Inspired By You: Marley Morgan

Forever inspired by the incredible women who wear our pieces, we want them to feel unique, powerful and use their clothing as an outlet to express their truest selves.

An early advocate of Rooh Collective, we sat down with Marley Morgan, the face behind Barefoot Wandering Photography, and spoke to her about her work, passion and how she practices a sustainable lifestyle.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do for work?

My name is Marley Morgan and I am the face behind Barefoot Wandering Photography. I am a proud Gamilaraay, Yuwaalaraay and Wiradjuri woman who currently lives on Gumbaynggirr country.

Tell us about your home town and where you grew up?

I grew up in North Western, NSW. I spent most of my upbringing in Lightning Ridge. Lightning Ridge is a beautiful multicultural town I feel very privileged to have grown up in. I visit whenever I can.

We love that your photography empowers Aboriginal people and women, can you name a few who have inspired you growing up?

I am inspired by the photographers who led the way before me such as Wayne Quilliam, Barbara Mcgrady and Michael Jalaru. 

Talk us through your photography style and what you try to encapsulate through your images?

My vision is to show how beautiful my culture is. During my experience as a model, I noticed a lack of representation and pay gaps for Aboriginal people within the industry. Through my photography I aim to showcase the beauty of our people to a wider audience and generate fair and equal income for aspiring models, fellow photographers, and other Aboriginal people in the creative space.

I also aim to uplift & empower our Aboriginal people through photoshoots by instilling confidence and presence of mind during our time together, in the hope this shines through in the end product. During my sessions I have a unique opportunity to share culture with mob from all over, a sharing in the truest sense of the word. Sharing Aboriginal culture has always been a reciprocal accord. I feel this archetype reciprocation is the determinate line between appreciation and exploitation. It is an immense privilege to be entrusted to hear and tell stories and songs and witness traditional practices and I can never describe the feelings I get to be surrounded by grounded people strong in culture. Using photography as a medium to document these moments, I hope to capture those feelings through my images and share those with my audience. 

 

Tell us a little about your journey in becoming a mother yourself and how have you embraced motherhood?

I am a mother of 3 beautiful boys. Hunter, Elijah and Luca. As I have grown in my business and as a mother there has been a shift in what I prioritise. My 3 boys are my favourite muses and inspire me to do better and be better.

How do you practice sustainability in your day to day life?

I have made it a goal to only purchase and support brands and designers that have sustainable and conscious clothing. Fast fashion is one of the biggest polluters on the planet. My biggest advice is for people to be more conscious and research the businesses they buy from.

Marley is wearing the Maeve in Mustard and her beautiful model Alinta is wearing the same and our Hana in Cinnamon.

Visit Marley's Barefoot Wandering Photography website or follow her on Instagram @barefootwandering.photography, and follow Alinta here @alinta.carberry.