Day 1 – Welcome to the 2026 New Zealand Photography Show
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Welcome to the 2026 New Zealand Photography Show!
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WELCOME TO DAY 2
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Day 2 of the 2026 New Zealand Photography Show kicks off in the Majestic Auditorium.
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SONY SCENE EVENT: TURNING A BREAK INTO A CAREER
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JOHN COWPLAND
How a broken leg led to 30 Years Behind the Camera:
What does it take to sustain a high-level photographic career for nearly forty years? From the darkrooms of local newspapers to the global stage of international sports, John Cowpland has seen the industry’s greatest shifts firsthand.
This talk deconstructs the transition from editorial news to high-end commercial work and the world’s biggest sporting arenas.
It’s a masterclass in versatility, technical adaptation, and the enduring power of a professional eye in an ever-changing digital landscape.
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SONY SCENE EVENT: PHOTOGRAPHY IS MAGIC
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ALEX CEARNS
Step away from the technical hustle and reconnect with the profound joy of photography creation.
Join acclaimed photographer Alex Cearns OAM for a fun, engaging, and inspiring address that explores why photography is magic.
Alex will take you on a journey of discovery, sharing how you can instantly find that spark in your own work and tapping into the heart of what makes photography a wonderful pursuit.
This presentation will encourage you to see the world through a new lens and seek out the beauty, emotion, and stories that exist in the images you capture.
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DAY 2: MORNING TEA
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Grab a bite to eat, and visit the trade exhibition from world leading camera brands and photographic retailers.
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DAY 1: MORNING TEA
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Grab a bite to eat, and visit the trade exhibition from world leading camera brands and photographic retailers.
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LIVE FINE ART PORTRAIT SHOOT
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SARAH MCGREGOR
Step into the world of fine art portraiture like never before. Join Sarah McGregor, 2025 New Zealand Professional Photographer of the Year for an exclusive, live demonstration where the creative process unfolds before your eyes, from the concept to the creation. Watch the magic happen as she transforms simple studio props and a bare canvas (no makeup!) into striking, emotive portraits, revealing how imagination, lighting, and expert direction come together to craft unforgettable imagery.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Sarah at work and unlock the secrets behind award-winning fine art portraits.
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CAPTURING THE INVISIBLE: PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE UNSEEN
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JEN RAOULT
In this presentation, Jen will be exploring photography as a medium that has long been connected to what lies beyond the visible. She will begin with a brief journey through art history, looking at painting movements that engaged with dreams, the unconscious, and psychoanalysis, before moving into the early days of photography and its links to spiritualism, the occult, and attempts to document the spirit world.
From there, Jen will talk about how these references inform her own practice, including the influence of Jungian thought and her interest in capturing the psychological and intangible presence of my subjects. She'll share a short behind-the-scenes film that offers insight into her process, including the creation of custom glass filters developed in collaboration with Te Rongo Kirkwood. She will finish with a slideshow of selected works, followed by a Q&A.
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CAPTURING INFINITY
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TOM RAE
In this presentation, Tom Rae explores the deeper meaning and philosophy behind his night sky photography, and why dark skies offer a perspective that goes far beyond the image itself.
Drawing from his work across New Zealand, he shares how these environments shape not only what we see but how we experience scale, silence, and connection to the natural world in such a unique way.
The presentation also moves into the deep technical side of his process, including how he plans and captures his images, the types of locations he seeks out, and the methods he uses to create high resolution Nightscapes.
Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of both the creative intent and technical execution behind compelling night photography, as well as practical insight they can apply to their own work in the art of capturing the night.
It would be beneficial for participants to have a basic understanding of cameras, photography and post processing, however not essential as a lot of the topic matter will be emotion and philosophy based
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SONY SCENE EVENT: TURNING YOUR CONTENT INTO CLIENTS
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LAYTON WOODCROFT
In this workshop, Layton will share with you their approach to using social media to attract clients and build a personal brand.
Layton will cover a range of strategies they use in their everyday work, including creating content that positions you as the obvious choice, growing an audience that trusts your work, and turning attention into real, paying clients.
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The Mind Behind the Magic: Building a Creative Business That Actually Feels Good
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EILISH BURT
This presentation dives into the mental and emotional side of running a successful creative business.. the part that often gets overlooked.
While it's important to talk about the practical and physical on how to do things (tools, software, workflows), this session focuses more on how to think, feel, and show up in a way that actually sustains long-term success.
