Matt Barnes Photography
@mattbarnesphoto.bsky.social
Commercial, portrait and glamour photographer based in Palmerston North, New Zealand
Some classic clamshell beauty shots of classic beauty @playful-hazel.bsky.social. I have seen people do clamshell lighting with a reflector, but I prefer two lights (there's a third edgelight here) for full control over balancing the shadows.
November 28, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Some classic clamshell beauty shots of classic beauty @playful-hazel.bsky.social. I have seen people do clamshell lighting with a reflector, but I prefer two lights (there's a third edgelight here) for full control over balancing the shadows.
Shooting Lilli Grace in Upper Hutt, on a rare sunny day!
November 22, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Shooting Lilli Grace in Upper Hutt, on a rare sunny day!
Melbourne star Haylee Adams, shot waaaay back in 2017
November 10, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Melbourne star Haylee Adams, shot waaaay back in 2017
Cathy-Leigh Pereira, Wellington, 2016(!)
November 8, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Cathy-Leigh Pereira, Wellington, 2016(!)
When your model is a Star Trek fan and you want to work it into the shoot! (With the amazing Bettie Pagan)
November 4, 2025 at 7:29 PM
When your model is a Star Trek fan and you want to work it into the shoot! (With the amazing Bettie Pagan)
Making a mess of Nakita Fox, back in 2021.
November 2, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Making a mess of Nakita Fox, back in 2021.
This shoot was in a pool in an apartment building. The problem was that all the walls were glass and we ended up building a bit of an audience from the buildings either side! The model is the fabulous Venus Starr.
October 30, 2025 at 2:15 AM
This shoot was in a pool in an apartment building. The problem was that all the walls were glass and we ended up building a bit of an audience from the buildings either side! The model is the fabulous Venus Starr.
I've been slowly putting together a home studio. Recently, I added blinds to the windows, and today, I assembled a couple of benches. Now people don't have to put all their shit on the floor! Bonus!
October 25, 2025 at 9:37 AM
I've been slowly putting together a home studio. Recently, I added blinds to the windows, and today, I assembled a couple of benches. Now people don't have to put all their shit on the floor! Bonus!
One of my fave looks in the studio is moving the model well away from a white wall and putting lights close to them. It means the wall falls off to grey, without shadows. I really dig the clean look, especially if the outfit colours are kept minimal.
This is Wellington model Mercy May, by the way!
This is Wellington model Mercy May, by the way!
October 21, 2025 at 12:41 AM
One of my fave looks in the studio is moving the model well away from a white wall and putting lights close to them. It means the wall falls off to grey, without shadows. I really dig the clean look, especially if the outfit colours are kept minimal.
This is Wellington model Mercy May, by the way!
This is Wellington model Mercy May, by the way!
Throwback to that time model Sophia Dainty got in a pool at 1am. I mean, it would be rude NOT to take photos, right?
October 10, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Throwback to that time model Sophia Dainty got in a pool at 1am. I mean, it would be rude NOT to take photos, right?
Brooke, Wellington, 2016
October 3, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Brooke, Wellington, 2016
From the first time I photographed Nakita Fox and she explained to me that she, "didn't know how to shoot with clothes on."
September 30, 2025 at 1:21 AM
From the first time I photographed Nakita Fox and she explained to me that she, "didn't know how to shoot with clothes on."
Had a shoot at Altitude Pole here in North Palms and shot 13 people in a row with lots of colours and energetic-looking moves. Here's an example of the sort of stuff shot - this is the amazing Jess!
September 24, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Had a shoot at Altitude Pole here in North Palms and shot 13 people in a row with lots of colours and energetic-looking moves. Here's an example of the sort of stuff shot - this is the amazing Jess!
@mathew1988ad.bsky.social requested some Nakita Fox, so here you go!
September 23, 2025 at 7:47 PM
@mathew1988ad.bsky.social requested some Nakita Fox, so here you go!
Sam Alexander, Wellington, 2022
September 21, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Sam Alexander, Wellington, 2022
Amber Appletini as the Bride of Frankenstein, with hair and make-up by Rachel Massey. This was a full DECADE ago. God, I've been doing this crap way too long!
September 18, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Amber Appletini as the Bride of Frankenstein, with hair and make-up by Rachel Massey. This was a full DECADE ago. God, I've been doing this crap way too long!
