Two years ago, I was capturing Mehrdad and Christine’s wedding day — and now, photographing them alongside their beautiful baby girl Amiyah, it felt incredibly special to witness how their story has grown.

This is one of the things I love most about what I do: being invited back into people’s lives as seasons change and families evolve. There’s something deeply meaningful about documenting not just one milestone, but the chapters that come after it too.

They travelled all the way from Whakatāne to meet me at Hamilton Lake for this session, and the evening gave us the most beautiful golden light. Everything felt soft, calm, and full of warmth as they soaked in this stage of life together.

Amiyah completely stole the show with the sweetest smiles and curious little expressions, bringing so much personality and joy to the session. Rather than forcing perfection, I always try to leave room for those natural moments to unfold — the movement, interaction, and tiny in-between moments that tell the story far more honestly.

This session felt like such a beautiful continuation of their journey together — from wedding day memories to this new season of family life, wrapped in golden light and so much love.