Read on to see how that turned into telling yours.

Read on to see how that turned into telling yours.

I’m Ivana – photographer, mother, quiet observer, and someone who finds a lot of beauty in the in-between moments.

Mini Studio started during a season when I was deep in the trenches of motherhood – home with two little girls, trying to hang onto some sense of identity (and let’s be honest, my sanity). I had babies growing faster than my brain could keep up with, and I wanted real, tangible proof that we’d lived through it all. I also couldn’t afford the amount of photos I absolutely needed of them – can you relate?

So I picked up a camera. And that small act changed everything.

At first, it was about documenting my own messy, beautiful, everyday chaos. But it quickly became about something bigger; creating an easy, affordable way for other mums to do the same. Because we all know how fast they grow, how quickly moments blur, and how many photos we wish we had.

That’s why I created Mini Studio – to make it simple for families to show up, be themselves, and walk away with photos that actually feel like their life. No big production. Just honest moments, beautifully captured.

I offer both mini and full sessions, in studio and outdoors – because some seasons call for a quick update, and others deserve a little more space to unfold. Some of my favourite sessions happen outdoors, especially as the sun’s sinking low and everything softens.

Photography, for me, has always been personal. My family came to New Zealand as refugees – and while we carried a lot with us, we left even more behind. I didn’t grow up with photos on the walls. I think that’s why I feel the way I do about photographs. Because these photos? They’ll outlive the toys and the outfits and the chaos. They become part of your story. Proof that you were there. That your love existed. That it mattered.

I’m not here to capture perfection. I’m here for the beautiful chaos – the dirt, the mess, the love that makes family what it is. The moments that go off-script, the cuddles with sticky hands, the laughter, the tears, the wild, messy realness of your days.
That’s the good stuff. That’s what I want to give you.

Mini Studio is a family-run business in Nelson, and every booking supports a real-life mum (me!) who does a little happy dance when your email comes in.

This isn’t just photography. It’s our rhythm, our home, and the way we help other families hold onto the moments that matter most. When you book a session, it’s me behind the camera – and often my little crew running around behind the scenes too.

Thank you for being here, and for supporting a small local business that truly loves what it does. I can’t wait to meet you and help create something beautiful.

Ivana x

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