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!

Here if you need.
–Infamous netball line

Alice is my netball gal. That’s how we met when I first moved to Canberra and we’ve had an epic high of winning a season! Our prize was the choice of Netball ACT socks or towels – we took towels. Alice is so enjoyable to talk to and I always look forward to seeing her gorgeous smile on a Thursday (or a Tuesday when we play against each other) because she is always so bubbly. Her answer about ‘sorry’ is so valid and quite a few ladies in the project echo this. But Alice, you should never apologise for being an absolute kickass human who I love being in the presence of.

To you, what is the best part about being a woman?
The meaningful relationships it allows me to cultivate with other women.

If your house was burning down, what is the one non-living thing you would save?
My granny’s necklace. It is only costume jewellery but when she gave it to me as a child she explained that a ‘fancy man’ she had been seeing in the 50’s had given it to her. I like the idea that she had fun and got around a bit before settling down. 

What is your favourite thing to do in Canberra?
Make myself do the Mount Ainslie walk. You always feel like you’ve achieved something and the light changes the view each time. 

What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery?
A wolfhound (and a huge house with a garden to keep it in). 

What would you tell 13-year-old you?
Relax, it’ll all come together in the end. There are so many beautiful people out there you haven’t met yet. 

What are your three most overused words?
Sorry, sorry and sorry.

What one food do you wish had zero calories?
Is there any appropriate answer other than chocolate? 

Who did you want to be when you were growing up?
At various points a ‘McDonalds worker’, an ‘ironing lady’ and a dentist. I’ve ended up at some middle ground as a lawyer. 

How do you define success?
Being able to look after yourself and the people you love without causing detriment to others. 

What is the most important thing you have learned in the last five years?
That things can and will change. You have to get up in the morning and keep trying. Eventually you will feel okay again.

What is the first concert you attended?
Robbie Williams, 2006. 

What’s your favourite holiday memory?
Summer in England in 2002. So far as I can remember every day was visiting family, frolicking in the sunshine and eating ice cream. 

What, to you, is the most pressing issue women face?
Being understood outside of stereotypes and tropes about how women are or should be. Being understood as individuals and fully rounded human beings with a plethora of values, hopes and motivations unique to that person. It is only from this understanding that respectful and equal treatment, in all areas of life and society, can flow. 

What brings you happiness?
Basking in sunshine, friends, messing around at the beach or in a stream and being just a little bit tipsy (probably not the safest as a combination). 

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!

There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.
–JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

For Alex and I, it was our university publishing and editing course that bonded us for life as the Fireballs along with Jacquie. We all have our people that no matter the time of day that we can message and know they have your back. Alex is that for me and I hope I can live up to that for her. Her portrait is one of my absolute favourites — taken by pool light, perusing the 52 Ladies book. She allowed me to take her photo if she could pretend it wasn’t happening so this was a perfect summer evening, cooling off and chatting. I love how the light hits just one eye and how absolutely beautiful she looks. Alex is a fierce hardworker who will do anything for those she loves but especially for Henry, her adorable pup. I want every dream of hers to come true for she means so much to me!

What book did you read last? And what books are on your to-read list?
I’m reading Agatha Christie’s Poirot books for the first time and I’m enthralled! I’ve nearly finished Poirot Investigates and I’ll read The Murder of Roger Ackroyd next. I can’t wait as it was voted Best Crime Novel ever in 2013. Also in my to-read list for 2019 are 15 classics that I haven’t read before – A Tale of Two Cities, The Catcher in the Rye and Frankenstein!

What would you choose as your Little Miss character to describe your personality? 
I don’t get to choose, I have been told I am Little Miss Bossy and I can’t really argue with that! I’m a big sister and the oldest of a lot of extended family. I was born bossy!

What TV show/movie are you ashamed to admit you love?
I have a secret love for Lifestyle shows, and the one I can’t get enough of is Dance Moms. Abbey Lee Miller is one of the most awful personalities on TV, the drama is highly scripted (mostly) and the ‘Moms’ set a terrible example for their daughters. However, the girls are sweet and amazingly talented. I can’t get enough!

