New Zealand Animal & People Portrait Photographer || Rachael McKenna

At the age of 8, after watching her Grandparents develop their own images in their Dark Room, Rachael announced that she was going to be a Photographer!

Growing up with a strong passion for photography and a true love of and natural empathy with animals, it was inevitable that Rachael McKenna (nee Hale) would create a name for herself combining her true passions.

Though it is not only animals that grace the lens for Rachael, they say ‘never work with Animals or Children’ yet these are the two subjects that sit so comfortably in front of Rachael’s camera trusting her to capture their true personalities.

Rachael’s career has spanned more than two decades, working in her homeland New Zealand, along with extended time spent working in Europe and New York. With 19 Books to her name, numerous Editorial and Commercial commissions, plus hundreds of private clients, Rachael’s collection of images is one to aspire to.

Rachael has the unique ability to capture the soul of each subject and immortalize a moment; through patience and a well-trained eye, Rachael is able to tame the rambunctious, enliven the docile, and find symmetry and peace in the most chaotic.

“Every subject provides me with a challenge to peek into their soul and capture their true character”

A behind the scenes look at Rachael working

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Over the last 20 years Rachael has produced 19 books, the majority under her maiden name Rachael Hale, which many of you will know her images by, and more recently, over the last 10 years under her married name Rachael Mckenna.
The following books have amassed a huge collection of emotive, quirky and character filled portraits of our favourite animals.
You can now for the first time purchase these prints from Rachael’s sister company Henry & George.

What they are saying

I have worked with Rachael for two decades on many assignments for NZ’s leading lifestyle magazines. She’s very clever at capturing beautiful images, quickly and authentically. She’s created portraits, lifestyle features and many interior house shoots and her special genius is working with animals. She is an artist, yet practical, hardworking, calm and lots of fun.

Kate CoughlanDirector Lifestyle Magazine Group/ Editor, NZ Life & Leisure

"Rachael Hale McKenna is a brilliant photographer and a wonderful person. Together we have created a beautiful and original collection of books that have sold literally millions of copies around the world. We have worked side by side for over a decade and I know her to be one of the most talented, decent and kind hearted people I have ever had the privilege of working with."

Geoff Blackwell
CEO Blackwell & Ruth PublishingCEO

'Rachael was a pleasure to work with, and I very much enjoyed the time we spent together in Provence. Even more important, my dog Alfred liked her so much that I seem to remember that he gave her his favourite stick.'

Peter MayleWriter
(Author of 'A Year in Provence' and 'A Good Year')

“It's got to be a good thing when one of your closest friends is also one of New Zealands most prolific and talented photographers. The walls of our house are strewn with Rachael 's portraits of our children at various stages of their early years and of pets past and present. Some of the portraits have been hanging in our home for over a decade, yet I still pause when I walk past them - the moment, the age, the look captured in each picture bringing the happiest of memories flooding back. And for visitors they are always a point of discussion, it’s amazing how people notice and dwell on truly outstanding photographs. And Rachael’s work truly is outstanding”

Rawdon ChristieTVNZ Presenter

The images Rachael captured of our family growing up are more than photographs. They are like masterpieces - a supreme artistic achievement that captures the unique character of each subject - in our case three rowdy boys and two unruly dogs. Rachael's photos are more valuable to us than any other objects in our home. They are priceless.

Polly Hudson
Portrait Client, Auckland, New Zealand

“Articulate, upbeat, innovative, compassionate and always professional, working with Rachael was a true pleasure. When Rachael starts to photograph, the atmosphere in the air noticeably changes and magic begins. In this relaxed ambiance, Rachaels lens reveals the genuine nature of her subject and captures their exact personality, their soul, for a unique portrait”

Sandra Defeo Executive Director, Humane Society of New York