Ainsley DS Photography

Ainsley DS Photography Portrait photography with an emphasis on empowerment. Capturing beautiful moments with style and authenticity. Maternity. Boudoir. Empowerment. Personal Branding.

Family. Friends. Lovers. I think we can all agree that bodies are amazing. As a photographer, it is my mission to celebrate those bodies and souls exactly as they are. Whether you're after an empowering solo shoot at your favourite beach, a confidence boosting boudoir photo shoot in your favourite lingerie, or a maternity shoot to capture your journey into motherhood, a personal empowerment photos

hoot with me is all about celebrating you! I have a strict "no body policy" which means I will never retouch or photoshop any part of your body. I'm a firm believer in body positivity no matter your shape, ability, age, or gender identity. I’m all about embracing natural beauty and in today's modern society that values perfectionism over reality, I think we need all reality we can get. I want to help you accept (if not love) your "flaws" and celebrate your best features. ​

​Long live the dimples, freckles, cellulite, skin rolls and scars. These are all signs of life! If you need a little confidence boost, want to document your solo trip, capture your baby bump, or you're simply celebrating your beautiful self, I want you to feel comfortable and beautiful during the photo shoot, and empowered and confident after it. If you're wanting to gift someone special with a boudoir or empowerment portrait session then get in touch with me about organizing a gift voucher for them. All bodies are good bodies. All bodies are worthy. Every body has a story, let me tell yours x

Who are empowerment shoots for?For women.For men.For q***r people.For trans, non-binary and gender diverse humans.For th...
08/06/2026

Who are empowerment shoots for?
For women.
For men.
For q***r people.
For trans, non-binary and gender diverse humans.
For the people still figuring themselves out.
For the people finally coming home to themselves.
For the ones who have spent years being told they are too much.
Too soft. Too loud. Too emotional. Too masculine. Too feminine. Too different.
For the people learning to be seen on their own terms.
Empowerment shoots are not about fitting into a version of beauty, confidence, masculinity, femininity, or identity created by someone else.
They are about you.
They are for you. 🧡

Throwback to the best shoot with these two who were visiting from the US and literally found me by googling "Q***r Frien...
07/06/2026

Throwback to the best shoot with these two who were visiting from the US and literally found me by googling "Q***r Friendly Photographer Auckland" 🩷💜

I love it when google actually works sometimes! hehe

Still obsessed with this shoot! x

**Who are empowerment shoots for?**Not just the ultra-confident.Not just the “photogenic.”Not just people who feel compl...
04/06/2026

**Who are empowerment shoots for?**

Not just the ultra-confident.
Not just the “photogenic.”
Not just people who feel completely comfortable in their bodies.

They’re for the healing, the growing, the grieving, the brave, the soft, the messy, the powerful, the in-between.

You don’t need to change yourself to deserve beautiful photographs.

Come exactly as you are. 🤍

Do it for the joy of it. ✨For the joy of feeling free, for the joy of embracing yourself, for the joy of doing something...
02/06/2026

Do it for the joy of it. ✨

For the joy of feeling free, for the joy of embracing yourself, for the joy of doing something just for you.

Book your empowerment shoot with Auckland photographer today X

01/06/2026

Project Update: “Now You See Me” – Endo Empowerment Project 🧡🩷

A little update on where things are at behind the scenes with the Now You See Me Endometriosis Empowerment Project.

I’m currently waiting to hear back from Fujifilm regarding gear rental for the upcoming shoots, which will help shape the next stage of the work.

On a more practical note, I also need to get my car lights fixed before I can safely drive down for the next round of travel and shooting. I’ll be heading back through Wellington for follow-up portraits and stopping at a couple of important locations along the way. 🚘

Over the next short while, I’ll be in touch with participants again, (especially those based in Auckland) to confirm details and next steps for upcoming sessions. 📸

For timing, things are currently shaping up like this:

* Palmerston North / New Plymouth/ BOP/ Wellington shoots: likely late July (TBC)
* Wellington exhibition: September
* Auckland exhibition: October (dates still to be confirmed)

Thank you again to everyone involved for your patience as this project continues to grow and take shape. It’s been such a meaningful process already with a lot of moving parts! I can’t wait to share more soon. 🩷🧡

Real talk: creative businesses come with a weird kind of double pressure. 🎨Many of us didn’t start creating to make mone...
30/05/2026

Real talk: creative businesses come with a weird kind of double pressure. 🎨

Many of us didn’t start creating to make money, we started because we loved our art. But somewhere between niches, algorithms, consistency, and paying the bills, creativity started feeling more like obligation than freedom. It was so easy to get wrapped up in trying to pay the bills instead of trying to make art.

Ironically, a weird, unexpected thing has happened now where starting a FT “regular” job has given me more creative freedom. Less pressure to create for likes, money, or survival. More space to make art for art’s sake again.

And for me, the extra strange thing I realized is that I wouldn’t actually change much. Empowerment photography was never about money for me. It’s always been about beautiful bodies, beautiful images, and helping people feel good in themselves.

And that hasn’t changed.

I might just be a little braver, bolder, and more creative moving forward ✨

Lucky lucky me 🧡

Just a couple of ancient history nerds playing dress up with stunning vintage jewelry and using fruit as lipstick 💄 ✨🍎
30/05/2026

Just a couple of ancient history nerds playing dress up with stunning vintage jewelry and using fruit as lipstick 💄 ✨🍎

I’m constantly being told by Meta that my account be recommended to new users because of my “offensive” content. So migh...
28/05/2026

I’m constantly being told by Meta that my account be recommended to new users because of my “offensive” content. So might as well post these! 🤷‍♀️

Apparently women’s bodies are very offensive… what’s new!?

Just FYI 🧡 Excerpts from an empowerment shoot in Auckland 🌊
27/05/2026

Just FYI 🧡

Excerpts from an empowerment shoot in Auckland 🌊

Absolutely devastated to hear of the passing of Jools Topp today 💔I was lucky enough to photograph the cheeky pair at b...
25/05/2026

Absolutely devastated to hear of the passing of Jools Topp today 💔

I was lucky enough to photograph the cheeky pair at back in 2021, and my word, what an energy these two carried. Natural-born entertainers, yes, but beyond the music, comedy and larger-than-life presence was an incredible kindness, humility and mana. Everything they touched seemed to turn to gold.

The impact Jools and the Topp Twins had on Aotearoa also goes far beyond entertainment. The love, compassion, acceptance and visibility they brought to the q***r community, and to all of NZ cannot be overstated. We were so lucky to have this dynamic duo.

Jools will be so deeply missed. Not only by her sister, family and friends, but by a whole country that grew up laughing, singing and learning alongside them.

The world feels a little less bright today 💔 rest in giggles Jools!

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