Pleasure to meet you.

I’m a photographer and an outdoor enthusiast based in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Passionate about finding the perfect moment in the great outdoors, whether it’s landscapes or people.

I hold over 5 years of experience in photography, inspired as a teenager by the Aberdeenshire landscape. Starting my career officially in 2017 at North East Scotland College in Aberdeen, studying a Photography HNC. Followed by a degree in Marine and Natural History at Falmouth University, graduating in 2021.

After graduating, I pursued a variety of work in the outdoors, including but not limited to:

In North-East Scotland, I was a Paddlesport Assistant, in addition to teaching photography weekly to 5-7-year-olds, and running landscape photography workshops. Next, I spent Christmas 2021 as Santa’s Lapland Ranger. The following year, working as an IDS trainee ( Nightwatch ) at Glenmore Lodge.

Jumping across the ocean, I found myself in Wānaka for the winter becoming a Guest Services Assistant at Cardrona alongside Mountain Dispatch at Treble Cone. Finally but by no means least… a Glowworm Cave Guide in Fiordland National Park.

Now I am permanently based in Christchurch, chasing a career in outdoor and adventure photography.

In my spare time, I have a variety of passions including biking, watersports and skiing. In addition to volunteering with Land Search and Rescue.

jess charlesworth doubtful sound fiordland boat photographer adventure photography outdoors

Marine and Natural History Photography BA (Hons)
Falmouth University
Outdoor First Aid - BASP UK
Summer Mountain Leader - Mountain Training
Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport
Sport Scotland
Tutor Award Course
National Navigation Award Scheme
Velotech Bronze - Velotech Cycling
United Kingdom Driving License
New Zealand Driving License
Nature Guide - RealNZ, Fiordland
Mountain Dispatch - Treble Cone, Wanaka
Nightwatch - Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore
Lapland Ranger - Saariselkä, Finland
Photography Teacher - Cullen, Aberdeenshire
Paddlesports Assistant - Cullen Sea School, Aberdeenshire
Head Elf - Cotswolds, UK
Your portfolio's trying hard to be impressive, isn't it? The Landscape shots are basically screaming, "Look, I found pretty scenery." The People section feels like you caught everyone in the one moment they didn’t look awkward, which, good for them, I guess. The Wildlife images are so staged it’s like the animals are just as fed up with you as we are. And the Adventure category? We get it, you do more with your weekends than binge-watching Netflix. But sure, keep reminding us how unremarkable we are.

Instagram

A quick stop at the glacially fed (ridiculously blue) Lake Pukaki while on our way to the mountains 🏔

First post from our Mount Cook adventure last week... In addition to the first post embracing the new 4:5 grid ratio!

#mountcooknationalpark #tr

The original plan was to head up Mount Grey...
However, with the fords across the access road too high to drive through, we decided Mount Richardson was the next best. ⛰️

Ascending 900 meters, walking amongst trees covered in wasps, through waterlog

Catching the early morning light over Otamahua / Quail Island 🌤

#christchurchnz #travelnewzealandwithme #gonz #backyourbackyard #metservice #newzealandguide
#landscape_captures #landscapelovers

2024 was filled with grand people who always made the day brighter, even with a bittersweet goodbye from @pgpq 🇳🇿

Always fortunate and extremely grateful to receive a postcard from Laura T, popping up throughout the year, at every new address 📫

We didn't make it to the top, but we got pretty close.
Never been more grateful for the magic of hiking poles.

📍Looking across to Castle Peak, Torlesse Range.

#christchurchnz #travelnewzealandwithme #gonz #backyourbackyard #metservice #newzealand

Milford Sound recieves just shy of 1 million visitors annually. Hence why I'm feeling fortunate to have found a quiet moment to capture @yerlildogalfonso with Mitre Peak standing in the background.

#milfordsound #travelnewzealandwithme #gonz #backy

Having photographed and worked around active police dogs, retired bomb dogs and
search and rescue dogs...

I may have met my new favourite variety of working canine.

This is Albie, a dolphin detection dog who works onboard with the @akaroadolphins

Cruising into December with skies like these and temperatures above 22°C...

Still feels exceptionally odd.
Maybe even a little smug.

This post is dedicated to the 71.5% of the people who follow me, based in the Northern Hemisphere. Who may or m

Taken exaaactly a week ago, half way up Foggy Peak 🏔

Looking across the steep slope, over to the Craigieburn Range. The Black Hill, Palmer and Arrowsmith Ranges featuring far away in the distance.

On a side note... does anybody happen to know wha

On Sunday, @vedawnt and I received our fair-weather-walkers badge of honour in the Torlesse Range.

Heading up Foggy Peak (1741m) on a blue skies and minimal wind day kinda day. The biggest challenge being the unrelenting, steep scree up to the top..

She said "Yes" 💍📜

Last week I was very fortunate to have been the photographer for a Lord-of-the-Rings inspired proposal!

Chelsea and Bryan were on holiday from Canada, travelling across the country in a campervan and decided to make

Feeling very lucky to have spectated Hector's Dolphins with @akaroadolphins as these wonderful mammals have a small population of around 15,000 (a conservation status of Nationally vunerable).
Not only that, but they are exclusively found in NZ. 🇳?

Recently joined @akaroadolphins on a tour across the Harbour and out to sea!

Found some Hector's Dolphins along the way, one of the world's smallest dolphins and exclusively found in New Zealand 🇳🇿

Fourth image features Albie, a working dog speci

Shot something a little different earlier this week, a wonderful Hagley Park portrait session with Cristian and Jana 🌳

#christchurchnz #travelnewzealandwithme #gonz #backyourbackyard #metservice #newzealandguide
#portrait_shots #nzphotographer

One belter of a day to be in Akaroa ☀️

#akaroanz #travelnewzealandwithme #gonz #backyourbackyard #metservice #newzealandguide

Been a busy lil' week with a spectacular day trip to Akaroa to see some Hector's Dolphins 🐬

Still fighting my way through the SD card and stumbled across some Akaroa locals along the way.

#akaroanz #travelnewzealandwithme #gonz #backyourbackyard #

Someone a few years ago said sunsets were a shameful grab for likes...

Here's Nugget Point at sunrise.

#catlinsnz #travelnewzealandwithme #gonz #backyourbackyard #metservice #newzealandguide

Looking over to the Port Hills ⛰️

#christchurchnz #travelnewzealandwithme #nzphotographer #travelnewzealandwithme #gonz #backyourbackyard #metservice

Headed straight back out to Govenors Bay for high-tide and sunrise 🌤

#christchurchnz #travelnewzealandwithme #gonz #backyourbackyard #metservice #newzealandguide

Half-way through the Mt Isthmus Traverse
2023 Mountain Marathon. — Half-way through the Mt Isthmus Traverse 2023 Mountain Marathon.

Assistant Leader for the Women's End2End Relay 2022.

The final stretch of the End2End started hiking from Crask Inn and finished 140km later at John o' Groats.

Ski touring on Cairngorm Mountain. 2023.

Litter Picking Event with Cullen Sea School. 2021.

On a (not-so-successful) mission to find the Cairngorm Reindeer. 2021.

Photographing reindeer in Cornwall, South-West England. 2020.

Book submission for my final year at Falmouth University studying Marine and Natural History Photography.

Salomon Loch Eilde Mòr Trail Race 10km 2022.

A white Christmas as Santa's Lapland Ranger's in Saariselkä, Findland.

Running kids activities as a Paddlesport Instructor. 2021.