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I was working with a psychologist on stress management and she said something that I try to keep in mind every day: ‘When you are anxious it is because you are living in the future. When you are depressed it is because you are living in the past’. The original quote has been misattributed for years, but I think it is an excellent reminder to stay focused on what we are doing and stop dwelling on the things that are out of our control.

What is your signature dish?
I made a pepper beef ragu that is a big favourite at home. I make it with plenty of pepper because my Dad has always been a big fan of black pepper, and I’ve grown to love it that way. The dish slow cooks for as long as possible until the beef is falling apart, and the tomato, wine and stock sauce sticks to the pasta.

Who inspires you?
I’m going to be a cliché but my parents have inspired me. My Mum managed to earn her way into a fulfilling and meaningful career, while doing most of the housework, and cooking delicious dinners every night. My Dad is one of the smartest and most likeable people I know, he’s dependable, thoughtful and a big softie. They have an amazing partnership, and have always supported each other to raise their family. I want to be just like them when I grow up.

What would you tell 13-year-old you?
Focus on what you want and who you want to be. Don’t try too hard to be cool – it isn’t worth it. The best friends of your life are coming and they’ll love you for every quirk and flaw.

Bonus Harry Potter questions: What would your patronus be?
I think my patronus would be a puppy, something small and yappy, with a lot more bark than bite. I definitely think I’m tougher than I am.

If presented with Amortentia, what would you smell?
I would smell the scents associated with baking, lots of vanilla, sugar, caramel, chocolate and cinnamon. I think baking smells soothe the soul.

Which Deathly Hallow would you choose and why?
I’ve read the books, I know I’m meant to want the invisibility cloak! I think I do really want the cloak, it would be nice to leave everything behind for a little while and hide under the cloak. I would like to ask the rules of the wand though, would it give me magic? I’m accepted my Hogwarts letter is never coming and I’m probably a muggle, but I’d choose the wand if it bestowed magic on me!

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.

I’ll be posting their interviews in whole, including their chosen quotes and introductions by me.

Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be.
–Clementine Paddleford

One of the best side effects of this project is getting to know your friends’ friends. Alex is one of a few very special ladies that I met through one of the Sarah’s and I am honoured to have Alex for it is a treat to have met such a spunky woman!

If your house was burning down, what is the one non-living thing you would save?
My computer and my Cintiq. Everything else is just paperwork and money to replace.
What are three words that you’d like to define yourself with?
Motivated, resilient and savage.
What is your personal mantra right now?
‘You signed up for this’ – through my life, the authority figures have had a general attitude that life has happened to them. Like they were simply cast adrift in society and the experiences, good and bad, were out of their control.
I roundly reject this sentiment. By reminding myself that the majority (but not all) of the circumstances in my life are things I agreed to, I feel like I can be braver in my choices and feel more empowered to change things that I am not satisfied with.
What did you want to be when growing up?
I always wanted to moonlight as an artist, but my day jobs cycled between a marine biologist, librarian, games designer, best Overland Park accident lawyer and doctor.
What gets you up in the mornings and what motivates you?
My morning coffee, it’s an integral part of my routine and the idea of spending a couple of minutes enjoying the warmth and flavour really helps motivate me to get out of a comfy bed. I don’t know if it motivates me in all aspects of my life, but the first step out of bed is a good start.
What are your guilty pleasures that you shouldn’t feel guilty about?
I like to play video games and watch trashy daytime TV like Dr Phil and Jeremy Kyle on my second monitor. Like all guilty pleasures it’s harmless, but it’s also so ridiculous I don’t think anyone would ever know how to respond if it came up in conversation.
When was a moment that defined you that set you on your path to now?
When I was working as a consultant, I was very excited to be offered the opportunity to do some work in the behavioural economics section of the company. My then director dismissed the idea, telling me ‘do something I get paid for’. That conversation was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I handed in my letter of resignation a week later, did honours and got a job that took me to Canberra. Thanks bro, your bad attitude set me free to do better things in life.
If you were an animal, what would you be?
A cuttlefish. I too am reclusive, and might change colour if sufficiently alarmed.
The International Women’s Day theme was Be Bold for Change – what change would you like to see in your life? And to you, what is being bold?
The biggest change I would like to see in my lifetime is a shift away from the attitudes and mind-sets that change can only be made one thing at a time. 
Everyone has heard someone say some variant of ‘why worry about X when Y is an issue!’ As if both aren’t real and having tangible consequences for someone out there. A move away from this attitude I think will reframe the issue around using resources to solve the economic, social end environments problems of the world in a way that minimises the ineffective mindset of ‘us vs. them’. For me, being bold is having the courage to stand up for what you believe in, but also being willing to reflect on your own values and attitudes and change as more information is presented. 
What brings you happiness?
I think there isn’t one thing that makes me happiest. It’s definitely a balance of doing what activity that meets an emotional, physical or mental need. Finishing a long hike on a nice day addresses all those criteria though.
What is your signature dish?
I am known for making a killer ice cream. I’ve done chocolate and hazelnut, vanilla, passion fruit, and chocolate and raspberry since I’ve come to Canberra. Next on the list is strawberry.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
That, particularly if you are in a bad relationship, home life, etc. – it’s okay to have the feelings you do. You may have mixed feelings for awful people in your life for a variety of reasons and that’s valid. They may seem counterintuitive to the situation or not be good for you, but the first step to getting to a better place is to address all those emotions rather than demanding they be silent, or feeling guilt.

