Helen Nickisson Photography

25/08/2026

📷 CAMERA BASICS – STARTING NEXT WEEK

I’ve had a few people asking about beginner photography courses over the past couple of days, so I’m pleased to say my next Camera Basics course is going ahead!

There are still a couple of places available.

This is a small, practical course for anyone who has a camera but isn’t really getting the most out of it — whether you’re still relying on Auto, find all those buttons and settings a bit bewildering, or learnt the basics once upon a time and could do with a refresher.

Over four weeks we’ll get hands-on with your own camera and make sense of things like aperture, shutter speed, ISO and exposure, along with composition and some of the practical things that help you take better photographs.

No drowning in technical jargon — the idea is to understand what your camera is doing and why, and become more confident making those decisions yourself.

📅 Thursdays, 3–24 September
⏰ 6–7.30pm
📍 The Studio, Queens Market Mall, Market Street
💲 $149 for the four-week course
👥 Maximum 4 people

Starting next Thursday, so get in touch soon if you’d like one of the remaining places.

25/08/2026

A 13th birthday… but make it a photoshoot. 😎👑

Five friends, an afternoon in the studio, several changes of outfit, a few props and rather a lot of laughter.

And those dresses? Every one of them came from the studio wardrobe. The girls got to choose their favourites, dress up, add tiaras and glasses, and create completely different looks before swapping the glamour for their tutus!

I love the idea of birthdays like this. It’s not about everyone standing nicely in a row for a photograph - it’s an experience for a group of friends to enjoy together, with some pretty fabulous photographs at the end of it.

Thirteen seems like a particularly good age for a little bit of glamour… and a little bit of ridiculousness.

24/08/2026

Almost 30 years ago…

I've been unpacking boxes that have finally made their way to New Zealand from South Africa, and this week I opened one containing a rather large chunk of my photographic past.

It's a 30-litre crate filled with thousands of negatives, packets with handwritten job numbers and notes, and prints from shoots I'd almost forgotten about.

Portraits, families, commercial jobs, events, dogs… even school photos. The little girl in red was one of them.

This was photography before memory cards, Lightroom and online galleries. Every press of the shutter cost money. Film had to be processed, negatives stored and filed, prints made — and apparently I kept rather a lot of it! 😂

It's quite strange looking through work I photographed nearly three decades ago. Some of it brings back an immediate memory; with others I'm staring at the negatives wondering who on earth I photographed and why.

And somewhere in this crate are little pieces of thousands of people's lives as they were then.

I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to do with all of it yet.

But throwing open a box and finding almost 30 years ago staring back at you is quite something.

12/08/2026

What do you buy the Dad who doesn't need more stuff?

Father's Day doesn't have to mean another pair of socks. 😉

It could mean Dad actually getting into the family photos for once.

My studio sessions are relaxed, a little bit silly, and definitely not about everyone standing stiffly in a row saying cheese.

Bring the kids, bring the whole family — or even Dad and his best mate of the four-legged variety. 🐾

$145 including 10 beautifully finished digital images.

And if getting everyone organised before Father's Day sounds like an impossible mission, there's an easy answer: gift vouchers are available too. Give Dad the session for Father's Day, then organise the actual photography for a day that suits everyone.

Because Dad probably has enough socks.

Photos of him being Dad? You can never really have too many of those.

Father's Day is Sunday 6 September.

Message me to book a session or arrange a gift voucher.

09/08/2026

A spot of aviation photography this afternoon as the iconic Spirit of Douglas DC-3 farewelled Blenheim at Omaka.

04/08/2026

Still shooting in Auto? Let's change that before summer.

Do you own a camera with manual settings but mostly leave it on Auto?

If you'd love to take better photos of holidays, family, pets and everyday moments, this friendly beginner's course will give you the confidence to finally understand your camera and start using it the way it was designed to be used.

Whether your camera is brand new or has been sitting in the cupboard for years, this course is designed for beginners and is taught in a relaxed, easy-to-understand way.

📅 Thursdays: 3, 10, 17 & 24 September
🕕 6.00pm – 7.30pm
📍 THE STUDIO, Blenheim
📷 Bring your own camera with manual settings
👥 Maximum of 4 participants
💲 $149 for the four-week course

⭐ "Great course. Good information and easy to follow. Highly recommend if you want to understand and use your camera other than in auto mode."
— Sandra

If you've been meaning to get to know your camera properly before summer, this is the course for you.

Send me a message to reserve your place.

03/08/2026

A long overdue visit from my son this weekend, and his first look at my studio meant I had to shoot a couple of frames😉 Here's just one ...

28/07/2026

A wonderful afternoon in the studio with the Williams family...

One of the questions I'm asked most often is, "What if my children won't sit still?"

My answer is always the same...

I don't expect them to.

Some of the best photographs happen between the poses - when Dad is giving shoulder rides, little ones are upside down, babies are snuggled close, and everyone forgets there's even a camera in the room.

This weekend, the Williams family reminded me exactly why I love photographing families. There was plenty of laughter, lots of cuddles, and a gallery full of genuine moments.

Afterwards, Stephanie left this beautiful review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Our family had an amazing time in the studio. Highly recommend Helen for her professionalism and quality."

Thank you, Stephanie. It means the world to hear that.

Seeing these images together also reminded me that Father's Day isn't far away, so I'll be opening a limited number of relaxed Father's Day Portrait Sessions in August. If you'd love memories like these with your own family, I'd love to hear from you.

22/07/2026

Looking forward to being at the studio this Saturday alongside ReStyled's $10 Fill-a-Bag Sale.

I'll be offering Winter Challenge sessions for those wanting to join in the fun, and I'll also have a few $65 Mini Session appointments available over the weekend if you'd prefer a classic studio portrait.

10.00am
10.30am
11.00am BOOKED
11.30am BOOKED
12.00pm
12.30pm
1.00pm
1.30pm

20/07/2026

What if the most memorable family photographs are the ones you never thought to take?

I've been thinking about this idea for quite a while.

Most family photographs are taken at birthdays, holidays and other special occasions.

But the moments that become the most meaningful are often the ordinary ones.

The games around the dining table.

The music drifting through the house.

The family dog hoping for a treat.

The teenager disappearing into their favourite corner.

Everyone gathered on the couch at the end of the day.

These are the moments that tell your family's story.

The trouble is... there's usually one person missing from those photographs.

The one behind the camera.

The one making the memories, but rarely appearing in them.

That's why I'm introducing Home Story Sessions.

Instead of meeting in a park or the studio, I'll come to your home and capture your family in the place where your memories are already being made. I'll gently guide you when needed, then step back and photograph the moments as they naturally unfold - so everyone gets to be part of the story.

A Home Story Session includes up to two hours in your home and 15 digital images for $295.

To begin, I'm looking for one family to help me create the first Home Story Session portfolio. In return for allowing me to use a selection of the photographs in future promotion, that family will receive 50% off the session.

If this sounds like something your family would love, send me a message. I'd love to chat.

Send a message to learn more