The Last Home Game
What it means when the season is almost over and everything is on the line.
Read Story →
Living Stories — Ngā Kōrero Ora
Senior Portraits & Memory Films That Feel Real
Arroyo Grande · San Luis Obispo · Central Coast
Class of 2027 senior portraits for Central Coast families — authentic, unposed sessions and, for those who want more, a cinematic memory film built around who your senior actually is right now.
Limited summer spots · June–August 2026
What Families Say
"He was professional, warm, and immediately put both of my girls at ease. I couldn't be happier with the results."
Kerrily Carmichael
★★★★★
"His easygoing personality made it easy for me to relax. The photos turned out just how I envisioned."
Samantha Bronson
★★★★★
"He was amazing and captured everything we wanted. Over all great experience!! If you need Senior pictures or action shots of your kiddos at AG high, this is your guy!!"
mommieisme · Instagram
★★★★★
"Simon puts everything into his art. He's very compassionate and just knows where to be to get the best shots! I will forever cherish the pictures he has taken of my son over the years with football and baseball. Capturing the moments and making them into memories are priceless."
Michelle Benson
★★★★★
"The way Simon captured Zack Tayman and the AGHS football team is truly incredible. His attention to detail, professionalism, and eye for the emotion of every moment sets his work apart. Every image and film feels authentic, cinematic, and full of heart."
Lauri Tayman
★★★★★
"TWM captured memories of our son playing baseball that we would never have gotten without him. He got the little moments and the big moments. Forever grateful for his talents."
Heather Richwine
★★★★★
What This Is
More Than Just Photos
This work is about presence, personality, and the people who shaped this season of life. I photograph seniors, families, and athletes in a way that feels natural, then turn those moments into something worth keeping.
Seniors & Families
Calm, natural sessions built around who you actually are. No overproduced posing. Just honest images that hold up over time.
Cinematic Memory Films
Short films built around movement, personality, and real moments. Not templates or trending audio.
Central Coast Storytelling
Rooted in local sports, families, and the seasons of life that matter here: Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, and the 805.
How It Works
Simple, intentional, and personal
01
We talk first
A quick conversation about who this is for and what you want to walk away with.
02
I observe & capture
Light direction when it helps. Then I step back and let real moments happen.
03
You receive your story
A curated gallery of edited images, and a memory film if you chose one.
Already Part of the Story
I'm already at your games
I'm already out at games, events, and around the Central Coast documenting athletes, seniors, and families. These sessions don't come from nowhere. They build on a real connection to this community and the moments that matter here.
- — Familiar with local teams and senior seasons
- — Comfortable blending portraits with real athletic identity
- — Built for families who want something deeper than standard senior photos
Now Booking
Class of 2027
Senior year goes fast. We make sure it doesn't just pass. The Senior Memory Experience brings together portraits, cinematic film, and real moments your family will come back to.
Check 2027 Availability →The Senior Memory Experience
More Than Senior Photos
Senior photo + film sessions that capture who your senior is, not just what they look like. This isn't posed. It isn't forced. It's a living record of this moment, before everything changes.
$100 deposit secures your session date.
Sneak Peek
A look at what's coming
What This Experience Is
This isn't posed. It isn't forced.
It's a way to capture who your senior is, right now, before everything changes.
Some families choose photos. Many choose both photos and film, because movement, voice, and presence are part of the story too.
Packages
Choose Your Experience
Every session starts with a conversation. A $100 retainer holds your date. Limited sessions each season.
Photo Session
$350
Clean, timeless senior portraits.
- 60-minute session
- 1 location
- 15 edited images
- Natural, relaxed direction
Reserve your session →
Photo Session
$500
More time. More variety. More of their story.
- Photo session (up to 90 minutes)
- Up to 2 locations
- A curated gallery of 20+ fully edited portraits, shot across two locations, directed to reflect who they actually are
- Private online gallery delivery
Reserve your session →
Foundation Film
$500
Photos + a film. Same investment. More to remember.
- Photo session + highlight film
- Up to 2 locations
- 15+ edited images
- 1-minute cinematic film
- Includes a meaningful moment: sport, passion, or environment
Reserve your session →
Most Popular
Signature Film
$700
The complete senior story.
