Cruising down the Daintree river in tropical North Queensland with my family in 2018, we spotted a stunning azure kingfisher. Tiny, with a huge bill and beautiful colouring – a creature shining in dull surroundings. I held my breath, to keep the camera as still as I could, zoomed in as much as my budget lens allowed and captured a couple of decent shots in the few seconds it stayed perched there for us. I was hooked. How could I get more detail, better light, and further showcase their personality and those stunning colours?
My passion for photography started 15 years earlier, when I had children. Suddenly, capturing precious, fleeting moments in time became essential. Memories of my three children’s ages and stages were secured forever through the magic of light, glass and inner workings of my beloved camera. We were a swimming family and I started experimenting with underwater photos of the kids. I was a swimming instructor for 11 years and during that time I began a small business offering underwater photoshoots for families. That was when I really started to learn about the technology of image-making and gained the skills and equipment to get professional-quality photographs.
By the end of 2020 I had so many bird photos, I wanted to do something with them, so I created my first Birds of Aotearoa New Zealand calendar. Family and friends loved it, and people I didn't know began buying them. I've created a calendar every year since and they get more popular each year. I took them to local markets and that scene inspired me to branch out into other products featuring my photography. These have been popular with tourists and locals alike. Everyone loves our beautiful native birds!
Design is so much more than plonking a photo of a bird on a bag. I've created circular cutout motifs, expressive colour palettes and floral collages. Over time my distinctive style has emerged and my range has grown, to become this Feather&Fern store.