Studio at Villa Studios - Historic Village, Tauranga (The Incubator Hub)
ABMON MENTORING SERVICES
I am a photographer and creative guide who uses the camera and creativity as a pathway into deeper awareness. My work is built on a simple belief. When people learn to see more clearly, they learn to think more clearly. And, when one thinks more clearly, they live more freely. Photography becomes a doorway into resilience, calm reasoning, and a stronger sense of self. My mentoring style blends technical skill building with reflective practice. I support each person to grow at their own pace and in thier own unique way.
I hold a Bachelor's in Communication from Wintec, earned in 2021, a Diploma in Photography from Toi Ohomai, earned in 2023, and a Certificate in Counselling and Psychology from Careers Academy, earned in 2025. These foundations allow me to guide both the craft and the inner landscape that shapes it. I have mentored students of many abilities, including those with autism and ADHD, helping them strengthen imagination, executive function, and emotional expression through the creative process.
My rate is $65 per hour with payment plans available. If you are looking for a space to see, to think, to create, and to understand yourself more deeply, I would love to hear from you. Do not hesitate to contact me at mjminime4@gmail.com or via the contact/about page.
Recommendation Letter
To whom it may concern,
My name is Jack Buckley, and I was a private student of Mathew's. He has been my Photography Tutor for about a year now. I am Autistic, and Mathew was quickly successful in getting to know me – my learning style, my situation and resources, my goals, etc.
Mathew is skilled at photography, and he is also a skilled communicator. He was very successful at communicating at my amateur level and was very valuable in crafting meaningful narratives about my photographs. Mathew is knowledgeable and skilled in all aspects of photography. He taught me the practical skills of operating my camera equipment, the different aspects of photograph composition, and also editing and publishing.
Mathew also worked with me to decide on the most suitable equipment to buy, and he also helped me to source some of my equipment. ➡️
Mathew also helped me to create a small portfolio of my photographs to date. Mathew is immediately friendly and approachable – I quickly relaxed and got down to learning photography. A hugely valuable aspect of our face-to-face sessions was beginning each session with a few minutes of intentionally calming the mind, removing stress, and facilitating learning. That got me focused very quickly.
Mathew has a great work ethic and is readily available for an urgent chat, if needed. Mathew is very well informed and has a broad range of knowledge and skills, relating to photography, and writing,
I highly recommend Mathew as a Photography Tutor and Wordsmith. Please feel free to contact me directly at my email (please message for Jack's email) if you want any extra information or clarification.
Sincerely,
Jack Buckley
Testimonials
“Mathew recently completed a seven-month mentorship with Jack, a neurodiverse young adult facing unique challenges. Through patience, creativity and structured support, Mathew helped Jack progress from a reserved learner to a confident, independent photographer, who successfully secured his first paid role not long after finishing.”
“Mathew has a calm demeanour and clearly enjoys sharing his skills with those he has contact with. This coupled with the encouragement he provides, led me to take him on as a support at Toi Ohomai on the Photography Pathways course I have been delivering for the past 4 years.”
“His approach weaves technical skill-building with self-reflection, getting the mentee to delve deeper than they would normally go. Intuitive and observant, he knows when to lead and when to step back. Beyond technical instruction, Mathew equips you with tools for resilience, problem-solving and reflective thinking, qualities that extend far beyond the mentorship setting.”
