Seeking Inspiration: Michelle Dupont

This piece is part of a series of posts on JustB about women who inspire, motivate and challenge us. 
These posts are supported by Seek Learning.

image source: Michelle Dupont

From the very first moment I ‘met’ Michelle on flickr I was hooked. Each time a new image of her kids appeared in her feed I fell more and more in love with them and with their clever mum on the click. The more I saw, the more I wanted to see. Her images buried themselves in my heart and mind. With each new update I became more and more certain that I wanted to take pictures too.

My favourite inspiring lady: Michelle Dupont
Her work: Photography
Where she lives: Michelle lives in Tasmania on the North West coast
The quality I love most about this person: Her willingness to back herself
Notable achievements: Michelle is an AIPP award winning photographer, successful business woman and busy wife and mother.
Something good that she’s said: Michelle took a series of images entitled ‘no words‘ which I think speak volumes about her.
My takeaway from Michelle: Trust yourself, back yourself, be brave.

image source: Michelle Dupont

I’m a completely different beast to Michelle. She trusts herself, her heart, her intuition and I think this is evident in every one of her images. I trusted nothing and enrolled myself in a photography course. I devoted myself to the image making, obsessively at times. At one point last year I kicked the smallest out of her bedroom for two weeks. I completely dismantled her room, installed a fake floor and turned the bedroom into a pink nursery. Then, I waited … for just the right light and, I waited … for my model to be available and, when said light was right … I clicked.

I’ve spent the last 2 years developing a folio of work. I took a leaf out of Michelle’s book last year and made a leap of faith. I trusted myself, my heart and my intuition. I put myself on the line and set a dream free. I’ve been well rewarded. I’ll be studying fine art photography this year and it all started with a girl on the click in Tassie. Someone like me and someone very different too.

image source: Michelle Dupont

As I’ve watched Michelle develop as an artist and photographer I feel inspired all over again. Michelle runs a successful photography business and in my humble opinion is one of the very best wedding photographers in the country. Michelle’s style is distinctive and her images are absolutely full of heart, considered and always beautiful. Her willingness to back herself and make a go of things is what I find most inspiring. Michelle knows where she wants to go, how to get there and she makes it happen. I’m great at talking the ‘have a crack’ talk but not always so good at walking the walk. I love to be acquainted with walkers. She’s a walker.

I write a lot of stuff down in full to overflowing notebooks and late last year I made a note that said…

“I want to surround myself with women – artists, makers, writers, poets and photographers”

Then I listed rather a lot of women who I admire. Women who make me think, women who are walking just like Michelle.  Here are just a few of the names that appeared on that list…

Erin Loechner
Nanette Louchart-Fletcher
Gemma Jones
Pip Lincolne
Heather Nette King

This quote appears alongside that list of names…

“You become like the five people you spend the most time with. Choose Carefully.”

I think I’m in safe hands.

Connect with Michelle.
Michelle’s Blog
Michelle’s Facebook Page

Do you choose to surround yourself with strong inspiring women? Where do you look for inspiration to be a better version of yourself?

Comment below, Instagram, pin or tweet with the #SeekInspiration tag so we can all gather some EXTRA life inspiration.