Rebecca Hayston Photography

If you are reading this, then I guess you have heard good things, or you like some of my work.

Let me tell you a bit about myself.

If reading my life story is not your bag, then all you really need to know is ever since I was a kid I loved taking photos. Over the last 25 years I have taken A LOT of photos and now I’d like to turn that into a living!

I was born in the beautiful city of Christchurch in 1983. I had a typical kiwi childhood, riding our bikes till dusk in bare feet and building huts in nearby vacant sections down by the creek. My first memory as a child is cutting all my hair off just before my third birthday. I figured if I hid it in Mum’s jewellery box she wouldn’t find out… Poor mum was devastated.

In those days we lived in Leeston and we moved back into town when Mum and Dad bought their first newspaper business in the late 80’s. In 1990, my sister Rachel was born. It was a dream come true for a 7 year old. To my advantage, she was a very placid baby, without too much trouble she would allow me to dress her up and sit with my teddies for tea parties. Rachel was my first photographic subject and I still have the photograph I took of her at age 3 smooching her best buddy Ben.

As time went on, my love for photography grew. Whenever I could, I loved to get my hands on the big cameras that were used for Mum and Dad’s business. I would hide away in the bromide room experimenting with the machinery hoping no one would catch me. At high school, my passion continued to blossom and I learnt how to pull apart film canisters and handle them in darkness ready to develop in our school darkroom. I remember thinking I couldn’t see how this love of mine could be any more than a hobby, this thought devastated me and I put my camera down for nearly 10 years. Instead I put my efforts into a career that had always taken my interest, nursing. For the last 14 years, I have worked in the Dialysis Unit at Christchurch Hospital, working alongside some incredible people who have kidney failure. This became my new passion.

I should mention at this stage my best friend and husband Brett. We have been together since we were 15, high school sweethearts. Brett is my rock, and when I say rock he keeps me grounded (very important when I get all these wonderful and fabulous ideas). He is my number one supporter, not to mention an incredible Dad and my soul mate.
In 2008, Brett and I welcomed into the world Poppy. This little bundle of gorgeousness reignited my passion for photography. I wanted to photograph every inch of her; I was so worried I would forget how little she was. I wanted to catch every one of her milestones on camera, no wonder she is so comfortable in front of the camera! Three years later, Neve joined the Hayston whanau. Soon after Neve was born I purchased my first digital SLR camera. I have been unstoppable since!

My true love with photography is shooting people; genuine moments between loved ones and friends, cheeky grins and expressions, and that silent language you can see and not hear. I aim for the ‘A picture tells a thousand words’ business. I love the journalism side of photography, telling a story so people can relive those moments in years to come.

I would love photography to be my ticket to experiencing the world in all it has to offer.

Thanks for reading this and taking the time to follow that photo that led you to me, “so hi, nice to met you”. I’d love to capture those photos you look back on with a smile and fond memories in years to come.

Becs ☺