Credit: A. Noske 2022

About Dani Watson

Capturing Australia’s Natural Beauty Through Photography

So, What’s My Story?

Where did it all start? Maybe you didn’t ask, but let’s say you did.

Believe it or not, I began as a professional tennis coach. Yep, my journey into photography actually began with a break from two decades in sports science and biomechanics—a world of endless travel and 50-week work years. After coaching and running around tennis courts worldwide, I was ready for something new.

Enter: a DSLR camera. I figured, “The best camera takes the best photos… right?” So I picked one up from Michael’s Camera Store in Melbourne and signed up for a free intro course. After the class, I snapped a few shots of my 8-week-old kelpie pup, posted them, and—surprise!—my photos went viral and even landed in the Herald Weekly Times. I thought, “Maybe this photography gig isn’t so hard!” I was hooked, enrolling in every course I could find at Michael’s, and even joined a landscape tour along the Great Ocean Road. That was it. Landscape photography had my full attention.

Then came the real turning point: a chance meeting with Ken Duncan at the Langham Hotel. Yes, I broke the rule and showed him a few photos on my phone (I now know “a photograph isn’t a photograph until it’s printed”). But that inspiring conversation convinced me to leave my tennis career behind.

So, I Just Walked Away from Tennis?

Pretty much, yes. I’d always been a bit of a perfectionist and was recognised as Victoria’s top tennis coach, with three Newcombe Medal nominations. But photography gave me a new kind of thrill—the adventure, the creative freedom, the endless potential.

Not one to do things halfway, I earned a degree in Photography and Photo Imaging from RMIT University and a Master of Arts Photography degree from Photography Studies College. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of learning from some of the icons in the industry, and for that, I am really forever grateful for the knowledge and guidance that they have shared.

So, Was It All Worth It?

Absolutely! But my life isn’t just about photographs. Away from the camera, I’m still a farm girl who loves the big toys, the animals, and getting my hands dirty. I’m the kind who’ll keep at something until it’s just right—no shortcuts, no half-hearted tries.

You’ll still catch me at the Australian Open every year (20 years and counting), though oddly enough, I’m not much for watching tennis on TV. And recently, I’ve become hooked on The Crown. Never thought I’d be into the royals, but here I am, feeling like a total fan.

So, What’s Your Story?

If any of this resonates, and you’d like to work with me or even give one of my prints a place in your home, it would be an honour.

    • Solo Exhibitions

      • 2024 – Melbourne, Australia | Connection – Captured Gallery

    • Group Exhibitions

      • 2024 – Sydney, Australia | Splash Exhibition – M2 Gallery

      • 2024 – Melbourne, Australia | Emerging Artist Award – Forty Five Downstairs Gallery

      • 2024 – Melbourne, Australia | Hillvale Photo Trophy Group Exhibition

      • 2024 – Melbourne, Australia | Bacchus Marsh Art Fair – Acquisition Prize

      • 2022 – Sydney, Australia | In Focus Women Group Landscape Exhibition

      • 2019 – Melbourne, Australia | Bacchus Marsh Art Fair

      • 2018 – Melbourne, Australia | Bacchus Marsh Art Fair

      • 2018 – Melbourne, Australia | RMIT Photography & Digital Imaging Graduate Group Exhibition

  • Commonwealth Bank Collection
    Bendigo Bank Collection

  • 2024 Highlights

    • Honourable Mention – Emerging Artist Award, Forty Five Downstairs Gallery

    • 4th Place Finalist – Landscape Category, Australian Landscape Awards

    • People's Choice Runner-Up – Australian Landscape Awards

    • Top 10 Finalist – Aerial Category, Australian Landscape Awards

    • Top 30 Finalist – Aerial Category, Australian Landscape Awards

    • Top 30 Finalist – Urban Category, Australian Landscape Awards

    • Top 40 Finalist – Seascape Category, Australian Landscape Awards

    • Top 50 Finalist – Aerial Category (two placements), Australian Landscape Awards

