Meet Cat Rewha

Cat is a digital performance specialist working in the Australian live events industry. A music-head by night and data nerd by day, she is working toward building data frameworks that can predict sustainable economic trends in Australian arts & culture.

With a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.), Cat specialises in music as communication and is passionate about using the intersection of music, tech & culture as a tool to educate people about marginalised cultures.

Cat joins the CWC Board this year heading up Communications.

Tell us a bit about yourself. 

Studied - I dabbled a lot, but then focused in the end.
Philosophy, then communications, then marketing, then film, then back to communications to do an Honours in Ethnomusicology. It took 7 years to finally get a degree but I made it in the end.

Music - My Dad was a musician so my whole childhood centred around learning and listening to music. Nowadays I’m more of a listener but nothing truly excites me more than hearing a good transition in a DJ set.

Travel - I’m very interested in the different ways communities operate around the world so I like to get out of Australia every now and again to learn a thing or two about different ways of living. At the moment, I’m obsessed with the Nordics and have been lucky enough to take my travels there a few times.

What does a typical work day look like for you? 

The only thing typical about my day is I take lunch at the same time everyday otherwise I get hangry.

What is your current business/creative pursuit/job?

I’m the Head of Digital at a creative and marketing agency called Bolster. We specialise in music and entertainment and I’m lucky to have a very diverse role that allows me to work with lots of very talented people.

Outside of that, I try my hand at film photography, writing and playing piano.

What is the most important aspect of your job/ creative pursuit? 

Maintaining healthy relationships with the people around me so that we can all achieve the same goals in the smoothest way possible.

What do you do in your ‘down time’ (and do you have a guilty pleasure)?

I’m not sure if this is ‘down time’ but I exercise if I want to relax. Running, walking, F45. That’s my definition of relaxing. My guilty pleasure is Jersey Shore. 

What are some of the things which inspires you?

Our next generations. The worldliness and creativity coming out of Gen Z is inspirational and mind-blowing. 

Grassroots activism - It’s inspiring to know that there are always people in our communities working tirelessly to make this world a fairer and safer place to live in. Their stories and achievements drive me to find meaningful purpose in everything that I do.

Best creative memory?

I was in a band for awhile so some of my best memories were sitting around in rehearsal rooms coming up with songs, laughing about nothing and being able to sit around for half a day and just play music with my mates.

I also had a piece published a few years ago about idolising female musicians when I was growing up, one of which was Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth.  The article spread around a bit on Twitter and finally made it’s way to Kim Gordon who read it and inboxed me to thank me and wish me luck. That was pretty special.

What would you tell your younger self?

Good things take time.

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to break into the industry you are in?

You don’t always have to have the answers and you don’t always need to get it right. You just need to have the willingness to learn and the resilience to pick yourself up again when something goes wrong.

Meet Mirte van der Lugt, Brand Director of Hey Tiger!

Hey Tiger's Brand Director Mirte, originally from The Netherlands, moved to Australia four years ago. With a background in both fashion and branding across Europe and Australia, she worked on campaigns for brands such as Nike, Landrover, Microsoft and a variety of young start ups. She brings a different approach to the Australian chocolate industry, looking at Hey Tiger as a lifestyle brand vs confectionary. For her, brands are all about inclusivity, making people feel accepted and part of something greater. Every like, follow, thumbs up and comment is a real human interaction and it’s important to never lose sight of that.

I grew up in…

the Netherlands. In a town 40 minutes outside of Amsterdam. My younger brother and I were (and are) incredibly lucky with our parents. My mum introduced me to art and encouraged my creative side. While my father brought in philosophy and a wide understanding of business and human behaviour. When I think of it that way, it was the perfect melting pot for a career in branding. 

