Welcome to Sarahlee Studio
From preparation tips to answering your questions, we’re here to make every step simple and easy.
welcome!
We’re so glad you’re here, welcome to Sarahlee Studio.
This is your personal space to explore, get inspired, and find answers to any questions you might have before your photoshoot. We know stepping in front of the camera can make people feel a little apprehensive, but don’t worry, we’re here to make it easy, fun, and full of moments you’ll genuinely love. Take your time looking around, and watch our welcome video. We can’t wait to help you create images that bring joy for years to come.
We love to keep things personal, so we don’t do online bookings. This way, we can have a proper chat and make sure everything feels just right for you. If you like, you can also book a quick discovery call with me, where we can talk through your ideas, answer your questions, and start planning a session that’s truly you.
Please click the links above to read all about the experience and magic that awaits.
What happens next
1. check your inbox
We’ll be in touch shortly with a few helpful emails explaining what to expect, how everything works, and the available shoot dates, so you can choose what suits you best.
2. Let’s meet in person
Ready to plan your session? If we haven’t already let’s book you in for a consultation to chat through your ideas and next steps. If you have any inspiration, we’d love to see it.
3. Enjoy your photo shoot
Relax, have fun, this is your time to shine. We’ll guide you every step of the way to capture images that feel natural, effortless, and truly you.
4. your sales/reveal
3 weeks after your shoot, your images are ready to see! We’ll guide you through choosing the photographs you truly love, finalise your order, and payment, We’ll make the whole process simple, and enjoyable.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
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Sarahlee Studio
3/5 Rust Ave, Whangārei, Northland 0110We’d love to welcome you to our studio! To ensure a relaxed and private experience for all our clients, please call or book ahead before visiting if you don’t already have a session scheduled. Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm.
Parking
Sarahlee Studio does not have a dedicated car park. You’ll find on-street parking on Rust Ave, or a public car park just 25 m away at Forum North. Parking rates typically range from $1–$2 per hour. -
We provide personalised tips and guides at your consultation, covering wardrobe choices, hair and makeup, and ways to feel relaxed and confident in front of the camera.
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You get to choose between our studio and three different outdoor locations that we have carefully selected for you. Our Beach, Bush and Farm spots are all located within 15min of central Whangarei. We’ll share more info about this at your consultation.
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Absolutely! Up to ten people are included in your session (if you want), and we’re happy to include pets or meaningful items. Just let us know ahead of time so we can plan so your session runs smoothly.
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Sessions are held mornings Monday-Friday and typically last 60–90 minutes, giving us plenty of time to capture natural, relaxed moments without feeling rushed. If you choose the hair and makeup upgrade, we’ll let you know how much extra time to allow so everything feels effortless.
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You’ll view your images at your personalised sales appointment in studio, usually 2-3 weeks after your session. This is when you’ll choose your favourites and finalise your order.
Products & Pricing
We offer our portraits à la carte, so you’re never locked into pre-set packages or paying for images you don’t truly love. To secure your session, we charge a session/sitting fee, which covers your time in the studio and the creation of your portraits. *a small reservation fee is required if you have a gift voucher.
After your session, you’ll return to view your photographs and choose your favourites, deciding how you’d like to enjoy them; whether as timeless prints, hero images framed for the wall, or in an beautiful album. You simply choose the images you love, with payment for images made at your ordering appointment or arranged on a layby if you prefer.
Standard Session – $230
Your session fee covers the full portrait experience, from our initial consultation to the photoshoot and your personalised sales appointment. Every detail is designed to make your experience smooth, easy, and enjoyable.
Perfect for capturing authentic moments with family and loved ones.
Includes up to ten people; images are purchased A La Carte so you can choose exactly what you love.
Paid upfront to secure your shoot date/time. If using a gift voucher, a $99 reservation fee applies (redeemed as print credit at your sales appointment).
This session is for those who want beautiful, timeless portraits without the extra styling, yet still a calm, joyful day that feels truly special.
Additional Hair & Makeup – $255 per person
Want your loved ones to feel just as confident as you? Add professional hair and makeup for all so everyone can shine.
Ideal for siblings, partners, or grandchildren ~ capture everyone at their best, relaxed and ready to make memories together.
Ensures the day feels like a celebration of your family and your quality time together.
Styled Session – $455
Everything in a Standard Session, plus professional hair and makeup (for one person) and full access to our studio wardrobe. Give yourself the chance to feel beautiful, confident and special today and every time you look at your images.
