Amy Merania Harper

Amy Merania Harper was born on 23 May 1900 in Paeroa, New Zealand.[1] Harper began her career in photography when she was eighteen years old at the studio of H.J Schmidt in Queen St, Auckland.[2] She worked as a retoucher and finisher.[2] In 1922, her family purchased the Glenmore Studio in Eden Terrace where Harper became chief photographer.[3] In 1928 the family practice expanded further with the purchase of Belwood Studios in Queen St which was later renamed to the Amy Harper Studios.[1] In 1944 she purchased yet another studio on Karanghape road which she named Belwood Studios.[2] She became widely known for her formal portraits which captured major life events for her customers.[1] However, she was most well respected for her wedding photography which became a thriving business for her.[2]

In 1945, Harper helped to establish the New Zealand Professional Photographers Association and was subsequently made a life member in 1975.[3] Harper retired in 1979.[3] She died on 15 September 1998 in Glenfield, New Zealand.

Harper's collection of work has been exhibited at the Auckland War Memorial Museum in an exhibition titled Reflections; New Zealand Women's Lives Presented Through the Collections of Auckland Museum in 1993.[2] It was also displayed for the public in 1992 at the Auckland City Art Gallery in the 1950s show.[2]

• Works of Harper are in the collection of Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
• Biography of Amy Merania Harper