I was lucky enough to sit down recently with the amazing Keziah Krikmann, a pro photographer from the Sunshine Coast, Australia, and we talked all about creating beautiful Hero Shot images, about creating moments for authentic connection, and how we don’t need to always chase trends!

Keziah is hosting an upcoming workshop here at CLG, called “the Hero Shot‘ where she’s showing us her whole process for capturing such gorgeous shots, and it’s SO interesting to hear her takes on things like prep, planning, inspiration, catalouging her ideas… and her philosophy around taking moments during a session to just breathe!

I hope you enjoy this chat with Keziah!

Shooting Hero Images

Keziah calls these the scroll stoppers. You know the ones, the photos that make you pause mid-scroll and go “ooooooh.”

They make you feel. They’re the kinds of images that stay with you long after you’ve seen them.

And the secret? They don’t happen by accident.

When you plan for those wow-factor moments, you give yourself space to play, to dig deeper, and to create something that feels honest and powerful. That’s where the magic happens, not just pretty pictures, but images that connect.

The Power of Preparation

One thing Keziah and I both feel strongly about? Preparation is so underrated. And honestly, I get it, we’re all juggling a million things. It’s tempting to just show up and wing it.

But Keziah makes such a great point: when you take the time to slow down and really think about what you want to create, everything shifts. Whether it’s understanding what your client hopes for, or getting clear on the story you want to tell, that little bit of prep can make your shoot feel less chaotic and more intentional.

You feel more confident, your clients feel more relaxed, and suddenly, you’re capturing moments that actually mean something

Creating Emotional Connections

At the heart of every beautiful image is real emotion, and that starts with connection and the relationships we build, and the energy we bring to a shoot.

Keziah is so good at building that trust with her clients. She shared some of her favourite ways to help people relax, from using gentle prompts to simply keeping the energy light and positive.

When your clients feel safe and seen, they open up.

And when that happens? That’s when the magic moments unfold, those little smiles, the warm glances, the in-between laughter. All the good stuff.

Learn with Keziah

If this has you feeling inspired, you’re going to love Keziah’s upcoming workshop. She’s pulling back the curtain on how she creates her hero images, from where she finds inspiration, to how she storyboards a session, right through to her editing process.

It’s perfect for anyone wanting to stretch creatively, add more emotion to their work, and start crafting images that really resonate.

Because at the end of the day, photography isn’t just about nailing the settings (though that helps!) it’s about storytelling, emotion, and human connection. And that’s exactly what Keziah helps you bring to life.

Her workshop The Hero Shot is now open!