Welcome to
my greatest photographic passions

Photographer, Victoria McKay

Welcome to my greatest photographic passions

I fell in love with photography at eight years old when I received my first camera for Christmas, a Kodak Instamatic 33. I held onto that old thing until I was in my twenties, back when waiting for photos to come back from developing felt like an eternity.

Eventually, I graduated to an SLR, spending years capturing weddings, portraits, and children, while also getting published in sports magazines and newspapers. Moving into the digital era brought an exciting sense of freedom. Weddings became my ultimate passion, and witnessing a bride’s portraits always felt like a unique privilege.

That deep connection is what ultimately drew me to portraiture and the realization that beauty isn't reserved only for brides. Every woman, without exception, is beautiful. Many have simply forgotten it, or have never been shown. Women carry fears and deep stories, yet they share a profound desire to capture at least one photograph they can proudly pass down through generations. I understand this deeply because I feel the exact same way.

For me, photography and art have always been about much more than just running a business. My dedication to the craft found a meaningful purpose through "Christmas Wish"—a project by The Heart Project, founded by Karen Alsop. As a Co-Director, I was incredibly proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its inception in 2026. Together, our teams visit children’s hospitals and hospices across Australia and around the globe. We photograph children against a green screen, and an amazing team of international editors uses Photoshop to transform those images into magical, custom scenes tailored to each child’s passions. Sponsored by Spicers Paper and supported by Nikon Australia, Adobe and Kayell, the project comes at absolutely no cost to the families or hospitals. They are simply left with beautiful memories and a hard copy of their images.

With several decades of experience across the photographic spectrum, I have also had the privilege of stepping into the role of an industry judge. I have served as a judge for the Australian Photographic Prize from 2023, and for the International Maternity Photography Awards in 2026. Spending time sharing my knowledge and encouraging up-and-coming photographers—while standing in absolute awe of the masters—has been an incredible honour, a wonderful learning curve, and a fantastic boost to my own skills.

Then came Mordançage. I fell hopelessly in love with this classic, alternative process—its shifting veils, its unpredictable chemistry, and the immense patience it takes to create a completely unique image every single time, even from the same original photograph. Female portraits lend themselves beautifully to this medium, creating a magical link between the subject and the process.

Having been taught directly by Elizabeth Opalenik—herself a student of Jean-Pierre Sudre, who perfected the process—I have been given her blessing to take the baton and run with it here in Australia. My mission is to inspire as many people as possible so this breathtaking art form isn’t lost.

Come and learn this beautiful art with me, and help preserve the process for generations to come