Last month, at the encouragement of my Waikato NZIPP colleagues, I stepped back into the NZ Professional Photography Awards for the first time since 2018.
Seven images. Two categories. FOUR bronze awards. And my first-ever silver. đ„ł
But hereâs the cool thing: most of these entries werenât portfolio pieces Iâd created purely for competition. They were real client work, commissioned shoots for national and international hair awards, fashion-focused campaigns, and brand storytelling projects. In other words: the kind of photography my clients actually hire me for, and exactly the kind of work I love as an award-winning commercial and creative photographer in Waikato.
And thatâs what makes these awards extra special.
Because itâs one thing to create an image for an open brief with total creative control.
Itâs another to take a very specific, high-stakes commercial brief, where every detail matters for the clientâs industry, and transform it into something that stops people in their tracks.
Shannon Dowdâs High-Key Editorial: From Hair Editorial Finalist to Silver at the Iris Awards
The image that won my first silver award was created for Shannonâs entries into the NZ Hair & Barber Awards â across Colourist of the Year, Editorial Stylist of the Year, and the Cover Shot Award.
The brief: Edgy but bright. Colourful, but with an entirely fresh approach from our past collaborations. The hair colour had to be the undeniable star.
I chose a high-key shoot and edit style to keep the hair front and centre, paired with white, structured fashion styling (corset, suspenders, thigh-high stockings) to let the colour pop. We worked with our model to create awkward, mannequin-like poses with an intense, neutral expression, creating an almost unhuman feel.
The result: An image that became a finalist in every hair award category it entered, featured in publications, and now⊠silver in the Iris Awards đ„ł
Alescha Collierâs Haunting Editorial Collection: Professional Hairdresser of the Year
Aleschaâs first hair awards collection was submitted entirely in black and white, with a brief to create something unsettling but still fashion-forward and beautiful.
The image I entered into Iris has a âliving dollâ quality , equal parts pretty and eerie. The styling, expression, and lighting worked together to evoke a sense of intrigue while keeping the focus firmly on her creative hair work.
The collection helped secure her the New Zealand Hair Awards Professional Hairdresser of the Year title and recognition in both her industry and the photography world.
Jess Wilsonâs Retro Dream: Barbie Meets Grease in a Pink Explosion
For first-time entrant Jess, the theme was Retro Dream: a blend of 1950s Barbie innocence and Grease-inspired rock ânâ roll edge.
She wanted the models bursting through a ripped pink backdrop, styled to perfection by Sopheak Seng. I used a multi-light setup to highlight every element of the brief â hair, fashion, and beauty â creating a versatile collection that worked for hair award judges, editorial publications, and brand marketing alike.
Jess went on to be a finalist in the AHIA Apprentice of the Year 2025 â a huge achievement for a debut collection.
FROOTLOOPS: Shannon Dowdâs Riot of Colour That Went Global
One of the most vibrant images I entered came from Shannonâs FROOTLOOPS collection for the AHIA NZ Hairdresser of the Year.
Inspired by kidcore, itâs a riot of rainbow colour and clashing patterns, designed to capture unfiltered joy. This collection has been featured in international hair publications â both digital and print â cementing Zibido Hair‘s reputation on a global scale.
Read more about the FROOTLOOPS collection here â
BLOOM: The Illustrative Shot That Won at the Iris Awards
This year, I also stepped into the awards with something deeply personal: an image from my BLOOM series.
Itâs a self-directed creative portrait project, part fine art photography, part empowerment campaign, designed to explore what it means to celebrate yourself exactly as you are, in whatever âstageâ of bloom youâre in right now.
These images arenât tied to a commercial brief. Theyâre about self-expression, vulnerability, and the joy of seeing yourself reflected as art.
For this series, I collaborated with Hair by Buffy on hair styling and Caitlin Reed on makeup to create portraits that blur the line between fashion editorial and fine art illustration.
BLOOM isnât just about producing something beautiful to look at, more deeply it’s about creating a visual language for self-worth and presence. So to see this work recognised at the Iris Awards alongside my commercial projects was a huge moment for me. Itâs proof that deeply personal creative work can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with industry-focused imagery and still command attention on a national stage.
âš If youâd like to experience your own stage of bloom captured in a way that feels bold, beautiful, and entirely you â keep an eye out. The next BLOOM series bookings will be opening soon.
Why Awards Recognition Matters for Your Creative Work
These awards arenât about me , theyâre about you, my amazing clients: The stylists, designers, and creative professionals who pour hours of skill, artistry, and heart into their craft.
When your work is photographed with the same level of care and creativity you put into creating it, it gets noticed. It stands out in your industry. It wins recognition on national and international stages. That recognition can:
â Position you as a leader in your field
â Open doors to publication, collaboration, and new opportunities
â Understore the strength of your skill to clients, peers, and industry judges alike
â Give you powerful imagery you can use in marketing, press, and storytelling for years to come
My role is to listen to your vision, understand your goals, and then create images that showcase your work at its absolute best â so when itâs your moment in the spotlight, the world sees just how brilliant you are.
Celebrating My Clientsâ Wins on a national level
Iâm so incredibly proud of every client who stepped into these competitions and put their work forward with courage and vision. This past year alone, my clients have:
- Won Professional Hairdresser of the Year
- Been named finalists in Colourist of the Year, Editorial Stylist of the Year, and Apprentice of the Year
- Seen their collections published in international hair and fashion magazines
- Represented Waikato and New Zealand on global creative platforms
Your courage to create, to take risks, and to back your vision genuinely inspires me, and I am so grateful for every opportunity I get to work with amazing, skilled professionals!
Your Vision, Brought to Life (and Seen by the Right People)
If youâve got a story to tell, through an awards entry, a brand campaign, or an editorial concept , Iâm here to help you make it unforgettable.
I work closely with my clients to understand the heart of their brief, then bring it to life with creative direction, technical skill, and a clear understanding of how the images will be used. The result – well, you can see it for yourself: Photography thatâs both visually striking and strategically powerful â designed to grab attention, earn recognition, and open doors.
đ Waikato & available New Zealand-wide
đ§ Contact me here â
