Real Family Photography

About Real Family Photography

Sarah Watkins is the heart behind Real Family Photography. Based in sunny Golden Bay, she serves families across Golden Bay, Nelson and Tasman, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Her 'why' stems from losing her dad as a child. She understood the profound value of preserving genuine memories early on. The last photo of them together is staged, looking at the camera awkwardly. She want to make sure other families remember their childhoods, parents and siblings as their true selves.

Documentary family photography captures your real life as it unfolds — no posing, no staging, no awkward smiles. This style of photography honours your family's story by photographing what actually occurs in your everyday world. Even if the photographer wasn't there, these moments would still be happening.

When she's not behind the camera, Sarah enjoys time with my illustrator husband, Ben, and two adventurous young boys, Nicholas and Tommo. 

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Photography, and over 25 years of professional experience since 2001. She is an Accredited Professional Photographer, a Finalist Documentary Photographer of the Year 2025; and an Associate of Photography with the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers (NZIPP).