Elyse Childs Photography

17/08/2026

Lake Hāwea Minis: Cozy in-home or scenic lakeside

Give Dad the gift of memories this Father's Day with some cozy in-home or scenic Lake Hāwea lakeside photos.

Choose relaxed candid moments in the comfort of your own warm space, perfect for early spring days and families with little ones. Or some stunning, crisp outdoor shots against the beautiful backdrop of the lake.

What you'll get:

• 30 minute session (Your choice of in-home or lakeside)
• 5 digital images of your choice
• Your investment: $285.00.

Limited spaces available. Click send message below to check available times and secure your spot.

07/08/2026

Congratulations to Nathan & Michael for being the two recipients of my Father's Day Mini Sessions.

I'm looking forward to meeting you and capturing some memories.

Bookings are now open for my Father's Day Mini's and you can find out more info about them here:
www.elysechildsphotography.com/portfolio/wanakaminisessions

26/07/2026

Ice frisbee anyone? Even flew like one!

23/07/2026

Have you heard of The Rusty Petticoat - they’re a Central Otago based mobile caterer. Lovely speaking with owner Jessica today. Enjoy your weekend in the beautiful Ida Valley. This photo was taken in winter (July) 2024.

This weekend we're gallivanting through the Ida Valley — chasing the kind of scenery that reminds us why we call this beautiful country home.
Feeling blessed to offer catering in stunning locations.

No trading Friday & Saturday.

The Rusty Petticoat will be back & ready, next week.
Dear ones — go find your own slice of gorgeous, we'll be finding ours. 🖤
Photo credit to the very talented Elyse Childs Photography 🫶

Aqs

08/07/2026

There's some work I'm really proud of that's been hiding on my hard drives so I've decided to put them on my website in a new personal work section.

This is a photo I took of the Cardrona Hotel in 2007 when I was travelling the South Island with my wonderful Grandad. He's no longer with us so it's a pretty special memory of mine. Who would've known that years later I'd be living half an hour from this iconic spot.

A short time after taking this photo I took an OHP negative to where I was studying at Unitec (a Diploma in Contemporary Photography) so that I could produce this cyanotype.

Cyanotypes are an early photographic process and one of my favourites, who wouldn't love the blue?

You can find out how it was made over on my website and check out some of my other work, including landscapes and my 2016 degree project on my great-great grandmother, Joanna MacKinnon, New Zealand's first Plunket Nurse.

www.elysechildsphotography.com/portfolio/personal-work

Cardrona Hotel, NZ Wānaka Unitec Whānau Āwhina Plunket

Image © Elyse Childs Photography

07/07/2026

A very beautiful evening here in Lake Hawea.

Wānaka

26/06/2026

Lake Hawea Father's Day Giveaway

Hi Lake Hawea families,

We live in a pretty magnificent part of the country but very few of us are immune to the rising cost of living in the area, especially over the cooler months with surging power bills.

That's why I'd like to give a deserving Lake Hawea Dad a mini photo session for Father's Day this September.

If you know of a Lake Hawea based Dad who is doing it tough or working super hard to provide for his little ones, you can nominate him in the comments below and tell me why you think he deserves a photoshoot.

If you'd prefer to share the details privately you can head to my website and fill out the form under Father's Day.

The lucky winner will be announced on Friday 31st July and will get a 30 minute photoshoot at home or outdoors in beautiful Lake Hawea with five photos to treasure.

Comment below or visit www.elysechildsphotography.com/collections to complete the Father's Day form.

📷 Happy memories with the Dormer family in the Wairarapa.

25/05/2026

It's been a minute and I don't know where the time has gone, just busy living life here in Wanaka with the dream of launching my new collection not far from my mind.

I hope all is great with you all!

I'm excited to soon be receiving my first samples for my Miniature Moments collection! I will be launching up to four beautiful moments from places I've been lucky enough to call home.

Heart shaped leaves - Akatarawa Valley
Cape Palliser sunset - Wairarapa
Dublin Bay - Wanaka
Upper Clutha River - Wanaka.

I can't wait to share these with you and look back one day and say that I did it 😍

Thanks to The Photo Gallery and Image Vault for being an integral part of this journey so far.

As I've learnt many times over, good things take time...

Which one resonates with you the most?


Wānaka Wairarapa

20/11/2025

Exciting times! The beginnings of a print shop which I’ve dreamed of for years 🤩

My current home of Wanaka and my old home of Wairarapa on display here.

I’ll be selling a small collection of miniature and standard sized photos as loose & matted prints, canvas, frames, wall dots, blocks and greeting cards.


www.elysechildsphotography.com

11/11/2025

I'm looking forward to working with The 45th Degree - Picture Framing Professionals, The Photo Gallery, Framing Factory - Dunedin, Queensberry and Image Vault to bring precious moments to life in your home.

It was really important to me when I relaunched my business to support New Zealand businesses and provide you with quality, long lasting memories to cherish at home.

When you book a session with me you'll receive a credit towards wall art (canvas or framed) or a flat lay album. I will also be offering block mounts, loose print boxes, and parent albums (which can be purchased alongside your main album).

I'm thrilled to now be taking bookings for maternity, family & newborn portraits in Wanaka, Queenstown Lakes & Central Otago. Or let's chat to see if I'm able to travel further afield within Otago and Southland.

Soon I will also have my Miniature Moments landscape collection available and landscape prints.

Thanks to everyone who has been instrumental in getting me to this point.

If you'd like to find out more you can visit www.elysechildsphotography.com or get in touch via this post or Instagram.

📷 Megan & Richie who were expecting their firstborn son walk in the hills above their previous home in the golden evening light in Martinborough, South Wairarapa.