanned and unscripted moments the better. I like to be really prepared before hand with all the important info and then let everything unfold as naturally as possible. Throw out the ‘shot list’. Whatever is happening at the wedding is the shot list. When people see their photos, I want them to say “wow I can’t believe she got that”
NZ High Country
Millbrook Resort
If you had to describe your photography style in three words, what would they be and how do those qualities play out in the weddings you capture here?
I’m going to go with real, connected and candid. How that plays out, is that I love being right in amongst the action, but I don’t interrupt moments to contrive something. I anticipate and observe and get so excited when I capture a moment that you might not have even noticed. Sometimes that means blending in and disappearing so that things aren’t changed or hindered by my presence, sometimes that means jumping in to help and be part of the fun. Basically reading the room is super important and if people need some space, I notice. If they want hype and excitement I notice too and ride the energy wave with them. I’ve just always felt that a wedding is not about me, or my chance to create something for me, but to really capture the day in a way that’s meaningful for my couples. I think that makes a big difference not only to their experience on the day but also for years to come when they see the photographs and real interactions and emotions that were happening. What’s the point of looking back at faked moments?
Manata Lodge
What excites you most about being part of the Otago wedding community, and how do you see your work evolving in the years ahead?
The talented locals who make it all happen. There’s something special about working alongside venues, hair and make-up artists, lighting specialists, musicians, florists, planners, chefs, celebrants and stylists. They not only know their craft inside out, but do genuinely care about creating unforgettable days. It feels like everyone’s pulling together, not just to put on a wedding, but to give couples and their families an experience they’ll never forget.
I’ll never tire of the chance to capture more and more real candid moments full of emotion. It’s like an endless treasure hunt for me that never gets old.
Thurlby Domain
Couples often dream of a “destination wedding” in Queenstown or Wanaka. What advice do you give to help them embrace the region and make the most of it visually?
Find vendors you love and trust and then let go and let guide you and provide what they specialise in. From a purely visual & practical point of view of a destination wedding; couples have usually hired a hotel or airbnb for getting ready, which often means small spaces and decor that isn’t personal to them. For best visuals, clear away suitcases, shopping bags, water bottles, and anything that clutters things up. Avoid standing in the shade for your ceremony if the backdrop is in full sun, it creates a tricky contrast. The same goes for shaded balconies and indoor ceremonies held in front of bright windows, they rarely make for great photos. Phones in front of faces in ceremonies. Need I say more? Bringing in additional lighting to reception spaces to create mood, help people see their speeches and covering older marquees with draping makes a big difference.
Royalburn Station
Lake Hayes Pavillion
Outside of weddings, what do you love most about living in your hometown area, the places, people, or rituals that make Queenstown and Otago feel so special to you?
I love how close to nature you are, how multicultural it is and the food scene always has something new to offer. I get a buzz out of seeing how exciting tourists find it and locals still run into each other at the supermarket and say hi. And yep, the views still get me. Whenever I travel away, I am always impressed all over again by just how breathtaking it is.
Deer Park Heights
With her distinctive blend of documentary and contemporary style, Emily Adamson captures weddings with honesty, artistry and flair. Combined with her deep local knowledge and love for Otago’s landscapes, she brings something truly special to every celebration. For couples dreaming of a Queenstown or Wanaka wedding, Emily is not only an expert guide to the region’s most breathtaking locations but also an exceptional photographer, a trusted choice to capture every moment with beauty and authenticity.
For more information visit emilyadamson.com / @emily_adamson
