About

Background and inspiration.

I was fortunate to be raised in Nairobi, Kenya where I was exposed to a rich tapestry of cultural diversity, that enhanced my creative expression.

From an early age, I explored remote parts of the country, flying alongside my father in his light aircraft. It was through these experiences that I first gained access to tribal indigenous communities and it sparked a lifelong passion, admiration, and interest in traditional culture and ceremony.  

Growing up in Nairobi language, race, and religion were never a cultural barrier; instead, they stimulated a natural curiosity in me that went far beyond my formal education, helping me traverse the globe and remain at ease with my camera in a number of unique situations.

As a lifestyle, documentary, and portrait photographer, I have always traveled extensively for my work. It brings me great pleasure being a visual storyteller, passionately documenting the fabric of people's lives with my camera.

I photograph a variety of diverse projects and I’m conscious to align with companies and brands that create a positive impact on our planet and humanity. I have a range of commercial photography work in my portfolio that I do not publish on my website. If you are interested in seeing other work aside from my fine art collections please email me.

A majority of my Fine Art work involves photographing indigenous communities. I have gravitated towards the tribes of the Turkana, Rendille, Dassanech, and Samburu in Kenya, and the Hamer, Mursi, and Suri tribes of Ethiopia.

Life in these villages revolves around family and survival. In these remote communities, far removed from the modern world there is a certain perseverance that’s needed to survive there. I’m mostly curious about the women, it’s in their strength and vitality that I see their beauty, their essence. That’s what I aim to convey in my portraits. The spirit of female empowerment and women’s use of adornment as self-expression.

I’m passionate about highlighting a woman’s evolving ability to adapt to the song of the land through constant change. The way a woman elegantly holds herself, barefoot, adorned in her jewelry in the vast desolate landscape, looking after her goats and children. These women carry their traditions down through generations and while it is not my place to judge what’s best for them, I do feel a strong female connection. Their lives are not easy and I have ingrained respect for them, perhaps from having grown up in Africa and really seeing how people weather hardship. I feel that women are the backbone of the tribal patriarchal society in which they are born. Therefore, I want to portray them in all their nobility, as empowered and courageous women.

Through my photography work, I am blessed to travel, meet, and interact with people from all walks of life. I can never truly convey my deep appreciation to these communities for allowing me into their worlds; their individual stories are equally as compelling as they are educational, not only bringing awareness and insight to me but to the world. I feel it is part of my purpose as a photographer to continue creating visual impact. To support and give a voice to women in patriarchal societies and to create an awareness and respect for indigenous tribal culture which is in decline in a rapidly changing world.  

I studied photography at Rhodes University in South Africa. I have gone on to publish and exhibit my work all over the world. As well as shooting for various international companies, magazines, brands, and charity organisations. For a more comprehensive account of my photographic work please view my Bio and Exhibition list. Thank you.

Louisa works worldwide as a freelance photographer and currently lives in Australia.