A photography group which started in Port Macquarie earlier this year has grown into a community of more than 300 women, with founder Kristen Shaw saying it has become less about cameras and more about connection.
The Shutter Sisterhood, known to its members as “The Hood”, began at the end of February and has already attracted 321 women who have signed up through its website, with about 200 members active in its private Facebook group.
Ms Shaw, a professional photographer based on the Mid North Coast, said the idea for the group grew out of an experience with a multi-level marketing company that had asked her to photograph a women’s-only retreat in Bali.
Looking into the retreat further, she realised the appeal for the women involved was not the destination but the promise of a supportive women’s community, and she decided to build something similar herself, without the sales pitch attached.
Ms Shaw said she expected the group to appeal mainly to camera enthusiasts, but it has turned into something bigger.
“I really think it wasn’t about the cameras to be honest,” she said.
“I expected it to be a camera club, but it’s more like a women’s club.”
Ms Shaw said the group’s motto, “kindness is gangster”, sums up the atmosphere members can expect.
“Very much the ethos is kindness, or we say kindness is gangster,” she said.
Members range from complete beginners taking photos on their phones to women dusting off old cameras and hobbyists looking to build their skills. Ms Shaw said most members are women in their 40s and 50s.
“I think it’s like the kids have moved out of home and they’re looking for something for them,” she said.
“They’ve been looking after everyone and then decide ‘I just want to do something for myself now’.”
The group runs a mix of events, including the “Get Off Auto” photography course four times a year, along with day trips, long lunches and weekend getaways.
Ms Shaw is moving to a monthly catch-up format, currently known with a tongue-in-cheek name of “The Monthlies”, to make organising easier, with upcoming gatherings planned at Bago Maze & Wine and Home at Roto House in Port Macquarie.
Looking further ahead, Ms Shaw is planning weekend trips and is investigating interstate adventures, including a possible trip to Tasmania’s Bruny Island and a loop through the Northern Territory from Darwin to Kakadu and Katherine.
The Facebook group also runs a monthly photo challenge, with members currently working on capturing movement and motion blur. Past challenges have included photographing the colours pink and orange and shooting in black and white.
Ms Shaw said the group is a welcoming space for women who are hesitant to join alone, including members managing social anxiety who ease in by following the Facebook group before attending an event in person.
Workshops are relaxed by design, often including wine and cake alongside the photography lessons.
“That’s for me when I go to these events, it’s like I’m hanging out with friends to be honest,” she said.
Ms Shaw runs her own photography business specialising in boutique properties, including Airbnb styling photography, alongside the Shutter Sisterhood.
Membership of The Shutter Sisterhood is free. Women interested in joining can sign up through the group’s website to receive an invitation to the private Facebook community and updates on upcoming workshops, events and trips.
Ms Shaw said the group has exceeded anything she imagined when it began with a small gathering earlier this year, and as the Shutter Sisterhood’s website states, “we’re only just getting started.”
For more information, visit the Kristen Shaw photography website.
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