Branding Profiles

30/05/2026

This time last year, I was sitting down with Matthew Taylor-Farrington from Purple Bunny Marketing for the Greater Springfield Business Connect podcast, talking about Branding Profiles and my journey as a creative entrepreneur.

This week, I found myself back in the same chair, but talking about something completely different.

This time, I was there wearing my Creative Hearts Co. . co-founder hat, sharing the story of our art gallery and creativity hub and why Marie Ferguson , Sean and I believe creativity has a crucial role to play in building stronger communities.

Marie was meant to join me for the interview, but unfortunately had to pull out at the last minute. As anyone who has seen us speak together would know, we tend to bounce ideas off each other. So while it was a great chat, part of me couldn't help but feel like I was only sharing half the story.

The funny thing is, a few years ago, the thought of sitting in front of a microphone by myself would have absolutely terrified me. I would have overthought every answer, worried about getting it wrong, and probably looked for a reason not to do it at all. These days, I've started looking at opportunities like this a little differently.

Instead of thinking, "I have to do this," I find myself thinking, "I get to do this."

I get to talk about a project I care deeply about. I get to share what we're creating. I get to shine a light on the artists, volunteers, workshop facilitators and our sponsors who are helping bring it to life.

I've realised that visibility isn't really about putting yourself in the spotlight. It's about helping people discover ideas, opportunities, causes and communities they may never have found otherwise.

So while I'll probably spend the next four weeks wondering whether I represented Creative Hearts Co. well enough without Marie by my side, I'm also grateful that I said yes.

More often than not, the things that stretch us are the very things that move us forward.

I'll share the episode when it's released. In the meantime, here's a link to last year's podcast if you'd like to hear how much can change in just twelve months.

Also, thank you Greater Springfield Chamber Of Commerce for giving your members a platform to share their stories.

Link to the Branding Profiles podcast:
https://youtu.be/y4cpSIajuD8?si=g_GVKEzhu4h45HIz

19/05/2026

My new website has inspired me to write another blog post.

This time, I’m sharing how I discovered my colour family 5 years ago and how understanding my colours and fully embracing my personal style has been one of the best investments I’ve made for both my confidence and my business. A huge thank you to Ann Whitaker for completely changing the way I show up in the world. Not just professionally, but personally too.

Even on my daggy days (I embrace those too)— when I throw on the first thing I can find — people still tell me I look put together. And that’s because every piece in my wardrobe now works within my colour family and personal style. It’s amazing how much easier visibility becomes when you have clarity.

I have included a before shot for you if you read to the end:
https://brandingprofiles.com.au/blog/

19/05/2026

Smaller rooms. Bigger impact.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of being invited to speak about personal branding and visibility with a group of women who had just completed Marie Ferguson's immersive two-day speaker training course at Creative Hearts Co.

One of the biggest things I shared is that personal branding is so often misunderstood.

For many people, the idea of “putting yourself out there” feels uncomfortable because they think personal branding means becoming someone else online. A more polished version. A louder version. A more curated version designed to keep the algorithm happy.

But true personal branding has very little to do with pretending to be something you’re not.

It’s ultimately about reputation. It’s the feeling people associate with your name. It’s the experience people have when they interact with you, your business and your content. It’s the trust you build over time through consistency, intention and alignment.

And the reality is, you can’t completely control your brand because every person will experience you differently based on their own perspectives, experiences and interactions with you. In many ways, you have millions of versions of your brand existing at once.

What you can control is your intention.

You can become more intentional about what you share, why you share it and what values sit underneath it. Because every piece of content is shaping perception whether you realise it or not.

The biggest advice I shared yesterday was simple:Lean further into the things that already make you different; your story, your lived experience, your perspective, your values and your voice. That is the brand.

A huge thank you to Marie for the invitation, and to Laura Jenkinson, Vilma Vujica Putt and Darlene Ali for being so open, courageous and willing to step further into visibility.

I actually completed Marie’s speaker training myself last year, and it gave me far more confidence to share my story more authentically. I’m still growing in this space too. Still learning and finding my confidence and rhythm as a speaker. Not to master the stages but to be able to show up confidently to create impact should the opportunity arise...I think that’s important to acknowledge too.

Visibility is a journey. Confidence is built through action. And the more we practise getting out of our own way, the more impact we’re capable of creating for the people we’re here to serve.

Marie Ferguson is running another speaker trainer workshop in June. Please reach out to her for more info.

13/05/2026

It rained this morning... but it didn't pour. So my photoshoot with went ahead as planned. There's updating your headshots...then there is levelling up. I always aim for the later. Can't wait to work on this gallery!

10/05/2026

I started my entrepreneurial journey before I became a mum — intentionally.

I knew motherhood was always going to be part of my story, so long before my children arrived, I consciously built a business and life around flexibility, creativity and presence.

One of the best decisions I made was building my studio in our garden — just separate enough to create boundaries between business and family life. What began as a photography studio 15 years ago has since evolved into the creative space where much of my art now comes to life. This space brings me so much joy.

