Connection through collaboration.
Written and Photographed by Emma Cross (Emma Jane Industry)
Photograph: Emma Jane Industry
EMMA Cross, professionally known as Emma Jane Industry, is a talented rural photographer specialising in wedding photography, along with farming and corporate work. Emma was a key contributor for Rural Women’s Day’s inaugural event, on October 15, 2019. A year on, Emma reflected on her involvement in the not-for-profit and how it has expanded her community.
I REACHED out to Jackie Elliott in the beginning of Rural Women’s Day, not knowing who was actually behind the scenes and creating this new event being held in Dunkeld.
We got on the phone right away to discuss ideas, and I offered my photography services as a prize or donation to the event.
Another rural creative, Sophie Murfitt (Sophie Murfitt Design) was also in contact with Jackie, and had the same idea. Being a ‘graphic designer’, Sophie would provide a brand-new logo design, and myself being a photographer, would provide a photoshoot for the idea of a ‘Rural Business Start-Up’ giveaway.
In preparation for the event, the ultimate giveaway of RWD was being shared all over social media. It was the year of 2019, where relationships mostly started from social media, right?
I had many pages reach out to me on Instagram, including one called Mary & Louise, helmed by Tess Caldow, who said she would love to win the prize. Tess makes handmade ankle biters (sock savers) – but not just your plain, old green and brown pairs; these were colourful and gorgeous designs with a story behind each collection. If you haven’t heard of these before, these will save your life from grass seeds, burrs and dust!
After a quick Instagram stalk, I remember thinking, ‘wow, this business would be so much fun to photograph’.
As chance would have it, the prize winner was announced, and Tess from Mary & Louise was the winner. Tess and I started chatting endlessly on ideas and spots on the farm in Edenhope, Victoria, about where we could take photos.
We ended up meeting the night before the RWD event, at a small cocktail party that Jackie had arranged for all of the creatives who had donated prizes for the RWD event. Tess and I started chatting like it had been years between seeing each other. We got along like a house on fire and from there, a new friendship blossomed.
As I pulled into the drive at Tess’ property in the West Wimmera, it was a classic Australian summer's day.
I was greeted by a few four-legged friends that belonged to Tess and dear friend Mollie, who helped out modelling for the afternoon. We started ‘gasbagging’ and chatting, as it had been a couple of months between catch ups. Time was getting by before we thought, ‘Oh yes, the photoshoot ha-ha!’
We packed the ute and carried on to a few locations around the farm (along with a few favourite pets of course – Connie, Jo, Bessie and Meg). The shoot was great fun. A lot of laughs, a few dress changes to tie in with Tess’ new Canning Collection ankle biters – and not to mention a beer or two along the way! The joys of the farming lifestyle.
As we awaited the golden hour, my favourite time of the day for any shoot, we headed back to the house. We shared many more stories before talking about how great it was to finally meet at the RWD event in Dunkeld.
For the last few shots, we ventured out to the back paddock amongst the long, dry grass, surrounded by Tess’ Angus cattle and her favourite wing women. The sound of summer surrounded us; saccades, crickets and cattle in the background.
We had set up a gorgeous old table with an iconic singer sewing machine. The sun was setting, and we just had to get the cattle in the background for the final shot. Tess, all dressed up in her gorgeous attire (white shirt and skirt from Greenwood Designs) was trudging across the paddock rounding up the cows, as I stood back and wasn’t helping at all – chuckles! – I was ready with the camera to grab those real-life shots. (A bit of a laugh, as I know many rural women would know what it's like being dressed up for an event and finding the cattle or sheep out whilst driving down the driveway.)
As for the cattle, I think we got a few of them to correspond in the end! Either way, we were so fortunate for the day, the lighting, and the incredible location of Tess’ farm.
It was a perfect opportunity to get to know another local creative in the area and I was incredibly grateful to have met such a gorgeous lady like Tess. Her worth ethic is a key feature. A farm manager by day, and a creative by the evening, as she sits down at her sewing machine to work on her gorgeous business.
