Locations
The location you choose plays a big part in how your photos feel. I’ve put together a collection of my regular go-to spots — from the wild west coast beaches with rich golden sunsets to the softer light and dune grasses along the east coast. These are places I shoot often, know well, and trust to photograph beautifully. Have a browse and pick a setting that feels most like you.
Muriwai - Moari Bay
Moari Bay (Motutara Bay) is such a striking spot for a session if you’re up for a little adventure. There’s a short but fairly steep walk down from the carpark (toilets are at the top), but the payoff is huge dramatic cliffs, caves, rock formations, and wide open beach with the gannet colony overlooking it all. Sunset drops right behind the landmark, giving bold, moody light and incredible backdrops. It’s a great choice for couples and families who don’t mind the walk and want something a bit wild and memorable. Sitting options here are on rocks, logs, or a blanket on the sand, if you’re after dune grasses instead, Muriwai Coast Road is the better pick.
Muriwai - Coast Road
Coast Road is perfect if you’re after a softer, more relaxed coastal feel. This spot gives you the best of both worlds, beautiful dune grasses for natural sitting shots, plus open shoreline with wide, hazy horizons. Unlike the bold, dramatic rock backdrops at Māori Bay, the light here is gentler, with a soft pink, misty glow as the sun drops and plenty of vast open space behind you in frame.
It’s about a 5-minute walk from the carpark at the end of Coast Road. We head out together along the path beside the vehicle beach access.
I usually start sessions up in the dune grasses for family groupings and quieter moments, then we wander down to the waterline for movement and fun, running races, spins, lifts, and playful candids before finishing with your core portraits. This location has plenty of diversity and is my top pic for family sessions.
Bethells Beach - (Te Henga)
Bethells Beach (Te Henga) is one of the wild west coast’s most diverse and visually striking locations. You’ve got it all here , rolling dune grasses, wide open shoreline, dramatic rock formations, and an estuary tucked behind the beach that’s perfect for something a little more earthy and intimate, including water-based maternity portraits for those who feel comfortable.
It’s about a 5-minute walk from the carpark, with toilets at the start of the track. As the sun sets, the whole landscape turns beautifully golden, giving you a mix of soft glow and bold coastal drama in one session. A great choice if you want variety and a true west coast feel. My favourite location for Maternity Sessions.
Orewa
Orewa Beach - I’m predominantly a West Coast shooter, but I love to come out to the east coast every now and again. Orewa Beach is a great east coast option with beautiful white sand and gentle dunes, giving a clean, neutral backdrop and stunning soft natural light. The private end near the estuary is quiet and relatively secluded, making it easy to get uninterrupted shots. Parking is available across at the Art Centre carpark, and it’s just a five-minute walk down alongside the estuary. At sunset, the light softens, the sun drops behind the Norfolk pines, and the shoreline picks up a delicate pink glow.