Harriet Tarbuck is a professional portrait and documentary photographer with an artistic approach to her personal and commercial work. Having completed her photography education at Leeds College of Art and Design in England, Harriet is no stranger to travel. While she travelled extensively with her family as a child, Harriet has also lived and worked throughout Australia, the UK and parts of Asia.
Throughout her work as a photographer, educator, and image curator, Harriet has embraced the concept of community and its critical role in creative practices. Harriet and business partner Tom Goldner are Co-Creative Directors of Photo Collective - an Australian-based enterprise advocating for the betterment of the Australian photography landscape (pardon the pun). Photo Collective is a community-focused agency delivering programs such as the Australian Photography Awards, the Australian Photobook Awards, and the biannual Photo Collective Magazine. Beyond that, Photo Collective celebrates the diversity of Australia’s photographic scene through exhibitions, talks, publications, and educational programmes.
I know it probably feels like we’ve recently featured a lot of photographers from the Bright Festival of Photography (BFOP). But there’s a good reason that we’ve opted to interview many of the excellent workshop instructors from that festival. For one, they are considered to be leaders in their genre while also aligning with and contributing to the overall BFOP values and vibe. While Justin (Lucky Straps Founder), Jim (Lucky Straps Customer Experience), and I (Greg) enjoyed countless creative conversations with like-minded peers at BFOP, many of those experiences were short-lived. And so, through the power of YouTube, we continue those conversations to learn from and elevate our appreciation for the folks who make BFOP the creative fever dream it is. Sticking with that theme, we recently interviewed artistic photographer Harriet Tarbuck to find what makes her tick!
At BFOP 2025, Harriet Tarbuck paired up with award-winning photojournalist Chris Hopkins to deliver a two-part photo essay workshop. In Part 1: Photo Essay – Shoot it in a day! Chris Hopkins goes hands-on with participants, who produce a small series of images that document a visual narrative. In Part 2: Photo Essay – Put it together!, conducted the following day, Harriet and Chris guide returning participants in developing and storyboarding their photo essay and in building a visual story that appeals to the intended audience. The dual workshops are designed to broaden participants' visual language and to equip them with the necessary skills and insights to make a grouping of images tell a compelling story and lead the viewer through the frames. Justin attended the Photo Essay workshops at BFOP 2024, and, to this day, applauds both instructors' unique approaches and their ability to build his skillset and output in new directions.
As a community-focused visual creative, it’s no surprise that Harriet also teamed up with professional photographer and creative career guru Sally Brownbill to produce a photography podcast. “When Harri Met Sally - A Photography Podcast” is a community-focused video podcast interviewing and celebrating some of the country’s best visual artists and photographers. During the recent Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Harriet and Sally interviewed many of the featured artists and image makers showcasing works at the art-focused festival. Beyond that, When Harri Met Sally showcases a diverse range of guests, including some of Australia’s most prolific photographers. It’s always great to catch up with fellow Aussie photography podcasters and gain insight into how others approach the task. It’s fair to say that, here at The Camera Life Podcast, we love celebrating those who also see value in creating community-minded content.
“In a world where everyone carries a camera in their pocket and Al-generated images flood the internet, When Harri met Sally: A Photography Podcast aims to explore what it truly means to be a photographer today. Co-hosted by Harriet Tarbuck from Photo Collective and Sally Brownbill from The Brownbill Effect, this exciting new podcast delves into the motivations, challenges, and joys of a life dedicated to photography. Through candid conversations with friends of the duo, Harri and Sally engage listeners in thought-provoking discussions with humour and robust conversations about their photography journeys. With a light-hearted, conversational tone, we create a space for photographers, students, and creative enthusiasts alike to reflect, learn, and connect. Exploring the intricacies of participating in festivals to navigating professional challenges, this podcast is set to become a must-listen for anyone passionate about photography and the creative process.”
It was such a pleasure to meet and chat with Harriet during the Bright Festival of Photography 2025. And, of course, having her join us on our podcast to talk about the artistic side of the craft was both motivating and insightful. All too often, we strive to make a single image tell a story and impart a message to the viewer. But through our conversation with Harriet, our eyes were once again opened to the value of visual storytelling, image curation, and community-based engagement in lifting and celebrating all visual image makers. Harriet Tarbuck, and her collaborators are making a purposeful and meaningful contribution to the craft we all love and share. That, in itself, is a powerful endorsement of the benefit of a creative community and of breaking down barriers to collective success and enrichment.
If you’re unfamiliar with The Camera Life Podcast, be sure to take a look at our YouTube channel for the latest episodes and, of course, our back catalogue of weekly shows. Our shows are also available on popular audio podcast platforms. If you like what you see, please give us a thumbs up, subscribe to The Camera Life, and click on the bell icon to receive notifications of upcoming shows. We host two shows weekly, the first being every Thursday at 9am AEDT (Australia), where we interview amazing guests. The second show, The Random Photography Show, airs every Monday at 7:30 pm AEDT. The Random Photography show is a little random, a little loose, and a lot of fun! Be sure to check them out.
Find Harriet Online:
Website:
Instagram:
When Harri Met Sally Podcast
- Youtube: When Harri Met Sally Podcast
- Instagram: @whenharrimetsally_podcast