Over the years, motherhood has given me a completely new level of respect for working parents everywhere. For the ones balancing businesses, leadership roles, 9–5 careers, school runs, sporting and extracurricular commitmits, household management and the countless invisible responsibilities that rarely make it onto a resume — but shape everything behind the scenes.

I also know how fortunate I am. My husband has wholeheartedly stepped into the role of “school dad” and domestic manager, and I’ll never take for granted the support that has allowed me to continue growing both creatively and professionally.

And today, I also feel immense gratitude for my own mum — my hero.

Growing up in a refugee family came with many challenges, yet somehow she raised five children with endless strength, sacrifice and love. Looking back now as both a mother and business owner, I honestly don’t know how she carried it all. But she did. And always with a beautiful smile on her face.

Motherhood is a privilege. It has made me a stronger leader, a better communicator, more adaptable, more empathetic and more resilient.

To every mother and mother figure out there — you are extraordinary.

Happy Mother’s Day ❤️

06/05/2026

Last week, I had the honour of being invited back to TAFE Queensland to speak on the Creative Industries panel alongside Aidan Kehoe, Matt Marney and Marty Kinsel, sharing insights into the evolving photography and creative industries.

Having worked across branding, photography and visual storytelling for decades, one of the biggest shifts I’ve seen over the past five years is the growing challenge of TRUST.

AI has made it easier than ever to create polished imagery, synthetic realities and content at scale. While this can create efficiencies for businesses especially with workflows, it has also introduced a new level of scepticism in the minds of consumers.

People are beginning to question everything:What’s real? Who can I trust? Do they even exist?

And when everyone is using the same tools and the same prompts, everything starts to look… the same.

For me, this is where personal branding and visual storytelling become more powerful than ever. The real opportunity now lies in human connection, perspective and presence — the things AI cannot replicate.

The businesses and creatives who will stand out are the ones willing to lean into their values, their lived experience, their perspective and even their quirks. Because no one else can compete with that.

One of the biggest skill gaps I see for emerging creatives is business knowledge. Creativity alone is rarely enough to sustain a long-term career. Understanding key things like positioning, branding, communication, finance, marketing, business development and client management are all essential foundations if you want to monetise your craft sustainably.

It was such a valuable conversation and always a privilege to contribute to the next generation of creatives entering the industry.

Thank you Michelle Dursun for having me back again this year.

05/05/2026

It’s been a while since I’ve spotlighted my incredible clients… so this feels like the perfect moment to introduce you to .robertson

Janina first came to me for a personal branding photography session, and in this reel you’ll see a glimpse of that — captured alongside her incredible mural work.

Her story is a deep one. Spanning continents, reinventions, and layers of lived experience. And yet, she expresses it with so much colour, passion and symbolism.

That’s always the part I’m most drawn to. Understanding not just where someone has come from… but where they’re going. Because the visuals we create aren’t just about capturing who you are today — they’re about helping you step into what’s next. Into the version of you that’s ready to be seen.

When Janina and I worked together, it wasn’t just about “getting photos.” It was about translating her story, her energy, and her creative identity into something she could confidently show up with — across her brand, and her work.

That’s the difference. Anyone can take a photo, but not everyone can help you see yourself — and your business — clearly. And that’s where strategy meets storytelling.

Earlier this week, we reconnected to explore a community mural opportunity — which is a story for another time, but her space is still so inspiring. I love it when clients become friends, and then turn into collaborators.

When you have photos that truly represent you… showing up becomes a whole lot easier. If you’re building a business, stepping into a new season, or simply know your current visuals don’t match where you’re heading — this is your sign.

Let’s create something that feels like you… and works for you.
My inbox is open, and I’m always up for a coffee.

www.brandingprofiles.com.au

30/04/2026

While everyone is optimising for speed, I’m paying attention to depth. I’ve been doing this quite intentionally lately—especially with the push for AI in business right now.

Yesterday I was at the coffee catch up, listening to Martin von Stein diving into the capabilities, the opportunities, and limitations of AI. It’s powerful, it’s efficient and it’s changing the way we work.

But it also reinforced something for me: There is one thing AI can’t do. And that’s real, human connection.

And today, I scheduled in catch ups with Andy Parker, Tamara McCombe and Eric Em—people I’ve been connected to in different ways over time, but this time, in person.

And it just felt different. Because when you’re face-to-face, you feel it. You feel their energy, you see what lights them up, you understand the nuance of who they are and what they bring. It’s not forced, it’s not filtered, and it’s definitely not something you can automate.

I think in a world that’s moving faster and becoming more and more faceless, choosing to slow down and connect is actually the edge. So, although I'll always champion progress, I’ll still champion people more.

A big thank you to these three epic humans for taking time out of their busy day to catch up with me. My cup is full and so many seeds have been planted. Now to nurture and watch them bloom.

28/04/2026

Go big or go home they say. Great job Pinnacle Properties QLD, new branding looks fabulous 🤩

We said “let’s update the branding everywhere” and apparently took that personally.

Website? Updated.
Emails? Updated.
Random corners of the app no one has looked at since 2022? Updated.
Von? Oh, Von is on it!

Send help… or compliments. Both accepted.