Em is a journalist and photographer based in the Northern Territory, Australia. Her work explores the Australian character through portraits and documentary storytelling, with a focus on regional and remote communities. Drawn to fringe subcultures and overlooked pockets of the country, she documents the people and places that shape Australia’s cultural identity, often with a sense of nostalgia and cultural memory. She was senior journalist and lead photographer at the Broken Hill Times, helping grow the paper from its 2024 launch into an award-winning local publication. Em now works freelance, with work published in The Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Geographic, Outback Magazine, Frankie Magazine, and Australian Associated Press. In 2025 she won the People’s Choice Award at the National Photographic Portrait Prize and was co-nominated for an ARIA for photographing Thelma Plum’s album cover.
EXHIBITIONS
Emerging Artist of the Year Awards, FortyFiveDownstairs Gallery, 2018
Ilford Salon, Centre for Contemporary Photography, 2019
‘Small’ Group Exhibition, FortyFiveDownstairs Gallery, 2019
Silver City Highway (solo exhibition), The Shady Lady, 2020
Ilford Salon, Centre for Contemporary Photography, 2021
Bush Ballads (solo exhibition), Palace of Magnificent Experiences, 2021
Sheilas (solo exhibition), Renard Ballarat, Ballarat Foto Biennale, 2021
Emerging Artist of the Year Awards, FortyFiveDownstairs Gallery, 2022
Sheilas (solo exhibition), Brunswick Artist Bar, 2022
Out Back, Brunswick Artist Bar, Brunswick, 2023
Halfway Where, WIP Gallery, Fitzroy, 2023
Welcome Home, Honeybones Gallery, 2023
Sightlines, No Vacancy Gallery, 2023
Bodriggy’s Bootleg Biennale for OK Motels, 2024
Today/ Tomorrow facilitated by Kenton/ Davey for PHOTO 2024, 2024
From Away, solo exhibition, Broken Hill Art Gallery, 2025
Galah Regional Photography Prize Exhibition, New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale, 2025
National Photographic Portrait Prize Exhibition, National Portrait Gallery and Touring, 2025
EDUCATION
Diploma of Photography and Photo Imaging, Northern College of Arts and Technology, 2023
AWARDS
Finalist for Emerging Artist of the year at FortyFiveDownstairs Gallery, 2018, 2022
Finalist for Frankie Magazine’s Good Stuff Awards, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Third place, Shoot Film Magazine ‘Road Trip Photo Challenge’, 2022
Galah Regional Photography Prize Finalist, 2025
Finalist in the National Portrait Prize, 2025
ARIA nominee for Best Cover Art, 2025
People’s Choice Award Winner, National Portrait Prize, 2025
Country Press NSW Journalist of the year (runner up), 2025
Country Press NSW Agriculture Story of the year, 2025
Country Press NSW Best News Photo of the year, 2025
INITIATIVES
Hosted Little Weddings For A Big Cause; pop-up weddings at Kenny Lover Ice-cream Chapel, raising $12.000 for bushfire relief, 2020
Donated work to ‘Not me, Us’ collaborative photo book including 100 artists from around the world, with all funds raised for One Fair Wage, 2021
Hosted and curated an online print shop to raise money for those affected by the Victorian Floods, raising over $1200, 2022
Hosted and curated a flood fundraiser exhibition at Lulie Tavern, raising over $5000, 2022
Hosted and curated ‘Bodriggy’s OK Bootleg Biennale’ for OK Motels, Charlton, 2024
RESIDENCIES
Broken Hill Art Exchange, November 2022
ZINES & BOOKS
Silver City Highway, self-published, 2020
Sheilas, self-published, 2021
‘Not Me, Us’ collaborative fundraiser photobook, 2021
SOME PAST CLIENTS
Thelma Plum, The Guardian Australia, Frankie Magazine, The Local Rag, Broken Hill Times, Sunraysia Daily, William Barton, Veronique Serrat, Music NSW, Gorman, Dangerfield, Princess Highway, Alannah Hill, Closet Mod, Stonefield, Uncle Phuncle, Perch Creek, The Bearded Gypsy Vintage Co (UK), Flare Street, Gold Sun Dreamer Vintage, Jonny, Frankie Magazine, Peppermint Magazine, Anna Cordell.
SOME PAST FEATURES
Australian Geographic, Sydney Morning Herald, Outback Magazine, Bush Journal, Frankie Magazine, Peppermint Magazine, Archer Magazine, Beat Magazine, Collective Hub, Sticks & Stones Agency, The Local Rag