Hawke's Bay Wedding Photographer

Kia ora, I'm PJ — a Hawke's Bay wedding photographer, and a Māori photographer, based here in the Bay. I photograph weddings across Napier, Hastings, Havelock North, Central Hawke's Bay and the wider region. The work is relaxed, candid and nostalgic: storytelling coverage for modern, romantic days, and for whānau-centred weddings that hold a little bit of everything.

If you've been looking for a Napier wedding photographer, a Hastings wedding photographer, or someone to meet you in Havelock North, I'd love to hear about your day.

A calm, storytelling way of working

My photographs are true to life. I look for soft natural light, honest expressions, and colour that still feels like you decades from now — true-to-life colours, fresh greens, natural skin tones, and a mix of colour and black and white in every gallery. I'm not here for stiff poses or a day that feels like a performance. I'll give you enough gentle direction that nobody is left wondering what to do with their hands, then I'll step back and let the day be itself.

I'm often told I feel more like a wedding planner than just a photographer, because I naturally step in when things feel uncertain. We can build a timeline together so the day stays relaxed and realistic — no rushing, no guesswork. You choose how to spend the hours you've booked, from getting ready through to the dance floor, and I'll help you make the most of them. If you'd like me at the rehearsal, I can be there too.

Kia ora, I'm Parehuia — PJ for short. I whakapapa to Te Arawa, and I talk to my clients like they are whānau. I like you to imagine me as your cousin, taking the photos. After losing my papa, I hold a different perspective in this mahi: every photo counts, every moment counts, and every milestone deserves to be remembered.

Weddings across Hawke's Bay

I photograph right across the Bay. That might be a marae, a garden, a vineyard, the coast, a rural venue, or a mix of those on the same day — including places I have worked such as Mission Estate and Te Mata Peak House, and rural settings like Omatua Riverside Lodge and Wessex Farm. The best location is the one that fits your people. My job is to make it photograph with warmth and clarity, and to help you think about light and logistics wherever you choose.

If part of your day is on a marae, or at a venue with its own protocols, tell me early. I will follow the guidance of the hau kāinga and your whānau.

Māori and whānau weddings

Couples often find me when they want more than a pretty gallery. They want someone who understands that a wedding can hold karakia and karaoke, taonga and sneakers, formal portraits and the uncle who makes everyone cry with a story. They want the day photographed with care for people, place and tikanga — not just for the light.

When your photographer understands the weight of a waiata, the timing of a pōwhiri, or why certain moments are not for public sharing, you spend less energy explaining and more energy being present. I am not here to perform culture for an aesthetic. I am here to document your day as it actually is, with respect and a storytelling eye. That can mean giving space for karakia and speakers, knowing when to lower the camera, photographing taonga and korowai with the same care as the gown, and making sure kaumātua and tamariki are in the frames that matter.

Every couple's kaupapa is their own. My job is to listen first. You can read more in my journal, Māori & Whānau Wedding Photography in Hawke's Bay, and see real wedding photographs in the wedding portfolio.

Packages, payment plans and what happens next

The details of my 4, 6 and 8 hour wedding coverage, including payment plans, live on my wedding packages page. You don't need a big upfront booking fee. You can start your payments from the day you book, right up until one week before the wedding, and lump sums are fine whenever you like.

After the day I'll send a small sneak peek within a few days, and your full private online gallery within 4–6 weeks, ready to download, share and print.

If you're looking for a Hawke's Bay wedding photographer who will keep the day calm and treat it as something living, not something to stage, I would be honoured to hear from you. Have a look at the wedding packages, then get in touch and tell me what matters most. We'll build the coverage around that.

FAQ

What is your style as a Hawke's Bay wedding photographer?

Nostalgic, candid and storytelling. True-to-life colours, fresh greens, natural skin tones, and a mix of colour and black and white. I'll give you gentle direction so the day never feels stiff, then photograph it as it actually unfolds.

Do you photograph weddings in Napier, Hastings and Havelock North?

Yes. I photograph weddings across Napier, Hastings, Havelock North, Central Hawke's Bay and the wider region — at marae, gardens, vineyards, the coast, rural venues, or a mix on the same day. If you already have a venue, tell me and we can talk through light and timing.

Do you photograph Māori and whānau weddings?

Yes. I am a Māori wedding photographer, and I approach those days with care for people, place and tikanga — listening first, giving space for karakia and speakers, and asking early what should stay private. You can read more in my journal on Māori and whānau wedding photography.

What wedding packages do you offer?

I offer 4, 6 and 8 hour coverage. All the inclusions, payment plans and details are on my wedding packages page.

Do you offer payment plans?

Yes. You don't need a big upfront booking fee. You can start your payments from the day you book, right up until one week before the wedding, and you're welcome to pay it off faster or make lump-sum payments whenever you like. There's a worked example on the wedding packages page.

Do you help build a timeline?

Yes — it's something I'm well known for. We'll build a timeline together that feels relaxed and realistic, and you can choose how to spend the hours you've booked. If you'd like me at the rehearsal, I can be there too.

When will we receive our photos?

You'll receive a small sneak peek within a few days, and the full private online gallery within 4–6 weeks.

How do we book?

Get in touch through the contact form and tell me a little about your day, and a few dates if you have them. For weddings there is no deposit — once we have a contract in place, you start a payment plan and you're booked in.