The Fleetwood Mac Experience: Raw vs. Edited
Raw vs. Retouched: How I Edit Live Music Photos to Keep the Vibe Alive
There's a heartbeat to live music that pulses through the air, the speakers, and straight into the lens. Backstage at The Fleetwood Mac Experience, I wasn't just taking photos—I was chasing a feeling. The raw, unfiltered energy of a performance is magic, but how does that translate from the vibrating stage lights to a finished image? In this behind-the-scenes moment, I’m pulling back the curtain to show you the journey—from the raw, gritty captures straight out of the camera to the edited frames that amplify the soul of the show.
It’s where technical skill meets emotion, and where every adjustment is made to make you feel the music all over again.
See Steph's recipe and her cookbook on her website here: Steph Peirce
Steph's Instagram
Stories behind the lens — the heart, the light, and the laughter that bring each photograph to life.
In the
Moment With Me
Welcome to In the Moment With Me — a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to be photographed by me.
Each week, I’ll share a story from a favourite image — not just how it was created, but how it felt to be there. From the little in-between glances to the wind that caught your hair just right, this is where I show you the care, calm, and joy that go into every frame.
You’ll get a glimpse of how I work, the energy I bring, and why my focus is always on how you feel, not just how the image looks. Because to me, the most meaningful photographs are the ones where you feel safe, seen, and truly yourself.
Come behind the scenes — I’ve got your back, every step of the way.
Teen Confidence Course
Catered by: Portfolio Model Agency
I feel so lucky and thankful to be part of this wonderful teen confidence course. This morning's practice with the teens and Samara is all about creating a comfortable foundation.
We focus on approximately four key, easy-to-learn poses that build a sense of familiarity and control. The goal is simple: to let them explore how their posture and expression can shift how they feel, so they arrive for our professional shoot this afternoon already warmed up and feeling more sure of themselves.
Captured the authentic energy behind her summer pottery collection to fuel a year of powerful marketing.
Crafting a Cohesive Brand with Steph Pierce
A fantastic session with the wonderful Steph Pierce.
The brief: Develop a versatile set of personal branding photos for her entire ecosystem—think email signatures, website bios, and promoting her latest summer pottery work.
Steph brings the vision and vibrant energy; I bring the guided experience. We moved seamlessly from connection to contemplation, capturing authentic moments in a variety of usable frames.
Now, she has a complete, on-brand visual toolkit to tell her story consistently and compellingly.
See Steph's recipe and her cookbook on her website here: Steph Peirce
Steph's Instagram
The Fleetwood Mac Experience
In the Moment With Me
When the music vibrates through your chest and the stage lights create magic - that's where I find my perfect shots.
There's something electric about photographing live performances that makes you feel truly alive.
From the moment I stood beside the speakers, feeling the music pulse through me at the Fleetwood Mac Experience, I knew this was about more than just taking pictures - it was about capturing raw emotion and the very essence of theatrical magic.
Through careful use of ambient lighting, creative shutter speeds, and embracing the smoky atmosphere, I sought to freeze those powerful moments that make live theatre so unforgettable.
In the Moment With Me
Personal Branding Magic: Behind the Scenes with Steph Pierce
Another beautiful moment with the incredible Steph Pierce!
Our mission? To create a versatile collection of personal branding images she can use everywhere—from her email footer and newsletter banner to her social media profiles.
Steph always brings such amazing energy and a clear vision, this time for her stunning summer pottery collection. My job is simple: I guide you every step of the way, from a cheerful "cheers" to a contemplative gaze, ensuring we capture a full range of authentic expressions and crops.
The result? A powerful suite of images ready to tell her story across all her marketing channels.
Teen Confidence Course
In the Moment With Me
Sometimes a photoshoot is about more than just pictures—it's about building someone up from the inside out.
I was so honored to be invited to be a part of a teen confidence workshop. My role wasn't just to take photos, but to help these incredible young people see their own beauty and strength. We laughed, we practiced "power poses," and I watched their shy smiles transform into beaming, confident grins.
Thank you for trusting me with this important mission. Witnessing that moment when a teen truly sees how amazing they are is a gift I'll never forget.
In the Moment With Me
Metropol Magazine
I had the absolute pleasure of collaborating with the incredible team at Metropol, The Crossing, stunning models from Portfolio, and a whole raft of amazing fashion stores. It was a creative explosion, and I had the time of my life!
