BTS: Portrait Pop-Up, Melbourne, Take Two

Photo Credit: Kieran Morrissey

Wrapping up our fourth portrait shoot for MADE IN KIN’s Creative Directory feels like a genuine milestone – our first cohort of creatives, now sitting just shy of 50 people.

Together, our growing collective includes writers and poets, photographers and directors, artists and illustrators, graphic and web designers, creative directors and strategists, interior and object designers, culinary creatives and permaculture gardeners, presenters and interviewers, cultural advocates and community organisers.

For our second Melbourne session, photographer John Michael Tubera – better known as JM – stepped behind the lens. Warm, confident and deeply connected within Australia’s creative scene, JM and I, both fellow Filipinos, tackled a full day of portraits while squeezing in plenty of industry chismis (gossip) between frames.

One by one, 16 creatives stepped in front of the camera, each bringing undeniable talent into the room.

John Michael Tubera
Photographer

While organising shoots across Melbourne and Sydney, I kept hearing the same thing from fellow creatives – “You should shoot with JM.” Endlessly talented and well connected, JM was rarely more than one degree of separation from the people stepping in front of his lens – equally natural behind the camera as he is in front of it.

Panashe Mugayapi
Creative Director • Photographer

Panashe – or Nash to friends – was one of our first sessions of the day, stepping in front of the camera before dashing off to another shoot in his natural habitat behind the lens. His double denim moment popped beautifully on screen. After admiring his work online for some time, meeting Nash in person was a real delight.

Pauline Morrissey
Writer • Founder of MADE IN KIN

I was never going to pass up the chance to be photographed by JM. Beyond admiring his work, there was something special about being captured by another Filipino creative – someone who instinctively understands parts of you without needing explanation. Despite my usual nerves, JM immediately put me at ease.

Samantha Chua
Multidisciplinary Designer

When Samantha first stepped in front of the camera, she asked, “Should I wear this?” pointing to a scarf adorned with traditional Malaysian print. The room answered with an immediate and resounding “yes”, and she wore it proudly across her heart. It’s always so special when creatives arrive carrying little pieces of their heritage with them.

Jem Juthamat
Founder & Creative Director of Dosse Studio

After meeting Jem at our Melbourne Launch Lunch, where we quickly slipped into heartfelt conversation, I’ve felt a real kinship with her. Since then, she’s continuously shown up for MADE IN KIN – engaging with social posts and offering support for future events. Watching her have her moment in the spotlight felt like cheering on a sister.

Kaede James Takamoto
Photographer

There was an immediate ease between Kaede and JM, the kind that comes from fellow photographers already knowing one another. After her session, Kaede offered to reverse roles and photograph JM herself. Beyond photography, she also helps foster Congee Club – a queer Asian community I hope to spotlight on MIK soon.

Niyanta Sharma & Wesley Hauler
Co-Founders of Playte

As a creative duo, Niyanta and Wesley arrived with a playful energy. Friendly debates unfolded around who should stand and who should sit, before both ended up laughing on the studio floor. During our chat, Wesley shared how they were once housemates, exchanging cultural food knowledge and sculptural design ideas – and thus, Playte was born.

Matisse Laida
Food Creative • Host • Speaker

Some of the biggest laughs from Niyanta and Wesley came thanks to Matisse cheering loudly from the sidelines. That same bold spirit carried into her own shoot – no doubt sharpened by her acting background and her role behind We Eatin’ Good, a grassroots platform amplifying young QTIBIPOC communities through food and conversation.

Parth Rahatekar
Poet • Writer

Parth’s bright smile and lime green sweater entered the studio in tandem, both impossible to miss. Following their session, Parth mentioned they were venue hunting for an upcoming Emerging Writers’ Festival event. I offered a venue contact and, in return, Parth offered to help write some of our creative bios – a little moment of MIK magic.

Monica Keeler
Illustrator

Monica was one of the very first to say yes to joining our Creative Directory, and one of the first I commissioned for illustrations. So when the dates finally aligned for her portrait session, it felt long overdue. As fellow Filipinos, in that moment, Monica, JM and I – all creatives across different practices – proudly represented our motherland.

Dilushi Prasanna
Communication Designer

I’d been so eager to speak with Dilushi about her self-published book documenting Sri Lankan diaspora stories that I nearly took up half her session slot chatting away. Thankfully, being a complete natural, she was in and out like a pro. Afterwards, she and JM bonded over life as younger siblings, while I listened on in fascination as the eldest child.

Marie de Vera
Creative • Director Strategist

Another familiar face from our Melbourne Launch Lunch, Marie arrived balancing Mother’s Day celebrations. Her sharp double denim look matched the confidence she carried on camera. After her session, she spoke about her Nanay’s (mum’s) Filipino family feasts and invited me to join one someday – an offer I fully intend to take her up on.

Steffie Yee
Animator • Illustrator

I first discovered Steffie’s work through Chinese Restaurant Playground, a project honouring her family’s long-established restaurant, Yee’s. What I didn’t realise until the shoot was that the restaurant is located near my own hometown in NSW. As a fellow Hunter Region kid, Steffie’s work somehow felt even more familiar after meeting her.

Angela Mckay
Artist • Illustrator

Angela’s arrival marked a gentle shift as the day began winding down, her easygoing presence perfectly matching the softened energy of the room. Fresh from Mother’s Day celebrations with her family, she wore one of her own artworks printed onto a silk scarf – whimsical and filled with wonder, much like the illustrations she creates.

Noah daCosta
Presenter • Cultural Marketer • Interviewer

Noah wrapped up the day as our final creative – cool, calm and collected, with the ease of someone already comfortable in the spotlight through his presenting and interview work across music and media. As the camera packed down, Noah, JM, Steffie and I sat together chatting about industry roadblocks and big ambitions – a fitting way to close the day as MADE IN KIN moves into its pitching era.