Hawke's Bay Photography Tips

Is the Beach an Overused Photography Location in Hawke's Bay?

I get asked this a lot. Someone books a session, starts thinking about locations, and then says something like — "is the beach a bit... done? Like, does everyone go there?"

Short answer: no.

Long answer — stick with me, because this is actually really important for how your photos turn out.

Why I Keep Recommending the Beach (and It's Not Just Because It's Pretty)

Here's the thing nobody talks about when they're picking a location for their family photos or their maternity session: the colour of light that bounces off your surroundings lands directly on your skin.

At the beach — Ocean Beach, Waimarama, even the Napier waterfront — you've got sand, driftwood, pale pebbles, dry grass. All of that reflects warm, neutral light. That warmth wraps around your face and your kids' faces and your bump in a way that is genuinely flattering on every single skin tone. And I mean every single one. Whether you're deep brown, olive, fair, or somewhere in between — beach light does not pick favourites.

That's not something I can say about every location.

The Green Grass Problem

Now let's talk about those lush green spots — the ones that look incredible on Instagram. Parks, green paddocks, the rolling hills around Havelock North, the bits of the Bay that go a gorgeous emerald in spring.

I love those locations. They're beautiful. But here's what happens in the photos that people don't always expect: green reflects. Grass throws a green-tinted, slightly cool light onto your skin. It's subtle — but it's there. Especially in shade. You end up with images that need a lot of work in editing to pull back to neutral skin tones, and even then they can feel a little flat or cool.

It doesn't ruin photos. But it does mean we're fighting the location instead of letting it work for us.

What Works Like the Beach (If You Want to Mix It Up)

The same reason the beach works is the reason any location with earthy, warm, neutral tones works. Think:

• Dry golden paddocks in late summer or autumn
• Old brick walls and warm concrete in Napier's Art Deco precinct
• Dusty gravel paths and tawny hillsides
• Weathered timber and raw wood
• Anything sandy, stony, or sun-faded

All of those reflect the same warm light back at you. If you want that golden, skin-tone-friendly look — you're looking for earth tones, full stop.

Golden hour anywhere in Hawke's Bay also helps enormously, because warm directional light solves a lot. But pair golden hour with a beach or earthy location, and that's the sweet spot.

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So No, the Beach Isn't Overdone

Here's my actual take: the reason so many Hawke's Bay photographers shoot at the beach isn't because we're all following each other. It's because it works. The light is consistent, it flatters everyone, and when you're relaxed and actually enjoying your session instead of squinting into the sun or standing awkwardly on a slope, that's when the real photos happen — the ones you'll want on your wall.

My job is to make you look like you. Not a filtered version, not a posed-to-within-an-inch-of-your-life version. Just you — warm, real, and actually happy to be there.

The beach helps with that. And as a Napier-based photographer who has grown up in Hawke's Bay, I can tell you: we are not short on beautiful beaches to choose from.

PJ Shepherd Photography · Napier, Hawke's Bay · Māori wahine photographer
Family · Maternity · Portraits · Weddings · Branding