In this episode of the Room Eleven Podcast, I speak with Gavin Blue, a Melbourne-based photographer and founder of Heartfelt, a volunteer organisation offering compassionate photography to families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss.

After losing his daughter Alexandra in 2006, Gavin turned his grief into action, creating Heartfelt to give families meaningful memories through professional bereavement photography. What began as a personal response to loss has grown into an organisation of more than 320 volunteers across Australia and New Zealand, supporting over 18,000 families.

Gavin’s photography career spans more than 30 years across advertising, editorial, and corporate photography. He has photographed CEOs, Olympians, major events, and worked on large-scale campaigns. He has served as President of the ACMP, chaired the Fuji ACMP Collection, and continues to run a busy commercial photography practice in Melbourne.

This conversation explores:

Gavin’s journey into photography

How personal loss inspired the creation of Heartfelt

The role of bereavement photography in supporting grieving families

Building a community of volunteer photographers

Channeling grief into meaningful work

It’s a grounded and true discussion about grief, growth, resilience, and the power of healing through images.

👉 Learn more about Heartfelt: https://heartfelt.org.au

👉 Learn more about Gavin’s photography: https://www.gavinblue.com

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