The Ladies collection is driven by the desire to give each of my ladies a chance to empower herself by stepping in front of my lens and by recording her written thoughts in the interviews about kindness, confidence and giant hamsters. The Ladies series can never truly be complete for there will be always be an endless list of ladies that I’d be honoured to capture in a frame. Want to take part or know more?
I’ll be posting my ladies’ interviews in whole (rather than the shortened versions in the books), featuring my personalised quotes and introductions. Enjoy!

When you photograph people in color you photograph their clothes. When you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their soul!
–Ted Grant

Aubrey was the very last portrait taken for 123 ladies edition of the collection and what a joy she was to work with. She made me giggle so much in our early morning catch-up before work. She has a keen eye for fashion and I battled with the choice of whether to include more of her outfit in the photograph but as the quote says above, in black and white, what is captured is the essence of a person. And once I saw those eyes, I didn’t want anything to distract from their magnetic quality. Aubrey is a lady I met through Tegan who even mentions Aubrey in her answers. I love the call outs to women across the project!

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Everything in your life is the way it is because you let it be. Plan a little, then jump and build your wings on the way down.

How would you like the men in your life to empower you?
I like to be listened to, believed in, looked after and cared for in a non-condescending way, and the ability to give the same back. This goes for anyone who wants to be a main presence in my life really.

If you were stuck on an island, what three things would you bring?
A satellite phone, a solar charger and water purifier.

What are your guilty pleasures that you shouldn’t feel guilty about?
I love photographing and being photographed. I like wholesome picnics with friends or a day at the beach rather than drinking. I love cheesy romantic gestures and I plan and store ideas away whenever I get inspired. I love learning about money and investing.

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?
In the future, when intolerance is a thing of the past. Then I’d like to experience a day of normal everyday life, to just observe and experience how different it would be. I’m sure there are so many norms that we just accept as being the way it is today, and I’d love to experience a day in a better future – and I’m sure I’ll get to see some in my lifetime. Teleportation and telepathy would be cool too.

What, to you, is the most pressing issue women face?
Being told not to strive higher or to ask for more. This is a message that is pervasive and silent, often at a cultural and societal level. It’s ingrained in little actions or an off putting turn-of-phrase, it’s disarmingly casual, it’s slight, and it’s perpetuated by everyone, often including people who care for us, whether they mean to or not.

What did you want to be when growing up?
I wanted to be good, beautiful and charismatic when I grew up. I also wanted to be smooth with words. I also wanted to have time to learn all the languages in the world and read all the books in the world. For occupations, it changed all the time, but the reoccurring ones were: secret agent, princess, judge, writer, an actress, a singer, mermaid, and fashion designer.

What is the most important thing you have learned in the last five years?
Just go do it, then tell people about it afterwards, rather than saying it beforehand. Make decisions out of love, not fear. Give yourself time to rest and try again when something unexpected happens. Be honest at all times. People don’t really care what you do (in the best possible way). Tell someone you like them when you like them, you’ll either have a lover or you’ll give someone a special memory.

To you, what is kindness?
Kindness is understanding. Kindness is just letting someone know you get them, and that you understand them. Kindness is spending time with someone, and understanding their thoughts, actions and intentions, understanding who they are, what they want, that you know what’s in their heart of hearts without judgement and just accept them. 

The Ladies collection is driven by the desire to give each of my ladies a chance to empower herself by stepping in front of my lens and by recording her written thoughts in the interviews about kindness, confidence and giant hamsters. The Ladies series can never truly be complete for there will be always be an endless list of ladies that I’d be honoured to capture in a frame. Want to take part or know more?
I’ll be posting my ladies’ interviews in whole (rather than the shortened versions in the books), featuring my personalised quotes and introductions. Enjoy!

