Documenting Art & Exhibitions – The Quiet Craft of Preservation

There’s something special about walking into an exhibition with a camera in hand. Not as a visitor, but as someone trusted to capture what’s been created and shared within that space. Every detail, every wall, every carefully placed object all become part of the story I’m there to preserve.

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Art documentation isn’t just photography. It’s a quiet form of collaboration between the photographer, the space, the work, and the people who made it possible. Whether it’s a solo exhibition in a small gallery or a large-scale institutional show, the approach is the same – observe, interpret faithfully, and honour the work.

Many of the artists I work with in Whangārei and across Aotearoa tell me that the images we create together often become the only lasting record of their work. This is especially true for installation-based or temporary exhibitions, where once the walls are repainted and the lights turn off, the photos remain as the evidence, a record of process, practice, and presence. Good documentation doesn’t just serve a purpose; it becomes part of the work’s legacy.

For curators and institutions, strong documentation is equally important. I’ve captured exhibition photographs for reports, funding applications, archives, press kits, and publications. The images need to be technically precise, with accurate colour, consistent lighting, and clean lines, but they also need to hold a sense of presence. Every decision counts – the angle of a sculpture, the reflection on a glass frame, the exact moment a visitor walks through the space.

I use colour checkers and calibrated lighting when needed, but more than that, I bring focus and care. I move slowly, quietly, and attentively. The goal isn’t to interrupt or stage, but to notice the way a piece interacts with its surroundings, how people engage with it, and the subtle shifts in light that change how a work is seen. Those are the moments that make documentation feel alive.

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Over the years, I’ve photographed everything from experimental pop-ups and community exhibitions to museum-scale installations, artist portraits, and behind-the-scenes setups. Each project has its own rhythm, and I adjust my approach to suit the context, whether that’s a catalogue of flat artworks, detail shots for print, or digital-ready imagery for online archives and publications.

For me, this work is about more than just taking photos. It’s about creating a record that does justice to the art itself. Something that feels true, considered, and lasting.

If you’re an artist, curator, or gallery looking for documentation that goes beyond surface-level recording, that captures the integrity and atmosphere of the work, I’d love to chat.

Because art documentation isn’t just about what’s seen, it is about how the work continues to exist, long after the exhibition ends.