- Photo session + cinematic storytelling
- Up to 2 locations
- 25+ edited images
- 1–2 minute film
- Dedicated passion or event coverage
- Small printed memory book
Reserve your session →
Payment plans available. $100 retainer secures your date.
Now Accepting
Class of 2027
Senior year will be here before you know it. I take on a limited number of sessions each year. Holding your spot early means more time to tell your story, not just one session at the end.
No pressure, just a conversation first. Lock in 2026 pricing now.
Only a $100 deposit guarantees a specific date. Pricing is locked either way.
Already in the Field
I'm already at your games
I cover games and events with both photo and video throughout the year, not just for booked sessions. I love being part of this community.
If your senior is already part of something they care about: sports, music, performance, leadership, or just this season of life itself, there's a good chance I already understand the kind of story your family wants to remember.
The Senior Memory Experience builds on that and turns it into something your family can keep.
Questions
What families ask
It starts with portraits, and for families who want more, it can include a short film built around who your senior is right now.
Their sport, their passion, the way they move through the world. Childhood footage if you have it. Golden hour light. Something your family holds onto.
Most sessions run around two hours, enough time to let things unfold naturally. The Photo Session is one hour.
The goal is for your senior to forget the camera is there. That takes a little time, and it's worth it.
Every gallery is curated for quality, not volume. Images that tell the story, not fifty versions of the same pose.
- — Photo Session: 15 edited images
- — Portrait Session: 20+ edited images
- — Foundation Film: 15+ edited images
- — Signature Film: 25+ edited images
The film isn't an afterthought. It's built around the same intention as the photography: presence over performance.
Real moments. The warm-up. The pause before a pitch. The walk back to the dugout. Things a still image can't hold. Set to music, edited to feel timeless. Not trendy, not a highlight reel.
Warm, unhurried, and personal. Each film is different because each senior is different.
- — Foundation Film: up to 1 minute · vertical format
- — Signature Film: up to 2 minutes · vertical + horizontal
Meant to be watched again at graduations, at weddings, at 2am when you miss this season.
Yes. That's what makes the Signature Film feel completely different.
Families provide childhood photos and short clips, and I weave them into the final film. The contrast between who they were at 7 and who they are at 17 is where the emotion lives.
The experience is built around whoever your senior actually is, not just athletes.
Music, performance, a passion project, or simply this season of life. The film is about presence, not performance. Whatever matters to them is what we document.
A small physical keepsake: printed images in archival sleeves, inspired by how families kept memories before everything went digital.
Something tangible to hold alongside the film. Included in the Signature Film package.
Yes. A $100 retainer holds your date. Payment plans are available for all packages.
If the investment is a concern, just ask. I'd rather find a way to make it work than have your senior's year go undocumented.
As early as possible. Sessions are limited each year by design. I take on a small number so each family gets the attention the work requires.
Booking early also means more time to capture meaningful moments across the season, not just a single session.
Full Session Guide
What to Expect at Your Senior Memory Session
Want to understand the full experience before booking? Everything below walks you through exactly what to expect, from your first conversation to your finished film.
1. Before the Session
Every session starts with a conversation, not a booking form. I want to understand who your senior is: what drives them, what they care about, what this year has meant to them. That conversation shapes everything that follows.
- What sport, art, or passion defines this season?
- Are there specific games, performances, or places that feel meaningful?
- What do you want them to feel when they look back at this at 35?
- Do you have childhood photos or short video clips you'd like included?
Tip: Start gathering childhood photos and clips early. Candid, everyday moments work best.
2. How the Film is Built
Every film follows a deliberate arc, designed to feel like memory itself:
OpeningA quiet portrait. Who they are right now.
Pull BackChildhood photos and early moments, where it began.
The PassionCinematic footage of what they love. Real movement. Real emotion.
Return to NowSenior portraits woven back in: calm, grounded, present.
A Glimpse ForwardA subtle sense of what's next, not stated, just felt.