Education

My early school life was off to a rocky start. With my Dyslexia and ADHD labels firmly clipped to my back, I was anything but the ideal student. Schools denied me, test results were covered up as to not effect the schools reputation and the teachers weren't all that excited to have this difficult kid in their class. If it wasn’t for my parents and one incredible teacher who believed I could do more, I truly don’t know where I would have ended up. It wasn’t until I made a big change in high school that everything turned around. I found my passion for art and film and the kid that was once called dumb by her teachers (no joke) was now thriving at school. It’s funny what happens when a kid realises they only have themselves to rely on when it comes to education. I was only going to get out what I was putting in. Now that I was doing it for myself and I no longer listened to the negative feedback from my teachers,  I started kicking ass.

After High school I travelled for 3 months through Thailand where I met my Aussie beau Damon. After meeting him, I decided to live in Australia for a year and then Damon and I moved back to Amsterdam. I began my bachelor degree at The Amsterdam Fashion Institute where I studied fashion and branding.

What did you do straight after your studies?

I moved to Australia to be with my now husband Damon. I first began working at an ad agency where I worked on brands such as Nike and Jeep. After that, I moved to a branding agency to work on brands such as Cadbury and Matilda Bay’s Fat Yak. But something was missing. I wanted to work for brands that my values aligned with and put my creativity into campaigns that truly do some form of good in the world. I then set out on my own, working with my own clients. A little while later,  holy smokes! How grateful was I to meet the glorious Cyan Ta’eed - but we can fan-girl about her later.

My business is located at

Our kitchen and office is in Cremorne, Melbourne but you can buy Hey Tiger online via our website. 

What does a typical work day look like for you?

My role is split into a bunch of different pieces. Let’s put it down to Manager, Producer, Planner and Do-er.

As a manager I need to manage and motivate my team. Make sure they know exactly what they're doing, where the priority lies and that they keep up-beat and feel heard. We’re a young, small company that is growing fast. This means we’re demanding a lot from everyone. So it’s important that they know we’re a team and how valuable and important their piece of the puzzle is.

As a producer I need to make sure departments work together to get our deadlines over the line. From external work with clients like Mecca to internal work like filming content for our socials, creating presentations for wholesale and getting new packaging to print. This would be impossible without our amazing new junior designer Erin Langford. Her incredible eye for detail and brilliant creative mind have become invaluable to our team.

As a planner I need to make sure our future campaigns are living up to our audiences expectations. For this I heavily lean on my right hand Breana Phillips (gulp! I just freaked out a little thinking of what Hey Tiger life would be like without her! I might need to take Beyonce’s advice and buy her that ring. Too much?). We work tirelessly and seamlessly to make sure all our marketing efforts are effective and on brand.

As a do’er, I also need to create and do The-Work. New campaigns, packaging designs, website collateral, ad’s, photoshoots, social content, styling… this is where Hey Tiger’s brand truly comes to life.
Oh and did I mention meetings and emails yet? Let’s just leave that for now shall we.

What have been some of the biggest challenges in your career?

I once was part of the growth of a small branding agency. I was in charge of building the agencies brand, new business and its culture. We started with 6 people and soon grew to about 15. Our energy and growth caught the attention of big clients and soon its father company saw an opportunity. They decided to merge the two in order to leverage the expertise of the father company and the youthfulness and growth of ours. I remember being worried this would negatively affect everything we had worked so hard on. Sadly my worries became reality. 

What followed was a year long struggle in knowing it was time for me to leave while wanting so much to stay and have it return to its old glory. I saw its culture diminish, I saw mistakes being made. I saw the company turn its back on its people and the fun and quirky brand we’d created - which had done so much for clients and culture. 

In hindsight, I stayed too long, but I learned so much from the experience. The importance of taking authentic risks with your brand and the importance of culture and team. 

What do you love best about your job?

Seeing people in our social community create artwork, photography, video’s with our products and on top of that, hearing how Hey Tiger makes them feel. This makes it incredibly rewarding. People truly feel part of our family and Hey Tiger genuinely gives them that unfiltered, simple joy.

Inclusiveness is one of my biggest personal values and Hey Tiger is no different. We put incredible effort into making everyone who contacts us feel heard and seen (even if we get negative comments - everyone gets treated the same). When someone posts about us, we make sure we thank them, TRULY, thank them. because what an honour that they graced us with that small square on their feed! I believe that it’s because of this that people feel so connected to Hey Tiger.

