This week we caught up with West Coast NZIPP Accredited Professional Photographer Jules Anderson. While many of you may know her through her beautiful landscapes and commercial work, Jules is currently embarking on a new chapter: FashionScapes. By blending fashion with the grit of the Tasman coastline, she is proving that the “Wild West Coast” is the ultimate studio…

Tell us about yourself….

Jules: I live on the beautiful West Coast of the South Island, in the little seaside community of Carters Beach, just outside of Kawatiri — Westport — with my partner Jonathon. I’ve called this corner of New Zealand home for the past 14 years, and honestly, I can’t imagine being anywhere else.

The Buller region has a population of around 10,000 people and carries that small, quaint, incredibly friendly energy that’s hard to find anywhere else. Our boys have grown up and flown the nest, but there’s always a room here for them if they ever want to come back — this place has a way of pulling people home.

My photography work covers a wide range — commercial, real estate, portraits, families and headshots — but what I love most is capturing the light of the land on the rugged West Coast. There’s something about this landscape that’s endlessly dramatic and alive. Working across different genres keeps things exciting and means there’s always variety in what I do. Alongside my photography business, I’m part of the team behind Gallery118, a local art gallery that started as a pop-up and has since found its permanent home. It keeps me busy juggling two passions, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’m also in the process of launching something close to my heart — a new portrait genre where fashion meets landscape, designed specifically for women. The West Coast as a backdrop, with all its raw beauty and wild light, feels like the perfect canvas for something bold and meaningful. I also enjoy the NZIPP community where I have experienced growth and friendships in my photography world.

Chasing the Rugged: You mentioned when we first approached you for this Q&A that you are interested in the “rugged beauty” of the West Coast. How does the mood of your photography change when the wild Westcoast weather settles into a calm day?

Jules: Then it’s about capturing the beautiful tranquil moments that do exists as the West Coast I have known for its rugged beauty, and I feel the need to be present in the calmness of the landscape.

A Tale of Two Grids: You maintain two distinct Instagram presences – one for landscapes and one for portraiture. How do these two perspectives feed each other? Does your landscape help you ‘place’ people better in a frame?

Jules: I feel the landscape and portraiture complement one another. It’s about setting a scene and theme with the models outfit and telling this story in the landscape whatever the weather conditions. And the outfit definitely needs to suit the colours and light of the landscape.

The Light of the Coast: Every region has its own “light signature”. How would you describe the specific quality of light in Westport and the surrounding Coast compared to the rest of New Zealand?

Jules: Morning and evening light can be soft was we are surrounded by bush and sea which brings its own mystical moments into the landscape. Wintertime light is my favourite as the sun is a lot lower and I love the misty mornings that normally surround the winter landscapes.

The FashionScapes Vision: You have mentioned before that you are keen to launch a new genre of portraits called FashionScapes. Was there a specific moment or particular location where the idea of putting high-fashion glamour into the “untamed” bush first click for you?

Jules: This idea came about with my friend Nicola Dove’s course “The Creative Codes” where you dive deep into finding your purpose and passion and what lights your fire. My love of collecting vintage clothing and living on the rugged and sometimes calm West Coast days is an opportunity for women to experience the beauty of themselves in an outfit that they would not normally wear to the beach or bush and to feel good about themselves in a photoshoot especially curated for them. Their portrait legacy will live on for future generations.

The FashionScapes Wardrobe: You have a large collection of outfits for your clients. When you are looking for a new piece for the “FashionScapes” wardrobe, what are you looking for? Does the landscape dictate the fabric and colour, or is it the other way around?

Jules: I know when I see the dress, this always happens first, then the vision begins on where is the best location + accessories + mood board and the best time of day that will bring the portrait session together.

The Gear Challenge: Shooting in the rugged West Coast bush or coastline can’t always be easy on your equipment. What is your “must-have” piece of kit that survives the sand, salt, and moisture of a typical Jules Anderson shoot?

Jules: I keep it simple……….one camera body my Canon R6M2, canon lens 24-105 and sometimes the canon 70-200ml lens. I also like to have my full-size gold/ silver reflector and keep things natural especially at the beach at sunset.

Framing Secrets: When you are framing a person against a massive Westcoast backdrop, how do you ensure the landscape doesn’t take away from the subject but rather enhances them?

Jules: That’s a hard one at times so I find using the canon 70-200 and soften the background draws more attention to the subject.

Life on the Coast: We can imagine being a NZIPP Accredited Professional Photographer on the Westcoast can sometimes feel geographically isolated. How does being part of NZIPP help you stay connected with the wider photographic community?

Jules: This is a big bonus of being part of a community when I live in an isolated place, but I try and make it to regional meetings in Canterbury and attend any workshops that will bring photographers together. Also, the annual NZIPP New Zealand Photography Show is always a great place for connecting with other photographers.

The Dream Shoot: If you could take your “FashionScapes” wardrobe to any specific, hidden gem in the whole of New Zealand that you have not shot at yet, where would it be and why?

Jules: I would love to do a winter wonderland fashion photoshoot on a ski field maybe Cardrona or Porters ski field.

Pro Tip: Do you have a “sandfly survival” tip for photography shoots on the Westcoast?

Jules: Okarito sandfly spray …. it’s all natural! Or get Vit B tablets or eat marmite!

And for a bit of fun! Quick-Fire round:

*Image gallery below is credited to Jules Anderson