Hera Tawai Photography

04/06/2026

I don’t just photograph weddings. I document stories.
The nervous excitement, the little details, the laughter with loved ones, and the quiet moments nobody else notices. Because years from now, these are the memories that will take clients like Brooke right back to how she felt.

03/06/2026

What an incredible day celebrating the love story of these two beautiful souls. From the heartfelt vows to the unforgettable moments shared with family and friends, every part of their wedding was filled with joy, laughter, and love. It was an absolute privilege to capture these memories and preserve them for a lifetime. Congratulations Isaac & Brooke 💛✨

11/05/2026

My Mothers Day Gift to myself 🥰

11/05/2026

My not so baby boy and my baby girl 🥰

04/05/2026

“𝙃𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙥𝙖 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙝𝙖,𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙖 𝙢𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙖 𝙠𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞 𝙬𝙖𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙞 𝙞 𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙚𝙖 𝙢𝙚 𝙖̄𝙣𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙢𝙖̄𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚.”

~ A lineage of love, an endless connection between a mother and her daughters.

…………

To be a mother, to raise daughters, to walk this journey together, is sacred, it’s powerful and it’s forever.

With Mother’s Day approaching, gift cards are now available…

01/05/2026

There’s something sacred about layering whenua and wāhine into one frame.

This piece was created using an AI double exposure technique blending portrait and landscape to tell a deeper story. The mist, the whenua, the stillness… All woven through the body and presence of the subject.

And this one feels extra special… because it’s a self portrait when I was Hapū with my baby girl Skylar Tāwai.

I wanted it to feel:
• grounded
• ancestral
• soft, but powerful

This is more than a photo..

It’s connection.
To land.
To body.
To lineage.

A moment in time with my girl before she arrived.

Would you hang something like this in your home?

…………

Creative disclaimer: This artwork was created using my original photographs, combined and refined with AI-assisted editing tools. No changes were made to my facial features or identity. The process was used purely to blend imagery, enhance atmosphere, and achieve the final artistic vision.

24/04/2026

There’s something deeper that guides me when I create Māori portraits and it’s not just light and composition…

It’s wairua..!

Every time I pick up my camera, I’m not just capturing a face, I’m connecting to the unseen. I feel into your energy, your story, your whakapapa. I allow space for your ancestors to be present, for your mauri to come forward, for your truth to be seen.

That’s why my portraits feel different.

They’re not rushed.
They’re not overly posed.
They’re not about perfection.

They’re about presence.

I listen. I observe. I wait for the moment your wairua speaks… and then I capture it.

Sometimes it’s in your eyes.
Sometimes it’s in the stillness.
Sometimes it’s in the strength you didn’t even realise you were carrying.

This is more than photography for me.
It’s a sacred exchange. A remembering. A reflection of who you are beneath everything else.

Arohanui ###

11/01/2026

Marketing content with the beautiful and amazing Tati from HIGHLY recommend!

06/01/2026

Whānau moments like these are why I love what I do!

06/01/2026