A Life Stitched Together: From the Bush to the Lens in Port Stephens

From the Bush to the Bay: Calling Port Stephens Home

I never thought I’d call Medowie, Port Stephens home. But here I am — raising my children, building a business, and immersing myself in the richness of this community.

Recently rated the #1 destination in Australia, Port Stephens is full of wild magic and gentle beauty. Whether it’s the creamy gelatos at Nero’s on Magnus Street in Nelson Bay, or the grounding connection found in women’s circles at Everlasting Olive in Medowie, this place is woven with stories of motherhood, creativity, and strength.

From barefoot beach walks to bushland homeschool days — how did this become my life? The truth is, it didn’t “just happen.” It was created, moment by moment, stitch by stitch. Like the super king organic cotton crochet blanket I’ve been making, it’s grown with care, resilience, and quiet persistence.

A Photographer Was Never the Plan — But It Became My Purpose

Me? A photographer? A business owner?

I was a teen mum. A high school dropout. A girl just trying to survive. I carried stories of unworthiness, lost family, and hardship — not exactly the typical origin story for someone entering the wedding industry.

But through motherhood, I uncovered strength. Through friendship and community, I discovered belonging. And through love — from my husband, my children, and eventually, from myself — I learned that I am worthy. That I could build a safe, sacred home not just for my family… but for others too, through photography.

Port Stephens Wedding Photography: A New Chapter

As I step fully into wedding photography in Port Stephens, I do so with reverence. It is no small thing to be invited into a couple’s most sacred day — to be trusted with memories that will last generations. This is more than a job. This is legacy work. Heirloom creation.

When a couple chooses me, they’re choosing raw emotion over staged perfection. They’re choosing quiet confidence, soulful storytelling, and deep respect for the moment. They’re choosing someone who sees the beauty in the in-between.

And I will never take that for granted.

I Am Grateful to Be a Port Stephens Photographer

I am so glad I call Port Stephens home. I am so glad I get to witness love in its truest form, to freeze-frame joy, and to remind people — through art — that their story matters.

To every couple, every family, every soul I work with: thank you. This life I’ve created is a gift, and I welcome the abundance that comes from showing up, wholeheartedly, camera in hand.