Cover Worthy Moments : A Reflection on My Gallery Lane Feature

I’m still wrapping my head around this…

This month, I was named the Cover Artist for Gallery Lane’s April 2025 edition. Seeing my work— my art —grace the cover of a magazine feels completely surreal.

Especially when I think about where this all started.

Five years ago, I didn’t know the first thing about photography. I deeply admired it—I’d scroll through images and feel something stir—but I wasn’t in the right headspace to learn. I was battling a lot internally, and I carried so many self-restricting beliefs about what I was capable of. It wasn’t until my kids came into my life that everything shifted.

They became my why.

It’s been the last four years that I’ve really committed to learning and growing, mostly by trusting my gut, leaning into inspiration, and choosing to keep showing up even when I felt unsure. Every time I pick up my camera now, I think of that version of me who was scared to begin… and I feel so damn proud.

So to now be recognised by Gallery Lane —not just for my photography, but for the emotion and connection within it—it’s a full circle moment. Here's what they said:

“Em has blown us away with her gorgeous imagery and made quite the splash on the photography scene. She features creativity and boldness throughout her work, bringing her images to life with emotion... breaking away from the mould, she captures her clients in a way that breaks conventional photography rules and follows her heart and eye…”

It’s such an honour to be seen in this way. But even more than that, this feature feels like a celebration of the creative trust I’ve built with my clients—especially the mamas and families who invite me into their most tender, powerful moments.

Because this isn’t just about photos. It’s about memory. Emotion. Time.

Photography, to me, is the closest thing we have to time travel. It’s about preserving the realness of a moment—the way it felt —so that even years down the track, it still stirs something inside you.

So if you’re looking for images that go deeper than just “pretty”—photos that feel honest, that reflect who you are, and hold space for the big and small moments in between—this is your sign to reach out. I create imagery that’s worthy of covers because it comes from within—from your story, your connection, your truth.

This season, I’m allowing myself to be fully seen. No shrinking. No playing small. Just trusting that the universe responds when we show up as our whole selves.

So thank you, Gallery Lane, for seeing me.

And thank you to every person who has ever stood in front of my lens and trusted me to capture what matters.

With all my heart,

Em xx

@familiarhazephotography

Brisbane & Gold Coast Maternity & Motherhood Photography. As featured in Gallery Lane Magazine 2024 & 2025.