FROM PHOTOGRAPHER TO DRIFTER
My journey into motorsport didn't start behind the wheel - it started behind the camera.
Cars have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. With both of my parents working in the automotive industry, I grew up surrounded by dealerships, new cars, and conversations about everything on four wheels. From an early age, I dreamed of becoming a race car driver, but like many young people, the financial reality of motorsport made that path difficult to pursue.
Instead, I poured my energy into another passion: photography.
I began as a wildlife photographer, spending countless hours capturing animals and nature before expanding into architecture, portraits, and event photography. Eventually, I discovered macro photography and became fascinated by the small details most people overlook. Photography quickly became more than a hobby - it became a serious career goal. At just 15 years old, I earned a professional diploma in photography and planned to build my future behind the camera.
At the same time, my love for cars never disappeared.
As I developed my photography skills, I found myself attending automotive events. One of those events was Roll Racing, where I was introduced to the automotive community in a completely new way. I started taking photos of cars, sharing my work, and connecting with enthusiasts who encouraged me to create a dedicated automotive photography page.
That was the beginning of 12 SQM Media.
What started as a simple photography account gradually grew into opportunities to photograph car meets, track days, drift events, and the people who make up Australia's incredible automotive community. Through photography, I found myself immersed in motorsport culture and surrounded by drivers who were living the dream I had always imagined for myself.
Then one day, while photographing a drift event, someone asked me a simple question:
"Why aren't you drifting?"
At the time, I didn't even own a car, and I couldn't drive manual. Drifting seemed like something other people did. But that question stuck with me.
The more I thought about it, the more I realised I was tired of standing on the sidelines watching other people chase their dreams while I documented them through a lens.
Within a week, I bought my Toyota 86.
I learned to drive manual, entered my first drift event, and discovered something I had never experienced before. While I had always dreamed of racing, drifting felt different. The moment I got on track, everything else disappeared. It was pure focus, pure excitement, and pure joy.
That feeling changed my life.
Today, drifting has become far more than a hobby. It has become the centre of my journey. Every event teaches me something new. Every challenge pushes me to improve. Whether I'm working on the car, creating content, teaching others as a driving instructor, or chasing the next milestone, I'm constantly striving to become a better driver and a better version of myself.
Looking back, photography didn't take me away from my motorsport dream - it led me directly to it.
What started behind the camera eventually brought me behind the wheel, and I'm excited to see where the road leads next.