I last shot Emma Diver from Balanced Books three years ago in Queenstown. It was her very first brand shoot, and her bookkeeping and accounting business was still fairly new back then.
Fast forward to last month: Emma was in Hamilton for the 2026 NZ Virtual Assistant Awards - where she ended up walking away with Bookkeeper of the Year (her third bookkeeping award this year!). If you know Emma, it’s no surprise - that recognition is a direct result of the care, clarity, and tailored expertise she brings to every business she works with.
She reached out beforehand to see if I’d have time to take a few photos on the morning of the Awards, as she just needed "one new headshot."
Choosing a location that works as hard as you do
A quick chat with her website designer (who was also in town for the Awards) helped us turn that "one quick headshot" request into a strategic mini-session.
We mapped out a single location that gave us options for three distinct looks:
A cafe-style setup for approachable "working" shots
A nice textured background for modern portraits
A clean, plain backdrop that works perfectly for a profile photo or media bio
Conveniently, it was also just a five-minute walk from a great lunch spot for the three of us afterwards!
Creating visual variety on a tight timeline
The 30-minute shoot netted 30 great shots for her to choose from - diverse enough for her to refresh most of her website as well as her social channels.
I usually recommend bringing multiple outfits for variety, but this shoot is proof that you don't always need a full wardrobe change to get a versatile gallery.
Adding props and people for connection
We also roped in a couple of friends to pose as "clients" for some of the shots - which gave us candid working interactions without needing hours of staging.
Paired with a smart location choice and a few simple props, a quick 30-minute shoot can deliver everything you need to keep your brand looking fresh.
If you're a small business owner in need of a brilliant, stress-free bookkeeper, you can check out Emma's work over at Balanced Books.
