Hi, I'm Mikey Hearson
I’m an introverted person at heart, yet behind the camera, I find the confidence to instantly bond with the amazing people I photograph.
I began my photography journey by immersing myself in studio work at Morffew Photos, learning the ins and outs of lighting and the business side of the craft. Later, I moved on to Culture Kings, where I shot for big brands and established models. Overall, photography has opened doors for me that I never imagined—letting me meet and work with incredible people otherwise wouldn’t have.
These days, I photograph a wide range of events, portraits, weddings, and corporate projects, drawing on my love for golden-hour sessions and studio-lit editorial shoots. I’m especially fascinated by how lighting can transform a scene, whether it’s capturing the energy of a fire performance or crafting a creative setup in the studio. Above all, I’m known for my respectful, welcoming vibe that helps people feel comfortable – no matter the shoot.
Let’s create something unforgettable together!
My Photography Journey
25th December 2011
First “Professional” Camera
Back in grade 12, I asked for a camera for Christmas and got the Panasonic Lumix FZ100. It didn’t shoot RAW or have detachable lenses, but I thought it was the best. Spoiler: it wasn’t… but hey, I learned a lot.
Feburary 2013
Learning the Ropes at Mark Morffew Studios
My first real gig in photography was at Mark Morffew Studios. I went from assisting to shooting to managing the studio, learning everything from lighting to sales. It’s where I truly sharpened my skills—and discovered that kids can be harder clients than corporate executives.
September 2012
First DSLR
When I got my first DSLR, the Nikon D7000, my world changed. Shooting in RAW and swapping lenses sparked an obsession with glass. Suddenly, I wasn’t just a photographer—I was a collector.
October 2014
Taking a Break
After shooting families and kids every single day, burnout hit me hard, I left to focus on life beyond the lens.
September 2017
Life-Changing Recovery and the Wannabe Influencer Era
In the process of recovering from addiction, the lowest point in my life, I dived into the influencer world. With the support of my girlfriend at the time, Marisa, we both worked to grow our Instagram accounts. We took photos for each other and together we turned a shared passion into a creative outlet.
Through our efforts, I grew my Instagram from 160 to 11.9K followers in just eight months. While the influencer path wasn’t for me, it boosted my self-confidence, helped me focus on something positive, and ultimately became a turning point in my life. It was a period of growth, healing, and rediscovering my purpose. I’m proud of how far I’ve come.
November 2017
Stepping Into Fashion Photography with SASS MGMT
I started shooting for SASS MGMT, capturing model portfolios and managing promo gigs. It was a fast-paced dive into the world of fashion and promo photography.
July 2018
Breaking into Culture Kings
Originally hired to operate the StyleShoot flat lay machine, I quickly proved my worth and expanded into studio photography for marketing campaigns. Joining Culture Kings allowed me to flex my creativity, work with studio lighting, and be part of one of the coolest brands around.
April 2019
Studio Photography for the “Home of the Hoodies” Campaign
My proudest moment at Culture Kings? Shooting the studio content for their “Home of the Hoodies” campaign. Handling the studio side of marketing for such a major campaign was a career highlight.
June 2019
Leaving Culture Kings
Despite the perks, I left Culture Kings feeling a little out of place. Turns out being a pasty, artsy, gay-presenting guy in a fast-paced, “hype” environment wasn’t quite the match I thought it’d be.
July 2019
Full Frame Leap
I levelled up with the Nikon D810. This full-frame, high-resolution camera was everything I needed. It became an extension of my arm, capturing over 360,000 photos before retiring.
September 2019
Launched Capture LXRY
With Marisa, I launched Capture LXRY, a photography business focused on model portfolios. It was sleek, stylish, and another step toward building my dream career. Working with agencies and creatives, this venture helped refine my skills and expand my network.
November 2019
Managing Santa Photography Studio
Managing a Santa photography studio during the holiday rush was pure chaos. However it taught me invaluable lessons about working in high-pressure, fast paced environments and incorporating printing into a photography workflow. That said, I can confidently say: I’m never shooting Santa photos again!
17th December 2020
First Festival Media Pass
At Elements Festival 2020, I was given a plus one by Fairy Tale Flow in exchange for photography, but ended up finessing my way into the media team. Dual cameras from a harness gave me just enough credibility to tag along with Boaz (an extremely talented photographer I’d just met) to the media meeting. That impromptu moment and finessed media pass set the stage for a career shooting festivals.
13th November 2020
First Airbnb Shoot Session
Over three days, I shot 12 models at an Airbnb. It was a whirlwind of creativity and caffeine, resulting in some of my best work at the time.
12th April 2023
Registering After Dark Media
Inspired, I registered the name After Dark Media on a whim, hoping to use the name in the future. Turns out, it was the start of something amazing.
23rd September 2023
Switching to Sony
After years with Nikon, I made the leap to Sony with the A7IV. Leaving behind my beloved Nikon D810 and lenses was bittersweet, but Sony’s low-light and video capabilities won me over. No regrets.
12th May 2024
Signed First Big Client Under After Dark Media
Landing my first big corporate client under After Dark Media was a major milestone. This project included a website build and a social media management retainer, setting the stage for what this business was capable of.
14th May 2024
Launched: @by.mikeyhearson and @afterdarkmedia.au
This was a pivotal day in my photography journey. After years of running everything through one Instagram account, originally grown during my influencer era, I made the leap to split my work.
I launched @afterdarkmedia.au to showcase event photography and festival work, while @by.mikeyhearson became my dedicated portrait photography page. My original account was converted back into a personal space, allowing me to streamline my presence. This shift marked a big step in refining my brand and how I presented my work to the world.
12th June 2024
Registered for GST
Reaching the GST threshold was a proud moment in my business journey. It marked a significant milestone, teaching me the ins and outs of running a business at this new level.
30th August 2024
First Printing Test at HeadBeat
The debut of event printing at HeadBeat Byron Bay was a learning curve. With the help of Rachel Riggall, we began perfecting a system that would eventually become a cornerstone of my business.
30th October 2024
Launching My Key Moments
Realizing corporate clients might shy away from After Dark Media’s nightclub-heavy portfolio, I created My Key Moments as a new business. It’s family-friendly, corporate-focused, and incorporates on-site printing for events, brands, and weddings. The start of a polished new chapter.