From soft, intimate portraits to vibrant, joyous laughs and powerful group shots, we captured it all. A huge thank you to the amazing models and the entire creative team for bringing the vision to life.
Check out the full Blog on Soulful Snaps Episode 14
Ashburton Operatics - Rockzilla
In the Moment With Me
It was an absolute joy to be invited back to capture legacy portraits for another beautiful show. In less than 15 minutes, we blasted through 35+ stunning portraits because these stars simply ROCKED it! From a little direction on posing to finding the perfect light, it’s all about capturing the authentic confidence and spirit of each performer.
You guys make my job so easy! Seeing each person light up and become a natural in front of the lens is why I do what I do.
Is your local theatre group or organization preparing for a show? I would be honoured to capture the hardworking faces behind the magic with a speedy, dynamic portrait session.
In the Moment With Me
Tinwald Garden Club
Legacy Portraits
A little while ago, I had the absolute joy of spending time with the wonderful women of the Tinwald Garden Club. I was there to speak, but the real magic happened when I set up a simple backdrop and captured legacy portraits of these beautiful souls, just as they were, enjoying a cup of tea. ☕ I truly believe everyone deserves a portrait that captures their authentic self—a moment in time that becomes a part of their story.
In just minutes, we created timeless images filled with warmth and personality. It was a powerful reminder of how a simple photo can become a precious legacy.
Does your club or group need a speaker? I'd love to come along and offer a complimentary portrait experience for your members!
There's no charge—it's my gift to your community.
Clyssa & James Engagement
In the Moment With Me
Proof that your love isn't just posed
There’s a magic that exists just outside the frame, in the quiet (and sometimes chaotic!) moments between the poses. This is a little #MomentWithMe from Clyssa & James’ incredible engagement session.
My favorite part of this job isn't just creating a beautiful gallery; it's about curating an experience and being let in on the raw, real, and wonderfully human moments in between. It’s the deep breath James took before he spun Clyssa around, the way she laughed until she cried at a silly joke meant to break the tension, and the quiet whisper of "you look so beautiful" that I was lucky enough to witness.
In the Moment With Me
Bryce’s Personal Branding Shoot
Capturing Bryce’s personal branding story from golden-hour portraits to creative library moments."
This week’s Moments With Me takes you behind the scenes of Bryce’s personal branding shoot. From golden-hour portraits at the Ashburton clock tower to creative storytelling inside the library and even striking architectural backdrops, every setup brought out a different side of his personality.
Join me as I walk you through how we captured a wide variety of looks while keeping the shoot natural, inspiring, and true to Bryce’s story.
Emma & Corey Wedding
In the Moment With Me
Emma's Reflective Wedding Morning
Today, we're stepping into a beautiful, serene moment on Emma and Corey's wedding day at the breathtaking Hemsworth Estate. I'm pulling back the curtain on the "getting ready" suite to show you how a simple, guided direction—like asking a bride to glance out the window in a moment of quiet reflection, or prompting her parents to remember the feel of their own wedding day as they look at each other—can transform into the most powerful and authentic portraits. This is the magic of connection over posing, and I can't wait to share the story and the stunning results with you.
In the Moment With Me
Emma & Corey Engagement
The secret to this authentic shot? It all started with a simple "walk away."
There’s a certain magic that happens when a couple forgets my camera is there and gets lost in a moment together.
It’s those authentic slices of life I live for, and one of my favourite ways to capture that genuine connection is with a simple, guided prompt: the walk-away.
At my beloved Lake Camp, I worked with the wonderful Emma and Corey to create this beautiful, candid image, and I’m breaking down exactly how a little direction can lead to a perfectly unposed shot full of real emotion.
Asta + Brad
In the Moment With Me
Windswept, Wild, and Wonderfully Themselves
Captured during their engagement session along one of my favourite gravel roads into Lake Camp, we detoured to Lake Emma where the wide open space and nor’wester gave us drama and magic.
Tucked into a tussock for shelter, I guided Brad to pull Asta in close, whisper something sweet… and just like that, we had the moment — natural, playful, and full of love.
This is what connection looks like when you let go, lean in, and trust the process.
In the Moment With Me
riya
Graceful, Effortless, and Full of Quiet Elegance
In this behind-the-scenes moment with the lovely Riya, you’ll hear the gentle directions I give—not to force a pose, but to invite stillness. “Breathe out through your lips,” I say. “Let your hand hover just slightly.” It’s these small cues that allow real presence to surface. That’s when the lens meets not just your image, but your essence.
