Macedon Ranges Photographer

Hi, I’m Leigh…..documentary  photographer, people lover and self-confessed health nerd.

My life is full, with a blended family of 5 children and 7 grandchildren and a curious soul made for travelling, you’ll often find me with my soulmate off the beaten track, exploring this amazing country of ours or overseas being amazed by the people and different cultures.

My journey into photography started over 13 years ago when I was gifted a camera after noticing details in nature and photographing them with my rather inept phone camera. 

Struggling at first to work out how the camera worked, I joined a local photography club and completed a photography course. My focus has evolved over the years from shooting everything to realising that my passion was with capturing people. Not just any capturing, of any people, I was drawn to photographing connection and feelings.  I studied and practised and entered competitions where my work would be critiqued, eventually  taking out the ‘photographer of year’ award more than once at more than one club. 

From here I studied portrait photography and posing, refining this with hours of practice. I moved into traditional style wedding photography and lifestyle family photography where I could put into practice all that I had learned. This was great and felt like I’d found a place in the photography world. But something was nagging at me, you know that little voice that just won’t shut up?

In a world where we seem more insecure than ever, we compare ourselves relentlessly to others and our mental health seems to be at an alarming low, I wondered how helpful it is to photograph people living a type of pretend life in my images.  One where everything matches and people have smiles on their faces even though their kids are driving them crazy. It seemed to be what many people were looking for, after all I tried showing real life photos on my website and traffic went down. Hmmm

I decided that there must be some people out there who want to capture photos for themselves for their future kids, grandkids and great grandkids. People who are tired of the comparison game and trying to post only a perfect family online.  People who don’t give a fig about social media and are happy to be captured loving and nurturing their family with special intent to raise well adjusted kids who will not only cope, but thrive as they grow up in an increasingly complex world.

I wondered what message we were sending to our kids, was it ‘you’re not good enough as you are’? You need to wear this, and do that? We need you to pretend you’re happy even when you’re feeling unsure? 

I decided to stop. 

To change my approach and return to a style that I feel was mine all along.  I know that I’m a photographer with heart. I’m tuned into the emotions that make us human and how these are evident in the way we express ourselves, whether it’s a particular facial expression, tone of voice or body language. 

A style that says you are good enough, just as you are. It’s what I always captured, because it’s what makes sense to me. 

My insta grid is messy now I've let go of worrying that I need to have a consistent style and that it needs to look pretty.  It's now in the documentary stye that, in my heart, I know I was made for.  

I've always believed there are people like you out there ,who share my passion for something real. 

I'm glad you've found me and hope and we can work together, I’d love that. 

Leigh x