The Investment
There are no forced poses, no studio lights, and no pressure to be perfect. When you book a session with me, you are investing in an honest time capsule of your family unit—exactly as you are right now.
"We spend so much time chasing perfect, posed memories, yet the images we ache for decades from now are simply the beautiful, unshielded moments of us living our lives together—the raw atmosphere of home, the unchoreographed laughter, and the quiet magic found entirely within the mundane."
"There is an immense, unspoken poetry in the way your family moves through a normal day. You carry on with the beautiful, messy work of parenting, and I will capture the magic of it all—completely unscripted."
scroll for pricing packages
The Documentary Snippet (Mini Session)
$500 NZD
Perfect for capturing a specific morning or afternoon routine.
What is included:
- 2 Hours of Coverage: Focused on a single chapter of your day (e.g., breakfast chaos, a trip to the beach, or bedtime routines)
- Expertise & Artistry: 30 years of professional photography experience applied to chasing light, composition, and authentic atmosphere.
- The Digital Collection: 30+ high-resolution, signature black-and-white JPEG images.
- Private Online Gallery: A beautiful online space to view your images and download them directly to your computer.
- Note: Photo books and print boxes are available as optional add-ons upon gallery delivery.
The Full-Day Documentary Story (The Complete Experience)
$800 NZD (Most Popular) (Introductory price)
For families who want to completely bottle up this chapter of their lives.
What is included:
- A Dedicated Day: A full day of coverage where I move in and out of your routine, capturing your natural family flow.
- Expertise & Artistry: 30 years of professional photography experience applied to chasing light, composition, and authentic atmosphere.
- The Digital Collection: 50–100 high-resolution, signature black-and-white JPEG images.
- Private Online Gallery: A beautiful online space to view your images and download them directly to your computer.
- The Album Preview: A complimentary custom digital mockup of a photo book featuring your session's story.
- Note: Photo books and print boxes are available as optional add-ons upon gallery delivery.
Please Note: To celebrate the launch of my new documentary style, these introductory rates are locked in for sessions booked before the end of the year. Standard professional pricing will apply to future calendar releases.
Matte art print box
$400 NZD (OPTIONAL ADD-ON)
Product Details:
- The Collection: A curated set of 20 signature 4x6 inch prints from your documentary session.
- Premium Art Paper: Printed on gorgeous, tactile 230gsm cotton-rich matte paper.
- Made to be Handled: Professionally printed by a premier lab using an ultra-matte finish and specialized ink that absorbs into the paper, making them incredibly durable and resistant to fingerprints.
- Beautiful Presentation: Safely housed in a beautiful, keepsakes box for elegant storage and display.
- Complete Design: I select and crop the absolute best 20 storytelling images for you to ensure a beautiful visual narrative.
The Custom Heirloom Photo Book
$800 NZD (Optional Add-On)
Product Details:
- Premium Craftsmanship: Professionally printed and hand-bound in Australia.
- The Details: Sleek 8x6 inch size featuring 12 lie-flat pages (24 sides).
- Archival Quality: Printed on exquisite matte art paper designed to last for generations.
- Modern Design: A contemporary cover available in a curated selection of bold colours.
- Complimentary Design Service: I curate and design the layout for you at no extra cost.
- Two Rounds of Revisions: Includes two free rounds of changes if you want to swap out specific images.
- Note: Larger sizes or additional pages can be added upon request for an extra cost.
Availability & Pricing Notice: To ensure each family receives my full focus and artistic energy, I only accept a limited number of documentary sessions each month. These introductory prices are subject to change as future calendar slots open up.
The Fine Print
extra information
Can I buy a gift session? Yes, via our "Opt-In Deposit" system. If the gifted family loves the documentary concept, we book a date! If they prefer an alternative style, the deposit can be gracefully repurposed into a shorter lifestyle portrait shoot.
Travel: Sessions within Waiheke/Auckland inner City are fully covered. Travel outside this area can be arranged for a small additional fee.
Payment: A 20% non-refundable retainer is required to secure your date, with the balance due before the shoot day.
Delivery: Your digital gallery will be ready within 3–4 weeks of your session.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 2-HOUR MINI SESSION AND THE FULL-DAY SESSION, AND HOW DO I CHOOSE?
The main difference comes down to the rhythm of your day and the depth of the story you want to tell.
The 2-Hour Mini Session ($500 NZD) is a condensed "Snippet" of your life. It is highly focused on capturing a single, specific routine—like the energetic chaos of making Sunday morning pancakes, a quick afternoon trip to your local beach, or the quiet, cozy rhythm of the bedtime routine. It is perfect if you have very young children with short attention spans, or if you want to test the waters of documentary photography with a specific moment in mind.
The Full-Day Session ($800 NZD) is the "Complete Story." Because I move in and out of your home over the course of a whole day, the pressure completely disappears. We aren't rushing to fit anything into a two-hour window. Instead, we capture the entire beautiful arc of your family unit—the quiet mornings, the midday errands, the afternoon downtime, and the evening wind-down. It allows for those deeper, unexpected "fly-on-the-wall" moments that only happen when everyone completely forgets a camera is in the house.