Our talented artists create a look that enhances you; soft and elegant or full glamour, exactly how you want to feel.
Perfect for celebrating milestones, family gatherings, or simply adding an extra bit of pampering.
This is more than a photoshoot; it’s a confidence-boosting, self-care experience where you can truly show up as your authentic self.
QUALITY PRints that last
Photos shouldn’t live only on a screen. A quality printed portrait is something to cherish, share, and pass down through generations. Starting from $325 each, every image we create is carefully handcrafted and made to museum-quality standards, built to last 75+ years. Preserving laughs, glances, and quiet connections as timeless heirlooms you and your family can enjoy today and for decades to come. Images and products are chosen after your photo shoot at your sales/reveal appointment.
you choose what you want
Museum Quality Prints
heirloom boxes & albums
professional framing
individual images - best for wall art
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You have the option to buy each image individually. Each photograph is matted and mounted (archival card border and backing board). It’s not a cheap loose print, it’s exactly what you see. Large prints: 16”×20” or above are presented as loose prints.
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Let us take care of everything, so your portraits are ready to hang and enjoy. Choose from four beautiful finishes; matted, unmatted, canvas, or torn edge, along with traditional framer’s glass or shatterproof acrylic options. We can also personalise your framed photos, creating pieces that will be pride of place in your home.
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Our portraits are available in a range of timeless sizes: 11”×14”, 16”×20”, 20”×30”, 30”×40”, and 40”×60”. Each one handcrafted to museum-quality standards.
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You have complete freedom to choose how many portraits you’d like whether it’s two or twenty (or more). There’s no need to fit into a set number. However, if you fall in love with six or more, our folio boxes and albums offer the best value and a beautiful way to keep your collection together.
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Matted and Bare Prints
11”x14” $325* (matted)
16”x20” $500
20”x30” $795
30”x40” $1000
Add-on Professional Framing
11”×14” $225
16”x20” $250
20”x30” $330
30”x40” $450
40”x60” $2,250* (canvas only)
FOLIO BOXES - best for those who want flexibility
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Our most popular option are the Folio Boxes, available in packages of 6, 10, or 20 individually matted images of your choice. Printed at the most popular size 11”×14” (print size 7”×10”) and presented in a sleek black clam-shell or hinged portfolio, these collections can also be tailored to any number of images you love.
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Each box is wrapped in a soft-matt or buckram cover, custom embossed with our logo for a refined, heirloom-quality finish. A ribbon loop makes it easy to lift your portraits in and out of the box, combining elegance with practicality.
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Folio Boxes give you the freedom to rotate and rearrange displays, share images with family, or keep portraits safe until you choose the perfect place to showcase them. They’re also perfectly sized to coordinate with our Folio Frames. ADD ANCHOR LINK
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Our middle and large Folio Boxes include a behind-the-scenes video or slideshow, giving you a cherished window into the laughter, connection, and fleeting moments that made your session and your family so special.
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6-Image Box
Six portraits of your choice, matted and mounted
Presented in a slim-line satin matt clamshell box
Price: $1,799
Additional images: $300 each (normally $325)
10-Image Box
Ten portraits of your choice, matted and mounted
Presented in a handcrafted buckram box with a hinged lid
Price: $2,599
Additional images: $259 each (normally $325)
20-Image Box
Twenty portraits of your choice, matted and mounted
Presented in a luxury buckram box with a hinged lid and satin ribbon closure
Price: $3,750
Additional images: $188 each (normally $325)
Albums - Best for storytelling
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Cherish every smile, every glance, and every shared moment as you flip through the pages with those you love. Imagine a beautifully crafted album, capturing the intimacy, joy, and connection of your portraits for years to come.
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Photo albums have been treasured world-wide for centuries, and each of ours is meticulously handcrafted by Queensberry Ltd, right here in Aotearoa. We personally design your album together in-studio, ensuring every detail reflects your story. Lay-flat pages let every image shine, free from being lost in the crease.
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The Small Album (6) & Medium Album (10) portraits are both 7”x10”
Large (20 or more) portraits in 9”x12”, with a custom vellum title page.
All Albums are available portrait or landscape, wrapped in an elegant black buckram cover, presented in a drawstring bag and hand-printed box.
