Katikati-based photographer Anna Menendez couldn’t believe her eyes. This month, while watching the livestream of the 2025 New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography’s Iris Awards, a judge challenged the score of one of her entries, a photo of a family on the beach caught mid-splash. The image, bursting with pure joy, was being debated by a panel of five judges.
“In my case, I thought I got a silver and was so excited,” Menendez said. “Then one judge challenged the score and talked it up to gold. I was speechless!”
This gold distinction, her highest honor to date, made Menendez a finalist for Professional Family Photographer of the Year. Since starting her photography journey in 2018, she has steadily gained recognition for her work. This year alone, she won an impressive eight awards—matching her total from last year, but with the added distinction of a gold. Her award tally included:
- Family: One gold, two silvers, one bronze
- Nature: Two silvers
- Landscape: One silver, one bronze
The Magic Behind the Lens
Menendez’s success, particularly in family photography, stems from her unique approach. While many clients initially want a standard portrait where everyone is looking at the camera, she has a knack for capturing something more authentic.
“To get that special image, it’s about getting to know your subjects,” she explains. She gets the traditional shot out of the way first, then encourages families to simply be themselves.
“I might try the same thing with heaps of families, but they all respond differently,” Menendez says. Some are eager to splash in the waves, while others are more reserved, and she’s happy to capture either moment.
This dedication to authentic connection has earned her a loyal following of repeat customers. But her path to becoming a successful photographer wasn’t without its challenges. After moving back to her hometown of Katikati in 2016, she decided to turn her artistic passion into a career. She had just started building her business when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, bringing all her bookings to a halt.
A Community-Focused Comeback
Instead of giving up, Menendez found a way to use her skills for good. Inspired by a U.S. social media trend, she launched a “Front Steps” project in Katikati, taking photos of local families and businesses in exchange for donations to the Katikati Community Foodbank.
Her selfless work earned her a unique honor: she was one of six “unsung heroes” of the 2020 lockdown to be featured in a mural painted on the town’s Anglican Church as part of the 2022 NZ Mural Contest. More importantly, it helped her build deep connections within her community, with many of those initial families and business owners becoming long-term clients.
Today, no two days are the same for Menendez. She might be photographing a family one day, a small business the next, and a council event after that. Her passion for her craft is evident in every project.
“There is no product I find boring,” she says. “I love meeting people and building a rapport with them.”
It’s All About Connection
Menendez’s work is a testament to the fact that great photography is more than technical skill. Her silver award-winning shot of two brothers, Kereama and Hemi, perfectly captures this philosophy. Their mother, Melissa Laughton, says she keeps coming back to Menendez because of her ability to capture “natural shots” and “moments that you usually can’t capture yourself.”
The secret to a great photo, according to Menendez, is simple: connection.
“It doesn’t matter how technically great you are, if you can’t get the person to connect with you or each other, then it’s just a photo,” she says. This principle applies to all her work, whether she’s capturing a family’s joy or the subtle detail of a dewy landscape.
This year’s Iris Awards featured over 1,400 images, and Menendez’s success highlights the exceptional talent in the New Zealand photography community. For Menendez, the awards are more than just recognition; they’re a chance to learn and grow, underscoring the importance of community and continuous improvement in her art.