Drawing from my own journey as a full-time wedding photographer, I’ll share the mindset shifts that have shaped my business; from learning to trust myself creatively, to setting boundaries, navigating comparison, and redefining what success really looks like.
We’ll explore:
Why your mindset matters more than your strategy
Letting go of perfection and creating from a place of honesty and emotion
How to protect your energy, time, and creativity
Navigating comparison, burnout, and self-doubt
Building a business that feels aligned with your life, not one that consumes it
Takeaways:
Attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of themselves, a renewed sense of clarity, and practical mindset tools to help them build a business that feels both successful and sustainable.
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Screaming from the Rooftops: The Unwritten Rules of Cityscape Shooting
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PAUL REIFFER
Most cityscape photographers shoot the same five locations from the same three viewpoints with the same "standard settings" up high. This talk is about how we capture everything else.
Paul has spent years getting to places that don't appear on any location list. From the top of the Shanghai Tower before the safety glass went in, to rooftop access that technically didn't exist, to hotel relationships that opened doors no amount of Google or LinkedIn research ever could.
In this session, we'll discuss how access actually works at the highest level: the two-tier world that's hidden from many photographers, how to read a new city before you touch your camera, what to say (and what not to say) when you're asking for something unusual, and why incredible access still means nothing if you blow the shot when you get there!
Practical, honest, and built entirely on real stories (including a few that didn't go quite as planned, along with the one where he fell off...)
We'll take you behind the scenes on campaign shoots, show different perspectives, and talk through the recipes behind shooting some of the world's most iconic cities.
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THE GOLDEN HOUR
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Join us in the main auditorium for quick fire mini events and afternoon tea.
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THE GOLDEN HOUR
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Join us in the main auditorium for quick fire mini events and afternoon tea.
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A GAME OF TONES
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MIEKE BOYNTON
Removing colour from a photograph can enhance its textures, emphasise the light, and simplify its message; however, in many cases, we take our photos because the colours call to us, and removing them can sometimes result in murky, muddy greyness. In this presentation, Mieke will share some of the reasons why some photos “sing” in black and white, and why others don’t.
Through examples of her own work, she’ll show her RAW files, explain her thought process when considering converting the image to monochrome, show what it looks like when colour is removed, and then share the edited final versions where the tones have been shifted to create more powerful images.
Finally, she will share three different ways of creating strong Black and White images in Photoshop.
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Three Secrets Behind a Thriving Family Photography Business
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KATIE KOLENBERG
Running a successful family photography business takes more than a great eye and a camera you love. It’s tough out there right now and the photographers who are thriving share three things in common.
This keynote is an honest take about what actually works and what you should be focusing your attention on right now.
You'll walk away knowing how to put yourself at the centre of your business, deliver the kind of customer experience that keeps people coming back, and market yourself in a way that actually gets results.
Come ready to be challenged and leave with a clear plan to build or grow a business you love.
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Gala Awards Evening, Sponsored by CRK and Ilford
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This is the night it all comes together.
After days of learning, conversations, and ideas – we step into a room and recognise the work that sets the benchmark.
If you’re part of this industry, this is the room you want to be in.
Join us for the Gala Awards Evening, where we celebrate the winners of the Iris Professional Photography Awards for 2026, and the overall winner of the New Zealand Amateur Photography Awards. Your ticket includes a beautiful 3 course meal, and an evening of camaraderie and celebration. A cash bar is available.
This year’s theme is The Golden Hour – this is a formal event and we welcome you to dress in your beautifully elegant and finest attire.
When: Sunday 9th August 2026 from 5.15pm until late.
Where: The Majestic on Durham, 189 Durham St South, Christchurch
Kindly Sponsored by Ilford and CR Kennedy.
Please be sure to let us know of any allergies when completing your ticket purchase.
The first 80 ticket purchasers will receive a free drink voucher to be used at our onsite bar from Tuesday – Saturday* – our way of saying thank you for joining us across our events!
*Tuesday to Saturday only, cannot be used at the Gala Awards Evening.
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EVERYBODY SAY: “JINGO”!
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It's like Bingo, but with music! Join us for an hilarious evening of bingo with a twist - we'll play a tune, and you need to find the song and artist on your bingo card. Not so good with music? Download the Shazam app and join in the fun. Strictly limited tickets available, Cash bar available on site. This is a fantastic way to socialise with your community and have fun while doing it! We might even have a few prizes to give away.
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