Katie Gundersen Photography has become a trusted name in the Bay of Plenty region, specializing in capturing the precious early stages of life with warmth, expertise, and an eye for creating timeless memories. Based in Edgecumbe and serving the Whakatane area, Katie has built her reputation as a dedicated child and newborn photographer who brings both technical skill and genuine care to every session.
At the heart of Katie’s practice is her specialization in the journey from maternity through to cake smash celebrations. This comprehensive approach allows families to document their growing children through multiple milestone moments, creating a cohesive visual story of those fleeting early years. Katie’s work spans newborn photography, maternity sessions, family portraits, lifestyle photography, and the joyful chaos of cake smash sessions celebrating first birthdays.
What truly distinguishes Katie Gundersen Photography is the emphasis on safety and expertise. Katie has undertaken specialized training in newborn safety, demonstrating her commitment to providing not just beautiful images, but peace of mind for parents during vulnerable newborn sessions. This dedication to learning and staying current with best practices ensures that every tiny subject is handled with the utmost care and professionalism. Her knowledge and careful approach have earned her the affectionate nickname of “the baby whisperer” among clients.
Katie’s relaxed and friendly approach creates a comfortable environment where families can be themselves. Her studio sessions are designed to be stress-free experiences, allowing parents to enjoy the moment rather than worry about the process. This calm, welcoming atmosphere is particularly important when working with newborns and young children, who respond beautifully to Katie’s patient and gentle manner.
The business offers a client closet, providing families with wardrobe options that ensure coordinated, beautiful images without the stress of planning outfits. This thoughtful touch reflects Katie’s understanding of what parents need and her desire to make the photography experience as seamless as possible.
Katie takes pride in the details of each session, particularly evident in her cake smash setups. These celebrations of first birthdays are carefully planned and beautifully executed, capturing the delight and messiness of babies discovering cake for the first time. Her enthusiasm for these sessions shines through, as she genuinely loves watching the joy and wonder of these milestone moments unfold.
The studio’s work creates beautiful memories that families will treasure forever, documenting the incredible journey of early parenthood and childhood. Katie’s ability to capture genuine emotion and connection in her images means that families don’t just receive photographs—they receive visual memories that transport them back to exactly how they felt in those precious moments.
For families in the Whakatane and Bay of Plenty region seeking a photographer who combines technical expertise with warmth, safety consciousness, and a genuine love for working with children, Katie Gundersen Photography offers an exceptional experience from pregnancy through those magical first years of childhood.