Fiona is a wildlife photographer, expedition guide, and storyteller based in Kaikōura, New Zealand.
Her work takes her from the icy wilderness of the polar regions to the sandy beaches of the Pacific islands and the wild coastlines of Aotearoa, where she captures the beauty and fragility of wildlife and the environments they depend on.
Alongside guiding, Fiona collaborates on conservation projects and exhibitions, using imagery to connect people with places and species they may never encounter themselves. She also loves teaching photography, helping others develop the skills to tell their own stories of the natural world.
Grounded by Kaikōura, where mountains meet the sea and marine life thrives year-round, Fiona is driven to share stories that inspire wonder, spark curiosity, and encourage protection of wild places.
What is your go to in your Alpha kit and why?
My go to setup is the Alpha 1 II paired with the FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM. This is my favourite combination for wildlife portraits. The Alpha 1 II gives me the speed and resoloution I need to capture the fleeting moments while the 70-200mm GM offers me the versatitlity to frame the animals in their environment without losing intimacy with the subject.
Most memorable moment shooting with Alpha?
Taking the Alpha 9 III underwater for the first time in Niue and witnessing an intimate encounter between a mother whale and her two calves - the moment that became my image "Motherhood".
As the three whales floated together in the blue, I was torn between watching the scene unfold and trusting the camera to capture it. Knowing the camera would deliver allowed me to stay fully present, feeling the tenderness of the moment rather than worrying about the technical side. It's an image I'll carry with me forever, not just for the photograph itself, but for the privilege of being there to experience it.