    • Top 60 Finalist – Aerial Category (two placements), Australian Landscape Awards

    • Top 100 Finalist – Aerial Category, Australian Landscape Awards

    2023 Highlights

    • Winner – Art Category, Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographer

    • Runner-Up – Architecture Category, Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographer

    • 3rd Place Finalist – Landscape Category, Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographer

    • 4th Place Finalist – Landscape Category, Australian Landscape Awards

    • Finalist – Photography, Bluethumb Art Prize

    • Top 10 Finalist – Landscape Category (9th and 10th Place), Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographer

    • Top 20 Finalist – Art Category, Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographer

    • Top 20 Finalist – Landscape Category, Capture Awards Landscape

    • Top 30 Finalist – B & W Category, Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographer

    • Top 40 Finalist – Landscape Category, Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographer

    2022 Highlights

    • Runner-Up – Landscape Category, Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographer

    • Top 10 Finalist – Open Category (7th Place), Animal Category (7th Place), Art Category (8th Place), Single Shot Category (8th Place), Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographer

    • Top 20 Finalist – B & W Category (13th Place), Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographer

    • Top 50 Finalist – Single Shot Category, Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographer

    • 12/2023 – Capture Magazine | Australasia's Top Emerging Photographers 2024 – Click Here

    • 07/2023 – Southbank News | Emerging talent sets her sights on mastering photography – Click Here

    • 06/2023 – Capture Magazine | Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers 2023: Winners and runners-up announced – Click Here

    • 06/2023 – Capture Magazine | The Landscape Awards People's Choice winner announced – Click Here

    • 02/2023 – Australian Photography | 60 judges' tips to winning Australasia's Top Emerging Photographers 2023 – Click Here

    • 02/2023 – Capture Magazine | Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers 2023 – Featured entry – Click Here

    • 01/2023 – Capture Magazine | Top Tips to Winning Australasia's Top Emerging Photographers 2023 (part 3) – Click Here

    • 12/2022 – The Australian | Tripping the Light Fantastic – Click Here

    • 12/2022 – Capture Magazine | Who made it into The Annual 2022? – Click Here

    • 11/2022 – Capture Magazine | Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers 2023 – Featured Portfolio – Click Here

    • 11/2022 – Capture Magazine | Top Tips to Winning Australasia's Top Emerging Photographers 2023 (part 1) – Click Here

    • 07/2022 – Capture Magazine | Australasia's Top Emerging Photographers 2022: Landscape, Runner-up – ClickHere

    • 03/2022 – Nisi Filters Australia | Interview with photographer Dani Watson – Click Here

    • 01/2021 – In Focus Women | In Focus Women In Profile - Danielle Watson – Click Here

    • 11/2020 – Capture Magazine | Featured portfolio – Dani Watson – Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers 2021– Click Here

    • 07/2019 – Capture Magazine | Profile - Emerging Talent – Click Here

    • 07/2023 – The Gallery Podcast | Episode 15: Creative Genius with Dani Watson – Listen Here

    • 06/2022 – In Focus Women | Season 2 Episode 12 - Gender Bias & Discrimination with Dani Watson – Listen Here

    • 02/2022 – Landscape Photography World | Ep 28 - Dani Watson – Listen Here

    • 10/2021 – In Focus Women | Season 1 Episode 4 - Dani Watson – Listen Here

    • 03/2019 – Project RawCast | Instafame, Working with Ken Duncan & Compositing with Dani Watson – Click Here

  • 2024 Master of Arts Photography, Photography Studies College

    2024 Certificate IV Training & Assessment, Pinnacle

    2018 Diploma Photography and Digital Photo Imaging, RMIT University

    2017 Certificate IV Photography and Digital Photo Imaging, RMIT University

    2004 Bachelor Applied Science Human Movement and Sports Science, Federation University