Flashback to shooting @skylarleigh.bsky.social wearing black tape courtesy of MUA Robyn Holland. This was in a really cool studio space at Trentham Racecourse that I shot a lot in. It had all sorts of corners and floors and rooms that gave loads of options. I miss it!
September 8, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Flashback to shooting @skylarleigh.bsky.social wearing black tape courtesy of MUA Robyn Holland. This was in a really cool studio space at Trentham Racecourse that I shot a lot in. It had all sorts of corners and floors and rooms that gave loads of options. I miss it!
Some Sophia Dainty for your weekend! Shot on Raumati Beach a few years back...
September 6, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Some Sophia Dainty for your weekend! Shot on Raumati Beach a few years back...
This shot of Instagram queen Sarah Harris was as simple as it looks - no lights, no modifiers. I was just on the balcony of the location, looked down at the pool and thought there was a good shot there! Fortunately, Sarah had a blue swimsuit with her, so we were good to go!
August 28, 2025 at 6:43 AM
This shot of Instagram queen Sarah Harris was as simple as it looks - no lights, no modifiers. I was just on the balcony of the location, looked down at the pool and thought there was a good shot there! Fortunately, Sarah had a blue swimsuit with her, so we were good to go!
The incredible duo of @skylarleigh.bsky.social and @honeyblake.bsky.social shot at the beach last year - you know, back when the weather wasn't freezing like it is right now!
August 21, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The incredible duo of @skylarleigh.bsky.social and @honeyblake.bsky.social shot at the beach last year - you know, back when the weather wasn't freezing like it is right now!
Another shot of Boxstara from last weekend, this time highlighting their second costume - Ann from PERSONA 5.
#cosplay #cosplayer #annpersona5 #annpersona5cosplay #persona5cosplay #anncosplay #persona5
#cosplay #cosplayer #annpersona5 #annpersona5cosplay #persona5cosplay #anncosplay #persona5
August 9, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Another shot of Boxstara from last weekend, this time highlighting their second costume - Ann from PERSONA 5.
#cosplay #cosplayer #annpersona5 #annpersona5cosplay #persona5cosplay #anncosplay #persona5
#cosplay #cosplayer #annpersona5 #annpersona5cosplay #persona5cosplay #anncosplay #persona5
Fresh off the camera sensor - from a shoot with cosplay legend Boxstara on the weekend, as Ryuko from KILL LA KILL.
#ryuko #killlakill #ryukocosplay #killlakillcosplay #cosplay #cosplayphotography
#ryuko #killlakill #ryukocosplay #killlakillcosplay #cosplay #cosplayphotography
August 5, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Fresh off the camera sensor - from a shoot with cosplay legend Boxstara on the weekend, as Ryuko from KILL LA KILL.
#ryuko #killlakill #ryukocosplay #killlakillcosplay #cosplay #cosplayphotography
#ryuko #killlakill #ryukocosplay #killlakillcosplay #cosplay #cosplayphotography
When I was going to shoot Jade Wang in Auckland a couple of years back, she said she might bring an outfit that was "a little different".
Yeah, it was.
Yeah, it was.
July 31, 2025 at 1:16 AM
When I was going to shoot Jade Wang in Auckland a couple of years back, she said she might bring an outfit that was "a little different".
Yeah, it was.
Yeah, it was.
A bit more from Rachel Hase's birthday shoot - she always rocks up with the BEST outfits! Her suitcase weighed a tonne and I think most of it was metal chains, to be honest.
This is a four light set up - including one hidden right behind Rach with a yellow gel on it for the sunburst effect.
This is a four light set up - including one hidden right behind Rach with a yellow gel on it for the sunburst effect.
July 26, 2025 at 8:56 AM
A bit more from Rachel Hase's birthday shoot - she always rocks up with the BEST outfits! Her suitcase weighed a tonne and I think most of it was metal chains, to be honest.
This is a four light set up - including one hidden right behind Rach with a yellow gel on it for the sunburst effect.
This is a four light set up - including one hidden right behind Rach with a yellow gel on it for the sunburst effect.
It was Rachel Hase's birthday on Sunday, so we did a photo shoot to celebrate. She dressed as a nun in pasties. As you do.
July 21, 2025 at 10:26 AM
It was Rachel Hase's birthday on Sunday, so we did a photo shoot to celebrate. She dressed as a nun in pasties. As you do.