Samantha I've photographed for years. Her wedding, then maternity, then the older girls, and now Elva.
This one was in the studio. Dark walls, one window, the light doing all the work. It's the quieter end of what I do, and it goes to black and white as often as not.
We started against the wall, Elva up on her hip, both of them just settling into it. Then the room loosened. Elva got lifted over her head, and the face Samantha pulled doing it is one of my favourites of the day. Nobody arranges that.
The green dress carried the colour. Then the feed, which is the part I wait for, because it's where she stops thinking about the camera and the baby stops thinking about anything at all.
The last stretch is the warm one. Wrapped up close, skin and blanket, Elva's hand on her chest. That's where the strongest frames live, every time. Not because of anything I do, but because by then there's nothing left to perform.
Elva's the third daughter. She won't be this size again by the time the leaves turn.
— Tony
17th September, 2026
A STUDIO BABY SESSION IN HAMILTON — SAMANTHA AND ELVA
BABY
14th September, 2026
A MATERNITY AND BABY STUDIO SESSION IN HAMILTON — TINA AND NICO
BABY
22nd August, 2026
NEWBORN AT HOME WITH MARYAM AND ALEC
BABY
26th April, 2026
THE BALDWIN FAMILY AT TAITUA ARBORETUM
BABY
23rd April, 2026
THREE GENERATIONS AT PARANA PARK
BABY
21st March, 2026