Hawke's Bay Highlights
Guided access to the region's best locations, shaped around what draws you.
Hawke's Bay has more photogenic ground than any one visit can cover — rolling golden hill country, smooth and wild coastline, reflective lakes, still wetlands, misty river valleys. Some visitors already know exactly what they're chasing; others simply want to know what's out there worth photographing in the first place. Either way, I build each Highlights session around you, rather than taking everyone to the same fixed list of spots.
If you already have a subject in mind, tell me whether you're chasing big mountain views, dramatic coastline, quiet wetland reflections, or some combination, and I'll shape an itinerary around it — timed to the light and season that suits it best. If you're not sure yet, that's fine too — a Highlights session doubles as an introduction to the region, and I can put together a well-rounded route across a few different kinds of scenery so you leave with a clearer sense of where you'd want to return. Guidance is available throughout, but the priority here is making sure you leave with the shots you came for, from the parts of the region that genuinely interest you.
Two workshop participants shooting a sunset from the summit of Te Mata Peak
What Draws You Most?
When you book, let me know which of these you'd like the session built around (choose one or more):
Peaks and rolling hill country — Te Mata Peak, the Tukituki Valley, and the countryside beyond
Coastline and seascapes — Hawke's Bay's beaches and rugged edges
Wetlands and still water— Pekapeka Wetlands, Lake Tūtira and other quiet, reflective spots
This isn't a fixed checklist tour. Your answer becomes the actual planning input for the day.
Who It's For
Visiting photographers with limited time who want efficient access to the best spots
Local photographers who'd like a guided visit to locations they haven't explored yet
Anyone who wants strong images from a well-guided day, without a heavy technical or creative-development focus
If you find yourself wanting to stay longer at one location rather than move to the next, or you're more curious about why a scene works than simply capturing it, Seeing the Landscape may be the better fit.
What You Can Expect
Each Highlights session runs to a personalised itinerary rather than a fixed script, built from whatever draws you most — or, if you're still deciding, a well-rounded introduction across a few different kinds of scenery.
I'll pick you up in Havelock North and drive you to a sequence of locations matched to your preferences — Te Mata Peak, the wetlands, the coast, or further into the hill country, depending on what we've planned. Some light walking may be involved, but no long or strenuous hikes.
Guidance is available throughout, but how much is entirely up to you. Some participants want detailed help with settings and composition at every stop; others mainly want efficient access to the locations and are happy shooting independently while I point out what's worth noticing nearby. It's fine for that to shift over the course of the day too.
We'll take breaks between locations to rest, eat, or grab a coffee, and time each stop around the light rather than the clock.
If you'd like, we can add a light-touch post-processing session — practical things like exporting for social media or preparing images for print, rather than a deep editing lesson. My Online Processing Tuition sessions (which can be done in person) are a better fit if you want to go further than that.
At the end of the day, I'll drop you back home if you're local, or at your accommodation or vehicle otherwise.
Format
Half Day (approx. 4 hours) — Sunrise, morning, afternoon, or sunset session built around your preferences above.
Full Day (approx. 8 hours) — Two shooting sessions (typically one that starts at sunrise and one that ends at sunset) with a break between, plus the option to add a post-processing session as described above.
One-Night Visit Format — Ideal if you're passing through Hawke's Bay briefly: a sunset shoot on arrival, followed by an overnight rest and a sunrise shoot the next morning.
The times above (4 / 8 hours) refer to the total duration of the workshop — driving, shooting, and any post-processing session included — not just time spent taking photos.
How much of the day the 4/8 hours spans depends on the season. In winter, sunrise and sunset sit close enough together that a Full Day session often runs as one continuous outing with a lunch break in between. In summer, with an early sunrise and a late sunset, the gap between the two sessions is much wider — the day includes breaks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner along the way, so we're not out shooting through the flattest hours of light. Either way, the two-session structure stays the same; only the number and length of breaks in between changes.
A glimpse of what's out there — mountains, coastline, wetlands, lakes, and atmosphere, all within reach of a Highlights session.
What You'll Need
Appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear, your camera and gear (spare batteries, memory cards, tripod), and patience for weather that might not do what either of us expects. A full packing list is sent after booking.
Words from Workshop Participants
“I had a great workshop with Jos in Hawke’s Bay. He’s a local, so he knew all these amazing spots I never would have found otherwise. The weather wasn’t perfect, but that didn’t throw either of us. He stayed really patient and guided me through everything. We also did an editing session, and he explained all the details of his process, step by step. I’d definitely recommend him to anyone who needs help mastering their craft.”
Prices
Half Day: $300 per person
Full Day:$560 per person
Full Day, Spread Over Multiple Days: $620 per person
A 20% deposit is required after we have set a date and full payment is due before the workshop.
Ready to book?
Complete the details below to book your workshop today. Or contact me if you’d like to know more.
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Want to go further with your editing afterward? My Online Processing Tuition sessions pick up where a Highlights day leaves off.
Or, alternatively, you can contact me and we can work out the right workshop for you.