Faces of Wyndham — A Portrait Project Celebrating Cultural Diversity in Australia
Where to From Here?
If you're discovering this for the first time, Faces of Wyndham is a portrait series I created to honour and celebrate the cultural diversity of Wyndham, Victoria one of the most multicultural communities in Australia. Over the span of several years, I photographed and shared the stories of 100 individuals, each portrait a glimpse into the rich fabric of lives that shape this growing region. What started as a creative idea soon became a deeply personal and community-focused journey.
This project wasn’t created for commercial gain. It was built on a desire to offer something meaningful back to the community. I wanted to create a visual and written archive not just to showcase diversity, but to remind us all that every face carries a story worth hearing. Every person I photographed was invited to share something of themselves. Each session was conducted with care, respect, and intention.
Now that I’ve completed the 100th portrait, many have asked what’s next. It's a fair question, and one I’ve thought about a lot. The answer isn’t simple, but it begins with sharing more about what the project is, how it came to be, and why its legacy still matters.
What is Faces of Wyndham?
At its heart, Faces of Wyndham is a portrait project that documents humanity at a local level. It’s made up of 100 studio portraits, each accompanied by a short written story that shares something personal about the subject their roots, their culture, their dreams, or their journey. Some of the people featured have lived in Wyndham for decades. Others arrived more recently, bringing new traditions, languages, and experiences. What connects them all is a shared willingness to be seen.
When I began the project, I thought it would be about studio photography. But I quickly learned it was about listening. About trust. Many of the stories were deeply personal, some even painful. I didn’t want to gloss over that. These portraits were never about volume. They were always about depth. About pausing long enough to really see someone, and then taking the time to honour them with care and accuracy.
You can explore the full gallery and read many of the stories here:
🔗 Faces of Wyndham Project Page
🔗 Faces of Wyndham on Facebook
Why There’s No Local Exhibition (Yet)
From the beginning, I had hoped to exhibit Faces of Wyndham locally to share the full body of work in the city that inspired it. But as the project evolved, it became clear that finding a space capable of hosting all 100 studio portraits with the respect and scale they deserve was not going to be easy. This isn’t a collection that can be reduced to a few select images on a small wall. These portraits were meant to be seen together, in full, so the viewer can experience the diversity and connection in its entirety.
A local exhibition remains one of my most important goals, but to date, no venue has been able to accommodate the vision. It’s been disappointing. Not because I need the validation, but because I believe this work belongs here in the community it represents. I’m still exploring possibilities and would welcome any support or ideas. If you’re reading this and know of a space, or are part of a group that could help bring this to life, I’d love to hear from you.
This project was always meant to be shared with the people of Wyndham first.
The Book is Still Coming
When I first imagined Faces of Wyndham, I saw it not just as an exhibition, but as a book something permanent, accessible, and shareable. A book can travel, it can sit on a coffee table or in a school library, and it can reach people beyond the walls of a gallery. The idea was to create a printed record of the individuals who call Wyndham home. A quiet, powerful celebration of people, culture, and belonging.
Unfortunately, the book was delayed. COVID made it impossible to continue shooting for a time, and I had to put the idea on pause. That pause lasted longer than I expected. But the dream didn’t fade. If anything, it became clearer. I’ve kept the notes, the layouts, and the draft pages alive. Now, I’m actively exploring how to make it a reality. It won’t be cheap or quick, but I still believe it’s worth doing.
My hope is that the book becomes something that future generations can look back on a visual time capsule of who we were at this moment in Wyndham’s history. I’ll continue sharing updates as it progresses.
A Massive Undertaking and What I Learned
Each studio portrait in Faces of Wyndham took roughly ten hours of total work sometimes more. From the planning and studio setup to the shoot itself, post-processing, story writing, and follow-up, this was a massive commitment. Multiply that by 100 portraits and you’re looking at well over 1,000 hours. I funded the entire thing myself. There were no grants, no team, no sponsorships. Just a camera, a space, and a determination to finish what I started.
