The power of pictures is profound – they tell stories, celebrate moments that would otherwise be lost in time, and connect people. The thirst for authentic outback stories is undeniable, but it’s not often we have the chance to meet the person behind the camera. Photographer and founder of AgriShots, Alice Mabin, is not only a trusted photographer among rural communities but an inspirational speaker having survived a traumatic brain injury.
There are few people who have seen more of Australia than Alice. Yet of all the magnificent, unique locations she’s worked, she says the Kimberley has a special place in her heart. “There’s so much to discover and see, and the culture up there is really unique,” she shares.
“If someone had said to me, 12 years ago, when I started my own business that I would end up with five books and AgriShots – I’d have laughed.”
The experience of working in corporate agriculture and in animal health highlighted a gap in the market for Alice. She noticed there were no quality images or videography to help the businesses connect with the main clients – farmers. “It was an issue in agriculture in general. Stories aren’t being told well,” she says.
“These people put so much time, effort and dedication into breeding the ultimate bull or ram to sell. Then, they do a really average job of marketing them, to tell that story.”
Alice jumped on the opportunity to help and insert her creative flair. “I can’t draw a stick figure, but I can see you with a camera!” The search for authentic rural stories began. It took a while to gain trust with many farmers concerned that she’d only have an eye for negative stories, but her passion for stories of authenticity, resilience and dedication won them over. “I’ve had to teach the farmers that it’s ok, we tell these stories and we can still do it in a way that’s really humble.”
It was a risk for the farmers, and a risk for Alice, who left a secure job to join a cattle drive for 9 months. “Leaving the car, the phone, the income, the health insurance – that security every month… it was pretty scary.”
Fast forward to now and Alice has turned many of those images into self-published coffee table books and uses many as stock images for purchase on her online platform, Agrishots.
“I ended up self-publishing because publishers went, no one wants a book about a dirty old drover.”
Her clients range from businesses that service the agriculture industry, accountants, HR companies, employment agencies, animal health companies, or crop chemical companies.
It’s little wonder Alice had the determination to build something ambitious given, she’d already won the fight of her life as a 15-year-old, after a serious horse accident lead to a traumatic brain injury. Alice was told she may never walk or talk again.
“I’m so lucky that’s how my world played out because who would I be today if it hadn’t happened.”
It took until Alice was in her 30s to be able to talk about what happened to her and the long, arduous road to recovery that followed. She’s since met on her travels some remarkable people who’ve been through immense trauma – a boy who was hit by a truck, a shearer who lost an arm. “He was back in the shed five weeks later, learning to shear with his left arm.”
“My accident is a walk in the park compared to this guy.”
At the moment, being able to ride a horse and take photos at the same time remains a pretty unique skill set. One that will surely deliver us another coffee table book before too long. But also stay tuned for a TV series, of which Alice will be a producer. Making the announcement exclusively to ‘Telling Our Story’, we look forward to enjoying some moving pictures from Alice, as much as the still ones, very soon.
Hear more stories like this by subscribing to the Telling Our Story podcast on iTunes (or wherever you listen to podcasts) and follow podcast host Angie Asimus on Instagram for more updates.