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Albums are designed as heirlooms, preserving your family’s story and treasured moments so they can be enjoyed today and for generations to come. Perfect for those who value discretion, they can sit elegantly on a book stand, be tucked beneath a coffee table, or shared with loved ones when the moment feels right.
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6-Image Album
Six portraits of your choice
7”x10” sized album
Price: $1,799
Additional images: $300 each (normally $325)
10-Image Album
Ten portraits of your choice
9”x12” sized album
Price: $2,599
Additional images: $259 each (normally $325)
20-Image Album
Twenty portraits of your choice
9”x12” sized
Price: $3,750
Additional images: $188 each (normally $325)
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Available separately and also included with any folio box or album featuring 10 images or more, this treasured video reveals the moments you didn’t see on the day; the laughter, the inside jokes, the hugs and smiles between loved ones. Interwoven with your finished images, it’s a sentimental keepsake you’ll watch again and again, reliving the all the joy you felt in the moment.
Price $250
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For those who love versatility, the Folio Frame offers a hinged, magnetic front so you can swap matted 11”x14” prints whenever you like. Crafted from museum-grade acrylic, shatterproof and protective, it’s a timeless way to display your portraits in your home, available in classic black or white.
Price $550
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6 or more images = $300 each
10 or more images = $259 each
20 or more images = $188 each
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A smaller 5”x7” replica of your full-sized album, perfect for grandparents, gifting, or carrying in your handbag to share with friends. Mini albums must be purchased alongside a full-sized album and are an exact copy, beautifully holding onto your memories in a compact, elegant format.
Price $500
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We offer both AfterPay and customised traditional Layby options. Contact us to discuss what works for you.
add on extras
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Absolutely, we offer both AfterPay and traditional LayBy. Please click here to read more. We don’t offer delayed payments, sorry.
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Creating a finished digital file takes just as much time, expertise, and attention to detail as a printed portrait. For this reason, digital-only pricing is the same. Including both prints and digital files ensures your images are not only beautiful but also safe, tangible, and timeless.
* Read more here.
The Moment You’ve Been Waiting For
Selecting your favourites and bring your memories to life.
Taking your portraits home…
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Relax in a personal, comfortable session where we reveal your beautiful portraits. Take your time to take it all in; the little moments, the laughter, and the connections that make them truly special.
Please ensure all decision makers are coming or we will need to reschedule, (sorry online galleries are not available)
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Today you’ll select the photographs that speak to you and your family. We’ll guide you gently, helping you pick the images that will look beautiful on your walls, in folio boxes and albums, or as gifts for loved ones, no hard sales. For today and for the future.
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This is your time to decide how you’d like to enjoy your portraits; prints, albums, framed pieces, or in a folio box.
Payment is simple and flexible, with bank transfer, card, cash, or payment plan options. Your treasured images are perfect to be cherished for years to come.
Frequently asked QUESTIONS
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Completely normal! We guide every pose naturally so your images feel relaxed, authentic, and full of confidence. And we’ve never meet someone we can’t make look good.
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No problem – we’re experienced in working with children, teens, husbands and families to capture natural, joyful moments.
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Because your final choice is entirely up to you, the cost will vary. Most clients typically take home between $600 and $6,000 worth of their treasured portraits, creating keepsakes to enjoy for years to come.
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We focus on quality over quantity, so you won’t be overwhelmed by hundreds of images. Instead, you’ll view 20–30 of the very best, and the final number you choose to purchase and take home is completely up to you.
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Yes; each image is carefully retouched to enhance your natural beauty while keeping everything natural. If there is anything extra you’d like us to do, just let us know. Or if you prefer to be completely natural without retouching just let us know.
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Yes, we work with you to capture the style and feel you love, whether fine art, timeless, or relaxed lifestyle. Send us your inspiration, we’d love to work towards it.
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We know that everyone is freshest first thing in the morning and the sunlight is the most flattering, which is why all our sessions start at 9am. They are held Monday to Friday and like most businesses, we are closed weekends.
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To make the most of your viewing and ordering session, we ask that everyone involved in the decisions about purchasing your images attends the appointment. This ensures the process is smooth, efficient, and enjoyable for everyone. If this isn’t possible, please contact us to reschedule so we can accommodate everyone.
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We carefully archive all client galleries, however we cannot guarantee long term availability of any images. As part of our studio process and data management, files may be removed from active and archived storage over time.