I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.
—Maya Angelou

Asha is from one of the three mother-daughter combinations featured in the project for she and her mum Ritu found the project by chance through Facebook posts. This is how they officially became my first two unconnected ladies! Make sure you read her mum’s answers after Asha’s because there is some lovely synergy between the two strong women. Thank you for being brave enough to turn up to my call out for participants and it is an honour to have met you. Keep kicking ass!

To you, what is confidence?
I think confidence, to me at least, is being able to be comfortable with myself. It’s knowing that I am rocking an outfit or being brave enough to go after opportunities I really want. On a good day, being confident to me means feeling absolutely kickass and not hesitating when it comes to speaking my mind.

What is on your bucket list?
My bucket list is a mix of places I want to travel to and adventurous things I want to do. I have a whole list of countries and places I would love to go to Carnival in Brazil and visit Antarctica. In terms of adventurous things, skydiving has been on my list for forever but I’d also love to walk El Camino across the north of Spain.

What, to you, is the most pressing issue women face?
I think one of the most pressing issues that women face is imposter syndrome. The feeling that even if we are fully qualified you are not meant to be there and someone is going to expose you as an imposter. It can be such a big barrier to putting yourself out there and I know I’ve felt it and I know so many women around me have too. 

What book did you read last? And what books are on your to-read list?
I last read Annabel Crabb’s The Wife Drought and her witty writing style was fantastic. There are so many books on my to-read list – Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Any Ordinary Day, Crazy Rich Asians, and so many more.

What would you choose as your Little Miss character to describe your personality?
I think I relate to Little Miss Busy the most but if I could create one for myself it would definitely be Little Miss Sarcastic. 

To you, what is kindness?
To me, kindness is being selfless and noticing the needs of others around you. It’s about putting others before yourself and even going out of your way to help people. That being said, you don’t always need to go out of your way to be kind and sometimes small things you do that you barely even notice can have the biggest impact on someone else. 

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?
I would love to go back in time and watch the moon landing. It’s just such an iconic and important event and one that we haven’t had the chance to see again. If we aren’t putting any limits on this, it would be really cool to watch it from the NASA’s mission control room. 

What is your signature dish?
I really love baking and have started experimenting with cookies. My favourite so far have been brown butter chocolate chip cookies. 

You’re happiest when?
I’m happiest when I’m travelling to, and exploring, new places.

The Ladies collection is driven by the desire to give each of my ladies a chance to empower herself by stepping in front of my lens and by recording her written thoughts in the interviews about kindness, confidence and giant hamsters. The Ladies series can never truly be complete for there will be always be an endless list of ladies that I’d be honoured to capture in a frame. Want to take part or know more?
I’ll be posting my ladies’ interviews in whole (rather than the shortened versions in the books), featuring my personalised quotes and introductions. Enjoy!

I have made a lot of mistakes falling in love, and regretted most of them, but never the potatoes that went with them.
—Nora Ephron

Ash is another of Sarah’s friends and my god, I loved her laugh! To help loosen up for the photo, I had Sarah stand behind me to be funny and we created magic together of a genuine laughing portrait. To me, you can capture happiness on film and capturing that joy, to me, says so much about the human experience. We use laughter in all different situations: when something is funny; to fill an awkward silence; when something isn’t funny but you need to fake laugh; and through tears. What all of these have in common is that, positive or negative, it comes from a bonding experience because in most situations a laughter arises between at least two people as a collective response to the situation. I’m honoured Ash enjoyed the photo so much through the laughter and that I was able to capture that. Finally, given Ash’s love of potatoes, I couldn’t resist the quote above!

What would you tell 13-year-old you?
You aren’t someone who will tick boxes for normal life achievements like buying a house, getting married or having kids. So, stop trying to please everyone, do what makes you happy and find your own personal success.

If you were an animal, what would you be?
A snow leopard.

What are your three most overused words/phrases?
Keen, no worries and yay.

What is your signature dish?
Chicken and leek with polenta. This bore out of the combination of hunger and using what was in the fridge on a public holiday, this dish has now become a staple on my winter meal rotation. This dish is best served with a glass of red wine whilst sitting in front of a fire.