3. What to Wear
- Wear what feels like you, not colours chosen for the photo
- Avoid large logos or busy patterns
- Bring a second outfit for variety (Signature sessions)
Tip: Earth tones and simple layers photograph beautifully in golden hour light.
4. The Day of Your Session
Sessions are calm, lightly guided, and never rushed. The goal is for your senior to forget the camera is there, because that's when the real moments happen.
- First 10–15 minutes: arrive, settle in, no pressure
- Middle: light direction, then natural interaction
- Final portion: relaxed, real moments. Often the best ones.
Tip: Golden hour, the hour before sunset, is where the cinematic magic happens.
5. Common Questions
What if my senior just wants photos?
Completely fine. The Photo Session and Portrait Session are portraits only, no film component.
What if my athlete doesn't get much playing time?
The film is never about performance. It's about presence. Warm-ups, sideline moments, and post-game interactions are often the most meaningful footage.
Are payment plans available?
Yes. A $100 retainer secures your date, with flexible payment options available.
Can we opt out of social media sharing?
Absolutely. Sharing is always optional, just let me know.
Ready to take the next step?
Reserve Your Session →Families choose TWM because this isn't just about photos.
It's about preserving a moment that won't come back.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book my senior session?
Most families book 2–3 months ahead, especially for summer. We recommend securing your date early as sessions are limited.
Where do senior sessions take place?
We shoot on location across the Central Coast: Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, and surrounding areas. We'll find spots that fit your senior's personality.
What is a Senior Memory Film?
A short cinematic film, 1 to 2 minutes, built around your senior's story. It includes portraits, a meaningful location, and often a passion or sport. Designed to be watched and rewatched for years.
How many images are delivered?
Depending on your package, between 15 and 25+ fully edited portraits, delivered through a private online gallery.
Portraits
The quiet moments are the ones worth keeping.
Golden hour. Oak trees. The way they look at each other when they think no one's watching. These are the moments worth keeping, and they happen when a session feels like a walk, not a photoshoot.
The Approach
I know when to lead and when to step back.
Some people need a little direction to relax: a suggestion on where to stand, how to move, what to do with their hands. I've got that. But I hold it lightly, because the moment someone stops thinking about the camera is usually when the best image happens.
I come prepared, and I stay patient. The goal is always for the session to feel like time well spent, not traffic management.
“Family sessions from $250 — Central Coast and surrounding areas”
Ranch Session — Golden Hour
This is what real looks like
Families & Whānau
Choose Your Experience
Every session starts with a conversation. A $100 deposit secures your date. Sessions are approved personally, not auto-confirmed.
Family Mini Session
$250
Simple. Unhurried. Real.
A focused 30-minute golden hour session designed for families who want something real without overcomplicating it. Offered on select seasonal dates with limited availability.
- 30-minute session
- 1 location
- 10 edited images
- Private online gallery
- Delivered within 2 weeks
Mini sessions run on select seasonal dates. Join the list and you'll hear first when spots open.
Join the Interest List →Family Session
$350
Time to actually be yourselves.
Sixty minutes gives everyone space to settle in, forget the camera, and let real moments happen. The images that matter rarely come from the first few minutes. They come from what follows.
- 60-minute session
- 1 location
- 15 edited images
- Private online gallery
- Delivered within 2 weeks
Request a Session →
Extended Family Session
$450
More time. More room. More story.
Designed for larger families, multiple generations, or those wanting variety across two locations. Relaxed, unhurried, and built around how your family actually is together, not a posed version of it.
- 90-minute session
- Up to 2 locations
- 30+ edited images
- Private online gallery
- Delivered within 2 weeks
Request a Session →
Family Film Add-On
$175
Something you'll feel later.
A short cinematic film created from your session — the movement, the laughter, the way your little ones smiled right now. The kind of thing you don't realize matters until years from now, when you'd give anything to remember exactly how they were at this age.
- 60-second cinematic film
- Private video link
- Can be added to any Family or Extended Session
- Delivered within 3 weeks
Payment plans available. $100 deposit secures your date.
Seniors & Individuals
This version of you — right now
Senior portraits aren't about looking perfect. They're about looking like you, at this exact moment in time.
