The story behind the lens.
Hello, I'm Nina — a Sydney-based photographer with a global eye and a genuine curiosity about people.
Born in Manila, raised between Geneva and France, and shaped by years living across the US, I've spent my life learning to see. That lens — open, observant, cross-cultural — is what I bring to every shoot.
Before turning my full attention to photography, I spent years in project and event management at not-for-profit and higher education institutions, and later leading engineering and product teams at Amazon, Atlassian, and beyond. That world taught me the value of craft, collaboration, and getting things right — and those same principles shape how I approach every session.
Long before I picked up a camera professionally, I was the person planning the gathering — coordinating national conventions and special events, managing the full logistics of bringing hundreds of participants together. I've also volunteered in wedding planning and hosted countless gatherings of my own. That background lives in how I shoot. I don't just arrive at an event — I understand how one works, which means I'm always one step ahead of the moment.
I'm drawn to what's real: the quiet portrait, the unguarded laugh, the landscape that stops you mid-breath. Whether I'm documenting a personal milestone, a corporate event, or a small business telling its story for the first time — I work with care and intention, never forcing a moment, always finding one.
I also have a background in coaching and mentoring — and it quietly shapes everything I do. I believe deeply in the growth mindset and that people flourish when they feel safe, seen, and encouraged. I'm not just here to take your photo — I'm here to make sure you feel genuinely good doing it.
My Story
Born in the Philippines. Raised in Geneva and France. Educated in Washington, D.C. Shaped by Seattle. Home in Sydney.
I've been lucky enough to build a life across cultures, languages, and time zones — and through all of it, photography has been my constant. Not a grand ambition at first, just a quiet habit of noticing things. Over time, it became the truest way I know to connect with the world around me.
I've spent time working with organisations doing important work — in not-for-profit and higher education — before moving into the world of technology, leading product and engineering teams at startups and large corporations like Amazon and Atlassian. That breadth gave me a deep appreciation for craft, for the people behind a business, and for what it means to communicate something true about who you are and what you do.
Along the way, I found a deep passion for coaching and mentoring others — helping people grow, find their confidence, and show up as their best selves. That same philosophy lives in my photography. I take the time to collaborate, listen, and understand you. Together we create the space where something genuine can happen.
I have a particular soft spot for small and creative businesses, community organisations, and causes for good — the kinds of people and projects that make a place worth living in.
Today I live in Sydney's inner west with my better half and our ridiculously fluffy Samoyed, Arya. I make photographs for people who want to remember how something truly felt — not just how it looked.
Every place I've called home has left something in the way I see. That's what I bring to the work.