Booking Me as Your Professional Photographer in Dunedin

Booking a professional photographer shouldn’t feel intimidating, complicated or overly formal. Whether you need updated branding photos, family portraits, headshots, graduation photos or something a little more creative, my aim is to make the whole experience feel relaxed from the very beginning.

I know being in front of a camera isn’t everyone’s favourite thing. In fact, plenty of people who book me start by telling me they hate having their photo taken. That’s completely okay. You don’t need to know how to pose, where to put your hands or what your “best side” is. That’s my job.

What happens when you first get in touch?

Usually, it starts with a message.

Tell me a little about what you’re looking for, who the photographs are for and what you’d ideally like to walk away with. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you contact me. Sometimes clients arrive with a very clear vision and sometimes we work it out together.

We can talk about location, clothing, backgrounds, the overall feel of the shoot and how you plan to use your images. If it’s a branding or commercial photography session, we can also look at what your business needs visually and create photographs that actually have a purpose rather than simply making a collection of nice pictures.

We plan the shoot around you

There’s no one-size-fits-all formula to the way I photograph people. I really focus on you and your vibe, your needs and your personality.

Some clients want beautifully polished portraits. Others want something natural, casual and full of movement. You might want clean professional headshots, relaxed personal branding photographs around Dunedin, family photos at the beach or something much more editorial and creative.

The session should feel like you.

Before the shoot, I’ll help you think about clothing, locations and the overall look so you arrive knowing what we’re doing without feeling like the whole thing has been choreographed within an inch of its life.

What is it actually like being photographed by me?

Relaxed.

That’s probably the word I’d choose first.

I don’t expect you to arrive knowing how to stand or pose. I’ll guide you as much as you need, but I’m also watching for all those little moments in between — the laugh, the expression, the movement or the split second where you forget about the camera.

There tends to be plenty of talking, experimenting and occasionally laughing at something that absolutely wasn’t part of the original plan.

Good photographs often happen when people stop trying quite so hard to create a “good photograph.”

Choosing the right Dunedin location

One of the lovely things about photographing in Dunedin is the variety we have within such a small area.

We can create something urban and architectural, head to the beach, use one of Dunedin’s beautiful outdoor spaces, photograph at your workplace or create a simple, controlled portrait setup.

The location isn’t just about finding somewhere pretty. It should make sense for you and the photographs we’re creating.

For personal branding especially, your environment can help tell people something about who you are, what you do and how you want your business to feel.

What kinds of photography can you book?

I photograph a fairly broad mix of people and businesses, including:

• Personal branding photography

• Professional headshots

• Business teams and staff

• Commercial photography

• Family and children’s portraits

• Graduation photography

• Modelling portfolios

• Editorial and fashion-inspired portraits

• Creative and illustrative photography

Some shoots are beautifully simple. Others involve a lot more creative planning.

That variety is actually one of the things I love most about being a photographer.

But what if I’m not photogenic?

I hear this a lot. A lot!

Being “photogenic” isn’t something you need to bring with you to a photoshoot.

Lighting, camera angle, expression, body position, lens choice and, most importantly, how comfortable you feel all make an enormous difference to the final photograph.

My job isn’t to force you into a series of poses that don’t feel like you. It’s to work out how you photograph beautifully.

Sometimes that means subtle direction. Sometimes it means movement. Sometimes it means chatting for a while until you completely forget that I’m waiting for that tiny change in expression.

Professional photographs should still feel like you

Whether I’m photographing someone for their business or creating a family portrait, I want the finished photographs to feel recognisable.

Not just physically recognisable.

I want your personality to still be there.

For businesses, that might mean looking confident, approachable and professional without becoming overly corporate. For families, it might mean capturing the relationships between you rather than expecting everybody to stare at the camera and smile perfectly. For a creative portrait, we might push things much further and make something completely unexpected.

The style changes.

The connection doesn’t.

Ready to book me as your professional photographer in Dunedin?

If you’ve been thinking about updating your photographs, you’re welcome to get in touch and tell me what you have in mind.

You don’t need to arrive with a Pinterest board, a detailed shot list or a perfectly formed concept.

Sometimes all we need to begin with is:

“I need some new photos and I have absolutely no idea where to start.”

That’s more than enough.

From there, we can work out what you need, create a session that feels comfortable and make photographs you’ll genuinely be excited to use, share, print or keep.

Looking for a professional photographer in Dunedin? Get in touch and let’s have a chat about what you’d like to create.