Fashioning a photographic passion

By Ellen Blake

Photography Studies College (PSC) student Kerry Herschell caught the travel bug once her children grew older.

It was on these trips that Kerry’s photographic imagination was ignited. “Vietnam was a holiday that was particularly inspirational. I was really inspired by all the faces and colours and people in the street,” Kerry said.

Following this trip, Kerry purchased a camera and started teaching herself how to use it.

Attending photography workshops followed, which ultimately led Kerry to enrol at PSC.

Now a second-year student studying an advanced diploma of photography part-time, Kerry said her time at PSC had given her an increased depth of understanding to craft.

“The college has taught me that a photograph should tell a story. It’s taught me the how and the why, of telling a story through photography. It’s more than just a pretty picture,” Kerry said.

Students are returning to in-person classes this semester after the coronavirus pandemic meant lessons moved online.

“The college handled it really well. The classes were still really interactive and we could get great feedback on our photos even though it was online,” Kerry said.

Originally a chef by trade, Kerry produced a folio of food photography during last year’s lockdown.

“It’s as though I transferred my creativity from food to photography.”

Kerry’s true passion, however, is capturing faces through portraiture or street photography.

“I’m particularly interested in the street genre. That’s what I first started out doing. Everyone has a story or an interesting face that they don’t recognise within themselves,” she said.

Kerry also has an interest in fashion photography and recently had her photograph featured on the January cover of fresh fashion magazine Malvie.

Kerry owns her own photography business – Kerry Herschell Photography – and following the completion of her studies at PSC, she would ultimately like to put aside her catering business and focus on photography fulltime.

“My future goal is to run a successful photography business and continue to grow it organically,” Kerry said.

kerryherschellphotography.com.au •