The best event photographers in Nelson cover conferences, awards evenings, festivals, product launches and private celebrations across the city and the wider Tasman region. Hiring an event photographer in Nelson means finding someone who can work discreetly through a full programme and then turn images around fast enough for a press release, a social post or an internal newsletter. Steve Hussey Photography works the conference circuit around the top of the South Island, while Photos by Francesca offers a rush option on event bookings.
1Steve Hussey Photography
Steve Hussey is a Nelson based commercial and documentary photographer who covers conferences, corporate functions and festivals throughout Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough and Wellington. His commissions run from the New Zealand Law Society ILANZ Conference and the Mazda Dealers Conference through to Nelson Arts Festival and Marchfest. He also flies aerial work as Drone Nelson and takes director of photography roles on video projects.
Services
- Conference and corporate event photography
- Commercial and advertising photography
- Aerial and drone photography
- Videography and director of photography work
- Architectural and real estate photography
Highlights
- Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers (FNZIPP)
- Iris Awards New Zealand Documentary Photographer of the Year, 2026
- Judge at the NZIPP Iris Awards since 2021
- Wildlife and Wild Places Photographer of the Year at the 2016 Iris Awards
- PADI certified underwater photographer, with day and week rates negotiated per project
Location & Contact
Name: Steve Hussey Photography
Address: Nelson
Phone: 027 222 0509
Website: stevehussey.co.nz
2Photos by Francesca
Francesca Beckett photographs events in Nelson alongside commercial and brand work, using a documentary approach built around putting people at ease in front of the camera. Her event photography carries a rush option so images land quickly after the night, and past work includes the Fashion for a Cure fundraiser in Nelson, business events for NMIT and the Young Enterprise Scheme awards. She came to photography after six years managing social media and marketing, which shapes how she shoots content meant for a feed.
Services
- Event photography with fast turnaround
- Corporate photography
- Content creation for social media, websites and advertising
- Personal branding and headshot sessions
- Wedding and family photography
Highlights
- NZIPP Accredited photographer
- Six years of social media and marketing experience before moving into photography full time
- Pre shoot consultation and a personalised shot list on every commercial booking
- Images delivered in high resolution and web resolution within 10 working days through an online gallery
Location & Contact
Name: Photos by Francesca
Address: Nelson
Phone: 027 479 5857
Website: photosbyfrancesca.co.nz
3Choice Studios
Choice Studios is a photography and video production business run by Josh Hutchinson from a studio at Mapua, covering events in Nelson and across New Zealand. The work spans conferences and conventions, award ceremonies, launches and private celebrations, booked as single day or multi day coverage. Photography, video and drone footage can be commissioned together or separately, with rapid editing where content is needed for press or social media straight after the event.
Services
- Event photography and videography
- Aerial cinematography for large outdoor events
- Professional headshots
- Product and e-commerce photography
- Brand story video and video testimonials
Highlights
- Single day and multi day event coverage with rapid edit and delivery
- Sony FX6 cinema camera and Sony A7 IV bodies with G Master lenses
- DJI Mavic 4 Pro drone with a 100MP Hasselblad camera for aerial work
- All listed equipment is also available for hire
- Conference work including the Master Plumbers New Zealand conference
Location & Contact
Name: Choice Studios
Address: Mapua, Tasman
Phone: 021 040 4824
Website: choicestudios.nz
4Gravity Events Nelson
Gravity Events runs an all in one event services operation from Nayland Road in Stoke, where photography sits alongside audio, lighting, LED screen, DJ and photobooth hire. The photography side covers conferences, corporate events, gala nights, launch parties, theatre productions, graduations and school and university balls. Photo backdrops including a fairylight wall and a starlight curtain can be added when you want formal portraits taken on the night.
Services
- Conference and corporate event photography
- Ball, formal and graduation photography
- Theatre and stage production photography
- Photobooth and photo backdrop hire
- Event audio, lighting, LED screen and live streaming
Highlights
- Photography can be booked with audio, lighting and audio visual from a single supplier
- Nelson team covers both Nelson and Marlborough, with sister branches elsewhere in the South Island and lower North Island
- Four photo backdrop options including a six metre starlight curtain and two flower walls
- Live streaming for hybrid conferences and for guests who cannot attend in person
Location & Contact
Name: Gravity Events Nelson
Address: 16 Nayland Road, Stoke, Nelson 7011
Phone: 022 533 3118
Website: gravityevents.co.nz/nelson-branch
5Stirling Images
Stirling Images is Grant Stirling’s studio at Atawhai, founded in 1994 and built mainly around commercial, product, property and portrait photography. Event coverage sits alongside that core business rather than leading it: the studio has photographed conference and function work for a Nelson hotel and milestone birthday celebrations on location. The studio room runs six by ten metres with a ceiling mounted lighting system and an infinity wall that converts between white and black in minutes.