Couples & Special Events
Engagements, quinceañeras & intimate weddings
I take on a limited number of engagement and special event sessions each year. If the light is good and the story is real, I'm in.
Sessions can be photo-only or photo + short cinematic film, depending on what you're after. These hybrid sessions are some of my favorite work.
Let's Talk →
Ready?
Your session starts with a conversation
Tell me about your family, your senior, your story. We'll figure out the rest from there.
About
Tāwhaowhao
The Person Behind the Work
I'm Simon Kurth
I grew up in Aotearoa, New Zealand and now call California's Central Coast home. Photography and film have been a lifelong passion, and years of teaching shaped how I work with people more than anything else. I know how to read a room, put someone at ease, and wait for the moment that matters.
I'm married to Krissy, and we're raising two busy boys, Tane and Flynn. The ocean has always been part of who I am. Something about the way water moves, shapes, and returns feels like home.
Based in Pismo Beach, CA, serving Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, and the Central Coast.
People sometimes ask me what Tāwhaowhao means, or how to pronounce it, assuming it's simply a distinctive name I chose for a photography business.
But Tāwhaowhao was never just a business name.
It is part of my story.
It carries ancestry, memory, struggle, and a long journey toward becoming more fully myself.
And it carries meaning.
Tāwhaowhao is connected to driftwood: wood shaped by the ocean, carried by currents, weathered by time, and returned to shore bearing the marks of where it has been.
That image has stayed with me because, in many ways, I understand life through it.
Driftwood does not move in a straight line.
It is carried. Tested. Reshaped.
Sometimes broken.
And yet what survives often holds beauty precisely because it has been weathered.
That means something to me.
I did not choose this name because it sounded unusual or because I wanted a brand that stood apart.
I chose it because I wanted the work I make to come from somewhere real.
Long before I held a camera, I was shaped by stories: the ones passed down, the ones nearly lost, and the ones held quietly in family memory. Those stories are part of this name. So is a deeper whakapapa that reaches further back than I can fully trace.
Those connections are not ornament to me.
They are inheritance.
They remind me identity is not something we invent from scratch. It is something we uncover, carry, and try to honor.
For a long time, I did not fully understand how much that would shape my creative life.
But over time I began to realize the photographs and films I was most drawn to were never about perfection. They were about presence. About memory. About preserving the feeling of being there.
A son standing on the edge of graduation.
A parent watching quietly from the sidelines.
A fleeting expression after a game.
A family moment that would have disappeared if no one had noticed.
Those are the moments I care about.
That is what this name asks of me.
Because driftwood carries marks of time. And in a way, so do people. We are shaped by what we pass through. And I believe photographs and films can hold some trace of that shaping.
That is why I am drawn less to spectacle and more to story.
Less to performance and more to what feels real.
Less to polished surfaces and more to the moments underneath.
Because the moments underneath are often the ones that matter most.
When I make photographs, or build a film, I am not simply trying to create something beautiful.
I am trying to preserve something living.
Something a family can return to.
Something that might carry meaning long after this season has passed.
In that sense, this work has never felt separate from my own journey. It feels connected to healing. To legacy. To remembering. To honoring what came before while making something new.
That is what the name holds for me.
Tāwhaowhao is not a label placed on the outside of my work.
It is part of the reason the work exists at all.
A reminder that even what has been carried, weathered, and reshaped can still arrive with purpose.
Like driftwood returned to shore.
Still carrying a story.
Simon Kurth · Tāwhaowhao Stories
Based in Pismo Beach, CA, serving Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, and the Central Coast.
Let's Work Together →Contact
Let's talk
If you'd like to talk through an idea, a session, or see if something feels like a good fit, reach out. I read every message and will respond personally.
Get in Touch
Whether it's a senior experience, family session, or something else entirely, I'd love to hear from you.
Based in Pismo Beach, CA, serving Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, and the Central Coast.
The easiest way to get started is through the booking form. I read every submission personally and will follow up within 24 hours.
Start Your Booking →Prefer email? Reach me directly at [email protected]
Motion & Film
Stories That Move
A photograph holds a moment. A film holds how it felt. These are the memory films: senior nights, sports seasons, and the in-between moments worth keeping. Based on the Central Coast, serving Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, and surrounding areas.
