Krysta Guille’s story begins on a sheep and grain farm just outside Cranbrook, where she spent her childhood surrounded by wide open paddocks, two younger brothers, and a handful of beloved horses.
“Life was small and safe,” she says. “I was happy with my horses, my brothers, and all that space around me.”
But life shifted at 12 years old when she was whisked away to boarding school in the BIG city; the same one her mum had attended decades earlier!
“I missed home A LOT in the beginning,” Krysta admits, laughing, “but I ended up loving it. My very best friends today are still the girls I met back then – farm girls from all over the state.”
Today, Krysta calls Albany home, alongside her husband who farms cattle on his family’s Mt. Barker property that has been in the O’Neill family since 1904. After finishing school, she headed off to university to study Marketing and Tourism, a decision that would eventually lead her to her “dream job” with Tourism WA.
“For five years I got to travel the state for work, one week I’d be heading to Halls Creek, the next to Esperance or Hyden. It was incredible. I still pinch myself sometimes,” she says.
Throughout it all, her camera was never far away. Long before smartphones or Instagram, Krysta was “that friend” who was always with a camera in hand, capturing life as it unfolded. Her real passion was people, not landscapes or still life.
“I’ve always been drawn to people photography,” she says. “Faces, moments, emotion; that’s what interested me from the very beginning.”
When a change of leadership brought her role in local government tourism to an end, Krysta made a bold decision. She picked up her camera professionally for the first time, shooting her first wedding alongside her brother Ben, who was also a photographer. “I just thought, why not? Sometimes you’ve got to back yourself.”
Since then, photography has taken Krysta on some extraordinary adventures, but one memory stands head and shoulders above the rest: photographing King Charles (then Prince Charles) and Camilla during a private visit to Oranje Tractor Wines.
“It was surreal,” she says. “They were so relaxed and genuinely interested in the story behind the vineyard. After tasting some produce, Camilla even said it was the best avocado she had ever eaten!”
Working as a photographer in the regions wasn’t without its challenges.
“Unlike now, when I first started, there weren’t many other full-time women photographers in the regions, and it could feel pretty isolating at times,” Krysta says. “I missed the professional networks you get in other industries .”
But from that gap, something unexpected grew, a small but mighty network of women photographers across regional WA.
“I’ll be forever grateful for that group,” she says. “We were scattered all over – Angie Roe from Northam, Jo Ashworth and Dani McCreery from Kalannie, Kylie Pilsworth from Bunbury and Paraburdoo, Carrie Young in Geraldton, Shelly Boston from Mandurah, and Nic Duncan from Denmark. But online, we had each other. We could talk openly about the challenges and share ideas without judgement. It was a lifeline.”
Balancing work and personal life is still a juggle, like it is for anyone running a business from home but Krysta has found a rhythm that suits her.
“There are distinct seasons,” she explains. “Busy months with weddings and commercial projects, and then quieter months where I can travel.”
And travel she does. If Krysta isn’t behind the lens, she’s planning her next adventure. With wedding season wrapping up, she’s preparing for her next trip to the wild beauty of Scotland and Iceland.
“Travelling keeps me energised,” she says. “It’s where I get a lot of inspiration from, too.”
For those dreaming of building a creative career, especially from a regional base, Krysta’s advice is simple and honest:
“My advice is twofold,” she says. “First, get deeply connected to your local community. Get out there, shoot for hours and hours, and let your style grow naturally from the life around you. That’s what will make your work unique.”
“And second, resist the urge to chase every trend you see online. Over the years, I’ve seen so many looks come and go, from heavy Instagram filters, overly HDR photos, grainy vintage looks, soft dreamy blurs. They all fade. But your own perspective – your own voice – will last.”
Because for Krysta Guille, photography has never just been about taking photos. It’s about capturing life, exactly as it is: real, fleeting, and beautiful.