For this reason, we recommend selecting and purchasing all the images you love at your viewing and ordering session. This is the only point where your chosen images are fully secured for you, and where we can guarantee their availability.
If there are specific images you wish to keep, we strongly encourage you to include them in your order at the time of viewing.
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A session at Sarahlee Studio makes a truly sentimental and special gift. We just ask that you read through the pricing and ensure the recipient is comfortable with the full experience, so it’s enjoyable from start to finish.
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Individual images and Folio Boxes are ready for pick-up within 2 weeks of your purchase. Custom-made Frames and Albums typically take 4–5 weeks. Please keep these timelines in mind when booking your session if you’d like your images by a specific date.
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Read on for a full biography of accolades from 2007 until today.
2025 - Board of Directors of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers (Nzipp)2025 - Awarded Silver and Bronze awards at the National Print Awards the Nzipp Iris Awards.
2025 - Judge at the NZIPP Iris National Print Competition the Iris Awards.
2025 - Received Silver Bar for volunteer services from the Nzipp.
2024 - Elected to the Board of Directors of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers (Nzipp)
2024 - Awarded Finalist in the Portrait Open Category (Top 3)
2024 - Regional Photographer of the Year for Northland and Auckland with the Nzipp
2024 - Awarded Gold, Silver with Distinction and Silver awards at the National Print Awards the Nzipp Iris Awards.
2024 - Received Associates Distinction and volunteer services Medals from the Nzipp.
2024 - Judge at the NZIPP Iris National Print Competition the Iris Awards.
2024 - Team New Zealand team member in the World Photographic Cup WPC.
2023 - Finalist in the Photographic Artistry Category at the Australian Photographic Prize.
2023 - Masterclass Host for Portrait Photographers Business Network, lead international online training in email newsletters.
2023 - Regional Representative for Northland and Auckland for the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers.
2023 - Judge at the NZIPP Iris National Print Awards
2023 - Silver in the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers Iris Awards, Family Portrait Category.
2022 - Regional Representative for Northland and Auckland for the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers.
2022 - Judge at the NZIPP Iris National Print Awards
2021 - Regional Representative for Northland and Auckland for the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers.
2021 - Judge at the NZIPP Iris National Print Awards
2021 - Silver with Distinction in the International Portrait Masters Awards, ranked 5th in the Creative Portrait Category
2021 - Workshop host for the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers Annual Photo Show Conference, Nelson & ‘Tonic’ National Tour, Auckland Event.
2021 - Guest speaker for the Whangarei Business Women’s Network Evening, March Event.
2020 - Judge at the NZIPP Iris National Online Awards
2019 - Winner Excellence in the Creative Industries - Northland Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards
2019 - Finalist in the Micro Business category - Northland Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards
2019 - Judge at the NZIPP Iris National Print Awards
2019 - Silver in the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers Iris Awards, Portrait Open Category,
2019 - Bronze in the International Portrait Masters Contemporary Glamor Category and Family Category
2018 - Bronze in the NZIPP Iris Awards, Creative Portrait and Family Category
2018 - Selected for two day in-person workshop with Sue Bryce in Queenstown
2017 - Winner Micro Business Category - Northland Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards
2017 - Finalist in the Excellence in the Creative Industries category - Northland Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards
2017 - Became Accredited member of the NZIPP
2013 - Started Sarahlee Studio
2007 - Diploma of Contemporary Photography, Unitec, Auckland.
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Those tiny hands, adorable little faces, we know why capturing babies is so special. For safety reasons, we ask that your little one is able to sit unaided before we photograph them.
If you’re looking for newborn or very young baby sessions, we’re happy to refer you to other trusted photographers who work with the tiniest clients.
A Lifetime of stories
We love welcoming back our clients and seeing your families grow over the years. As a heartfelt thank you, repeat clients receive special ongoing benefits for life, making it even more rewarding to capture new memories, celebrate milestones, and enjoy the experience with us again and again.
Receive 10% off all products for your second session.
Receive 15% off all products for your third session.
Receive 20% off all products for your forth and all future sessions.
2025
2024
“From someone that used to hide behind the camera, the Sarahlee Studio team gave me (and then my family) the confidence to feel great about myself and to not shy away from the camera. Seeing the images literally made me cry. I was so happy with them. I honestly couldn’t have asked for more beautiful pics which will be treasured forever.”
~ Estella
2022