On top of that, it is our purpose. I'm incredibly grateful for Cyan Ta’eed (fannngirl time!) who founded Hey Tiger and brought this unique group of people together. She said “how can something (chocolate) that gives us so much joy do so much harm in the world?” and the action she took truly speaks to her character. She could have set up a for profit company but instead she turned the other way. Starting a value based brand that truly does good in the world. The fact that we’re not all bells and whistles but actually walk the talk with a stellar product, a learning attitude and an important purpose is a dream come true. I know that our hard work is not just lining the pockets of the big cheese but instead it is going to support our efforts to positively change an industry that is fundamentally broken.    

What do you get up to when not working?

I’m a bit of an extroverted introvert. While during the week I bounce around a million miles an hour, I like to take it easy on the weekend. My husband and I bought a block of land in Daylesford a few years ago and are now in the process of building our house so we can escape there on the weekends. The concrete has been poured and last weekend we saw the wooden frames that will make up our walls. Walking through this was an incredible experience and we can’t wait for it all to be done. This won’t only mean we will be able to escape to the incredible Australian nature on the weekend but also that specifically my parents can make the 24 hour flight down under and come stay here for several months. I truly want to make them feel at home and having them here would mean so much. Yes, your girl misses her Mum and Pops every day.

What’s on the horizon for the future? 

Hey Tiger, Hey Tiger, Hey Tiger. I believe this brand, its team, its product and its purpose is at the start of something big and I’m willing to work my butt off to get it there. Besides that, my husband and I always dream of creating our own furniture. He is a furniture maker and we’re always juggling ideas on how to make this a reality. The piles and piles of wood on our land in Daylesford is looking like a good opportunity to make this a reality BUT all in good time.

If you had any creative business advice what would it be?

Don’t be afraid to take risks and show your authenticity though your brand. We love leaning against the weird, having fun and joking around. We recently did a collaboration with instagram’s favourite dog Tofu. (@tofupupper). It took some convincing in the team, afterall, dogs don’t eat chocolate right? But it was one of our most successful campaigns to date. Decisions like this is what sets us apart from our competitors and makes us truly stand out - while having a whole lot of fun in the process. The genuine fun we have during our campaigns truly shines through our work and our audience feels that.

Screenshot of ‘Tofu’s Dream’ campaign video by Hey Tiger.

If you could be anyone else for a day, who would it be and why?

I’m really into philosophy, psychology and cultural behaviours. Because of that I would love to step into the mind of the people who write about or work in this space. I have a list of historical people but let’s keep it into 2019 shall we? Psychologist Esther Perel is one of them. To be in her mind and work with her patience would be incredible. For those interested, she recently started a podcast “Where should we begin” where she takes you into her counselling sessions with couples. It’s fascinating to listen to people's struggles and problems as it shows us how similar and human we really are but also how incredibly hard and beautiful it is for people to live and love together. It’s humbling. Other people would be the historian and philosopher Yuval Hoah Harari (Sapiens), the American Journalist Sebastian Junger (Tribe) and the author Robert Greene (The Laws of Human Nature). To step into their mind for a day and have the knowledge they possess. Pffeeewwweee transport me now... 

Say hello to new CWC president Amber Bonney

Amber Bonney wears many hats. As well as being the force behind her creative studio Edison Agency , she is a mother, wife, sister, strategic, designer, artist, writer, planner, mentor and mediator. Amber now adds the role of CWC President to that list. Prior to accepting the role , she was on the AGDA Victoria Council and spearheaded the development of their Professional Mentorship program. We chat with Amber on work, life, and the things in between.

