My creative journey has been a tapestry of diverse experiences - with an unexpected twist!

It All Started When……

If I started this by saying I always had a passion for photography from a young age, I’d be lying. As it turned out - photography found me, and once it did, I couldn’t focus on much else (pardon the pun). As a child, I was fascinated by the gore of 80’s horror films and I dreamt of becoming a special effects makeup artist.

And so I did however my career as a film and TV makeup artist, was less about blood and guts and more about lip gloss and hairspray. It was loads of fun, with memorable moments and celebrities both in Australia and the UK (including being Steve Irwins Make Up Artist).

But the long hours on set would prove difficult once my babies came along. That’s when I started taking photos…. My older brother who’s creativity I always admired gifted me my first digital camera and I was instantly hooked. As a mum, I found deep inspiration in the beauty of childhood and family bonds. It instilled in me a profound understanding of the importance of preserving memories for future generations.

Like many mummytographers, I began with my own kids, then friends, and soon I was being commissioned for family photography, weddings, bands—you name it, I was doing it. I even had a portrait exhibition around Australia and New Zealand. It was so much fun with so many good times and great people.

A decade later and for reasons that are quite bizzare to me now… I gave up photography and opened a cafe. Not just any café—of course I went all out pouring my heart and soul into it - if I was going to do it, it had to be the best damn café in Brisbane. And for a while there it was pretty close. No. 1 place for breakfast according to the Sydney Morning Herald and a Sunday morning must do if you have 36 hrs in Brisbane according to the New York Times. True story!! Four years in and I was as burnt out as an over baked biscuit. Ask anyone who owns a café, and they’ll know what I mean.

The family moved to Sydney, and I returned to photography, lementing ever stopping because the digital landscape and social media had evolved so quickly. I had no intention of competing with shoot-and-burn photographers, so I got up to speed. I bought new equipment, learned new skills, and went to the UK to study with one of my gurus and several incredibly talented online artists. That's when I found a true passion for Child Fine Art and developed my unique style.

Things were going great, I started to win international portrait awards and my little studio in Balmain was buzzing. Then—COVID. Say no more. Fast forward to now and my family moved back to Brisbane for my husband's work - I started the daunting task of re-establishing my business.

The following year, Easter Sunday 2023 to be exact, my husband, our youngest daughter and I went to the Gold Coast for a quick dip in the ocean before breakfast……. and our lives would change forever.

My husband was dumped by a wave while body surfing, he became completely paralysed in the surf. If we hadn't been swimming between the flags and had such diligent lifeguards (shout out to patrol group 4, Southport Surf Life Savers), he wouldn't be here today.

My husband is now an incomplete c4 quadriplegic, which means that thankfully he has some movement. My daughter and I have spent the last 12 months supporting him and helping with rehab.

The loss of the life we once knew and the hardship my family and I have faced have profoundly impacted us, but it has also made us stronger, closer and more resilient.

A year has passed, and as we continue to adjust to our new normal, I feel the irresistible pull of my camera, reigniting my passion for portraits. I'm ready to return to creating beautiful portraiture once again.

So here I am, excited for a new era of creativity and looking forward to capturing some magical moments, creating collections of pictures that celebrate the beauty of life, love, and all those very, very precious moments in between….

Because nobody knows better than I how quickly life can change.

Thanks for reading!
Naomi x