Bronwyn Kidd is an international award-winning fashion, portrait and art photographer. Ensconced in her idyllic mid-century modern home amongst the gum trees in Frankston South, she envisions concepts for a photograph or photographic series from scratch. Once she has the concept in mind, she gathers the best creative collaborators to bring her vision to life.
A portrait of her friend, Polly Borland, a world-renowned photographer/artist, won the prestigious Martin Kantor Portrait Prize at the 2025 Ballarat International Foto Biennale. The judges loved Bronwyn’s sophisticated composition that utilized analogue and digital techniques to dramatic effect.
Over her long career, Bronwyn has created and photographed campaigns for major advertising brands and captured iconic portraits of famous people in fashion, film, television, theatre, arts, sports, human rights and politics. She’s also been commissioned for projects by the National Gallery of Victoria, City of Melbourne and Bendigo Art Gallery. Her proudest achievement, so far, is having five of her portraits in London’s National Portrait Gallery.
While Bronwyn enjoys the technical aspects of photography, it’s imagining concepts for shoots that really captivates her. To create an image or series from an empty studio space is a real thrill. She invests a great deal of time and effort in research and experimentation to see if her ideas can translate into images.
From the time Bronwyn starting experimenting with photography in high school, she was hooked. Her mother, a painter and cake decorator, loved the glamour icons of American black and white cinema. That style struck a chord with Bronwyn. It’s influenced much of her work. Her father, a butcher, was also interested in photography. He always had a camera handy and let Bronwyn borrow it.
Growing up in the arty enclave of Eltham provided lots of inspiration. Bronwyn took her very first pictures at nearby artists’ community, Montsalvat. Then, she started going to music gigs to photograph bands. She’d return to school to process the images with her Year 11 teacher and mentor, James McArdle. Her first camera was a 35mm Pentax ME Super SLR and it got plenty of use.
Bronwyn went to study Photography at RMIT, but rigour didn’t suit her. She left after a year to apprentice with a young photographer, Andrew Vukosav. She was happy to work for free just to learn the ins and outs of the photography business.
Then she met up with a peer from RMIT who worked at Vanbar Imaging, a film shop. He introduced Bronwyn to Andrew, who lived upstairs. He was like a mad scientist mentor experimenting with images until 3am. He invited Bronwyn to go to Paris and it was a game changer. When the assignment with Andrew was finished, she took off to travel around Europe.
After returning to Melbourne, she found London was calling, so she moved there for a year, which turned into twelve. Bronwyn always loved the look of English photography. The work of Cecil Beaton, Norma Parkinson, John French and David Bailey really appeals to her.
I’d have to tell a story in caught moments. I could say something with a collection of images like writing a song or a poem
Bronwyn chose fashion photography for its storytelling aspect. “It was like grabs of cinema. Over ten to twelves images, I’d have to tell a story in caught moments. I could say something with a collection of images like writing a song or a poem,” she says.
“In the days of analogue fashion or portrait photography, as the photographer, I was also the director controlling all of the elements. It’s was thrilling because it was all down to me. I cope best on a big production with a lot of pressure – living on adrenaline. I love the lights, camera, action!” she says.
Bronwyn was just 23 when she was in charge of photographing epic fashion collections. She was photographer to Hardy Amies of Saville Row who created fashions for Queen Elizabeth. London was where life started to make sense to Bronwyn.
“Everything has a reason in England. It created an understanding of history and where I come from. I love the depth of pride people put into doing things properly. I was given time to create thoughtfully. I was respected as an artist,” she says.
Back in Melbourne, Bronwyn embarked on a new chapter. She has worked consistently. In fact, she’s never done any other kind of work. “It’s a privilege to be an artist and creator. I’m grateful to be able to do it. If I hadn’t found the camera, I’d have a lot locked inside me. Finding photography taught me my skill set.”
“I want my work to be timeless. There is a sincerity in all of my pictures. I have to feel a connection with every photo I choose to present. I have always chosen the right one,” she says. While new to the art photography scene, her ethos is the same. Bronwyn wants people to feel what she feels in her images. She hopes they will feel joy.
Her dream project, the one she is starting now, revolves around a series of remarkable female artists. She wants to show their presence, ability, strength and talent. (There should be a self-portrait in it.) She’s also just started teaching at RMIT paying forward her skill set and sharing wonderful stories from a rich career.