Tell us about yourself

I was born and bred in Melbourne, a girl of the mid 70’s who is now resenting my slow metabolism and thickening waistline and enjoying my sparkling wine more than ever! I have 3 children aged 16, 14 and 4 and my husband and I have a blended ‘modern’ family so life’s pretty full-on… hence my love of sparkling wine! I come from a large family of 5 girls so life has always been big and hectic and I learnt early only how to hustle through life to get my needs met. As the middle child I have always been self-driven and independent and have developed strong mediation skills which have been useful as a business owner.

What do you do?

I am the founder of The Edison Agency, a strategic brand and design consultancy with offices in Melbourne and Sydney. We use strategy and design to help businesses make positive change. My role is Managing Director and Head of Strategy and I am responsible for the executive creative direction of all major brand projects. Over the past 22 years, I am proud to have been influential in helping iconic Australian and international brands maintain relevancy, define their purpose and vision, and connect with their audiences in a more meaningful way.

How did you get into this industry?

I’m a communication designer by trade, an Alumni of Swinburne University, and have been blessed with a single minded career focus all my life. My father introduced me to the industry through his career in the marketing and packaging industry. Since the time I was 14 and went to my first University Open day, I knew this was what I wanted to do.

When you get to know me, you will understand why people refer to me sometimes as “a bull at a gate”. My mind moves quickly (great for creative strategy and thinking on ones feet) but it can be mentally and physically exhausting so I do try to manage my overactive brain with regular mindfulness practices using my phone app (I appreciate the irony) and of course the odd vino! I’m naturally intuitive which helps me forge strong and lasting personal and business relationships, some of my current clients are people I’ve worked with for over 15 years. 

What does a typical work day look like for you?

I like to schedule my time and live and die by my diary! My day is spent straddling client meetings, internal planning of projects, financial planning, and working closely with both our Group Account Director, Design Director and CFO. We are a small team of 10, so about 10% of my time would also be dedicated to making decisions and planning around people and culture.

Typically when we have a large meaty project starting I am consumed by research and strategy phases – I tend to be more involved in the first half of a project to establish the vision and creative precedence and then required less as the project evolves. I have a highly skilled team of people propping me up!

What is the most important aspect of your job?

I am inspired by the potential design has to transform people, culture and business. Knowing that our work is helping make positive change for our clients is uber rewarding. Also, I am a sucker for complex design challenges. When I’m working on something difficult, I completely immerse myself in that business, brand, problem and deconstruct it until I can see and understand all the inputs and components. Only when I’ve done this can I put it back together and develop a strategic solution. I am obsessed with understanding “why” and go to enormous lengths as part of the research phase to really get under the skin of a brand or problem.

What have been some of the biggest challenges in your career?  

I’m a proud feminist and I’m intolerant of the chauvinism our industry (and culture in general) is still accepting but I do see change and have high hopes for the world my daughter will grow up in. I’m a firm believer that it takes women banding together in support and advocacy of one another to truly make change. We are powerful, clever and innately resilient and this is why I believe in organisations like Creative Women’s Circle to shape the way women interact with each other, and within their industries.

What do you do in your ‘down time’ (and do you have a guilty pleasure)?

I spend most of my down time with my children down in coastal Victoria where I live. I am re-energized by the beach and am looking forward to summer where I can swim, play lawn bowls and make pina-coladas at home (guilty pleasure). My husband and I are both passionate mid-century design enthusiasts and we spent allot of time reading books, magazine and watching architecture and design-based TV series.

Best creative memory?

Seeing the first ad I designed in the weekend newspaper – think it was back in 1998! I think I still have it somewhere.

What would you tell your younger self?

You teach people how to treat you. Don’t accept sub-standard behaviour as it creates a pattern that’s hard to break. This is an important message for young women especially in the face of male dominated environments and with the rise of domestic violence issues.

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to break into the industry you are in?

Be brave. Take risks. Don’t be afraid to ask the “dumb” questions. Find a mentor. Research every potential employer, every client, every project – always be prepared and understand the “why” in every design challenge.

Meet Jenny Brown of Melbournalia

Wander down the northern end of Bourke St and you will find a colourful store filled with all things Melbourne. We chat to owner Jenny Brown, owner and founder about work, life and that wonderful pocket of the city known affectionately as Bourke Hill.