Choose the Mini Session if: You want to capture one favorite daily ritual, are working within a specific budget, or want a quick, beautiful archive of your current chapter.
Choose the Full-Day Session if: You want a complete, generational time capsule of your entire family reality, want the deepest and most relaxed variety of images, and want a complimentary custom mockup of a physical heirloom book designed for you.
FAQ
Do we need to clean the house or tidy up before you arrive?
Absolutely not. Please resist the urge to deep-clean! Toys on the floor, dishes by the sink, and unmade beds are the authentic backdrops of this season in your family's life. I am entirely non-judgmental—I raised three girls and know exactly what the beautiful chaos of parenting looks like. I am there to document your real life, not a staged magazine spread.
What should we wear?
Wear what you would normally wear on a regular day. There is no need for matching outfits, stiff fabrics, or uncomfortable formal clothes. If your child wants to wear their favourite superhero costume, mismatched socks, or a well-loved t-shirt, let them! The goal is for everyone to feel completely relaxed and true to themselves.
My kids can be wild/shy. What if they don't cooperate?
That is the beauty of this style—there is no "cooperating" required. Because we aren't trying to force anyone to sit still, smile, or look at the camera, your children can just be themselves. If they throw a tantrum, need a cuddle, get wild, or go quiet, I will simply capture the honest emotion of that moment. You don't need to stress about them "behaving."
Isn't it awkward having a photographer follow us around all day?
It might feel a little unique for the first twenty minutes, but it passes quickly. I don’t just stand there staring through a lens; I come in, have a cup of tea, chat with you, and blend right into the family dynamic. Furthermore, I don't stay in your pocket all day. I move in and out of your space, taking regular hour-long breaks to give your family breathing room and privacy to recharge.
Why is the final collection exclusively in black and white?
Black and white imagery strips away distractions and highlights pure emotion. When you remove colour from a photograph, your eyes naturally focus on the expressions, the atmosphere, the light, and the underlying connection between people. It gives the collection a classic, cinematic, and timeless "reportage" feel that perfectly suits documentary storytelling.
Black and white imagery strips away distractions and highlights pure emotion. When you remove colour from a photograph, your eyes naturally focus on the expressions, the atmosphere, the light, and the underlying connection between people. It gives the collection a classic, cinematic, and timeless "reportage" feel that perfectly suits documentary storytelling.
A wide-angle lens creates an incredible sense of intimacy. Unlike telephoto lenses that shoot from far away, a 24mm lens requires me to be physically closer to the action. This mimics the actual perspective of being a part of the room, making the final images feel like a genuine, close-up glimpse into your world rather than an unattached observation.
The full day documentary session is $800 NZD. This investment covers my full day with your family, my 30 years of professional skill, and many hours of post-shoot editing. You will receive 50–100 high-resolution, black-and-white JPEG images delivered via a private online gallery with free digital downloads.
Why do you use a wide-angle 24mm lens?
HOW MUCH DOES THE FULL DAY DOCUMENTARY SESSION COST, AND WHAT IS INCLUDED?
The custom photo book is a premium, optional heirloom ($800 NZD). It is an 8x6 inch book featuring 12 lie-flat pages (24 sides) printed on archival matte art paper, professionally hand-crafted in Australia with a bold, contemporary cover. I design the layout for you for free, and you get two rounds of complimentary image revisions. It is a stunning, physical time capsule built to last generations.
Tell me more about the custom photo book.
What is the difference between the Print Box and the Photo Book?
Both options are printed on the same stunning, archival matte art paper from a premium professional lab. The Custom Photo Book ($800 NZD) is a permanently bound, large-format heirloom designed to feature your entire day's story across 24 pages. The Custom Print Box ($400 NZD) features 20 loose, ultra-durable 4x6 inch prints housed in a presentation box. The loose prints are perfect if you want a tactile collection you can hold, frame individually, or pass around the table to family members.
Yes, it is a truly beautiful and thoughtful gift—but with one important condition.
Because my documentary sessions require me to blend into the intimate rhythm of a home for up to a full day, it is vital that both parents are completely on board and excited about the concept. I never want to step into a home where anyone feels uncomfortable or pressured to perform.
To make gifting stress-free for everyone, I offer a flexible "Opt-In Deposit” system:
The Gift Deposit: You pay a small, upfront deposit of [e.g., $100 / $200 NZD] to secure a beautiful, custom gift certificate to present to the family.
The Family's Choice: Once gifted, the family has the freedom to chat with me, explore my style, and officially "opt in" to the session. If they love the idea, the balance is paid, and we lock in a date!
The Gracious Exit: If the family feels that a documentary-style session isn't the right fit for them, they can choose to gracefully "opt out." In that case, your deposit can be fully repurposed towards a standard, shorter lifestyle portrait session or refunded back to you.
This ensures your gift remains a joyous, pressure-free surprise for the people you love. [Get in touch here] to arrange a gift voucher!
Can I buy a Family Documentary session as a gift?