My role? It’s never to mold you into someone else—it’s to create a space where you can settle into your own natural presence. Where there’s room for grace, pause, and a bit of softness.
If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to be truly seen through a camera—this is it.
nicole + andy
In the Moment With Me
Nicole & Andy’s First Look, and My First Wedding Photographed
This image takes me back to my very first wedding as a photographer—and it still gives me goosebumps.
Nicole and Andy had just shared their first look down at Lake Hood. We were on the jetty, light shimmering off the water, emotions still fresh. I remember crouching down, giving them the simplest of directions: “Hold hands, walk slowly, look at each other, then look at me.”
It was effortless, natural—and real. That’s all it took. No complex posing, no dramatic set-up. Just love in motion and trust in the process.
When I look at this photo, I don’t just see a beautiful couple. I see a beginning. Their beginning—and mine. My first wedding taught me that the best images are often the quietest ones. They happen when the moment is honest and the guidance is light.
This is what I want every couple to experience: wedding photography that feels easy, joyful, and deeply genuine.
In the Moment With Me
Kirsty clay
My First-Ever Client and a Moment of Connection
Some moments stay with you—and this one from four years ago still gives me goosebumps.
Kirsty Clay was my first official client. She’s not just a powerhouse real estate agent in Ashburton—she’s also a kind soul who gives so much back to her community. During her personal branding session, her beautiful daughter joined us on the lawn. We’d been running around, laughing, playing, and then I simply said: “Let’s do a mum-daughter high five.”
Click. That was it.
No overthinking. No pressure. Just a real, warm, silly moment between a mother and her child. That’s where the gold always is.
I use little tricks like this—high fives, hugs, even unicorns hiding in my camera—to invite connection. Because when people feel seen, safe, and silly, their true selves show up. That’s what I aim to capture every single time.
Kirsty, thank you for trusting me back then. This moment, this image, still holds so much heart.
karen mcrae
In the Moment With Me
Capturing Karen McRae, Cuppa in Hand and Heart on Sleeve
Photographing Karen McRae was one of those sessions that just flowed. Karen is a real estate agent here in Ashburton, but more than that—she’s a generous, lighthearted person whose warmth fills any room she walks into.
She told me she loves a proper cup of tea from a teapot, so we leaned right into that. One shot had her mid-text, eyes lifting gently as if we caught her in the moment. Another featured her laughing with a teacup on her lap, like a Sunday afternoon after a full weekend of open homes. Simple scenes, rooted in who she is.
That’s what I love most about branding sessions—when clients bring their real selves, and I simply help them shape that into something visual, story-driven, and deeply authentic.
Karen, thank you for trusting me to reflect your energy and joy.
In the Moment With Me
Okarito Cabin
How a cabin at dusk made me runner‑up in a photography competition in Franz Joseph
Three years ago I joined a landscape and architecture photography challenge with One Base Photography on the West Coast in Franz Josef. Despite usually photographing people, I entered the amateur category—and discovered this beautiful beach cabin in Auckland at dusk. The wet deck, the glowing reflections, and the lines of the structure all came together to catch my eye.
I poured my attention into highlight and shadow, contrast and composition—and this image earned me runner‑up in the amateur category. It now hangs framed on my wall, a constant reminder of a weekend full of learning, friendship, and pure creative magic.
Grab a cuppa and come behind the scenes of that moment—let’s go!
Asta
In the Moment With Me
Directing a Bride: How We Got The Shot (BTS at Lake Hood)
Photographing Asta at Lake Hood was an absolute dream. Her energy and grace made my job so easy. We played with movement and the golden light—I guided her to walk away, turn back, and swish her dress, and she brought each direction to life with such natural elegance.
The result was a series of portraits that felt less like posing and more like capturing her radiant spirit in a series of beautiful, stolen moments.
Asta, thank you for your trust and for being such a joyful muse.
It was an honor to capture you.
In the Moment With Me
Maw Family
Ever wonder how photographers get those perfect, natural-looking shots of large families? In this week's episode of "A Moment With Me," I'm taking you behind the scenes of my shoot with the wonderful Maw family to show you exactly how I got this beautiful, connection-filled shot in the middle of a wheat field.
I break down my entire process, from the simple location scouting (using those perfect tractor tracks!) to the easy-to-follow posing directions I gave that encouraged a genuine moment between the family members.
You'll see that the secret isn't a fancy camera setting—it's about guiding your subjects into a scenario that feels fun and authentic.
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