Cutta Murphy, the man behind the camera, soon puts his photography clients at ease. His easy-going manner and quiet professionalism hit the perfect note, and his sessions are a dream.

His biggest fan is his marriage celebrant wife, Megan. It was through Megan that I was introduced to Cutta as a prospective candidate for a photoshoot being planned for Word Fest Toowoomba’s 2022 program. The first event on the festival’s calendar was to be the multicultural recipe book A Taste of Toowoomba. Needing a photographer who could relate to those with cultural heritage from many backgrounds, Cutta’s own heritage as an Indigenous man with his humble ways was ideal.

But what about his photography? It was easy to tell that his creative shots of Megan captured during her role as celebrant for many and varied couples in many and varied settings were both inspired by his love for Megan and his understanding of the light, the emotion of the moment and the right second to press the shutter of the camera. This, coupled with his love of food and experiencing new flavours and recipes, clinched the deal for our Collaboration Team, and Cutta was on board for our project.

During both shoots at Darling Heights State School and the You Belong office in Keefe St, Cutta and his offsider, Marilyn, had to contend with the overwhelming noise and informality of many women bringing in their prepared dishes, and the sometimes awkward attempts at communicating without a shared language – but Cutta just quietly found the best spot for the light and went about his business of bringing those dishes alive.

It was a delight to work with him, and share the spoils of the dishes after each shoot. Everyone who was involved loved his gentle instructions and creative props and poses. Lots of smiles tell the story. Lots of connections were made, including a personal connection to a friend of the Murphy’s from Thargomindah. Such a small world!

From the session at You Belong, Cutta was invited to exhibit a chosen piece of his photography at their exhibition Neighbours at the University of Southern Queensland’s Creative Arts Gallery. How exciting for me to pop in to the exhibition and see his experimental digitisation of one of the shots hanging on the wall.

His legacy, proudly for us, and more importantly for Toowoomba, is the collection of beautiful food photography now captured from our community’s heart and heritage.

Cutta Murphy – a lovely man of many talents! Thank you from our hearts to yours.