When I was in my early teens, growing up in Townsville North Queensland, it was “cool” to grab your friends and do mini photo shoots — the kind you look back on later and cringe at. Mum let me use her Canon D1000, which was a massive upgrade from my iPhone 5. I shot everything on auto and had no idea how to use it properly, but I still fell in love with it.

Fast forward a few years and I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to go on a three-week Europe trip with school. The trip was just before Christmas, so Mum decided to gift me an early present. She took me to the local JB Hi-Fi and set me up with my very first camera — a Canon EOS M50. After doing absolutely zero research, I shot everything on auto, slapped a free preset on the photos, and called it a day.

After that trip, life carried on and I completely forgot about my camera. I graduated school with no idea what I wanted to do. The only thing I did know was that I wanted to travel (a great opportunity to start using my camera again, right?) Wrong.

Living in Western Australia — too scared to get it sandy.
Travelling Europe for 3.5 months — too scared to lose it.
Backpacking South East Asia — too scared it would get stolen.

That changed while backpacking through South East Asia. Watching my friend use her drone made me realise I’ve been an idiot for not bringing my camera on my past travels. So many missed moments. I’ll probably always kick myself for starting so late, but oh well — here we are now.

I wanted to tick another thing off my bucket list: living in another country. So my partner and I decided on Canada (very original, I know lol). Before Canada, we planned to travel through America, and I made a promise to myself that I’d actually learn how to use my camera properly. I watched YouTube video after YouTube video on shooting in manual and editing. Before I left, Mum gifted me her old telephoto lens. I was so excited to move on from my kit lens and explore something new.

On the 9th of March 2025, we landed in Denver, Colorado and spent two months road-tripping through some of the most incredible parts of the US. From that point on, my camera never left my side.

After those two months, I was completely in love with my camera again. We moved to Canada, discovered hiking, and were rewarded with the insane views of the Canadian Rockies, along with some pretty amazing wildlife.

On one hike, my friend and I set off early in the morning, thinking we’d be the first ones to reach the lake. When we got to the top, we realised a couple had beaten us there. I saw them trying to take a photo using the self-timer, so I yelled at the top of my lungs, “HEY, DO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE A PHOTO?” They declined — so embarrassing.

We kept walking, and then when we turned around and she was down on one knee — proposing. We had completely ruined their moment. I panicked and thought, If this were my proposal and someone nearby had a camera, I’d want them to take photos. So I whipped out my camera and took some shots.

Eventually, they came over to us and I apologised profusely and told them I’d taken photos if they wanted me to send them through. They were beyond stoked — and even asked for more. That was the moment I realised I really wanted to capture moments like that.

Not long after, my other mate messaged me to say she’d shown her mum some of my photos, and her mum wanted to print a couple to frame in their house. I couldn’t believe it — I actually cried. I sent the files straight away. When I later visited their house and saw my photos on the wall, it was the coolest feeling.

We set off on another US. Road trip along the west coast. On the very last day of our trip my camera was sitting on a bench in the RV and as we broke it went flying and smashed on the ground. I was so upset when i turned my camera on and it was broken. As sad as i as it was a perfect excuse to upgrade. 

Introducing - the Canon EOS Mark II my new baby.

I’ve had so many friends and family tell me they’d love to frame some of my photos, and that’s how this all came to be. So here we are — this site is for you guys.

To everyone who’s been patient with me while I’ve been learning, and who’s waited a little longer at viewpoints while I got the right shot — thank you so much.