“Life is full of beauty, you just have to notice it.”
Hi there,
I’m Ilse Botha, a portrait photographer based in Kerikeri, New Zealand. I was born in South Africa, raised in New Zealand, and spent my teenage years in Australia.
I have always been a creative soul, although I didn’t find my true calling until I became a Mama to my wild and free-spirited little Lacey. I spent the first years of her life taking lots of photos for her baby book as a way of keeping precious memories for her and I to look back on.
Through this I fell in love with the process of creating meaningful photographs, incorporating the beauty of New Zealand landscapes and bringing images to life with elegant editing.
What started as a love letter to my family has now turned into a passion for creating these golden moments for a range of beautiful clients. Every shoot is unique, capturing connections and milestones that will be forever remembered.
Have a look through my work and if you think we’d make a good fit then reach out and let’s be friends! We’ll plan an adventure and create some magic together. I’m looking forward to meeting you and capturing your stories!
Love, Ilse xx
Love letters:
“Ilse didn’t just take photos, she captured one of the most precious times of our life. My husband and I felt comfortable, and I felt empowered - thanks to Ilse’s sweet and calm presence. We are in complete awe of our pictures, and cannot stop staring at them. I cannot recommend Ilse enough and will certainly be getting her to capture some more pictures. Thank you again for the most incredible experience.”
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“Our family photos that Ilse did for us are so lovely. She really captured the fun and the love. As a photographer myself, I found Ilse’s professional and relaxed approach really reassuring and loved the results. I now get to treasure these photos forever, truely something to treasure.”
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“Ilse did an incredible job, we can’t thank you enough. To say we struggled to pick our favourites is an understatement! We love them all. She is so light hearted and passionate about what she does. We aren’t ones to pose for photos but we felt so comfortable in her hands. We’ve now got all these beautiful memories to treasure for a lifetime.”
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“I am totally obsessed with the photos Ilse took. She takes beautiful, genuine photos, capturing those little candid moments you look back on and cherish. I often feel quite awkward in front of the camera, but Ilse made the whole process so relaxed. She has such a lovely, warm nature and she knew exactly how to get a smile from my girl. I would definitely recommend Ilse for anyone looking for a photographer to capture those special moments.”
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