Wellington Photographer: Who am I?

Who am I?

I am a multi award winning photographer based in Wellington, New Zealand. I am also a member of NZIPP (NZ Institute of Professional Photography) which is New Zealand's only qualifying body for professional photographers. I am a fully qualified member and recently won 4 bronze awards and 2 silver awards at the 2013 NZIPP IRIS Awards which attract entries from NZ's best photographers.
I love to photograph babies and children and I specialise in them because it's what I do best.
I am one of Wellington's best baby and child photographers and I offer a unique style and a WOW! experience that you won't find anywhere else!
I have two children of my own and love them to bits, so I understand how much you love yours! Being a mother and having unmistakable passion for what I do makes me a better photographer than I ever could have been otherwise! When I'm photographing your family, I will photograph them in the same way that I would want my own family photographed..
Relationships... quirks... individual personalities and traits that make your children unique.. playing.. fun.. smiles.. laughter.. chatter... all the good things in life.... when you look at the images your heart will warm and be overfilled with joy.... even years down the track when they're testing your patience as a teenager!!

What do I do?

I take SERIOUSLY CUTE photos! Mostly of babies, but I LOVE to photograph PEOPLE of all ages!
I am passionate about what I do and I strongly believe that custom portrait photography is essential to record those precious and fleeting stages but I also understand that it is a luxury for some people and I guarantee that you will have a relaxed, friendly and professional experience and receive great value for money!
I can guide you through the entire process from location selection, advice on clothing and styling right through to image and product selection afterwards.
I offer prints, canvasses and packages to suit a wide range of budgets. For more information about pricing view the 'pricing' page and get in touch for more details.
I love to hand deliver products where possible and will even hang your canvasses and frames for you if you wish!
The bottom line is I care about you and I value your memories.


What now?

If you'd like some seriously cute photos of your baby or kids, then get in touch to arrange a meeting or jump straight into a session - I look forward to meeting your family and I promise to put in 110% every time I pick up my camera.
email: jane@photographybyjane.co.nz or send me a message through the 'contact' tab. While you're at it, join the mailing list and go in the draw to win a free session!
mob: 021 213 4941
ph. 04 565 0188
www.nzipp.org.nz - New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography

FAQ's:

Here are some answers to a few commonly asked questions.  If you don't find the answer you're looking for here, please head over to the "contact" page and send me an email or give me a call!


1.  What sort of photos do you take?

I specialise in maternity and babies with emphasis on TIMELESS, TASTEFUL and SERIOUSLY CUTE.
I photograph babies, children and people of all ages.  Sometimes people even bring their pets along!  If you're anything like me, they're part of the family!
All babies have families, and some have siblings too, so if you bring them along, I will photograph them!
2.  Where and when do you take the photos?

I offer two different types of sessions - location and studio.  Studio sessions take place at my home based studio in Lower Hutt, and are more suited to newborns and younger babies, and a great back up option if the weather isn't suitable for an outdoor session.  Any maternity sessions involving partial nudity are generally done in studio, but environmental settings can be arranged and is always based around your comfort.
Location sessions can be done anywhere within the Wellington region but my absolute favourite place to shoot is my backyard!  We are very spoiled with living in a huge park-like setting which borders the Hutt River and offers a beautiful natural setting which kids love to explore!
When?  For studio shoots, any time of day works well.  For outdoor shoots I prefer to shoot in the early morning or late afternoon - this allows for the most flattering light in order to get the best out of your session.  Outdoor sessions can be done at other times during the day dependent on the location. I do a majority of shoots on the weekdays but have weekend sessions available also. 
3.  How much do sessions cost?
All sessions are $159 - prints and products are purchased separately. For more information see the pricing page.  Enquire about the SUPER SPECIAL "Fun and Frolic" Digital package which is currently $599. (normally over $1100!)
4.  What should we wear for our session?

This can sometimes be hard to advise on, as everyone is different and I like to encourage people to wear clothing that is consistent with their style and personality - I always say if you feel good, you generally look good.
Having said that, there are some good tips to bring out the best in your styling - for family photos it's nice to have clothing that co-ordinates, but you don't have to match. Perhaps pick one colour and use it throughout the group.   For kids and babies, simple is best - denim is a great option and goes with anything.  Try to avoid bold patterns and prints, or clothing that is likely to date quickly.  Shoes are also not needed for studio sessions, but are a good idea to bring to outdoor sessions just in case.
5.  How long do the sessions take?

Between 1-2 hours is a good guide for most shoots, although sometimes we need up to 2 hours for a newborn shoot as they tend to require feeding, changing and burping at some point in there!  If you're coming for a newborn session, bring a dummy if you can - lifesaver!!  Even if you don't normally use one, they can be very handy for the duration of the session, especially if you want sleepy artistic images.
6.  What happens after my session?
Within 3 weeks of your session you will be presented with an online gallery and then there can be as little or as much involvement on my part as you want - I am happy to let you discuss and view amongst yourselves, or I am happy to be on hand to offer advice and help with the selection process.   There is no minimum spend or pressure to buy but we do ask that any purchasing decisions are made during the time the gallery is online so please consult anyone significant to these decisions. 
You are welcome to make a date and time to view the photos in person in studio and you are more than welcome to bring grandparents or anyone else who wishes to view the photos.
7.  Will you share my photos on Facebook?

Yes, but only with your permission.  Usually within a day or 2 after your session I put a preview photo up on Facebook - something to look at while you wait for your full gallery!  Most of my clients love the idea as they can "tag" themselves in the photo and share it with their friends and family.  I do not mind if you use the photo as your profile photo but please do not crop out the logo - this is in place to protect both my photography and your images.

Information on different session types

Maternity - Studio or location shoots can work well for bump shots... Moody studio lighting with bare bodies, or soft romantic late light outdoors..   The optimal time to have your maternity session is around 32-36 weeks.  Book as far in advance as you can to avoid disappointment.

Newborn - All my newborn photos are taken within the first 2 weeks.  After this newborn babies lose their squishyness and flexibility and these are the unique moments you will look back on and be glad you captured..  register your interest for a newborn shoot as far ahead as possible - i will always try to fit you in at short notice.
wrinkly toes.. sleepy smiles.. tiny bundles..

Babies - 3, 6 and 9 months or sitting and standing ages are wonderful milestones to capture in your babies life.  In the first year it is incredible how much they grow and change and when they hit the teenage years you will fondly look back at these images and smile... and sigh!  If you have to choose one age only then around 6-8 months when they are sitting but not yet crawling is perfect.
squishy cheeks... chubby bums.. heart-melting squeals.. ticklish giggles.. gummy smiles..

Children - Anytime is a great time to photograph your kids - don't wait until "that" stage passes, or that front tooth grows back - these are the individual quirks that define your children and their childhood and when you look back upon your images you will remember WHO they are.. just don't train them to "smile" for me.. I have ways of bringing out the natural beauty of their spirit.
funny faces.. natural smiles.. sibling squabbles.. brotherly love.. cheeky grins..

Families - Photograph your family as much and as often as you can!  I consider it a privilege to be able to create memories for future generations of your family to treasure and I love to create images that reflect your personalities and character in a natural and relaxed way.  Don't put if off thinking you'll wait till you lose that last 5kg, or get rid of those grey hairs.. just do it now!  You never know what is around the corner.. and I will always do my absolute best to make you look fantastic!
family fun.. striking resemblances.. relaxing and playing..