Hey, I’m Celina!
Hey, I’m Celina Whan. I’m a Family and Sports Photographer living and photographing in Darwin. The Northern Territory’s tropical paradise in the dry and sauna in the wet! I also frequently travel home to visit my family in Alice Springs and take this opportunity to photograph families in the stunning Central Australian outback!
I love to capture the athleticism and raw emotion that Sport compels in all of us and the rollercoaster we embark on when we play or spectate. My art aims to tell the story of all facets of the game!
I am also passionate about Family Photography and capturing the emotion and connection in those beautiful candid moments. As a mum, I appreciate how quickly families grow and I believe it is so important to have keepsakes that you can look back on and cherish.
My family sessions are laidback and child driven as I aim to make it a fun, memorable experience and not just an awkward posed photo.
I’d love to create some photos together for you to cherish forever!
FAQs- Get to know me
-
I’m Celina, a natural-light-loving, moment-chasing photographer based in Darwin. I specialize in sports, events, and family photography—basically anything that moves fast and matters most. I'm also a caffeine and gym enthusiast, a complete sports nut, and a mum.
-
My photography journey began off the back of a photo I took of my fiancé playing footy (on my iphone😲). He loved it and i loved how that made me feel! When we moved to Darwin, I brought a camera as a way to get involved in his AFL club and it just blew up from there! What began as a hobby turned into a full-blown passion—and now a career—after realising how powerful storytelling through images can be.
-
I love photography because it freezes time. Life moves fast—kids grow up, seasons change, big moments turn into memories. With photography, I get to hold onto those moments just a little longer. I love the emotion behind a candid laugh, the pride in an athlete’s eyes, or the quiet connection in a family hug. Being able to capture those real, raw, in-between moments and give them back to people—it never gets old. Every session is a chance to tell a story, and I feel lucky every time I get to be the storyteller.
-
Sport has always been in my blood. Growing up, I played anything I could get my hands on—and was lucky enough to represent my state and even my country in sports like baseball, beach volleyball, and AFL. Being part of a team, pushing limits, chasing goals—it shaped who I am. That love for competition, connection, and those split-second moments of triumph is what drew me to photographing sports. I know what it feels like to be in the game, and now I get to capture that feeling for others. It’s more than action shots—it’s about the heart behind them.
-
Real, vibrant, and candid. I aim to capture genuine emotion and movement. I like to blend documentary-style photography with a touch of creativity and an eye for details that might otherwise go unnoticed.
-
I do a mix! For families and portraits, I’ll gently guide you into natural poses and then let moments unfold. For events and sports, I take a more fly-on-the-wall approach, capturing authentic interactions and action as they happen.
-
I shoot with a Canon R1 and a Canon 1DX and bring a full toolkit of lenses, lighting, and backup equipment. But honestly, it’s not just the gear—it’s the vision behind it. 😉
-
I was the Winner of the 2024 Footy Focus Competition - where my photo was awarded the winning title from 5000 entries!
Winner – 2024 Toyota Footy Focus Photography Competition
I'm incredibly honoured to share that my image was selected as the winner of the 2024 Footy Focus photography competition, chosen from over 5,000 incredible entries from around the country.
As part of the prize, I had the unforgettable opportunity to photograph Round 1 of the 2025 AFL Premiership Season – Port Adelaide v Collingwood at the iconic MCG. Even more surreal was being able to shoot the game alongside Chief AFL Photographer Michael Wilson and AFL Photographer Dylan Burns – two absolute legends of the craft whose work I’ve admired for years.
The experience was everything I dreamed of and more – from walking onto the ‘G as the crowd roared, to capturing the raw emotion and intensity of one of the biggest matchups in Aussie rules. I learned so much watching the pros work.
Huge thanks to the AFL and Footy Focus for this incredible opportunity, and to everyone who supports my work. This was a milestone moment in my photography journey, and I can’t wait to keep chasing more stories through the lens.
Check out the winning image and a few shots from the MCG above!
Behind the Scenes – Maternity Session Magic ✨📸
Step behind the lens with me as I capture one of life’s most beautiful chapters — a maternity session full of love, light, and quiet anticipation.
In this BTS video, you’ll get a glimpse of what it’s like on set during a family shoot — the gentle direction, the natural moments, and those in-between frames where the real magic happens. This session was all about celebrating the strength and softness of motherhood, the bond between parents-to-be, and the joy of what’s to come.
Whether you’re expecting, planning a shoot, or just curious about how these sessions unfold, I hope this gives you a feel for the calm, relaxed, and meaningful experience I aim to create.