Vanessa Brown was once a microbiologist working in a Sydney medical lab. However, when three kids came along the family moved up the coast and she wanted a career more compatible with her new life. Vanessa picked up a camera and was immediately drawn to portraiture, but she was never interested in artificial lighting and white backdrops she explains over the phone. “I don’t do any studio work. I hate using a flash,” she insists. “I like the connections that people have, I love doing families. I love natural light.” 

Taken by Vanessa’s authentic approach, families were soon getting in touch for portraits. Eventually she was busy enough to shut down her website and rely on word of mouth referrals.

Meanwhile, the kids were increasingly falling under surfing’s spell and were lucky enough to have their own private photographer to document their salty escapades. “It evolved into surf photography, because my whole family is obsessed with surfing,” explains Vanessa. “All three of our kids and my husband are avid surfers, I’ve had a lot of practice photographing them in and out of the water.”

Around eight years ago, Vanessa became intrigued by drone photography. “I feel like everything looks amazing from the air… it just felt like every photo you took had such a unique perspective … I just fell in love with it.”

After experimenting extensively with the god’s eye angle, Vanessa started to set herself bolder challenges. “I’d take it out on a kayak, or launch it off boats… once you’re more confident flying, you’re willing to try and risk bigger and bigger things.” When asked if she thrives on positioning the drone as close to the wave as possible, Vanessa’s voice grows excited.  “Oh, yeah, I do actually. Much to my kids’ horror at times. They’re like, ...