A Month of Brilliant Women | What Storytelling Photography on the Surf Coast Looks Like

Lately I’ve noticed a pattern in my storytelling photography on the Surf Coast. I keep documenting women.

Not only women in business, although there have been plenty of those. I mean women in love, in family and in life. Brides, founders, artists, authors, mums, nans and great nans, from Torquay to Geelong and beyond.

I’m not sure if it’s just word of mouth, because I’m female, queer, neurodiverse and that’s who my work is attracting? Or if Google is just doing its thing. Whatever way, it’s been brilliant. Over the past month I’ve spent time with a whole bunch of bad arse women who are absolutely killing it.

So what is storytelling photography?

Whenever someone asks what type of photography I do, I say “storytelling”. That answer makes people either curious or confused. There’s not much in between.

Here’s the short version. I don’t just turn up to take nice pictures. I turn up to document what’s really going on: the relationships, the in-jokes, the chaos and the calm.

Yes, there are always a few portraits where everyone looks at the camera together. However, the magic happens when I sit back, give people space and let the story unfold on its own.

The best way to explain it is to show you. So here’s what my last month looked like.

An intimate queer wedding, and a first for More House, Torquay

I documented a stunning, intimate queer, Iranian-Tasmanian wedding . It was also the very first wedding held at More House in Torquay.

The couple gave me a simple brief: a storyteller who could capture their day in the most real and love-drenched way possible. That’s my favourite kind of brief.

“Watching her quietly use her skill to capture us and our wedding was magic and art in itself. From calming our nervous systems to genuine curiosity and care in our stories, we felt seen and celebrated.”
L

Four generations of women in one living room

This in-home Your Story session was something really special. Four generations of women, each with her own unique relationship to the others.

Of course I captured the four of them sitting together. That photo matters. But the wonderful thing about the way I work is that I can then step back and let each relationship come to life.

Babushka, the matriarch, singing to little Leni. Leni soaking up every bit of it. And a cheeky moment behind the camera that proved no matter how old you are, your parent can still annoy you.

One moment has stayed with me. Leni started mimicking my laugh, and because it made us all crack up, she kept doing it. Very clever. She had completely sussed out her crowd and the world around her.

One image ended up meaning more than any other. Mum and grandma looking on while their daughter sits in the rocking chair, holding her own little girl. Generations of mothers, watching over their daughters.

“There is one particular image that brought me to tears… It symbolises exactly what we wanted to capture: the beautiful, unspoken bond between generations of women and the way mothers watch over their daughters. You simply cannot put a price on memories like these.”
Nat, four generations Your Story session

Kate Shepherdson: from mural walls to the Geelong race track

I’ve documented local artist Kate Shepherdson three times now, each time while she painted murals around Geelong. So when she asked me to document another side of her life, she already knew how I work.

Long before the murals, Kate was a horse trainer and jockey, and she still is. This time I joined her for her morning routine, before most of us are even awake. Feeding, grooming, riding and all the quiet, steady work that nobody else sees.

The sunrise was like no other. Rich orange and golden light lit up the track and the horses’ manes.

We started at 6am, and with only one coffee in me, my head was spinning with everything going on around me. It was fast paced, yet you can’t move fast, because the horses might spook. A real oxymoron.

I loved watching each horse’s beautiful, unique personality come through. Later, when I was looking through the images, I noticed one horse had his eye on me in almost every shot. Cheeky big guy.

Every time I walked up to one of the horses, my whole nervous system relaxed. In that moment I understood why horses are used in therapy and healing.

Two very different worlds, but the same woman. Patient, skilled and completely dedicated to her craft, whether she’s holding a paintbrush or a set of reins.

That’s one of my favourite things about documenting someone over time. Every shoot adds another chapter to her story.

Destination Accessible and the opening of Lake Avenue

About a month ago I spent a half day with the beautiful team at Destination Accessible. They then invited me back to capture the opening of their Lake Avenue property, which provides respite for individuals and families who need it.

Honestly, it feels more like a resort. Think reformer Pilates beds, a sauna, nails and fresh haircuts, with a serene lake right out the back.

What struck me most was the people. It’s clear the staff at Destination Accessible genuinely love their jobs and care deeply about every participant.

A few more magic women joined the celebration. Corrina Eccles gave the Welcome to Country, Lana Purcell came along from Feed Me Bellarine, and local politicians Alison Marchant and Christine Couzens were there to mark the occasion.

“She has a real knack for bringing out people’s natural personalities and capturing genuine moments and connections without anything feeling forced or too posed. We couldn’t recommend her enough to any organisation, especially those in the disability and NDIS space, looking to capture the heart of what they do.”
Claire, Destination Accessible

Artists, calendars and headshots at Ashmore Arts

Then there were the shoots closer to home. I photographed local Ashmore artist Nat Martin’s bespoke calendars. I also shot a range of headshots for a dietitian, an author, artists and a lawyer.

Every one of them was shot using the epic variety of backdrops at Ashmore Arts. That means no two headshots look the same either.

“There was scope for lots of different poses and backgrounds. Lauren was so relaxed and professional, which meant I was relaxed too. I am beyond thrilled with my new photos.”
Claire Saxby, author

“I wanted photos that were both natural and professional (but not too corporate)… She created some lovely natural shots, having put me at my ease, no mean feat as I hate being photographed!”
Sarah Adams

A workshop with Skye Lightly and Kid Lit Vic

I also documented a workshop with Skye Lightly workshop in Newtown. All the smiles, hands in motion weaving and joy as everyone created made me so happy.

Sketch & Scribe Festival

Arts events are some of my favourite things to document. The trick is to blend in, catch the magic as it happens and still walk away with images the organisers can use for years.

“LJM clearly understood the brief of our arts event by capturing the essence and magic of the day discreetly. We now have a polished range of high-quality media shots to promote our event into the future.”
Stef, Sketch & Scribe Festival

Every woman has a story worth keeping

Looking back over this month, the common thread isn’t business or weddings or family. It’s women showing up as themselves. Building things, loving people, holding families together and making each other laugh.

That’s what storytelling photography is about. Not perfect. Real.

If you’ve got a story you’d like documented, whether it’s your business, your family or your people, I’d love to hear it. Let’s tell your story.

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