Services
- Corporate function and special event photography
- Commercial and product photography
- Property and architectural photography
- Portrait, headshot and team photography
- Video production and aerial drone work
Highlights
- Studio founded in 1994, with more than 30 years in commercial photography
- Certified Part 102 drone operator
- Six by ten metre studio with ceiling mounted lighting, a white infinity wall and a dedicated still life table
- Photographic and written work published in New Zealand mountain bike magazines and outdoor catalogues including Ground Effect and Macpac
Location & Contact
Name: Stirling Images
Address: 18 Malvern Avenue, Atawhai, Nelson
Phone: 027 229 6737
Website: grantstirling.com
Event Photographers in Nelson at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Steve Hussey Photography | Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers (FN... |
| Photos by Francesca | NZIPP Accredited photographer |
| Choice Studios | Single day and multi day event coverage with rapid edit and delivery |
| Gravity Events Nelson | Photography can be booked with audio, lighting and audio visual from... |
| Stirling Images | Studio founded in 1994, with more than 30 years in commercial photogr... |
How to Choose the Right Event Photographer in Nelson
- Match the photographer to the event type. Conference and awards work asks for different skills from a festival or a private party, so look for a gallery containing the same kind of programme.
- Agree the turnaround before you book. A rush option that puts a first selection in your hands within a day matters when images are going to media or onto social channels the next morning.
- Decide whether you also need video or drone coverage, and whether one supplier can deliver all of it without a second booking and a second briefing.
- Confirm how many hours are covered and what happens if the programme overruns, which is a common issue on multi day conferences.
- Settle image licensing up front. Photographers in New Zealand usually retain copyright and license images for agreed uses, so be clear about where the photos will appear and for how long.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nelson Event Photographers
How much does event photography in Nelson cost?
Most photographers quote per event rather than publishing a fixed price list, because the length of the programme, the number of shooters and the turnaround all move the figure. Day and week rates are common for conference work, and shorter functions are often quoted as a minimum booking. Ask for a written quote that states the hours covered, the number of edited images and the delivery date.
Which parts of Nelson and Tasman do event photographers cover?
Event photographers here work from suburbs such as Atawhai and Stoke, and from Mapua out on the Tasman coast, and most will travel to a venue anywhere in the Nelson Tasman area as part of a normal booking. Some also take bookings across Marlborough and further afield. If your venue sits outside the city, ask whether travel time is included in the quote or charged on top.
How soon will I get the photos back after the event?
A full gallery of edited images is commonly delivered within one to two weeks. Some photographers offer a paid rush option that puts a first selection in your hands within about a day, which is worth arranging if the photos are needed for a media release or a next morning post. Say so when you book, because it changes how the shoot is planned.
Do I need a second photographer for a large event?
For a single room conference one photographer is usually enough. Where sessions run in parallel, or where you want the stage programme and the networking floor covered at the same time, a second shooter removes the gaps. Multi day conferences are often quoted as a day rate per photographer.
Who owns the copyright in event photos?
In New Zealand the photographer normally retains copyright in the images and grants the client a licence to use them, which is why quotes often specify where and for how long the photos may be used. Put the licence in writing if the images will appear in advertising or be supplied to sponsors. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment publishes a plain English guide to copyright protection in New Zealand.
Can an event photographer fly a drone at my venue?
Aerial coverage suits outdoor festivals, sports fixtures and site launches, and several photographers in the region offer it. Drone flights are governed by Civil Aviation rules, with restrictions on flying over people and near aerodromes, so the operator needs the property owner’s consent and may need airspace authorisation for the location. The Civil Aviation Authority sets out what applies to both standard and certificated operators.
What is the difference between an event photographer and a wedding photographer?
There is a lot of overlap, and many photographers do both. Wedding work leans on portraiture and a set running order, while corporate event work is closer to documentary: speakers, panels, networking and award presentations, usually in awkward indoor light. Ask to see a gallery from the kind of event you are running rather than a general portfolio.
What should I send the photographer before the day?
Send the run sheet, the venue address and access details, a list of the people who must be photographed, and any shots tied to a specific purpose such as a sponsor acknowledgement or a media release. A short briefing call beforehand is normal and makes the schedule much easier to work to.
How We Chose the Best Event Photographers in Nelson
Every business in this guide was found by searching for event photographers in Nelson, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving Nelson, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.