A photographer whose journey began unexpectedly and evolved instinctively, she has shaped both her career and her home with intention, warmth and quiet confidence.
We sat down with Kat Parker to talk about creativity, conscious design, slow living and the pieces that become part of everyday family life — including the rug that now anchors it all.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and the journey that led you to photography?

I came into photography almost by accident. I was working in account management at an advertising agency - think spreadsheets, budgets and timelines - when the Creative Director noticed I kept leaning into creative brainstorms and showing a real curiosity about everything the creative team were doing. Instagram was just launching and he started asking me to shoot small projects around the office for our client accounts. Then one day, he made a comment that I had a really good eye for photography. I had never heard that before. I’d spent years studying business and marketing and always assumed that was the path for me, but suddenly, I couldn’t stop thinking about his comment.

Around that same time, I went on a surf trip to Indonesia with my partner who, at the time, worked in motion at a production agency. On that trip we ended up shooting a few personal projects and realised we could combine our skills and work together. When we got home, I resigned and went back to uni to study Photography. It felt equal parts terrifying and instinctively right. During my studies, I shot anything and everything I could and learned so much from some incredible mentors in the industry. I also posted my work to Instagram - which was relatively new at the time - then brands started reaching out to me to shoot content for them. 

Then straight out of my uni course, I was thrown into a five-day commercial shoot that ended up being plastered on billboards and buses all around Sydney and from there, the work snowballed.

| Featuring our Bhakti in Brown Butter

How would you describe your photographic style, and what inspires the way you see and capture spaces, people, and light?

My style kind of depends on what I’m shooting. Overall, I’d describe it as minimal and considered. I’m always drawn to clean lines, texture and symmetry in a photo. The thing that I love to capture the most is people in their creative space doing their thing, especially when there’s beautiful natural light to work with. As the years go by, I can feel my style evolving and my perspective changing. I’m leaning more into moments that feel lived-in and soaked in colour and warmth. I’m still drawn to simplicity, but I’m more interested in capturing the feeling of a space or a moment.


| Featuring our Bhakti in Brown Butter & Solana Stripe Cushion in Mustard

Sustainability and ethics are values shared by both you and Rugs for Good. How important is it for you to choose conscious, long-lasting or thoughtfully made pieces when styling your home or studio?

It’s really important to me. There’s something special about creating your first family home. We worked closely with our architect to design a home that truly suits our family and the way we live, so it felt natural that the pieces we brought in needed to be just as considered. I naturally lean towards minimal spaces. When a home feels intentional and uncluttered, there’s a calmness to it. Choosing those pieces is actually the hardest part, I don’t like filling a space for the sake of it. I’m drawn to fewer, more thoughtful objects, things that are made well and have a purpose or a story behind them. I feel like I’m just getting started with collecting pieces for our home, and that feels really exciting.

In terms of long-lasting pieces, along the way my partner and I have repurposed materials for some of the final joinery. Timber and offcuts from other projects have found new life in our home. For example, the bookshelf in our living room was once a desk he built for our previous house. I love that kind of evolution, pieces that carry a story and have been reimagined rather than replaced. That bookshelf will now be part of our home for many years to come. 

Does your creative work influence the way you design or live within your own spaces?

Absolutely. I think my creative work and my home life feed into each other. As a photographer, I’m always noticing light, texture, and how things sit within a space, and that naturally influences the way I design and arrange my home. I’m drawn to simplicity and keeping things uncluttered. Living in a space that feels considered helps me think clearly and creatively. I like to create an environment that supports how we live, work and connect as a family. 

| Featuring our Bhakti in Brown Butter

When you’re shooting or welcoming clients into your space, how do you like to set the mood or energy?

When clients come into our space for a shoot, I’m really mindful of the energy. I like it to feel calm, clean and filled with natural light. I’ll put on a relaxed but uplifting playlist, light a candle with an earthy scent, and often forage branches from our native garden to place in vases. Those small touches help the space feel grounded and welcoming and we always have coffee brewing as well. More than anything, I want people to feel at ease as soon as they walk in. Not like they’re stepping into something precious or untouchable, but somewhere they can settle into and feel at home and can work comfortably.


| Featuring our Bhakti in Brown Butter & Solana Stripe Cushion in Mustard

Do you feel a connection between interiors, creativity, and the way people feel within a space?

Absolutely. The way a space is designed and styled has a huge impact on how people feel and how creativity flows. When a room is uncluttered, filled with light and every detail has been considered, it naturally opens up space for inspiration. You notice it in everyday experiences too. For example, going for a massage in a thoughtfully designed space - the architecture, the lighting, textures and scents - feels completely different to a place where nothing has been considered. Thoughtful interiors inspire me and open up my creativity and they just leave you feeling so good - well it does for me anyway.

What does slow or intentional living look like for you in your day-to-day life?

Our work life is often pretty chaotic - there’s a lot of travel and no two weeks look the same. For us, it’s about knowing when to slow down and enjoy the small things as a family. These things are - sharing nourishing meals with friends (some of it grown in our own garden). Long mornings at the beach watching the kids catch waves and being fully present with each other. We also carve out time, wherever we can, to surf or move our bodies during the week when the kids are at school. It’s these simple things that help us slow down and remind us what’s truly important.

| Featuring our Bhakti in Brown Butter & Solana Stripe Cushion in Mustard

Do you have any grounding rituals or simple moments that help you reset or feel creatively nourished at home?

I often get up before my kids and start the day with a glass of water and a 20-minute stretch. Followed by a coffee in peace and quiet. It really helps me feel grounded and sets a positive tone for the day. Another simple thing that resets me - and fuels my creativity - is surfing. Honestly, it’s a non-negotiable for me, if I don’t get in the ocean, I turn into a bit of a crazy lady. Those moments in the ocean ripple through every part of my life, from being present with my kids to bringing focus and creativity into my work. I’ve also recently found strength training and this too has become such an important ritual for me as well. The strength training has absolutely changed my life!

Are there any local brands, creatives, or makers you love to support? 

Oh gosh, there are so many brands, creatives and makers in the Northern Rivers area that I love. These are some of my favourites:

East Coast General in Bangalow is hands down one of my favourite retail stores in the area. 

Soft Edge Studio, Jedda Clay and Jen Johnstone for ceramics and homewares. 

Bacteria Books for books and other great things. 

Luen Flowers is an amazing local florist that can be found at The Bangalow Farmers Markets. 

There are way too many to list. We live in a pretty special place! 


| Featuring our Bhakti in Brown Butter

Which Rugs for Good pieces are your favourites, and what do you love most about them in your space?

I have the Bhakti Abrash rug in Brown Butter, and I absolutely love it. It’s brought so much warmth into our living space - both visually and in the way it feels underfoot. The quality is amazing! What I love most, though, is how it’s become part of our everyday life. As soon as we put it down, the kids claimed it. It’s where they build Lego, read books, stretch out to watch movies and where we all tend to hang out together before bed. It’s not just a beautiful piece, it’s actually become part of how we live and use our living room.

You can follow Kat’s journey and explore more of her beautiful work on Instagram here, or visit her website here. Architecture by Sona Studio

Shop the Edit- 

1. Bhakti Abrash Wool Blend Rug in Brown Butter by Rugs for Good. 2. Solana Striped Cushion in Mustard by Rugs for Good. 3. Body and Hand Wash by Sans Ceuticals. 4. Lume Ceramic Wall Light in Olive by Ochre & Silk. 5. Surf Shacks