TINKERING WITH
Imagination
By Erica Louise Photos Gary Sissons and Kelly McDonald
F
rankston based storyteller and award-winning photographer Kelly McDonald has the magical ability to transform mortals into mythical beings, with a wave or two of her digital fairy wand.
A former kindergarten teacher, performance artist and a published author, Kelly started Garden Babies Fairy Art in 2013 and her work is now widely recognised. Garden Babies Fine Fairy Art and Photography is a magical studio in Seaford. Kelly welcomes families into her carefully curated space to capture unposed images using her own uniquely designed backdrops and sets. Although the real magic begins after the photography session when Kelly sprinkles her fine art fairy dust onto her clients’ selected images using digital software. This magical process transports people into fantasy scenes, where they become fairies, mermaids, dragon trainers, vintage paintings and unicorn riders.
E ssence
42 | PENINSULA
December 2019
Kelly’s unique art is self-taught. She came up with the concept when her children were little. “I had this idea. I wanted to mix my playful style of kinder teaching with my art and love of fairies and magic,” says Kelly. “But I also wanted a job that would fit around my primary role as a mother of two.” While overseas, Kelly taught herself the digital skills needed to craft her work. She then gave herself a few months, painting a backdrop and collecting props. Fast forward six years and Kelly has moved to a studio away from of home and earned multiple accolades for her work. Her most recent success was at the 2019 Style Pose Click Melbourne Event where she was awarded the Winner for Creativity in the “Find a Photographer Awards.” continued next page...