This week we catch up with Nelson based NZIPP Accredited Professional Photographer and Honours Council team member Cindy Hargreaves to talk about how she started as a photographer, her Psychology background and how this influences her photography and advice on entering the awards…

Tell us about yourself….

Cindy: For those who don’t know me — I’m Cindy, a portrait photographer specialising in maternity, newborn, and family photography, based in sunny Nelson. Photography has been a passion of mine since a friend introduced me to it in high school, though I never imagined it would become a career.

After completing three university degrees and working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, I realised I needed a creative outlet — and for me, that was photography. What started as a bit of fun, planning road trips to photograph places I loved and chasing light, grew into a side hustle second-shooting a few weddings. Then, when my first child was born, it became a business. I’ve now been a full-time photographer for over 10 years, and I love the flexibility it gives me and the amazing people I’ve met along the way.

When I’m not photographing families or organising the Iris, New Zealand Amateur, and Asia Pacific Photography Awards, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two boys (now 9 and 11) at the beach. Now that they’re a little older, I even get to share my hobby with them, going on photography missions around Nelson with the cameras they each got for Christmas.

From Psychology to Photography: You have a unique background as a Child Psychologist. How does that clinical experience influence the way you approach a session, particularly when working with newborns and toddlers?

Cindy: My background in Child Psychology has a significant influence on the way I approach every session — long before I even pick up the camera.

Having spent over a decade working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, I bring a deep understanding of children’s behaviour, emotional regulation, and family dynamics. It means there’s very little a child can do during a session that will surprise or unsettle me — and that sense of calm and confidence is something my clients feel straight away.

I’m able to build rapport quickly, not just with children but with the whole family, which helps create a relaxed and trusting environment. Whether a child is feeling anxious and reserved or energetic and unpredictable, I can adapt my approach in the moment to meet them where they are, rather than expecting them to fit into a rigid idea of how the session “should” look.

Importantly, I bring realistic expectations into every session. Young children aren’t designed to sit still or perform on cue — and instead of working against that, I work with it. I’m constantly observing, anticipating behaviour, and positioning myself to capture the best moments.

I’m also highly attuned to the more subtle cues — the early signs of fatigue, overwhelm, or disengagement — and can gently redirect or shift the pace before things escalate. This allows sessions to flow more smoothly and keeps the experience positive for both children and parents.

Ultimately, my goal is to create an environment where families feel understood, supported, and at ease — because that’s when the most genuine, connected moments happen.

The “Baby Whisperer” Reputation: Your clients often mention your “calm and patient” nature. what is your secret to keeping a session stress-free for both the parents and the children?

Cindy: Happy relaxed parents = happy relaxed baby!

If you can reassure parents that you know what you are doing, will handle their baby safely, and that they do not need to worry about their baby ‘performing’ for the photoshoot then parents relax. When parents feel at ease, feeding flows more smoothly, babies settle more easily, and everyone ends up enjoying the session. For many parents, a newborn photoshoot is the first time they’ve left the house since coming home from the hospital — it can feel like a lot!

That’s why I always take a patient, baby-led approach. I never book sessions back-to-back so there’s plenty of time to respond to baby’s needs — whether that’s a feed, a nappy change, or a much-needed cuddle. Giving space for those little moments makes the experience stress-free and this results in better portraits.

Finding your market: Captured Moments Photography is well-known in the top of the south for maternity and newborn work. What drew you specifically to these “first milestones” as your primary focus?

Cindy: Photography actually started as a hobby for me, but it shifted when I was pregnant with my first child. I remember wanting to capture that time in a more meaningful way — not just quick phone snaps, but something I could really look back on and treasure.

So, I started learning as much as I could watching endless hours of Kelly Brown on Creative Live and then getting some hands-on practice before my own baby arrived. What I didn’t expect was how much it would click with the work I’d already been doing.

My specialist area was in infant mental health, so I’ve always been really interested in early attachment and the relationship between parents and their babies. I realised that with my camera I could capture that connection, the way parents look at their baby, and all those tiny, meaningful interactions.

Those early days are such a blur for most families — you’re exhausted, adjusting, just trying to get through — and so much of it passes without really being able to take it in. Being able to give parents something to come back to later, to remember what it actually felt like, is incredibly special.

That’s really what drew me in, and it’s what’s kept me there ever since. Plus, I get paid to snuggle babies – how good is that???

Answering the Call: The Honours Council is the first point of contact for entrants. What is the most common piece of advice you find yourself giving to photographers who are unsure about entering their work? Or just the most common piece of advice in general?

Cindy: It may sound simple but – READ THE RULES! I know how much time, money and effort goes into preparing your entries for Awards and the worst part of the Honours Council’s job is having to tell an entrant that their entry has been disqualified for something that could have easily been avoided. So, keep your original capture files and have them somewhere easily accessible; read the category rules AND the global rules; and if you are not sure the team is VERY approachable so just ask! It’s much less work for us and for you to flick us a quick email clarifying a rule or question than it is to have to sort out any issues after entries have closed!

Community Connection: You are very active in the Nelson photography scene and the national NZIPP community. What has been the most rewarding part of being an NZIPP member for you personally?

Cindy: I feel pretty lucky to be part of the Nelson-Marlborough NZIPP Community. Running your own business can be lonely and hard at times. I love that I now have a community of people that I can bounce ideas off, vent to when its been a tough week, be inspired by, or will come to the rescue when I call in a panic because a piece of equipment has failed and I have a session in an hour. We may be small in numbers, but I really value the connections I have made with some pretty awesome photographers! They inspire me to keep upping my game and I really don’t think my business would be where it is now without the support I have had from this community. So, while my husband may groan at the number of hours NZIPP takes up in my life what I get back from it makes it totally worth it!

And now for a bit of fun…

Favourite time of day to shoot? 

Sunset at the beach is my FAVOURITE time and place to shoot, and just to be in general!

One piece of gear you can’t live without.

Lots of memory cards – when you are chasing a toddler around at the beach overshooting is just a reality, so you don’t want to run out of memory space mid shoot!

Coffee order for a long day of awards prep?

I do love coffee! A flat white with trim milk, or if the awards were in summer it would probably be an iced mocha. But by day 3 of judging, you will probably see me with a can of Red Bull to keep the energy up.

The best way to spend a day off in Nelson?

Nelson is a pretty awesome place to be when the sun is shining so you will usually find me near the water, whether that’s at the beach, out on the kayak, or fishing!

*Image gallery below is credited to Cindy Hargreaves