Photographers Profile
This week we’re excited to introduce Graham Murphy, the creative power behind Kerikeri’s Northern exposure Photography and one of the newest additions to the NZIPP Honours Council Team. Graham brings a unique perspective to our community. Before mastering high-end architectural lighting, aerial imagery, and commercial portraiture. he spent 14 years as an NZ Police officer and trained forensic photographer.
With the 2026 Iris Awards kicking off in a just a few days, Graham is stepping behind the scenes to help out with NZIPP’s biggest week of the year, keep reading to find out what motivated Graham to join the Honours Council team…
Tell us about yourself….
Graham: I’ve been working as a commercial photographer since January 2016 when I moved to the Bay of Islands. Prior to this I was a member of the NZ Police for 14 & 1/2 years where I specialised in forensics, both as a crime scene examiner and as a forensic photographer. I’ve been married to my wife, Rosemary, for 31 years and we have two great children, 23 yrs & 19 yrs). Other than being a passionate photographer, I have also over the years been a mad keen windsurfer, an obsessed fisherman and a maker of hand-crafted game fishing lures. In fact, lure making was my very first venture into the business world and I sold my hand made lures all around the world. I haven’t made them for a while now since the photography business has sort of taken over most of my spare time these days, but I still get enquiries for them every year during the marlin fishing season.
Congratulations on joining the Honours Council Team! What motivated you to step into this role within NZIPP, and what are you most looking forward to contributing to the Awards?
Graham: I’ve been a member of NZIPP since 2019 and Accredited since 2021. When I saw Rachael Smith’s video message on Facebook about needing volunteers I figured it was time that I put my name forward. I was aware that the Auckland / Northland area needed a rep but being based in the far north I didn’t think that would be a role I could do justice too. Rachael suggested the Honours Council which appealed to me.
You’re diving straight into the deep end by helping out at the Iris Awards this August. Having witnessed the awards from the outside as an entrant, how does it feel to be stepping behind the curtain to help out in the engine room at NZIPP’s biggest event?
Graham: I’m excited but nervous too. There’s a lot of planning and execution that happens behind the scenes which I am looking forward to witnessing first hand.
You have achieved awards yourself through platforms such as Portrait Masters. From your point of view what separates a technically good commercial or portrait photograph from a piece that stands out to judges at the Iris awards level?
Graham: I think the answer to this question is narrative, storytelling and connection. A photograph can be technically perfect but still lack the secret ingredients that make it stand out from the crowd. I guess that is what we are all seeking when it comes to awards images.
You’re based in the stunning Bay of Islands and travel right across Northland. How does the distinct coastal light, pace and lifestyle of the far North influence your creative eye when you aren’t shooting commercial real estate?
Graham: Northland is an amazing region. We don’t have snowcapped mountains or hoar frosts, but we do have some of the most incredible coastal areas and native forests that you will see anywhere. I’ve been very lucky over the last ten years to visit some incredible properties, many of which are tucked away in places that you just wouldn’t even now existed. Often, I will be at these places at sunrise and am always blown away by the dawn chorus. Equally the sunsets and blue hour photography sessions can be spectacular as well. One of my favourite places in the far north is the Hokianga Harbour on the west coast. It’s a very spiritual place and whenever I am over there for work, I try to take time just to get out of the car to just sit still and breathe the air for a while.
Your background includes 14 years as a NZ Police officer and forensic photographer. How does the meticulous, detail-orientated mindset of crime scene photography translate into lighting and capturing high-end architectural and commercial spaces for your business Northern Exposure Photography.
Graham: One thing that is drummed into you from day one in the police is “Attention to Detail” and that mindset has never left me. Real Estate work can be fast paced and rushed because of advertising deadlines etc but working with builders, architects and designers provides an opportunity to slow down and work with the client to achieve the best images that will meet their needs. It’s this type of work that I enjoy the most in regard to property work because it takes me back to into that Attention to Detail mindset.
Moving from a career in the police force to running a successful photography business is a massive personal and professional shift. What was the steepest learning curve for you when moving from a structured role to becoming an independent creative business owner?
Graham: It was a massive challenge and at times I really questioned what I was doing. The learning curve was huge as I was starting from scratch in terms of knowing how to run a business. Nothing I had done before had prepared me for this new step and I realised very quickly that I was going to need help getting it sorted. Thankfully I had a good friend who is an accountant that gave me lots of free advice when starting out.
And for a bit of fun! Quick-Fire round:
The ultimate tool in your kit: Done or off-camera flash?
Off camera flash is a big thing for me and critical for the way that I shoot my interior images by blending flash frames and ambient frames to give a particular look that HDR and AI editing platforms just can’t achieve.
Ideal shoot conditions: A clear blue twilight or a moody, overcast Northland morning?
I love a good twilight shoot and the images you can get in the right conditions can be the real showstoppers.
Your absolute go-to-coffee spot in Kerikeri after a massive property shoot?
If you ever come to Kerikeri you need to stop at the Packhouse Market Café on Kerikeri Rd. They have the best coffee and food there. A big bonus is that they are directly across the road from the iconic Makana Confections, a boutique chocolate factory. I can 100% recommend the Macadamia Butter Toffee Crunch, it’s worth visiting the far north for this alone!
Photo gallery below is credited to Graham Murphy:
