For the past ten years, an Australian community of photographers has made the pilgrimage to the Victorian alpine township of Bright for the Bright Festival of Photography (BFOP). The festival is like no other photography event, with the catch-cry “Shutter Chaos” setting the tone for what BFOP loyalists can expect. As a ticketed event with over 600 ticket holders, plus dozens of professional workshop instructors, brand reps, vendors, food trucks, and a core admin team, BFOP is far from a simple camera-club-esque experience. In fact, from the outside looking in, BFOP has a cult-like appeal that drives folks to return year after year. On paper, BFOP looks like a mid-October weekend of scheduled workshops to build and bolster visual creatives lucky enough to gain a ticket. But in reality, BFOP is best described as an all-in, immersive, crazy, shenanigan-filled, creative experience like no other, bubble-wrapped in community love and support.
In this article, I want to share the Lucky Straps BFOP 2026 experience and share a little BFOP magic. It’s often hard to explain BFOP to the uninitiated, but I will give it a shot. In early October, I once again joined the Lucky Straps crew and made the journey from my inner-city digs in Melbourne to BFOP's heartland. I vividly recall convincing Justin (founder of Lucky Straps and fellow host of The Camera Life Podcast) to attend our first Bright Festival of Photography in 2024. During that first weekend festival, we fell head over heels for the BFOP community and the incredible, magical, and inspirational experience. That first year was more of a scouting mission for Lucky Straps, and it proved pivotal for all of us. Justin, Jim (Lucky Straps customer experience), and I returned in October 2025 with a much bigger set of plans: operating a stand selling Lucky Straps products and merch while also hosting several live-to-YouTube podcasts from our Airbnb. BFOP 2025 was one of the most memorable and crazy experiences of my creative life. To say that it was a flat-out weekend would be an understatement. Lucky Straps leather camera straps and merchandise proved all too popular, and we were often run off our feet supporting customers, catching up with friends, hosting regular early-morning podcasts, and immersing ourselves in what is the best photography festival in the world...probably.
With BFOP 2025 done, and the feeling finally returning to our sore feet, we soon began planning for the Bright Festival of Photography 2026. BFOP 2026 was the tenth anniversary of the ever-expanding photography event. Tickets sold out mostly within a week of last year’s festival ending. Keen to take it up a notch, we once again supported the BFOP admin team (Matt Krumins, Nick Fletcher, and CJ) with special-edition pre-BFOP podcasts, recorded interviews with all workshop instructors, and a commitment to do as much as possible to support our community. After learning from last year’s hectic schedule, we decided we needed a bigger team to support us over the weekend. This year, Justin, Jim, and I were joined by Yelana (Lucky Straps customer experience and partner to Justin) and Lucinda Goodwin (live concert and band photographer and The Camera Life Podcast alumni). Yelana is an organisational wizard, and it’s clear who the true brains of Lucky Straps are!! With a bigger team, we made bigger plans, all underpinned by a desire to immerse ourselves in BFOP in more ways than one.
Lucky Straps TV
As mentioned, Lucinda Goodwin joined us at this year’s festival to support both Lucky Straps and The Camera Life Podcast. It was the first time any of us from Lucky had met Lucinda in person - we had spoken with her many times live on the podcast in the past. Lucinda is a social media guru and a hell of a photographer. Be sure to check out her full story over on the podcast. Lucinda’s loose brief for the festival was to capture content for Lucky Straps' social media channels. As it turns out, Lucinda delivered on that goal in spades while also stepping up to support the Lucky Straps stand and product sales.
I think it’s fair to say that Lucinda proved a natural and essential fit for the team and quickly let go of any preconceived expectations to immerse herself in the BFOP culture as a brand ambassador for Lucky Straps and The Camera Life Podcast. Before long, Lucinda was out and about with her roving mic and action-cam setup, enlisting the help of festival legend and MVP, Denis Smith. Lucinda and Denis became a formidable media force, getting up close and personal with those taking part in the festival. No one was safe from their collective drive, energy, and wacky antics - it was a true highlight watching them work as a team. Together, they ran laps around BFOP HQ (Bright Community Centre), interviewing everyone from ticket holders to the brand vendors about their experience with Lucky Straps products. Lucinda forged her own BFOP legend by diving in headfirst and embracing the cult…culture. I meant culture. It was a highlight getting to know her and work alongside her.
The Camera Life Podcast Live From Bright
During our BFOP 2026 experience, we operated the new and improved Lucky Straps stand at BFOP HQ during the day throughout Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. However, our role also included hosting live-to-YouTube podcasts directly from The Camera Life Podcast HQ (Our Airbnb in Bright). While packing for the BFOP festival, we also made sure we had everything we needed to create a professional podcast studio. We quickly transformed our Airbnb dining room into an impressive studio. We broadcast The Camera Life Podcast live with special BFOP Editions bright and early on Thursday, Saturday, and Monday mornings. Each podcast featured BFOP legends live in the studio as special guests, including Nick Fletcher (BFOP Founder), Denis Smith, and Adam Edwards. It was an amazing, unique opportunity to work live, in-studio with these guests, along with Lucinda and Jim. The podcasts were fun and energising, and they helped us step into our roles at the festival with renewed focus and a hunger for BFOP culture. And while we had been talked into doing a live, on-stage podcast at BFOP HQ, technical issues kept that nightmare from becoming a reality. Perhaps BFOP 2027.
Bucket List Moments
Back in September 2025, Justin, Jim, and I interviewed commercial automotive photographer and videographer, Chris Benny. Justin has been a long-time fan of Chris’s work under the brand QUBE Productions. At the time, Justin believed that he had mostly fulfilled his wish to work with Chris and share his story with our audience. Little did Justin know that BFOP 2026 would let him check off some unimaginable bucket-list experiences. As it turns out, like many of the folks we interview on The Camera Life Podcast, Chris Benny was invited to join the BFOP 2026 instructor team to run unique workshops during the festival. To his credit, Chris said yes despite never having run a group workshop or attended BFOP before! As is the BFOP way, Chris committed to the cause and even organised a half-million-dollar Mercedes sports car to be delivered to Bright for use in his workshops. In the lead-up to his Friday evening workshop photographing the car up on Mount Hotham, Chris asked Justin if he had time to join him and lend a hand. While Justin was hesitant at first (he felt bad leaving us to fend for ourselves), it didn’t take much arm-twisting for him to agree. Not only did Justin get to work alongside Chris with a car shoot, but he also got to drive that expensive Merc up and down the mountain road at sunset so that workshop participants could hone their panning skills with Chris’ support and guidance. Justin returned from that workshop a changed man! He couldn’t wipe the smile from his face - to be fair, he is usually smiling anyway. He is the Ted Lasso of BFOP after all.
Lucky Straps at BFOP HQ
As with BFOP 2025, we set up a fairly large stand at this year's festival to promote and sell Lucky Straps leather camera straps, merchandise, and new The Camera Life Podcast merch. Plus, we had cool stickers to give away! The stand featured two large shelving units to showcase all the Lucky Straps products, a clothes rack for T-shirts and hoodies, and a massive bench on casters that served as our workspace for leather embossing, sales, and even late-night pizza. Along with boxes and boxes of products, it is a wonder that Justin and Jim managed to fit it all in the van. The Lucky Straps stand was a big upgrade from last year, and the huge workbench and bar stools were much appreciated during the long days at BFOP HQ. Huge shout-out to Justin and Jim for the impressive DIY display stands and workspace. It looked amazing! Lucky Straps became the place to be, and it helped welcome those new to our products to stop by, ask questions, or pick up the leather camera strap of their dreams.
One of the most enjoyable parts of working that stand throughout BFOP was the countless visitors and friends who dropped by to say hi! Everyone, from ticket holders from previous years, workshop instructors new and old, to fellow vendors representing leading brands of cameras, lenses, and accessories, visited Lucky Straps. It was also rewarding and uplifting when folks stopped to thank us for the BFOP special edition podcasts, which helped during the booking process for the 2026 festival workshops and events. Lucky Straps proved a magnet for Bright’s creative folk. At night, when the vendors stopped working and the nighttime events kicked off, the Lucky Straps stand was a natural hangout spot for us and our friends. Justin also set up a makeshift portrait studio and photographed everyone who arrived in costume for the Saturday night festivities and shenanigans. He was in his element, connecting with BFOPers and bringing such positive, fun energy as soon as they walked in the door. It’s inspirational to watch how he works with others.
It Doesn’t Have To End This Way!
They say all good things must come to an end. Except for BFOP! According to the BFOP Australia website, it’s only 346 days, 3 hours, 40 minutes, and 37 seconds to BFOP 2027! Not that anyone is counting. Next year’s festival is already sold out! BFOP 2026 proved to be yet another banger of a weekend professionally, socially, and creatively. We must have talked with hundreds and hundreds of BFOPers throughout the festival weekend. Having the larger Lucky Straps team was another win for our BFOP experience, giving us more room to play and attend workshops and events, and more time to chat with folks both inside and outside of BFOP HQ. As a team, we hung out throughout the day, and at night we attended the festival activities together before retiring to our nearby Airbnb for late-night chats and snacks. Justin’s snack of choice is warm cinnamon doughnuts with a slab of butter. We slept little, went to bed thinking about photography, and woke up thinking about photography too. We pushed through together and took time for a number of amazing local meals as a team, reflecting on each day and making plans for the next.
I also want to take a moment to shout out the folks who supported us throughout BFOP 2026. First and foremost, Matt, Nick, and CJ from the BFOP team gave us the opportunity to do what we do best: support a creative community however we can. Thank you to the countless workshop instructors, whom we consider friends, for dropping by and helping out. Thanks also to the countless podcast ‘super-fans’ who helped set up, pack up, and ensured we had ample coffee and inspiring conversation. I personally owe a debt of gratitude to Justin for taking such good care of the Lucky Straps team - yet again. He built a team dynamic and encouraged our individual and unique contributions to the greater cause - building and supporting community while having ridiculous fun in the process. And finally, to our community, for making BFOP 2026 such an incredible and unforgettable experience once again. I can confidently say that BFOP 2026 topped my expectations and has taken the crown as one of the greatest weekends of my life. Be safe. G