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I grew up in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. Growing up in the 70s in the big, flat, treeless north, before cafes, avocados or even colour TV, let alone the wonders of computer technology, mobile phones or Netflix was like watching repeats of a long Moomba Parade on a black and white TV with the sound turned down; uneventful, predictable but sort of quaint. I was the last of a huge family of 8, my parents were from the pre-war generation, the house held a multitude of memories and physical objects from a 30 year period. It was like living in a mysterious museum where a party had happened, but just before you arrived.

School was 12 years of looking sweet and pressed in my hand-me-down catholic schoolgirl uniforms. Straight after school, I discovered hair product, ripped stockings, coffee, pubs and boys. It was the 1980s. I studied art history and cinema studies.

Tell us about your career

My Career is in shopkeeping! My business is located at the top end of Bourke St, Melbourne, we like to call the area Bourke Hill.

How did you get into this industry?

Attrition! I wanted to be an academic, a curator or an arts manager, but I kept finding myself behind a counter. Eventually I gave in and embraced it.

On a typical workday, I have coffee (my partner kindly delivers) check emails, the news and plan the work day before getting up. I then exercise a little. On days when I’m not opening the shop I tackle some accounts and answer emails at home, head into the shop before lunch, assist my highly capable staff, who are better at running things than me with whatever needs doing. I serve a few customers, tidy a few shelves, have more coffee, maybe plan some new stock lines, or do some ordering… I talk talk, talk to customers and suppliers, lock up late, head home, have wine. Finally I shower and do some stretches, sometimes I read, but mostly I pour over Instagram & Pinterest for ideas... I sleep and get ready to do it all again tomorrow!

What have been some of the biggest challenges in your career?

Probably coming to the realisation that I’m a terrific shopkeeper and being completely OK with that.

Best creative memory?

Heading up the rickety warehouse stairs in one of the old Munro buildings behind the Queen Vic Markets to our first a Melbournalia pop-up opening in late 2011, which had been planned in mere months, put together on hope, many favours and a shoestring budget... seeing that the place was full of friends, family and well wishers!

What’s on the horizon for the future?

I’m happy. I’d like to see the neighbourhood of Bourke Hill develop further. There are some terrific new businesses around us, and the old Job Warehouse and Palace Theatre sites are being redeveloped, which will be great for the area. There are of course some fabulous established and iconic Melbourne businesses in our neighbourhood such as Pellegrini’s, The Paperback Bookshop, Hill of Content and Gallery Funaki. I’d like Melbournalia (still a newcomer at just 5 years old) to be counted among them one day.

If you had any creative business advice what would it be?

Probably...take advice from those you trust, but listen to yourself and follow your heart as well as your head. Also, learn to delegate. You can’t excel at everything, but you can excel at finding the right person for the job!

If you could be anyone else for a day, who would it be and why?

My mum in 1953 (10 years before I was born). She had a whole bunch of kids, no car, the most basic appliances, a handsome, hard working but troubled war veteran husband, few outfits in her wardrobe, a jar of Ponds Cream and a lipstick on the dresser. Yet her house and her family were her pride and joy, both were always spotless, nothing went to waste, there was always good food on the table and fresh smelling washing on the Hills Hoist. One day in her shoes and I would never be complacent again.

Q&A with Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer

Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer is a journalist and editor of the delightful Peppermint Magazine. Find out more about her creative career, and the things which make her tick.

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I grew up between New Zealand and Scotland, so I have a slightly weird accent, but on the plus side, I have two passports (hurrah!) and feel equally at home on both sides of the world.

I have an honour’s degree in English and a masters in Journalism. After uni, I moved to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam for six months to teach English. It was also where I got my first taste of being a journalist – I started freelancing for a local magazine, which sent me all across the city on the back of a motorbike to interview lots of weird and wonderful people.

What do you do?

