Family photos bring the family together. If Covid and lockdowns have taught us anything, it’s that family is important and your home is your sanctuary. I understand that it can be hard work getting everyone together, or you have nothing to wear, you need to have your hair done, or want to lose some weight. But the reality is, if you plan on ‘doing it one day’, it’ll just never happen, and time will run away from you. 

“A picture is worth a thousand words, but a memory is priceless.”

Don’t take for granted the time you have with each other. Get those portraits taken every year. Because life gets busy, and you never know when the last chance for a family photo will come.

1. Growth just happens

Children grow up, from baby to toddler, child to teenager. Each year their growth happens, and sometimes we don’t notice until it’s too late. I’ve heard many families wish they’d made time to take regular photos because their children have grown up in the blink of an eye and they feel like they missed it.

2. Change is inevitable

Over the years, families change – we gain people and lose people. Family portraits are a way to see your past and present and feel connected to each other along the journey.

3. Going back in time

Mobile phones are lost or stolen easily with less than 30% of people backing up their photos. In years to come, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will want to see photos of their family – and won’t it be sad if the digital age has stolen that opportunity from them?

4. Increase self-esteem

Did you know that having your family’s photographs displayed in your house increases your child’s self-esteem? Studies have shown that this sends the message that your family is important to one another and that you cherish the memories you’ve created together. The thing about a photo on a mobile phone, or even posted to social media, is that it doesn’t have the same impact.

5. Everyone’s included

Many family photos will have the Mum or Dad missing from them just because they’re the ones taking the photo. They’ve grabbed a phone or camera and captured the moment, but when you look back, you start to realise that there aren’t many with all of you in one shot.

6. Looking good

As professional photographers, we know where to make you sit/stand, deal with heights, groupings within the group, and tips on posing to get your best side or making it comfortable and casual to get genuine smiles and interactions.

We can shoot the family photo on location or in our studio in East Tamaki – whatever is easiest to get everyone together. We also offer vouchers for that last-minute Christmas gift to get you sorted in the New Year.

Check out our January 2023 Family Collections Special…

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Why did I become a photographer?

It began at the age of eight

I’m from South Africa, which is where I learned how to be a photographer. I was eight years old, with my family in our car in a parking lot. A man selling three cameras approached my father. Looking back, I now realise they were likely stolen, regardless, my father purchased all three of them. My older sister wasn’t interested, but this is where my passion began. It cost 50 rand and was over 30 years ago, but I still have the camera – an old-school one that uses film (some of which I still haven’t developed).

I loved taking photos and capturing moments. Even into adulthood, I took billions of photos of my son. Someone offered to pay me to take photos for them – my first paying photography job. It was only 100 rand, but I was quite proud of myself. I told my husband I wanted a better camera, so we purchased one through a friend of ours who was a flight attendant. Duty-free brought the price down considerably – I still have that camera too, and now I have a collection of six!

The age of digital photos

Of course, digital made things much easier for people to take care of their own photos, and iPhone cameras are quite good, but I can still tell the difference. I did some experimentation with a phone camera and a real camera. The comparisons resulted in phone photos being… less. They’re good for fun, spur-of-the-moment photos, but corporate shots or family portraits are so much better with a real camera.

One thing led to another

I was an Executive Personal Assistant within a government business in South Africa when I was asked to photograph an event. I loved being behind the camera and picking the moments to capture. I wanted to do better, and my boss offered to pay for me to do a photography course. Did it and loved it even more. Learned all about with flash, and without flash and ended up buying my own lights for studio photography. Then my boss gave me a workspace to set up a studio. I learned from other photographers and YouTube on how to do various setups, and deal with the good side/bad side, shadows, etc.

This led to me shooting all the profile photos and then doing all the photography for the annual report. There were over 200 people in that department. Then I watched the contracted designer putting the report together. I expressed an interest, and my boss sent me on a Photoshop and InDesign course (photography and design software). I combined the skills and ended up keeping the annual report in-house, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

From calm to satisfaction

The thing I love about studio photography is the atmosphere. Outside it’s hectic, but inside I’ve created a space that is calm and comfortable. I don’t think anyone enjoys having their photo taken, so most of my clients come in a bit anxious or scared. I put them at ease and set them up for success – especially with the lights that change shapes and accentuate angles. Once my clients see that first shot on my camera, they realise they look good and begin to relax.

People come in usually wanting just one photo, but they love what they see so much that they end up walking away with eight or so. That’s where I get my feeling of satisfaction. Before taking the shots, I take them through a process of calming, makeup, clothes, getting comfortable, and positioning. My job is to make them feel good about themselves.If you want the Nicoline Dickinson experience, get in touch and get yourself booked in;