There were moments I nearly gave up. Not out of frustration with the project, but from sheer exhaustion. There were also moments of doubt wondering whether anyone was really watching, or whether the effort would amount to anything. But something always kept me going. Often it was the people. Their stories were so powerful, I felt a responsibility to finish it properly.
What I learned was far beyond photography. I learned how to listen deeply. I learned how to sit with discomfort and still press the shutter. I also learned the quiet logistics of working at this scale managing workflow, maintaining consistency, and staying emotionally engaged over a long timeline.
What Happens Now?
The core body of work is done the 100 portraits are finished but the project is still alive. I never intended to close the door completely. Now and then, someone comes along whose story feels like it belongs here. Sometimes they’re referred by someone who’s already taken part. Other times it’s a chance meeting that leads to a conversation, and eventually a portrait.
There’s no fixed schedule anymore. The pace is gentler, more organic. When I meet someone and feel that familiar spark the sense that their voice adds something important to the collection I find a way to make it happen. There’s no pressure to rush or hit a number. It’s about continuing the thread of the work in a way that feels natural and respectful.
I also feel a strong pull to protect the integrity of what’s already been done. Not every story needs to be photographed. Not every conversation leads to a session. But when it feels right, I know. That’s the beauty of where the project is now open-ended, slow, and true to its original spirit.
What This Means for Wyndham
Faces of Wyndham is more than an art project. It’s a visual record of a living, breathing community. It captures a moment in time, through real people who represent the broad sweep of experiences that make up modern Australia. For Wyndham, it offers something rarely seen an archive of ordinary people who are anything but ordinary, all presented with care, dignity, and depth.
In a city growing as fast as ours, it’s easy to lose touch with the people around us. This project reminds us that behind every door is a story. That our diversity isn’t just demographic data it’s personal, emotional, and layered. Faces of Wyndham helps us pause and look again, to notice things we might otherwise overlook.
That’s why I believe it should live on in more than just digital form. Whether through exhibitions, books, or educational outreach, this project has the potential to strengthen community ties. It gives us something to point to and say: this is who we are. This is what makes Wyndham unique.
Two New Projects
Since completing the first 100 portraits, I’ve started working on two new portrait series. They’re separate from Faces of Wyndham but carry forward everything I’ve learned about storytelling, about connection, and about the role of studio portraiture in helping people feel seen. These new series won’t be limited by geography. They’ll be open to people from anywhere, but grounded in the same values: honesty, depth, and human connection.
These new works will be more focused and perhaps smaller in scale, but just as meaningful. I’ll share more about them as they evolve. For now, they are quiet ideas taking shape in the background a natural continuation of the work, not a replacement for it.
Thank You
To every person who took part in Faces of Wyndham, thank you. You trusted me with your time, your presence, and your story. You sat in front of my lens and allowed yourself to be seen not as a role or a label, but as a whole person. That kind of openness is rare, and it’s not something I take for granted. This project exists because of you.
To those who supported the work behind the scenes through kind words, referrals, or by simply sharing the portraits online thank you. That support helped keep the momentum going on days when I questioned whether the effort was worth it.
And to anyone new to this project: welcome. I hope you take the time to explore the gallery. Read a few of the stories. Sit with a few of the faces. This isn’t a photography portfolio. It’s a record of a community.
If you’re interested in helping the book become a reality or know of a venue that could host a full exhibition, I’d love to hear from you.
David Mullins Photography is a professional portrait and headshot studio based in Point Cook, proudly serving clients across Wyndham, Hobsons Bay, and surrounding suburbs including Werribee, Altona, Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit, Truganina, Williams Landing, Seabrook, Laverton, Newport, Yarraville, and Footscray.
Known for relaxed, guided sessions and timeless, high-quality results, David specialises in:
LinkedIn and corporate headshots
Professional portraits for business and media
Fine art family photography
Studio pet photography
Creative and legacy portraiture
If you're looking for a trusted headshot photographer in Point Cook, or you’re ready to update your personal or professional image with a studio session in Melbourne’s West, you’re in the right place.
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