I’m editor at Peppermint magazine – a quarterly Australian publication focused on style, sustainability and substance. We’re an independently owned publication telling the stories of people doing good in the world, covering topics such as ethical fashion, food, body positivity, mindfulness, zero-waste living and lots more – and each issue is certified carbon neutral. We also run a series of events called PepTalks, where we gather our community together for inspirational, uplifting talks from people from the pages of Peppermint and beyond.

Tell us about your career

Apart from a brief stint as (possibly the world’s worst) radio news reporter, I’ve always worked with the written word. I started by writing for free and building up a decent portfolio before getting my first job as editor of an Edinburgh-based website and then moving to Brisbane and eventually nabbing the role of deputy editor at Peppermint.

The biggest challenge in my career was finding a role where I could use my skills to do something that felt like I was contributing to the world in a meaningful way. That type of job is super rare, so I’m still – five years later – so grateful to have found it in Peppermint.

There are SO many things I love about my job, but getting to interview amazing people I admire is a definite highlight – as is working with such a close-knit team of cool, clever creative women. And the days we get sent free donuts are pretty great too.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

Depending on what stage of the production cycle we’re at, you might find me dreaming up content ideas, briefing freelance writers and photographers, interviewing people, going over budgets, liaising with advertisers, editing stories, looking through photoshoots, helping to plan/strategise online content, brainstorming coverlines, and, of course, answering a million emails. There’s a fair bit of swooning over beautiful ethical brands too, which never ends well for my bank balance.

Best creative memory?

Best creative memory? That feeling when you’re writing and you’re so deep in the zone that you don’t notice time passing or get the urge to check social media. Cal Newport has a book about this called Deep Work, which should probably be next on my to-read list.

What do you get up to when not working?

At the moment I’ve been doing lots of pickling, knitting, reading, op-shopping and listening to podcasts (Desert Island Discs, The High Low and Soul Music are my current faves). And I do enjoy a big ol’ stomp around the streets with my dog by my side.

What’s on the horizon for the future?       

You never quite know what’s in store for the future so I always try and remind myself to stop and be present (and grateful) in this moment – but fingers crossed it involves continuing to do work that feels meaningful to me.

If you had any creative business advice what would it be?

I’m not entrepreneurial at all and am in complete awe of anyone who manages to run their own business. I saw a quote from Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day a little while ago that said something along the lines of: “If you run a creative business and you’re making it work financially then you’re basically a genius”. So high five to all you geniuses out there.

If you could be anyone else for a day, who would it be and why?

Can it be a fictional person? Lyra from Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy for her fearlessness, bravery and sense of adventure – and also because she has an animal demon who’s always with her, which is basically my dream come true.

Say hi to Jasmine Mansbridge

Where did you grow up, and what was it like?

I was born in Brisbane, and my family moved every couple of years. Eventually, we settled in Katherine in the Northern Territory, where I lived until I was 26. 

My father was a teacher, so I had a variety of regular school and alternative education and home school experiences. Overall, I found it hard to sit still and was often in trouble in High School.

I left pretty early, higher education in Katherine was not the focus for most people. I got married when I was 17 and had my first daughter when I was 18. This was when I started doing my art with some focus and intensity. Starting a habit of painting at night that has not ever really left.

What do you do, and how did you get into this industry?

I am a painter and also more and more working with large scale and installation work. By being so obsessed, I couldn’t do anything else.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

I am travelling a bit to paint and organise projects etc., so I have a big picture routine to deal with. I am in the studio or the kitchen mostly, cooking and preparing for my absence and painting for shows etc. which I can’t do when I am on the road. I have five children, the younger three only left at home and it is a very full life to keep it all going.

 What have been some of the biggest challenges in your career?

Lack of finances, my own feelings of parental guilt and the mental load, other people not understanding my big picture, fear of failure, tiredness!

Best creative memory?

I am on a high every time I sell work and know I can make something I want to happen. Proper highs though would be New York Art Fair, painting in Hong Kong and in Beijing. I love that awful yet alive feeling of being out of my comfort zone.

What do you love best about your job?

