I love the beach & babies breath

Strong coffee & stormy weather

Hi, I am so glad you're here

I'm Nika. I am a photographer, storyteller, Mama to three wild daughters & wife to my salt of the earth man. We call the beautiful Wairarapa home

As simple as it is, your moments are special and they deserve to be documented. Your photographs are heirlooms, treasures to be passed down through generations and revisited year after year. These are snapshots of each precious season of your life that are worthy of being cherished



My art is rooted in authenticity and my sessions are easy and relaxed. We will laugh and have fun. I will gently curate beautiful organic moments with light guidance and direction. My intention is to always honour your journey and keep things authentic and real. I will never try to mould your connection around my style or create camera-ready versions of you. I want to capture you just as you are - beautiful in your flaws and immersed in the moment

Whether it's an ordinary Sunday morning at home, your toddler's wispy curls in the sun or a fleeting moment captured with the baby you have dreamed of for so long. My intention is to always capture romanticised yet truthful moments that are authentically you. It is my hope to give you honest, artful photographs that will take you back in time and be treasured for generations to come

I can't wait to meet you

Photography can be so much more than just surface snapshots. It can be moments of connection, love in all its depths & women stripped back in our raw, primal essence. Photography can be beautiful art in its own right, that nourishes, remembers, empowers & heals

Of course I want you to fall in love with the way the photos look, but beyond that, I want you to truly feel the connection & love that fills them. I want you to look back in years to come & remember the emotions that you felt in that moment

These images are made for more than social media, they made to be printed, framed & displayed in treasured photo albums. They are a gift to your future self. These are more than just photos, they are family heirlooms to be pored over with grandchildren & a cup of tea in years to come when these moments have become 'the good old days'

I am so grateful when clients allow me the privilege of sharing their photographs. See a snapshot of my portfolio below

View my wedding portfolio here

Who am I.

I am a super nostalgic person. I love old music, photographs, films, places & buildings. I love how art, in all its forms, has the ability to transport you back to a moment in time. To feel the emotions & relive the memories

My muse is my family, my own children in particular. They have taught me that timeless, artful imagery is so much more than getting the perfect photo but it's the moments in between moments that carry the most feeling. I love the thought of capturing nostalgic memories of their childhoods for them to look back on in years to come. I want to give them photos that feel like 'wow, Mum really loved us'

They say ‘it’s not that deep’, but for me, it really is that deep. I see deep, I feel deep. When I am photographing you I am truly able to feel myself in your shoes, to feel the love that you have for your children, your partner & your family. My hope is that this is reflected in the images that I create for you

The Process

Before

Leading up to our session I will help prepare you so that you feel a little more comfortable when we meet. Here are some ways I help support you

QUESTIONNAIRE

As soon as you have confirmed your booking date and paid your deposit I will send a questionnaire to you via email. This helps me get to know you better and gives me an understanding of your visions and how I can best serve you

WHAT TO WEAR GUIDE

Along with your questionnaire I can also send you a guide on what to wear if you feel you need a little guidance. I won't tell you exactly what to wear unless you want me to. The guide helps you understand how the clothes you wear will help enhance the overall look of the images while also helping you feel confident and comfortable. It's not just about getting new clothes but about you feeling like, well, YOU!

I have a client closet with women's outfits from size 6-16 that all of my clients are welcome to use, as well as baby and children's outfits. You are welcome to try these on prior to our session

LOCATIONS

Once I have an idea of your visions we can start choosing a location. This can be somewhere that you feel most comfortable or one of the special places that I know of

During

The fun part! I also know that this can often be a little nerve-racking. I will guide you through every step of the way until you find your natural flow

POSING

At the start of the session you will likely be a little nervous. It is normal to feel unsure about how to pose, look and act for the photos. Don't worry, I got you! We create a connection together through our communication before the session and this helps so much. I am very easy going and have a relaxed approach to photographing. I love to hang out with my clients, talk to you, laugh with you and just have a good time. I am super goofy and people find it hard to not feel comfortable in my presence! I do have plenty of poses and prompts that I can start you off with, but before you know it you will feel comfortable enough to go with your natural flow. If you have children it helps to follow their lead, kids are so perfect for beautiful candid images

MUSIC

One of the questions I will ask you prior to our session is what music you enjoy. If you would like we can play this during our session

After

This is where I work my editing magic and share your beautiful images with you

GALLERY

Within 48 hours of our session I will send you a handful of sneak peak images via message or email. The full gallery of all of your images will be ready within 2-4 weeks. When this is ready I will send you a link to your private online gallery, this is protected by a password. You will be able to download the images from here ready to be printed / shared to your hearts content. This online gallery will be available for download for three months after our shoot date and then stored on a secure hard drive for twelve months for your security