The least photogenic person you will ever meet.
Do not be deterred, but this here is Sarah, one of the two parts to Bear Hunt Photography.
She may be a stunner in real life, and while this isn’t an important thing for you to know, nor objectively true, unphotogenic-ness is real (even if the word is not).
If you suffer this same curse, then know as Sarah does, that even if every photograph you’ve ever posed for has been met with your derision, you’re still very beautiful. It’s possible that you’ve just never seen yourself.
We’d really love to be the ones to show you.
We don’t want to pose, prod, or coax. By unobtrusiveness and our killer ‘blending-in’ skills, we want you to forget that we’re there, perhaps mistake us for old friends, and resume being you; since that’s where your beauty usually hides when trying best to capture it.
It is also probably why the only photographs you like of yourself are those that were taken while you were unawares.
HELLO!
We’d first like to acknowledge the Dharawal people, including the Wadi, Wadi, Korewal Elouera Jerrungarugh, and Wodi Wodi people, as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work, and their continuing connection to land, waterways, air and community.
Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.
In light of this fact, we are committed to doing more than paying lip service to the rights of Indigenous people, and we Pay The Rent monthly.
Who are we?
This is Sarah, in a surprising image where both of her eyes are open:
Here’s Simon (aka Tedder, aka Teddy) in a rare and unfortunate blinking episode:
Why Bear Hunt?
Well, it started with Sarah’s nickname (Sarah > Sare > Sare Bear > ‘Bear’).
But later, in a beautiful twist of fate, Sarah met Tedder, and subsequently took his last name, making the Teddy / Bear circle complete. ♥
The ‘Hunt’ part comes from our intended approach to photographing you, only insofar as we try to go undetected using a bit of stealth/surreptitiousness – not bloodshed!
Why photography?
Sarah made her way into photography after spending most of her life thinking she was a non-practicing journalist. However, it later occurred to her that whilst she wants to document, she’s an observer, not a writer. As such, imperfectly capturing honest moments in time appeals to her more than attempting to describe those moments in words.
For Tedder he inadvertently became snared in the photography trap firstly taking the odd snap while travelling, then more seriously through his great love for and desire to impress Sarah.
Why pick Bear Hunt Photography?
If you want a photographer that does not seek to interfere, control, change or improve you, that respects you and your life, and does not wish to influence or alter it,* then we might be the photographers for you. If you want photographs that are representative of a specific moment in time or occasion in your life, as it really is, then consider choosing us.
Who do I get?
It’s a roll of the dice as to whether it will be Sarah or Tedder photographing you and/or your event, and is dependant upon our availability respectively. But if you’d like to remove chance from the equation, then you’re welcome to book both of us together!
*derived from David Hurn, On Being A Photographer
PERSONAL LIFE & WORK
The Djaadjawan Dancers, a women and girl’s dance group from the Yuin Nation.
Some more stuff about us, even if you didn't ask :|
Sarah studied arts/law for 6 years, graduated, and then practised for about a year before retiring to become a photographer :D She spent 25 years living in the south (Melbourne, Victoria), then 2 years in The South (North Carolina, USA).
Tedder studied environmental science at UOW, and works for the state government in Community Engagement where he frequently takes photographs and videos to communicate environmental messages.
Sarah and Tedder now live in Port Kembla with their daughters, Lila & Zadie.
We also enjoy pro-bono, paid & trade opportunities to photograph for select local social and environmental causes that we care about.