Motion & Film
Presence, effort, and real emotion.
Featured Films
Memory Films
Real moments, real emotion. Stories told without a script.
What You Get
More than a highlight reel
Every film is built around your story, not a template. I edit to music that fits your senior's personality, pacing that feels natural, and moments you didn't even know I was capturing.
- ✓ 1–3 minute cinematic highlight film
- ✓ Edited to music that fits your senior
- ✓ Senior night coverage available
- ✓ Delivered via private Pixieset gallery
- ✓ Included in Foundation and Signature Film packages
Community Coverage
I love being at local games
Beyond client work, I show up to local games and events because I care about what's happening here. These athletes and these seasons deserve to be seen.
If I'm there, I'm shooting. If I capture something worth sharing, I will.
I put a small set of images and clips out for the community, feel free to download them. I usually capture more than what's posted, and those additional images are available to purchase.
If you'd like me to come out to your team's game or event, just reach out. I can't promise I'll be there, but I do my best to get out and support when I can.
Club Coverage
Guaranteed Game Coverage
For teams looking for guaranteed coverage, I offer hybrid photography and videography on a limited basis, starting at $300.
Book Game Coverage →
Field Reels
From the Field
Follow Along
More films on Instagram
Senior nights, sports seasons, behind-the-scenes: follow @tawhaowhao_media for fresh work as it drops.
Follow on Instagram →Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you cover club sports?
Yes. We work with club teams, high school programs, and individual athletes across the Central Coast for both photography and cinematic film coverage.
What is Friday Night Stories?
A free editorial sports media project covering Central Coast high school football through photo essays, player features, and short films. Published throughout the season.
Can I add sports coverage to a senior session?
Absolutely. Our Foundation Film and Signature Film packages include a dedicated passion or sport coverage element as part of the senior experience.
Ready?
Let's make your film
Film is included in the Foundation and Signature Film packages. Book your session and we'll build your story together.
Reserve Your Session →Athlete Media Days
Built for identity.
Made to share.
High-energy photo and video sessions designed for teams and athletes across the Central Coast: Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, and surrounding areas. Built around identity and content players actually want to share.
What's Included
One session. Every athlete covered.
Media Days are organized, efficient, and built around your team's identity. Not a generic template. Every athlete walks away with something they'll actually use.
- — Individual athlete portraits
- — Team photos
- — Short cinematic video clips
- — Fast, organized session flow
Built to be simple, efficient, and something your athletes will actually use.
Pricing is scoped to your team. Reach out and we'll put something together.
Inquire About Your Team →
From the Field
What a Media Day looks like
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a media day package?
Team and individual portraits, action setups, and program-ready content delivered for print and digital use. Custom packages available on request.
Do you travel for media days?
Yes. We serve teams and organizations across San Luis Obispo County and the broader Central Coast.
How are images delivered?
Through a private online gallery with download options. Turnaround time is typically 5–7 business days.
Ready?
Let's talk about your team
Every Media Day is scoped to fit your team. Reach out and we'll figure out what works.
Inquire About Your Team →TWM Stories Presents
Friday Night Stories
A season-long editorial project covering Central Coast high school football: the atmosphere, the emotion, the moments that define a season.
This is not a photography portfolio. This is a publication.
Friday Night Stories covers high school football the way a magazine would: photo essays, player features, film room breakdowns, and stories about what it actually feels like to play under the lights on a Friday night. Published throughout the season. Free to read.
Cover Stories
Feature narratives from the season
Photo Essays
Sequences that tell the story without words
Player Features
Profiles of athletes worth knowing
Film Room
Short cinematic highlight films
From the Stands
The atmosphere, the families, the community
Latest Stories
Cover Story
Photo Essay
Under the Lights
A sequence of moments from opening night that words could not capture.
Read Story →"Every season has a last game. Every senior has a story worth telling beyond it."
Continue the Story →Friday Night Stories is a free editorial project by TWM Stories — Arroyo Grande, CA
Ngā Kōrero Ora — Living Stories