Real Family Photography

08/09/2026

Yesterday at my Dying Matters Week Aotearoa talk about End-of-life photography, I had the pleasure of meeting Lynda.

She founded Living Legacies based on her passion for providing natural funeral choices to the people of New Zealand.

She offers guidance and information around:
🌳 Planning family-directed home funerals
🌳 Workshops
🌳 Books (new edition coming this year!)
🌳 Biodegradable coffins made from sustainable, locally grown, untreated pine, poplar and willow
🌳 Natural burials advice and
🌳 Counselling.

I'm delighted to share her mahi with you all XX

​Welcome to Living Legacies, holistic and sustainable funeral care services. Creating a culture of life celebration!Living Legacies is Aotearoa’s first natural funeral company, with a sustainable, holistic and celebratory approach to life, death and funerals.How Living Legacies can helpLiving Le...

27/08/2026

This Father’s Day I’ve put together an EPIC giveaway to celebrate Dad. Father figures, Dad's who have passed, significant males and almost-Dad’s most welcome too.

One Major Prize worth up to $1210!
Five Runner Up Prizes worth $450 each!

Major Prize
🏡 Spend time away from daily life enjoying each other’s company near Farewell Spit in beautiful Golden Bay. Stay a night together at Soggy Bottom Farm Accommodation generously donated by Mary.
AND
📷 A signature 3 hour Real Family Photography day-in-the-life family photo session in Nelson or Tasman (at home or outdoors, wherever your every day life happens)
📷 One 8x10” print OR $300 credit towards more photos and artwork

Runner Up Prizes
📷 A 1 hour Real Family Photography day-in-the-life family photo session in Nelson or Tasman (at home or outdoors, wherever your every day life happens)
📷 One 5x7” print OR $250 credit towards more photos and artwork

Why? I want to preserve his presence in the kids' lives now. I lost my Dad when I was 8 years old. Mum and I miss him every day and those fun, natural photos are what we treasure most.

Entries close midnight, Sunday 6th September 2026

Enter here
https://www.realfamilyphotography.com/competition

27/08/2026

I'm super excited to be presenting as part of Dying Matters Week Aotearoa

"End-of-life Photography: Documenting What Matters"

This gentle and personal talk is for anyone who is approaching the end of life, facing a terminal diagnosis, supporting someone they love, or simply interested in creating meaningful photographs for the future.

Be inspired by real stories and photographs, and discover how documentary family photography can capture connection, love and everyday life when time feels especially precious.

Monday 7th September
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Tākaka Library, Meeting Room

See more here:
https://gowithgrace.nz/product/end-of-life-photography-documenting-what-matters/

Go With Grace

19/08/2026

🌿Spring babies: newborn day-in-the-life photography giveaway👶

If your darling baby has just been born or is due during Spring, this is for you!

Because you are amazing and deserve to have this chapter of life recorded.

Not posing for milestones to be photographed. Not fake smiling for the camera when you've had two hours sleep. Not pretending you're on top of everything when you're not.

Why? I'm drawing on my own experience learning to be a mum, ‘trying to do what’s right’, trusting my instincts and enjoying the new spring life all around us.

📷 Major Prize: valued at $800
- Signature 3 hour at home day-in-the-life newborn session in Nelson or Tasman
- One 8x10" print OR $300 credit towards more photos

🏡 ​Five Runner-Up Prizes: valued at $450 each​
- 1 hour at home day-in-the-life newborn session in Nelson or Tasman
- One 5x7" print OR $250 credit towards more photos

Additional photos and artwork will be available to purchase if you wish, there’s no obligation.

Closes midnight, Monday 24th August 2026

Enter by completing this short form:
https://www.realfamilyphotography.com/newborngiveaway

11/08/2026

Bronze Award

This was taken backstage at Stars in Your Eyes Blenheim. The gala event raises funds for different local charities. Everyday people are transformed into their favourite musical star for the night! It's the major fundraiser for the Fulton Foundation Marlborough, supporting the arts, especially for young people.

This photo created lots of debate amongst the five panel judges. Different interpretations of the content was fascinating to hear, including n**e performances of Hair the musical! They all appreciated the humour, which is what I was aiming for.

In reality, performers put on their costumes and applied their make up in one dressing room; and had their hair done in this dressing room. The photo was taken after all the ABBA wigs had been applied and the performers were about to take to the stage.

11/08/2026

It's always nerve-wracking having your work judged by professionals you look up to. This year I was incredibly grateful to receive two Silver and three Bronze awards, at the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers (NZIPP) Iris Awards.

Massive thanks to the NZIPP and all the hard working volunteers who provide this amazing opportunity for growth and recognition.

Two awards were for my family work; and three for my wedding work (as Lucalia Photography).

It's the families who I document who are the real heroes. I'm so grateful they value real life as precious and worthy of documentation. So their kids and grandchildren (and great grandchildren) can see and feel what their lives were like right now. These are my kind of family portraits.

The captions of the photos has little behind-the-scenes about each of my winning families. You can read more on the blog.

https://www.realfamilyphotography.com/post/family-photography-nelson-awards2026

05/08/2026

Due to popular demand I've added some more sessions during August and early September!

If you've tried to book and I'm full (especially for my 'Animals and their Humans' exhibition, have a look and see if any of these times and locations work for you:

Sunday 23rd August 12 noon Nelson or Tasman
Sunday 30th August 12 noon Nelson
Sunday 13th September 9am, 12 noon or 3pm Golden Bay, Nelson or Tasman

Plus Mondays if everyone is going to be home, these are a great alternative to weekends.

Thanks so much, I'm so grateful to you all XX

Book now: https://sarahwatkins2.sproutstudio.com/book/6856247b6954a8.00061617

02/08/2026

You know I love a bit of black and white...

But this beautiful set of photos of Alicia and her wonderful family just spoke to me in colour!

Bless, there were tears when she saw her photos.

I'm so pleased I could capture your family at this time, being yourselves at home on the farm. Breastfeeding your last baby. Sharing your love of horses on her first pony ride (which had a happy ending!). With big brother and dad looking after their girls.

XX

31/07/2026

Very excited to offer four Gift Vouchers to the Nelson Parent and Child Expo

Sat 12th September at Founders Heritage Park

Just tag who you'll bring below and I'll choose four people at random!

02/04/2026

Blenheim families!

I have one family session available in Marlborough:

Sunday 19th April (morning)

If you have a voucher you haven't used yet or have family together for Easter, grab it now!

Book now:
https://sarahwatkins2.sproutstudio.com/book/6856247b6954a8.00061617