That it is just me being the best version of me.

What do you get up to when not working?

Parenting, running, looking at art, bushwalking, but my art takes most of my time, and that’s ok. Everything is generally in some way related to the work.

What’s on the horizon for the future?

I have said yes to many things this year, so the next big thing is London, then an exhibition in August opening at 19 Karen Gallery. I am travelling to paint with Schools in Ethiopia! Many things plus more I will no doubt decide to squeeze in!

If you had any creative business advice, what would it be?

Do you bookwork/tax even well before you make money. Be prepared to work harder than you would at any other job. Back yourself. Get out of your comfort zone, do the things that make you want to throw up.

If you could be anyone else for a day, who would it be and why?

I would happily take some of Angelina Jolie's staff. Make clothes and pick Vivienne Westward’s brain and have coffee with Patti Smith!

Interview: Jett Street, Top End photographer

Coming from a creative family, and being surrounded by artists most of her life, Jett Street was destined to follow a creative path. Her career in the arts and community industry has meant she has worked with designers, models and musicians in a range of guises.

These days the Darwin-based photographer takes images of her clients through her wedding and family photography work, and shares everyday adventures through her Instagram page Little Karama Gangsters.

Living in a generous artistic town like Darwin has meant Jett has regular contact and collaboration with like-minded creatives. As she puts it, "In Darwin, you don't have to reach out to anyone - you have to try not to bump into them when you are ducking into the shop to buy milk."

You started exploring photography a few years ago - what drew you to it?

After my first daughter was born, I wanted better quality photos than I could get on my iPhone. So I piled all my birthday money together - along with a generous top up from my husband - and bought an Olympus mirrorless camera.

I didn't realise what I was getting myself into. I have categorically lost more sleep to photography than having two children.

In my early years, I played the clarinet, saxophone and drums. After uni I completed a degree in animation and in fine form. While at uni I procrastinated with jewellery making and silversmithing, along with some bad acrylic paintings which are sadly still hanging in our house.

I come from a really creative family. I was always the straighty-180 growing up, but I couldn't fight my genetic lineage forever. My mum had three kids, drove a white BMW and was a photographer. I am basically tracing her footsteps. 

What do you love about taking photos?

My focus is to try to capture all the detail and magic to trigger and preserve those memories and in doing so document the story of our life or those parts of other people’s lives that I’m invited into.

Photography has enriched my life in so many ways: through the interest and observation in our story, of people, light and environment, and to experience and capture new adventures. It is a passion I can pursue whilst being present with my children, and it adds a layer of intent to my days. The photos of our life are the icing on the cake of a pretty fascinating craft. The more you learn, the more you realise you know nothing.

The word “photography” comes from the Greek words “phos” meaning “light” and “graphe” which means “to write.” Photography is the art of writing or drawing with light. I have spent a lot of time observing and studying light, which is a large influence for my work and also a part of my every day. It’s an enchanting thing to notice and one which I would have otherwise ignored. I love light, and sometimes that is all I care about in a photo. But the other 70% of the time, I am also intrigued with capturing the character and the story.

Can you describe your style of taking photos?

I love to capture the antics and character that define our daily life. I adore well-crafted images of ordinary things like eating cereal, brushing teeth, making cubbies and climbing stairs. I usually make mental notes of things the kids are doing, or how they are doing it, which speak to their character. And when possible, I try to catch this on camera. 

I am starting to notice that it’s the challenges and rewards of photography that have me hook, line and sinker. It’s like gambling, but without the imminent bankruptcy.

For the record, I have burnt the porridge while waiting patiently for a moment to happen in that magical morning light. Many of my images come with their fair share of sacrifice.

How does where you live influence your work?

I grew up in Darwin and Karama was the suburb that the KGB came from (the Karama Ghetto Boys that is). So it endearingly became 'the bad part of town.' I reflect some of that gangster-ness in my stories and images.

