Yoga photoshoot – Saint Heliers Beach, Auckland

I was recently contacted by Paulina a local yoga instructor who needed a photographer to capture some new images and video to populate her new website. We discussed a plan to shoot some images of her doing yoga at a local beach. After waiting for a good spell of weather over a few weeks at the end of July/start of August we finally had a break in the winter weather and were rewarded with a stunning day. We decided on Saint Heliers beach and Kohimarama beach as the shoot location since it suited the sun position in regards to the way I wanted to shoot the images, and it also has easy access without being too busy. Also since Paulina takes classes at the Kohimarama Yacht club it seemed to make sense in that regard too.

First up I captured some images of Paulina walking along the beach as if looking for a space to set up her yoga mat.

Woman walking along Saint Heliers beach with a yoga mat photographed by local professional photographer Adam Firth Woman walking along Saint Heliers beach with the sun behind her Woman looking out to Rangitoto island from Saint Heliers beach holding a yoga mat. Photographed by Adam Firth

Next we setup to capture some images of Paulina on the rocks by the playground at the eastern end of the beach. The light from the low winter sun was perfect for the photographs and helps to show her concentrating on her breath and feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin.

Greeting the sun. Photograph of yoga instructor concentrating on her breath and the warmth of the morning sun. Photographed by professional photographer Adam Firth at Saint Heliers beach in Auckland. Photograph by portrait photographer Adam Firth at Saint Heliers beach in Auckland of a woman in yoga clothing on the local rocks in the morning sun.

Jumping down from the rocks we setup the yoga mat in a spot inspired by Paulina liking the flowing water, and texture of the rocks in the background. I setup a light to fill in the shadows on Paulina and she went through a few different poses, and a clothing change.

Then turning the camera around we setup with the cliffs of Saint Heliers as a darker background. Using the sun as a backlight and some fill light from my flashes for the shadows I captured some more poses with a different tonal feel to give Paulina a good range of imagery for her marketing.

We finished off in the same spot with a couple of nice portrait shots of Paulina, great light, great smile, great background. Check, check, check.

Professional photograph of a woman on a yoga mat smiling at camera while hugging her knees photographed by local photographer Adam Firth at Saint Heliers beach in Auckland.

And finally we went to the Kohimarama yacht club where Paulina runs yoga classes in the mornings. Such an amazing spot to do yoga with the sun rising over the ocean. We finished off with some photographs of Paulina doing a few yoga poses on the club deck, and her looking out over the ocean.

We also shot some video of Paulina walking to the Kohimarama yacht club where she runs yoga classes in the morning

If you need any help creating some photography or video for your business marketing drop me a message using the form below, or alternatively give me a call to discuss your needs over the phone. Im based in the Saint Heliers / Kohimarama area but work Auckland wide and sometimes further afield depending on the project needs.

Theres more information about the photographic services I offer on my services page here or you can select more specific information on various services using the menu at the top left of the page.