There are places you photograph. And there are places that photograph you.
Old Forest School isn’t a backdrop — it’s a character. A place where light does unexpected things and every season rewrites what’s possible.
The Setting
A 1933 schoolhouse with original rimu floors. Four 1940s forestry workers’ cabins tucked into native bush. Weathered barns. A tennis court rusting gently at the meadow’s edge. Walled gardens, wildflower meadows, orchard paths, a wildlife pond edged with ferns.
Not manicured perfection. Honest beauty. The schoolhouse really taught children. The cabins really housed workers. The layers of time are visible, and they show.
Spring — wildflowers, cherry blossom, fresh light, the meadows turning gold.
Summer — rose-drenched, long evenings, the gardens at full tilt.
Autumn — golden light, wheat-coloured meadows, amber creeping into everything.
Winter — the bones of the place show through. Mist, fire smoke, native forest still green, a quiet that feels considered.
What We Welcome
Fashion editorials — heritage architecture and contemporary styling. Weathered and elegant sitting comfortably together.
Brand films & campaigns — for brands that want genuine soul rather than generic pretty.
Bridal campaigns & styled shoots — where romance feels earned, not performed.
Narrative cinematography — for filmmakers needing 1940s New Zealand or timeless anywhere.
Editorial portraiture — where subjects can be themselves because the place doesn’t ask anything of them.
How It Works
We’re selective about when photo and film work happens here — bookings fit around our wedding and celebration season. Tell us what you’re creating, the concept, proposed dates, team size, and which spaces you have in mind. We’ll respond honestly about whether the timing and concept work.
Pricing varies by project scope, duration, team size, and areas used. Commercial rates differ from editorial.
We provide: Exclusive use of agreed areas, access to grounds, on-site support, parking for crew, basic facilities.
You arrange: Styling equipment, catering, hair and makeup, and power for large equipment. The cabins are for overnight stays, not day shoots.
A Note on the Place
This is a working property with genuine history. The best work here happens when you let the land have a say. We’re not here to police your creativity, but we do ask that you work with what’s here rather than against it.