Some of my first favourite images were taken in the swamp over the road, which I joked was our local park. Because I spend time in the neighbourhood with my kids, we stumble across some great graffiti, behaviour and characters. Living here has given me a creative license and lens through which to view the general rough and tumble of my two girls.

How do you work with your clients to tell an authentic story through photography?

This is something that I am still working on. Many of my first wedding bookings were from people who "didn't want wedding photos."

I developed an approach which is 90% documentary and 10% posed. You need some classic shots in there too, but this doesn't have to come with a side of cheese. I love weddings because there is so much activity, love and magic.

I also do in-home documentary for families and newborns. I encourage families to leave all their daily rituals until I arrive. This way, they are usually so busy doing, and not faking it, that they relax and I get some amazing moments.

You tell stories of your family through words and images. Why is this creative act important to you and how does it complement your professional photography work?

This is one of my favourite rituals and it’s a barometer for how busy and happy I am. If I can pull together some thoughts at the end of the day to share a story and a favourite photo, it means I have some mental space to do that, and it also reflects a presence I have shared with the kids through time and observation.

I started out doing this to share anecdotes with family and friends.  It has become a really valued network with other "mamarazzi" from around the world, many who have played a role in my development as a photographer. I love to record all the details and parts of life that are so fleeting. It is basically, my diary, and a future gallery and love letter to my kids, to reflect our life and what I loved and noticed about them. They will never know me as a 33 year old mum when they are older, but hopefully when they read all those tangents, they will get a feel for my character as a Mum of young kids and how much I loved and adored our life.

I feel like I need to post regularly to keep some of my family and friends up to date on what the girls are doing. I also pledged to put my favourite posts into a book at the end of each year, but I still have to do 2016 and 2017. So the public accountability is a good thing.

You’ve recently branched out into sharing your knowledge through workshops – how important is creating connections with other creative people in your community, and how do you reach out to other creatives?

The reason I get so many good photos of my own kids is because I am living the same life, in all the nooks and crannies and for the best light of the day in any room or place we visit. If I teach other people to use their camera, observe light and develop a style of storytelling, then they can too. There is no one better positioned to document your days than you. You know the people, their character and the story and you have a unique perspective on it all.

Photography has helped me to focus on the beauty in our everyday life. Sometimes as a mother at home with kids (before I was working part time) being able to see and capture the humour in the chaos and mess was an absolute saviour. Even if you don't have kids, it injects a creative and interesting perspective into your daily ritual or travels. I hope that others can fall in love with it too.

I am fortunate to have been a part of the arts sector I was very young. I was able to hit up local artists to make animations with their images, use musicians work for soundtracks and collaborate with designers, models and other innovators.

In Darwin, you don't have to reach out to anyone, you have to try not to bump into them when you are ducking into the shop quickly for milk.

I have made some amazing friendships with local photographers who provide a reciprocated love of the craft, are collaborative with skills and ideas, and give my husband’s eardrums a break.

Could you share some other creative women who you are being inspired by at the moment?

My mother Linda Joy is an incredible NT landscape artist. If I keep tracing her footsteps, maybe I will become one in 20 more years.

My sister Matilda Algeria is a brilliant fashion designer. My other amazing sister Imogen is killing it in the recruitment and technology industry, while bringing Make-a-Wish dreams to life in her spare time.

In the NT, Yo Bell, Jess Ong and the rest of the team are doing some incredible work with Spun, their storytelling nights. They are bringing all the best characters and stories to life through their events and podcast. Amazing listening.

In the photography world my top five would be:

• Helen Whittle from NSW, for her beautiful portraits.

• Niki Boon from NZ for the most incredible documentary photographs of her life.

• Twyla Jones for her emotional storytelling.

• Meg Loeks from the USA for her incredible style of classic and magic, environmental portraits of her children.

• Elizabeth Wood from the UK for her storytelling, self-portraits, and general feeling.

Kate Shannon is a freelance writer based in Brisbane after many years living in Darwin. She spends much of her time in the garden with her two little girls, and loves writing and learning about creative people, flowers, and plants.

Photography: Jett Street