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!

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.
–Jawaharlal Nehru

Sometimes you meet someone and you know instantly that you just have to get to know them better. The first time Addy and I properly met was cross-country skiing in the wilderness and I knew she was someone special. She has a spark for life that is unquenchable — just look at those stunning eyes! Those are the eyes of a lady who knows how to build a good life full of friends, travels, family and food. Those sparkling eyes are even literally the epitome of her favourite quote below. In case you can’t tell, my favourite aspect of this portrait is her eyes for they even inspired my chosen quote above. They say eyes are the windows to the soul after all and this lady has one incredible soul.

If your house was burning down, what is the one non-living thing you would save?
I am quite a sentimental person however the one thing I would save above all else would be photo albums and photographs,
in this day and age that’s also the SD cards!
Those moments and memories captured in time will never be recreated and being able to look back on snapshots in time of family, friends and loved ones is something you simply can’t replace.

What is your favourite thing to do in Canberra?
I grew up in Canberra, and while I’ve lived in a few other places in the world, Canberra has always been home. One thing I love to do in Canberra is walk. The beautiful mountains and the greenbelts bordering almost every suburb, make nature very accessible in the city. Within a few minutes, suburbia fades away and you feel as if you’re in the middle of the bush.

What are your three most overused phrases?
This is an easy one, it has to be ‘no worries’, ‘awesome’ and ‘you’ll be right’.

What is the most important thing you have learnt in the last five years?
Not to hold on to the little things, in the grand scheme of things, they don’t matter. No matter what happens, the world keeps
spinning, the sun keeps shining and birds keep on singing.

What is on your bucket list?
There are a few things on my bucket list but the number one thing I would like to achieve is to step foot on every continent to
see the beautiful landscapes, amazing animals and meet the incredible people. I only have two left to go – Africa and Antarctica, I can’t wait!

What is your favourite quote?
‘At the end of each day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy and your eyes sparkling’ – Shanti.

What would you choose as your Little Miss character to describe your personality?
Little Miss Chatterbox for sure! I get told regularly that I can hold a conversation with a brick wall…

What brings you happiness?
Plenty of things, life is full of little pleasures. One simple thing that I love doing is pumping the music in my car and singing along at the top of my lungs. If you’re lucky enough to pull up next to me at a traffic lights, you’re in for a treat as I also dance along.

What could you eat for the rest of your life?
It would have to be cheese, it’s just so gouda!

What motivates you and gets you out of bed every day?
I try to find something to look forward to every day, whether it is an event, catching up with friends and family, or something
as simple as a delicious snack or having a shower at the end of a big day. There is so much to appreciate in the everyday and
sometimes we’re just so busy we miss it.