Top three life highlights?

• Dogsledding in Mongolia with my sister.
• Drinking Korean wine in Seoul at a local food stall. I was with my best friend and 2 random Koreans who were telling us about their adventure to the Sydney Olympics.
• Watching the sunset over Hampi, whilst sitting on a giant orange boulder at Matanga Hills.

What is the first concert you attended?
Big Day Out on the Gold Coast.

Where have you lived in? Any standout homes and why?
I have lived in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne and now Canberra.
My standout home was a warehouse in Collingwood that was large enough to ride a bicycle inside. The most amazing part of the place will always be the people, housemates and visitors alike. The house had an open-door policy and there was a never-ending array of amazing people staying with us. I learnt so much about myself, others and the world that it will always be a time in my life that I will treasure.

What book did you read last? And what books are on your to-read list?
The last book I read was Nudge. It covers behavioural economics and explores the intended and unintended impacts that policies can have on human behaviour. On my to-read list is The Body Keeps the Score, a book that examines how the body stores the effects of traumatic events and how treating the body and mind can help overcome PTSD.

Would you rather be a tiny elephant or a giant hamster?
Tiny elephant.

The Ladies collection is driven by the desire to give each of my ladies a chance to empower herself by stepping in front of my lens and by recording her written thoughts in the interviews about kindness, confidence and giant hamsters. The Ladies series can never truly be complete for there will be always be an endless list of ladies that I’d be honoured to capture in a frame. Want to take part or know more?
I’ll be posting my ladies’ interviews in whole (rather than the shortened versions in the books), featuring my personalised quotes and introductions. Enjoy!

A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.
— Edward Steichen

We met just for this photo but what caught my attention most about Arianne was her story that as the daughter of a photographer, she had become shy in front of the camera and would actively shun photographs. But she was attracted to this project for the chance to find her way back to being comfortable in front of the lens. I hope I have helped her embrace the power of being photographed.

What have all the females in your life taught you about being a woman?
That to be strong and resilient is to trust myself and my instincts and to be confident in who and what I am. The women in my life are strong and confident and have faced their own battles and found it within themselves to grow as women through this and I have learnt from them. They have taught me that I am unique and that there are only the barriers in life we set for ourselves. And that if I want to strive for certain goals and to do what I love, to have faith in myself that I have the strength to do this. They have also taught me deep respect for all humans, and most importantly the passion to care for and nourish all the woman around me. This means reaching out and being there for others. They also taught me that knowledge can be taught, but wisdom comes through experience. And lots of different and diverse experiences at that!

What would you choose as your Little Miss character to describe your personality and why?
Little Miss Whoops or Little Miss Trouble. I have always been an accident prone person, and as a fiercely stubborn and feisty teenager I found myself in a few accidents and mishaps! I am still a feisty strong woman, however I have toned down this a fair bit (now I’m just cheeky) compared to sneaking out as a teenager to go to parties at a young age 🙂

What is the one thing you cannot resist?
I cannot resist hot chips. I literally have tried places all over Canberra to see where the best hot chips are. We even have Hot Chip Friday at work so that I can eat hot chips 🙂 

To you, what is kindness?
For me kindness is rooted in empathy, compassion and acceptance. It involves being truly and completely present with someone (or yourself!) and being beside them to walk ‘with’ them not ‘for them’. It involves acknowledging that person for who and what they are and ‘opening the door for them’ and just listening and being there for them. 

In what moments are you the happiest?
I am happiest when I am somewhere outside in nature whether it is on a mountain, by the beach; hiking or sitting having a picnic by a river. Nature and all its beauty are so grounding, and I will often go somewhere outside by myself or with family and friends to rest and recharge. 

