Who We Are


  • Director

    Some people find their calling. Jonny had his handed to him at age 13. A camera from his dad and an obsession with shooting live music. That early passion with capturing energy in a room never left him.

    He went on to study Broadcast Journalism at university, where he developed a deep respect for the craft of storytelling. Not just making things look good, but making people feel something. That combination of journalistic instinct and visual craft is the foundation everything at Ara Jay is built on.

    Fifteen years ago, a love of mountains and adventure brought Jonny to Queenstown, and it's been home ever since. These days his world revolves around two things: his daughter, and building something he's genuinely proud of. Both keep him honest.

    His passion sits firmly in documentary and branded storytelling. Work that has a point of view, a human at the centre of it, and a reason to exist beyond looking pretty.

    E: Jonny@arajay.co.nz
    P: +64 (0) 221 887 231


  • Editor

    Freddy is the person who takes everything we shoot and turns it into something that hits. With experience across cinematic video, colour grading, motion graphics, and brand content, he brings a meticulous eye and a deep understanding of what makes a story land.

    His process starts long before the timeline, he gets under the skin of the brief, understands the audience, and finds the emotional core before a single cut is made. The result is editing that feels intentional, not just assembled.

    He's worked across music videos, commercial campaigns, real estate, lifestyle content and social media, which means whatever we're making, he's seen something like it before and knows how to make it better.

    The pixels don't shine without him.

    E: info@arajay.co.nz

  • Photographer + Assistant

    Harriet is a photographer with a sharp eye for fashion and brand storytelling. She works with commercial and lifestyle brands to create visuals that feel elevated, cohesive, and true to who they are.

    What sets her apart is the thinking behind the frame. She understands that great brand content isn't just about looking beautiful, it's about how it makes the viewer feel. Colour, mood, tone. Every choice shapes perception, and Harriet makes those choices deliberately.

    A natural collaborator, she works closely with clients from concept through to final delivery, which is exactly the kind of partnership we value at Ara Jay.

    E: info@arajay.co.nz