
Hi, I'm Marley, your photographer.
Growing up strong in my cultural identity as an Aboriginal woman, I feel proud when I can share the beauty of my culture and people using my platform
I live with social anxiety and can find it difficult to communicate using words. Photography provides an alternative to physical interaction that allows me to speak to a large audience and convey important messaging.
Producing and sharing my photography is really a form of expression for me and has broken down barriers to communication. During my own experience with pregnancy and motherhood, I felt very isolated and was provided support materials to assist with managing symptoms of post-natal depression and ill mental health. I noticed a severe lack of representation in respect to positive imagery for Aboriginal people and culture in media and resource materials.
This motivated me more to break the stigma of mainstream media’s views of Aboriginal people and advocate for more positive imagery and inclusion. I didn’t wait for organisations to pick up their game, instead I began building networks and relationships to provide imagery that I wish I had seen. My work today builds on that initial motivation and still strongly incorporates the theme of strongwomen and the matriarchal system tied to culture.
I also use my platform to elevate other Aboriginal business owners and am a firm believer in black excellence achieved through community, not competition
“Our languages are tied to our landscapes & sacred waters. Our old people used our language to survey, navigate & understand their countries through songlines & creation stories.
We have staunch & proud people in communities committed to preserving our languages because we know they are a part of our continuing story & we know they are connected to our land. This always was, & always will be Aboriginal Land.”
It is an immense privilege for me to be entrusted to hear and tell stories and songs and witness traditional practices and I can never describe the feelings I get to be surrounded by grounded people strong in culture. Using photography as a medium to document these moments, I hope to capture those feelings through my images and share those with my audience.

Location
Currently located in Coffs Harbour on the Mid North Coast of NSW on Gumbaynggirr Land.
Happy to travel throughout Australia.