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Pāpāmoa Photographer

@portfoliobyava

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Your golden light specialist
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Golden sun providing

@iamaprilbutler by @portfoliobyava

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5 months ago

Motherhood, captured beautifully in a setting a little different to my usual 🍂 by @portfoliobyava

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4 months ago

Captured the beauty of @ggeorgiaeellis taken in Papamoa Beach by @portfoliobyava

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9 months ago

A little kōrero about something that sits deeply within my mahi ;;

I’ve been asked before why I incorporate te reo Māori and elements of te ao Māori into my work when I’m not Māori.

For me, photography has never just been about the person standing in front of my lens. It’s about everything that holds them in that moment. The whenua beneath their feet, the wai they stand in, the ngahere surrounding them, the moana behind them, the light across the sky. Te taiao is woven through so much of what I capture.

I don’t use te reo Māori to claim an identity that isn’t mine. I use it with respect for the whenua I live and create on, and because sometimes English simply doesn’t hold the same depth or connection to what I’m trying to express.

I’m still learning, and I always will be. I won’t always get everything right. But I would rather continue to learn, listen and use te reo with intention than shy away from it altogether.

My mahi is about people, connection, whenua and the little pieces of this world that exist alongside us.

The landscape has never just been my backdrop.
It’s part of the story too. by @portfoliobyava

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19 days ago

Captured the love of @thepisceseffect and her beautiful whānau. taken in Papamoa Beach by @portfoliobyava

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23 days ago

Family sessions, under the setting sun by @portfoliobyava

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a month ago

My guys 🥹🫶🏼

📸 - @portfoliobyava by @portfoliobyava

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a month ago

There’s something really special about choosing to be photographed, simply for yourself.

No milestone. No partner. No reason other than wanting to celebrate the person you are, right now.

A solo session is an opportunity to slow down, explore yourself through a different lens & reconnect with the beauty that can sometimes become so ordinary to you that you forget it’s there.

To see your softness, your strength, your quirks, your body, your energy — all the little pieces that make you, you.

You don’t need to wait until you feel more confident, look different, or have something worth documenting.

You, as you are in this season, are already worth capturing.

Sun showers, ocean currents & a beautiful soul — exploring the beauty of simply being. 𖦹 by @portfoliobyava

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a month ago

A perfect example of what colours to wear 🤎

@bronwynthomasthompson taken in Papamoa Beach by @portfoliobyava

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a month ago

Whether you’re aspiring to become a photographer, just starting out, or already working in the industry — this might be for you.

When I first started, I was doing just 2–3 shoots a month. Fast forward 1.5 years, and I’m now fully booked months in advance, with so many of my clients coming back time and time again.

It definitely didn’t happen overnight, and there’s so much I’ve learnt behind the scenes — things I wish I knew when I was starting out.

I’m thinking of putting together a one-day Photography Business Seminar where I’ll openly share what’s worked (and what hasn’t) for me — from editing, pricing, marketing and attracting clients, to workflows, bookings, business strategy, client experience and everything in between.

No fluff, just the real behind-the-scenes of building a photography business from the ground up.

I’m considering opening this up to a small group, so if this is something you’ve been wanting to learn or feel like you need to hear right now, DM me or drop a 📸 below!

I’d love to know who’s interested before I make it happen. taken in Papamoa Beach by @portfoliobyava

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2 months ago

My first shoot of spring.

Capturing the love between @bronwynthomasthompson and her beautiful little family once again.

There’s something so special about capturing families months apart — watching relationships grow, the little loves grow & life evolve between each chapter.

A privilege to be chosen to document people’s stories.

The early hours spent editing, perfecting one image out of many & curating each gallery to feel like you — it’s all part of the package.

Moving forward, my availability will be more limited as I prioritise my full-priced sessions, allowing me to pour the time, care & attention into every gallery that it deserves.

Quality over quantity, always. taken in Papamoa Beach by @portfoliobyava

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a month ago

1:1 Te Awa Session.

@wiriniatapsell taken in Maketu by @portfoliobyava

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2 months ago