Erika Berendsen Photography

31/08/2026

CHRISTMAS TREE FARM MINIS?! 🌲

Picture this..You arrive at a beautiful Christmas tree farm with your favourite people, surrounded by Christmas trees, sunshine and that little bit of Christmas magic. ✨️

Kids running around, everyone laughing, cuddling, mucking around and just enjoying being together 🤍

And these aren't just for families either. Bring your partner, your bestie, your grandparents, or just yourself.

Think Christmas trees, summer light, bare feet, laughs and some bloody beautiful photos.

I'm VERY excited about this one coming this year! 🎄

I'm not taking bookings just yet, I just wanna know…

WHO'S KEEN?! 👀✨️

27/08/2026

I think I'm going to have to drip feed these photos from this shoot-along 😍 i'm literally like 😱😍🥹🫢🤩🔥 going through this gallery - I've only edited a handful and I need you all to see how STUNNING this mama is! Like, woah! ✨️

Shoot-along creator & host:
Hawkes Bay Photographer | Maternity - Newborn - Family

Model:
gemma messenger

Photographers:
Erika | New Zealand & Destination Wedding Photographer
momentsbyjuliette_nz

22/08/2026

Last night, I attended Katherine from Hawkes Bay Photographer | Maternity - Newborn - Family shoot-along… and it was an absolute DREAM! 😍✨️

The beach, the sunset, the weather, our beautiful model, everything was absolutely stunning. Literally ART. 🥹🤍

I cannot wait to dive into these and start editing! I’ve got a little bit of an editing queue at the moment, so it might be a while before I get to these… but for now, here’s a little sneak peek. 😍

Thank you so much Hawkes Bay Photographer | Maternity - Newborn - Family for creating and hosting such a beautiful shoot-along. I’m honestly still on cloud nine. 🤍

Photographers attending:
momentsbyjuliette_nz
Erika | New Zealand & Destination Wedding Photographer

Our beautiful model:
gemma messenger

18/08/2026

My new domain to my website is now live! It is now much easier to search & visit my website 🤍

www.erikaberendsenphotography.co.nz

She's upgraded ✨️🤣

11/08/2026

Okay… I’ve been sitting on this for a few days because I honestly still can’t quite believe it. 🥹

I WON A BRONZE AT THE NZIPP IRIS AWARDS. 🥉🤍

Last Thursday I watched the live judging for the NZIPP Awards (New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography), and this was my first ever time entering.
I entered three of my wedding images into the Wedding category, alongside photographers from across New Zealand and Australia.

I had no idea what to expect. I just wanted to put myself out there, challenge myself and see how my work would hold up.

And then one of my images came up.
And it got a BRONZE!!!!! 🥹🥹🥹😱😱😱

I think I just stared at the screen for a minute.

You spend so much time behind the camera, editing, learning, trying new things and constantly questioning whether your work is actually good enough… and then suddenly you have well respected, professional photographers from all over NZ and beyond, judging something you've created and saying 'yes, this is worthy of an award'.

That feeling is pretty hard to put into words.

Photography is something I care about so bloody much. I’m always wanting to learn, push myself and create work that actually makes people feel something.

So to have one of my wedding images recognised at this level, especially on my first ever NZIPP entry, is a pretty huge moment for me.

And apparently I can officially call myself an Award-Winning Wedding Photographer now. 🥹😱

A huge thank you to this beautiful Bride & Groom 🤍 thank you for putting your trust in me to photograph your special day and create the most incredible memories for you to cherish for a lifetime ❤️

2026 NZIPP Iris Awards - Wedding Category - Bronze 🤎

10/08/2026

I have 2 spots left for these Blossom Minis!
Get in quick! I'm only doing 1 weekend of these! 🌸🌸

🌸 SPRING BLOSSOM MINI SESSIONS 🌸

Who's keen for some Spring Blossom Minis this year?! 🤍

This is my first year offering blossom sessions and I am SO excited! We'll be shooting beneath the gorgeous blossom trees at Pakowhai Dog Park while they're in full bloom for a limited time only.

These sessions are perfect for families, couples, maternity, little ones, or even just updating your family photos with a dreamy spring backdrop.

$199 includes:
🌸 20-minute session
🤍 15 beautifully edited images
👗 Access to my client wardrobe

The blossom season is short, so once they're gone, they're gone! If you've been waiting for an excuse to update your photos, this is it.

I'll be releasing dates soon, so comment "BLOSSOM" below or send me a message if you'd like first access before they book out. 🌸

Only a handful of sessions will be available while the blossoms are at their best

24/07/2026

Bring your animals, always 🐾🤍

20/07/2026

🌸 SPRING BLOSSOM MINI SESSIONS 🌸

Who's keen for some Spring Blossom Minis this year?! 🤍

This is my first year offering blossom sessions and I am SO excited! We'll be shooting beneath the gorgeous blossom trees at Pakowhai Dog Park while they're in full bloom for a limited time only.

These sessions are perfect for families, couples, maternity, little ones, or even just updating your family photos with a dreamy spring backdrop.

$199 includes:
🌸 20-minute session
🤍 15 beautifully edited images
👗 Access to my client wardrobe

The blossom season is short, so once they're gone, they're gone! If you've been waiting for an excuse to update your photos, this is it.

I'll be releasing dates soon, so comment "BLOSSOM" below or send me a message if you'd like first access before they book out. 🌸

Only a handful of sessions will be available while the blossoms are at their best

19/07/2026

A few months ago, I was wandering through Charlotte & Brandon's family's farm, photographing the excitement of their growing family while their little one was still safely tucked away.

This week, I got to walk back through their front door, this time to meet the newest little love they'd been waiting so patiently for. 🥹

We swapped paddocks for the nursery, baby kicks for tiny yawns, and those hopeful "we can't wait to meet you" moments for sleepy cuddles in the comfort of home. Even their beautiful fur baby joined us again, making sure they were part of every milestone too. 🤍

This is exactly why I adore in-home newborn sessions.
There's no rushing to get out the door with a brand new baby. No pressure. No strict timelines. We simply follow your baby's lead, pause for feeds, cuddles and nappy changes, and document this beautiful little bubble exactly as it is.

One of my favourite parts of this job is that I don't just photograph one chapter of your story. I get to come back. I get to watch your family grow, meet your babies, and preserve the moments you'll look back on for years to come.

And honestly... that's something I'll never stop feeling grateful for. 🤍

15/07/2026

A few weeks ago, I bumped into Ingrid at the rugby, and she mentioned that her and Rowly were shearing the next morning.
Jeremy said, "Why don't you ask if you can come photograph it?"... so I did. 🤍

And wow, I'm so glad I did.

Getting to spend the morning in the shed, up close capturing New Zealand shearing champion Rowland Smith and his wife, world record shearer Ingrid Smith doing what they do best, was honestly so bloody cool.
Watching them work alongside their kids as a team was something pretty special. You can tell this isn't just a job, it's a way of life.

It ended up being a win-win too. They walked away with some epic photos, and I got to capture a slice of rural New Zealand that'll be featured in our Kereru Kindy calendar. 🐑

Mornings like this are exactly why I love what I do. Just real people, real stories, and getting to document the incredible talent and hard work happening right here in our own backyard. 🤍