ABOUT AHA! PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

If you want photography workshops or photography lessons in Auckland, you’ve come to the right place. AHA! Photography Workshops are run by Denise Baynham. Denise has been a professional photographer for more than 18 years and have worked across many genres of the industry giving her a wide breadth of knowledge. In addition to being behind the lens taking photographs, Denise has followed her love of teaching photography for the last seven years. She is praised by students for her relaxed, easy style that makes her classes informative and fun.

A natural teacher who brings a wealth of expertise

As a professional photographer, Denise has extensive experience in the photographic industry working both on location and in the studio. Her clients have included leading corporates and top New Zealand retailers. Full-time contracts have included studio photography for successful eCommerce companies and within the arts and culture sector for Auckland War Memorial Museum, photographing fine art, collections, and artefacts, combined with freelance work for Motat. As a Photography Educator, Denise has worked for the last eight years as a Photography Tutor for Auckland Zoo teaching Photography Workshops at all levels. She was also the Head Photography Tutor for Yoobee Colleges teaching the NZQA accredited NZ Commercial Photography Diploma and continues to teach Yoobee Colleges short photography courses.

Portrait Exhibition

Denise has a photographic portrait exhibition currently touring New Zealand. Operation Grapple - We Were There is a powerful exhibition which tells the story of Operation Grapple through the portraits of 19 NZ nuclear test veterans and their stories. After a hugely successful run at the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum from Sept 2020 - mid January 2021, it was highly praised as a ‘must see’ exhibition of Artweek Auckland and amongst Verve Magazine’s top ten exhibitions to visit. This exhibition was on display in Nelson, as part of Tuku 21 Heritage Month for the duration of April 2021, Te Manawa Museum from 1 May - 15 August 2021, Whirinaki Whare Taonga in Upper Hutt from February - May 2022, followed by Canterbury Museum from 1 June - 15 October 2022, MTG Hawkes Bay from November 2022 - 16 February 2023, Gallagher Academy of Performing Gallery at the University of Waikato from November 2023 - February 2024 and New Zealand Parliament from 10 April - 30 June 2024.

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Denise trained internationally in London at the world-renowned City of Westminster College. Since graduating from her photographic studies, Denise has worked across many photography genres including weddings, corporate, commercial and lifestyle photography. She is equally happy outdoors or in a studio, and depending on a client’s needs, she can easily pivot to deliver to the brief.   

Whether it’s a group of corporate colleagues, a war veteran, ancient artefacts or retail products, for Denise, it’s about building empathy with the subject or student to forge a deeper connection for their benefit or to truly tell a story.

As an experienced photographer, Denise brings together an ideal balance of the technical and artistic elements. It’s the perfect combination that finds its way into every shoot – and every class – she takes.

Visit Denise’s photography website >>