meet Liv

Photographer, Writer, Educator, Mum + Chronic Business Starter 

Wanna know something kind of crazy?

 I used to own this cafe. It was big. The food was delicious. I ran it with my sort-of-husband (still engaged, remember?) and my brother and we employed the best humans.

We owned it for 8 years.. Through covid. Through an almost recession. Through wage increases and food shortages and all the things that make up the rollercoaster that is business ownership…

But I sort of suck at cafe things…  

My role in the cafe has never been to do any of the cafe things you probably think of when you think of “hospo girl”. I was not the most skilled coffee maker. I didn’t know anything about making yummy drinks. And I sure as shit did not have the talent to cook literally anything that tasted good. In fact, if you ever came in and had burnt toast.. that was me (sorry).

My role in the cafe has always been about the people. Turning up every day and chewing the ears off our customers. Remembering the names of hundreds of regulars per day. Being the calm in the literal chaos when your power goes out and you’ve got order dockets from the bench to the floor.

Dealing with complaints that seem so unfair… and also the ones that were totally justified (burnt toast, remember?). Holding space for stressed-out staff, grumpy customers, and exhausted mums trying to drink a coffee while it’s still hot.

I didn’t know it at the time, but this is where I learnt how deep the people side of business runs. Business has everything to do with the care of your people – and not just in the happy hellos as they walk through the door, but in the deep, observant, I see you even when you think you’re holding it together by a thread kind that so often gets missed.

When I picked up a camera, all of that came with me. So no, I’m not your typical “I’ve had a camera since I was twelve” kind of photographer.

I came into photography the long way round – through business ownership and all the messy and magical moments where you’re just trying to keep the wheels on.

Now I run this business trying everyday to create an experience that feels just like those places - like your favourite cafe can make you feel in real life.

A space where you can walk in flustered, running late, second-guessing why you even booked, desperate for coffee… and know you’ll be taken care of the second you step through the door, with photos you love at the end of it. 

But…why are we talking about cafes?