Maria Wilkens Photography is operated by Maria, a family, maternity, and motherhood photographer based in Gisborne, New Zealand. She captures family, maternity, and newborn stories with a blend of honesty and soul, creating work that is vibrant and full of life, rooted in connection, movement, and that magical something you can’t quite name but feel in your bones. Maria picked up a camera long before she became a mother, but motherhood changed the way she sees, not just light and detail but the quiet things that often go unnoticed: the mess, the magic, the way time blurs when little people fill your world.
For Maria, photography is about presence, the kind that makes you feel something every time you look back. Her approach is designed for families who live with full hearts and muddy feet, for mamas tracing the shape of a growing belly, and for the newborn days that blur into one long, love-soaked memory. During sessions, Maria chases sunlight, embraces the chaos, and laughs when things get messy because they always do. In the end, clients receive more than beautiful images; they have pieces of their life that breathe. Her work celebrates an honest, artful view of families just as they are, recognizing that there’s no need to wait for a perfect time because this season matters and now is the time to remember.
Maria also photographs engagement sessions, capturing couples head over heels in love as they prepare to embark on their journey together. Clients describe her as super professional with helpful prompts that make them feel comfortable while having fun and lots of laughs during sessions. She creates stunning photographs that couples treasure, with many returning for future sessions and recommending her services to friends and family without hesitation. Based in Gisborne on New Zealand’s stunning East Coast, Maria utilizes the region’s diverse and picturesque locations from golden beaches to enchanting forests as breathtaking backdrops for every photography session.
