Michelle McFarlane
Lead Photographer & Founder of MMP studio
Melbourne, Australia
Bachelor degree in Applied Science in Photography
(RMIT, 2001)
With over two decades of experience, Michelle McFarlane is a specialist in medical imagery, known for her sensitivity and skill. She combines clinical expertise and artistic vision to capture compelling visual stories in healthcare settings. Michelle's work at the Skin Health Institute, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Alfred Health, and Monash University shows her ability to document everything from complex surgeries to compassionate patient interactions with technical precision and emotional depth.
Michelle's friendly, adaptable approach puts clients at ease, allowing her to capture genuine moments that resonate with authenticity. Passionate about innovative techniques and seamless project management, she ensures a smooth, efficient process for her clients. Whether candid workplace shots or directed portraits, Michelle’s photography honours the human experience in healthcare.
Michelle is dedicated to pushing creative boundaries while maintaining the highest standards of quality and professionalism, making her the ideal photographer for healthcare organisations looking to elevate their visual storytelling.
FAQs
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A: My training began with a science degree in traditional film photography. I transitioned to digital photography while working at Museum Victoria's production studio. My medical photography education started at the Skin Health Institute, followed by clinical experience at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. I further developed my visual storytelling skills in Monash research labs. Finally, I honed my expertise shooting on the frontline for Alfred Hospital.
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A: I prioritise patient dignity and comfort above all. Before the camera comes out, I take time for a quick chat with my subjects to check in with them. During shoots, I focus on capturing unscripted, genuine moments. My style blends professional guidance with an unobtrusive presence, allowing authentic scenes to unfold naturally. The goal is to create emotive imagery that honours the human experience in healthcare settings.
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A: I pride myself on making things easy for my clients. From initial contact to project completion, I ensure a smooth process with prompt communication, allowing clients to schedule their side of the shoot effectively. Understanding that I'm often photographing people who aren't used to being in front of the camera, I make it a collaborative experience. My goal is to keep the session quick, easy, and comfortable for everyone involved.
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A: I'm constantly exploring new photographic techniques and technologies, often incorporating these innovations into my work. This blend of traditional expertise and cutting-edge approaches allows me to create unique, impactful images that tell compelling stories. I believe in pushing the boundaries of what's possible in photography while maintaining the highest standards of quality.
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A: My goal is to secure engagements with clients who appreciate my approach to pushing creative boundaries while maintaining the highest standards of quality and professionalism. I aim to work with those who value innovative, emotive imagery that captures the essence of their healthcare environment or story.
Personal
Insights
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A camera-wielding empath with an uncanny ability to find beauty in the most sterile environments. They'd say I'm part artist, part medical detective - always on the hunt for that perfect shot that captures both the science and soul of healthcare.
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You'll find me chasing outdoor adventures or experimenting with innovative photo projects. I showcase my self-produced art in solo exhibitions and love collaborating with fellow artists and scientists. Above all, I'm a people person at heart – always eager to strike up conversations with strangers and forge new connections.
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"Any Ordinary Day" by Leigh Sales. It reinforced how people's lives can change in a second. This resonates deeply with my work, where I often witness people on the best or worst days of their lives. Sometimes I capture these pivotal moments, but I don't always find out what happened to people afterwards. It's a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of the moments I capture and the importance of treating each interaction with empathy and respect.
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Patacones, a Colombian dish made of deep-fried green plantain that I learned to cook while traveling in South America.
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"Listen more than you speak." It's served me well both in photography and in life.
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A microbiologist. My fascination with the unseen world translates into my personal work, photographing food mould under the microscope for my series, Mouldelicious.
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Working on crew for Bambuco, an Australian company that used rock climbers to build large-scale bamboo structures for international art festivals.
Sometimes you need more than a photographer.
That idea that has been bouncing around in your head has been waiting for the right time, some funding, and the perfect team to pull it off. It takes a special kind of person to pursue a dream in a low-budget environment but that is often what it takes to attract the interest of professionals in their field who are looking for a challenge. Michelle loves to be crew on these kinds of projects; the hands-on as well as documenting the process and providing promotional material for proposals and acquittals.
Community
Footpath Gallery
The Footpath Gallery is a participatory art project with Sacred Heart Mission, that transforms personal messages into pieces of artwork that are pasted directly onto a wall on Grey St in the heart of St Kilda, Melbourne.
Regional Workshops
In a small town called Rubyvale up in the Gemfields region of Central Queensland, I work with Sapphires by running D.I.Y. Beer Can Studio workshops at the pub and teach residents fossickers new, no-budget, inventive ways to photograph their gems.