What are your favourite quotes?
‘Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.’ – Brené Brown. ‘The most gorgeous thing on a human is vulnerability.’ – Brené Brown.
‘I wish to live a life where my soul dances out of my body.’ – Dele Olanubi.
‘I wish to live a life where my soul dances out of my body.’ – Dele Olanubi.

What is your personal mantra right now?
Every year instead of a new year’s resolution I pick a word that I want as guidance throughout the year. My current mantra for the year is maitri (or metta in Buddhism) which means loving, kindness to oneself and others. It is the foundation of the four virtues: Loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity.

I am using this to remind myself to be kind to myself each day as I have a tendency to be hard on myself (although doesn’t everyone!).

To you what is the most pressing issue women face?
Inequality. Women and girls continue to face unequal access and treatment in developing and developed countries. Women still face discrimination and violence in so many facets of their lives. Underpinning so many of the issues that face women (domestic violence, unequal pay, education, reproductive rights, access to health care, personal safety and harassment) is our unequal treatment. If women were treated equally just imagine how much women all over the world could shine!

What would you tell 13 year old you?
To slow down and have faith that you will learn and grow from you experiences and that being a young woman is hard, but there are so many kind people in the world who are there for you who you can turn to. I would also tell myself to slow down, you don’t need to try and experience all life has to bring in one moment, it all comes with time. Don’t grow up too quickly and play more.

The Ladies collection is driven by the desire to give each of my ladies a chance to empower herself by stepping in front of my lens and by recording her written thoughts in the interviews about kindness, confidence and giant hamsters. The Ladies series can never truly be complete for there will be always be an endless list of ladies that I’d be honoured to capture in a frame. Want to take part or know more?
I’ll be posting my ladies’ interviews in whole (rather than the shortened versions in the books), featuring my personalised quotes and introductions. Enjoy!

My friends are my estate.
–Emily Dickinson

If I had not ended up in Canberra, Anna and I might have just stayed friends who once worked together a few years back but she well and truly took me under her wing when I first moved there. I can never thank her enough for the support at that time. I love catching up with her because I find her perspective on life so refreshing. She asks the best questions and makes me think about things in a totally different way. She’s a keen interviewer and listener and these are incredibly admirable skills. I need to do more of this for her! As a fellow goal-orientated lady, here is her gold star for being an awesome friend and for being part of this project. 

What motivates you to get up in the mornings?
My phone alarm, habit and reminding myself that I’m usually energetic in the mornings (and evenings) but not the afternoon – if only I could have a siesta every day! I am motivated by lots of things, including learning, writing and spending time with the inspiring people around me. Plus a productive mix of envy and pride. 

What would you tell 13-year-old you?
It’s okay to step back from activities you’re not enjoying, even if they seem more prestigious. Not everyone will like you, but you’ll find plenty of people who will. Also, practise driving on the farm more! 

What is the first concert you attended?
Does the Port Fairy Folk Festival count? We ran wild as kids among the hippies.

What is on your bucket list?
Going on another long multi-day bushwalk. I enjoy exploring new cities, but I’m realising that I really prefer just walking around outside. 

What phobias do you have?
It doesn’t fit the definition of a phobia, but the idea of being trapped in water under ice scares me. Luckily, that’s not such a problem in Canberra. Also, caterpillars are creepy. 

If you were to write a self-help book, what would the topic be?
It would probably be more of a society-help book, because lots of challenges faced by individuals are actually caused or exacerbated by external structures (economic inequity, the patriarchy, racism…). Telling one reader at a time how to improve their self-care routines seems inefficient. 

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I’m pretty goal-oriented and I enjoy getting gold stars, so the advice ‘don’t postpone joy’ is something that really resonates with me. I’m not sure who said it first.

If your house was burning down, what is the one non-living thing you would save?
Technology means lots of precious things aren’t tangible anymore – photos, music, books, friends’ contacts and my life admin details are all online. So I suppose I’d try and save something non-fungible, like the beautiful blanket my aunt gave me for my 21st. My phone is clearly in my pocket in this scenario.