Nelson | Tasman | Marlborough | Aotearoa, New Zealand | realfamilyphotographer@gmail.com | 020 4177 8469
Finalist New Zealand Documentary Photographer of the Year 2025
Documentary photography for families who hate awkward poses
documenting the chapter you're in now
Life with children unfolds in chapters. Some arrive gently, some rush past in a blur, and some reshape everything. The newborn chapter, the busy school years, the teenage transitions, mum owned and family business, even the difficult season of caring for ageing parents. Each carries its own rhythm, intensity, and meaning.
You want to hold onto this chapter as it truly is. Not just posed smiles, but the full story.
For you, it’s not about staged perfection. It’s about experiences over things, about being present in the everyday, and about investing in keepsakes that feel as genuine as the life you’re living.
That’s why documentary family photography speaks to you. It preserves not only how your chapter looks, but how it feels. The texture, the atmosphere, the depth.
So when the next page turns, you’ll have an honest, heartfelt record of the chapter you’re living right now.
about you
You treasure:
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Authenticity over appearances
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Connection over perfection
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Memory over milestones
You’re not after perfect portraits or staged smiles. You want photos that remind your children what life felt like.
portfolio
print your photos
Printed photos are anchors. Daily reminders for your children that they are loved and belong. On your walls or in their hands, these images ground them in your family’s story and become a legacy they can return to, again and again.
story frame
A story frame is the most popular way families choose to document their story.
This is my signature product!
I curate images to flow through the frame with a visual introduction, building the story to a climax and finishing with the conclusion.
Story frames come in a set of three, six or nine photos.
Hand crafted in Aotearoa New Zealand.
journal album
Tell your complete story in a soft leather wrapped journey album. Imagine your children turning the pages as the years pass, remembering what their life was like now.
30 pages that "lay flat" which means photos can be seamlessly printed across two pages.
As a qualified graphic designer, I design your album for simplicity, pairing images together to tell your story.
Hand made in Australia.
*Please note the photo of the journal album and the photos printed in the album are taken by other photographers.
framed prints
See your memories every day on the walls of your home.
Classically frame one statement photo over the couch; or group smaller frames together in a dining room gallery. So many options for your home with framed prints.
Individually made in Aotearoa New Zealand.
journal album
Tell your complete story in a soft leather wrapped journey album. Imagine your children turning the pages as the years pass, remembering what their life was like now.
30 pages that "lay flat" which means photos can be seamlessly printed across two pages.
As a qualified graphic designer, I design your album for simplicity, pairing images together to tell your story.
Hand made in Australia.
*Please note the photo of the journal album and the photos printed in the album are taken by other photographers.
box of prints
Beautiful, cloth covered box containing sets of 5 x 7" prints ready for you to frame at home.
Great for those who love to DIY, if you have frames already or want to create a gallery feature wall.
Individually crafted in Aotearoa New Zealand.
*Please note the photo of the box of prints and the photos printed in the box are taken by other photographers.
photo book
Tell your story in a premium, lay flat, hardcover 5 x 7" photo book.
A series of photo books is a wonderful way to document the years as they pass.
Individually crafted in Aotearoa New Zealand.
*Please note the photo of the box of prints and the photos printed in the box are taken by other photographers.
prices
All sessions include:
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Pre-session chat and online questionnaire so I can understand your family’s values
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A relaxed, documentary session in your home or doing your favourite outdoor activities
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Zoom View and Order Appointment to help you choose how best to display your memories
Prints, books and canvases start from $150; with families typically spending around $2000 on their photos.
All photos purchased come with a matching high resolution digital file. I believe photos should live on your walls, coffee table or bookshelf not on a dusty hard drive in a drawer. I do not sell 'just the digital files'.
Click the button to view my experience guide and full pricelist. The last page of the PDF has a handy one page summary of all products and prices.
1 hour session
Classic
1 hour of photographing time
$200
3 hour session
Storyteller
3 hours of photographing time
$500
about me
Kia ora I'm Sarah Watkins — the heart behind Real Family Photography. Based in sunny Blenheim, I serve families across Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough, Aotearoa New Zealand.
what is my why?
After losing my dad as a child, I understood the profound value of preserving genuine memories early on. The last photo I have of us together is staged, looking at the camera awkwardly. I want to make sure other families remember their childhoods, parents and siblings as their true selves.
what is documentary family photography?
Documentary family photography captures your real life as it unfolds — no posing, no staging, no awkward smiles.
My style of photography honours your family's story by photographing what actually occurs in your everyday world. Even if I weren’t there with my camera, these moments would still be happening.
Photos employ a blend of emotional intelligence, years of experience, knowledge of light, composition, and timing. Observation, patience, and presence are key.
Sessions can capture a family BBQ, picnic in the park, trip to the beach, hike up a mountain or anything you love to do together.
a bit about me
When I'm not behind the camera, I'm enjoying time with my illustrator husband, Ben, and our two adventurous young boys, Nicholas and Tommo. We moved from Australia to New Zealand in 2018 in search of our paradise.
I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Photography, and over two decades of professional experience since 2001.
I'm an Accredited Professional Photographer, I was a Finalist Documentary Photographer of the Year 2025; and am an Associate of Photography with the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers (NZIPP).
#1
Let's chat
We start with a quick phone call so I can get to know your family, your values, and what moments matter most to you.
#2
Book
Book your session through my online calendar. Complete your questionnaire, sign your contract, and pay for your session.
#3
Take your photos
This is the fun part! I’ll come to your home or meet you where the action is.
#4
View & order Zoom
all the decision-makers hop on a Zoom call with me. We go through your images together. I’ll help you choose the ones that speak to you most, and show you what your memories will look like on your walls.
#5
Artwork delivery
Whether it’s framed prints for the lounge room or a handcrafted leather journal filled with your story, your artwork will arrive on your doorstep lovingly packaged, ready to be treasured.
contact
📍 Based in Blenheim, Aotearoa New Zealand — serving families throughout Nelson, Tasman & Marlborough regions
📧 realfamilyphotographer@gmail.com
📞 020 4177 8469
Ready to document the real moments?
Fill out the form below or drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you.