Kelly Asmus Albornoz is the sole trader of Albatross Photography and Design.
She is a mother of two healthy kids and an angel.
“Albatross Photography and Design was created in 2010 so that I could be a stay-at-home mum with a side income once I had children,” Kelly said.
“I started the business before falling pregnant and it was slowly growing. Then I found out I was pregnant and we were over the moon with happiness, everything was going to plan, until it wasn’t.
“My first child, a little boy, was stillborn in October 2011 and my heart broke. I dropped the camera and my business, my heart just wasn’t in it anymore.
“I was lucky enough to have two more very healthy children in 2013 and 2015 and they helped to heal my heart. Then in 2016 I met an amazing photography mentor who encouraged me to start again.
“I relaunched my business in February 2017 as a way to empower women with glamour-style portrait photography. It has been a wonderful journey. In this time, I’ve also learned many different skills, including creating photographic artworks and I’ve made many for local children of all abilities. I created projects and received grants allowing me to gift artworks to children with special needs, and a project last year for GEGAC Kinder Kids.
“Earlier this year, February 2024, I moved from my tiny 18 square metre studio behind my home to a big 200 square metre studio space in Bairnsdale’s CBD. The beautiful light-filled studio space is perfect for natural light portraits and I also have studio lights for other photography styles too.”
Kelly’s story of resilience and growth stems a lot further back than 2011. She faced a difficult upbringing with a father who was a pedophile, as well as dealing with domestic violence relationships, depression and anxiety.
“Why am I so passionate about empowering women? I have been at rock bottom multiple times in my life and I found my way back,” she said.
“I was fortunate enough to have positive support and role models around me. With every person who feels better about themselves after being in front of my camera, my cup is filled. I feel like I’m useful, which is probably a weird thing to say, but it makes me feel like I’m making a positive difference in this often negative world that we live in now.
“Another woman described me as inspiring and it brought tears to my eyes. A business mentor once said to me that if I have a gift and you choose not to use it then you’re being selfish. It hurt. I saw his point though. I can see that have a gift with a camera and I use that gift to build others up. I can create anything with Photoshop, and I use it to empower others.
“I’ve also started capturing pet portraits, mostly dogs so far, and can create artworks of them too. I’ve even created artworks for kids and pets from other places using photos emailed to me. Just like the Albatross in my logo, the sky is the limit.”
Kelly has been vulnerable many times in her life, but now it is her clientele who face that vulnerability on the other side of the camera. She said it can be difficult at first for her clients, but it’s remarkably rewarding. The hardest part is often just making the decision to book in.
“The person in front of my camera feels like they’re in a vulnerable position and they are trusting me, it’s not something I take lightly,” she said.
“I have two very strict rules in the studio: “Your body, your rules”; and “Your child, your rules”.
“No photos will be shared without consent and if you change your mind and ask me to remove them from the internet, it will be done straight away.
“Your photoshoot is all about you and is within your comfort zone. This is especially important when I am shooting boudoir and glamour. I’d never ask anyone to do anything they’re not comfortable with although we may expand their comfort zone while they’re in the studio.”
Empowering women is at the forefront of Kelly’s mind and that is why this Mother’s Day she is offering a giant Mother’s Day competition.
“You can win an all-inclusive Freedom To Shine Experience with Albatross Photography and Design valued at over $2000. And when I say all inclusive, I mean that one lucky mumma bear will win professional hair and make-up, the photoshoot, the final 25 photos printed, matted and delivered in a beautiful glass top portrait box, plus the digital copies of their photos,” Kelly said.
“Everything is included. To enter, all you have to do is contact me with your name, email address and the phone number that you would like me to ring on Mothers’ Day if you’re the winner. I’d love to know a bit about you too.
“The winner is drawn randomly during a Facebook Live by one of my family members on Mothers’ Day morning and I will ring you to let you know if you’re the lucky winner.
“The only catch is, you must enter yourself into the draw. I want you all to know that you’re all deserving of winning this amazing prize. We all have our own stories of adversity and triumphs and times that parenthood has kicked our butts. Plus, I need to know that the winner actually wants to win the prize. So self-nominations only.
“You all deserve to win.”
Kelly is a volunteer committee member and volunteer photographer for EmpowHer East Gippsland who run regular seminars and workshops around East Gippsland with the aim of empowering women.
