Christchurch creative Stacey Weaver never dreamed she’d make a living from photography, but her blossoming homeware business is proof that talent plus hard work can yield wonders
How did you get interested in photography? What made you decide to pursue it for a living?
Stacey: I was about 14 when I first became interested in photography. I started using my parents’ point-and-shoot 35mm camera to photograph our pets and Mum’s impressive garden. I majored in photography during my fine arts degree at Canterbury University and later chased fashion photography jobs overseas, managing to land a couple of gigs shooting for Melbourne Spring Fashion week. But pursuing it full time seemed like an unattainable dream. Back home in Christchurch I freelanced while working in sales and marketing roles until Just South West was born as a “project” for a creative outlet four years ago. I started selling a few prints to my first stockist, A&C Homestore, in 2016. The “project” continued to blossom and is now my full-time focus.
What drew you to photographing flowers?
I have always been drawn to still life but not to flowers specifically until the start of 2015 when I photographed a peony stem which seemed to have dried into a perfect petal sculpture. I wanted to shoot it and enlarge as big as I could to focus on all the intricate areas of natural deterioration. Luckily a friend of mine worked at a local printer and allowed me to experiment! My love affair with decaying blooms began that day and I think my mother’s passion for flowers has subconsciously seeped its way into my lifestyle and interests today.
How did you develop your style?
This story is from the June 2019 edition of Your Home and Garden.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2019 edition of Your Home and Garden.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
GET MERRY
Everyone will go crackers about these festive dinner favourites and the delicious trimmings
A brief history of...The Lips sofa
How to straighten up and free yourself from negative behaviour patterns
BREAKING BAD HABITS
How to straighten up and free yourself from negative behaviour patterns
MOMENTS of JOY
Sue Pat's whimsical stationery cleverly captures the wonders of Christmas
GIFTS of the EARTH
An excerpt from garden and interior designer Michael Mansvelt's longawaited book Everyday Opulence
All WHITE NOW
A fresh, coastal take on the classic white Christmas starts with a backdrop of relaxed vintage style. On top, layer shades of white from rich cream to crisp snow, offset by foraged shells and coastal flora also spray painted in white, then worked into wreaths and other essential festive decor elements.
COASTAL CHRISTMAS
A writer is all about enjoying a cruisy, coastal celebration with family and friends
Happy place
A shed on the garden's edge became healing renovation project
ALL IS BRIGHT
Colour is key in Kip&Co co-founder Alex McCabe's vibrant home over the holidays
BOLD & ECLECTIC
In an excerpt from The Makers, writer Pandora Sykes' home is a cosy and chic statement in fearlessness with colour and patterns