Behind the Lens with Shannon Hayes: Surf, Creativity & Life Beyond the Camera

October 21, 2026 Britt James

Gold Coast photographer and filmmaker Shannon Hayes has built a career around her love of the ocean, travel and storytelling. From early morning surf sessions with friends to working alongside some of the biggest names in surfing, including the World Surf League, Shannon has turned her passion for photography into a life full of creativity and adventure.

But behind the beautiful imagery is a young woman navigating the ups and downs of freelance life, learning to back herself and finding inspiration in the world around her.

We caught up with Shannon to chat about growing up on the Gold Coast, finding her feet in the creative industry, the realities of working for yourself and what she's dreaming up next.

For those who haven't come across your work before, tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up and what was life like as a kid?

Having a multicultural upbringing with an Asian mother and Western father, I was fortunate to have diverse experiences and cultural exposure from a young age.

Born in Bali, I moved to the Gold Coast at the age of two. Growing up here felt like living in a growing town that was always a holiday destination for most Australians.

As I got older, I didn't realise it would become the Australian 'Mecca of surfing' and the country's number one influencer city, haha... it's a pretty insanely beautiful part of the world.

I grew up surfing, visiting waterfalls, travelling up and down the coast, and enjoying the shopping and cafes that are part of this small city.

I worked for Billabong in retail before COVID and dove straight into my dream pursuits when stores shut down, giving me a strong excuse to film my friends surf all day long.

Was the ocean always part of your life, or did that love come later?

I grew up in Mermaid Beach, a two-minute walk from the beachfront, and was slowly introduced to surfing around eight years old.

By 14, I was pretty committed to making surfing a lifestyle and would show up before school as many days a week as possible.

That included getting on my bike in the dark to ride to my favourite banks, with or without friends, and surfing all conditions, even 4–5ft at the age of 15.

This later built a deep confidence in swimming in 5ft+ swell with my camera today.

What first sparked your interest in photography? Was there a moment when you realised, "This is what I want to do"?

I was 15, using my phone to capture friends at sunrise on the beach, drawing inspiration from social media at the time.

While travelling with family to NZ, I accidentally took photos on manual settings with my first camera, which my dad gifted me for Christmas.

I loved the trial-and-error process of capturing imagery from such a young age. I loved combining creation both behind and in front of the camera with travel.

Instagram showed me people all over the world could monetise a lifestyle of travel using a camera and social media.

We read that you started filming your friends while you were studying and working, before turning it into a business during COVID. Looking back now, was that leap scary?

It really wasn't scary. The most unknown thing at the time was COVID and what I could or could not do being unvaxxed.

There was so much fun in networking, helping out on bigger production sets, working for media agencies, and going after surf events to capture content and make friends on the road.

Surf photography is still a pretty male-dominated industry. Did that ever intimidate you, or did it motivate you to carve your own path?

Growing up, I would run onto a field at lunch break and join in whatever sport the boys in my cohort were playing. I preferred being active over sitting and talking in circles with my friends.

You could say I took that same mindset into surfing and surf photography.

Sometimes you feel the contrast being a girl in different environments, but generally speaking, surfers are friendly to a person holding a camera, or male surf photographers give you a nod of encouragement for having a crack.

You've worked with some incredible surfers, brands and events, including the WSL. Is there one shoot or moment that still gives you goosebumps?

Working on the Gold Coast Pro events at CT and CS level is always so exciting at home. This year's afterparty might just be the funnest night I'll remember.

However, a trip with Anne Dos Santos and Ben Morgan travelling through the Pacific via sailboat and scoring waves to ourselves may just be my highlight of all surf trips.

What's something people don't see behind the scenes of surf photography that would surprise them?

Wow, so much I could write a solid paragraph on this.

In short: health and mobility, as well as how much work happens in pre- and post-production for content in an industry that doesn't equate to other media industries.

What has been the hardest part about building a freelance creative career?

Making sacrifices that align with my goals and values. As well as believing in myself.

Travelling and freelancing involve so much instability and the unknown; believing in yourself and showing up can always feel like the difference between momentum and stagnation.

Another thing I've learnt that many freelance creatives relate to is the easy mistake of tying confidence and self-worth to the number of bookings or opportunities on the horizon.

There are seasons of work that involve being busy to the point of burnout and quiet periods for planning and restructuring. That's a constant journey.

And what's been the most rewarding moment so far?

I'm truly grateful for the portfolio and range of experiences I have so far.

It feels so rewarding looking back at the places I've been that connect to my work and services.

Your work has such a beautiful, cinematic feel. What inspires your creative eye?

A variety of creatives over the years have inspired me. Originally, for photography, a few girls from Oahu and local Gold Coast creatives inspired me.

In recent years, a very exciting creative from the States, Andy Woodward, is someone many are watching. He blends surfing with high-end commercial work in such an artistic style.

As well as Spencer Frost from Sydney's Northern Beaches; he is a great human and storyteller in the surf exploration space. I look forward to watching more of his projects unfold.

If you could spend a week shooting anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Egypt, which is quite funny because you'd expect me to pick a surf location!

The pyramids and cinematic deserts like there, as well as Morocco and Namibia, are some places I would next like to visit.

What's one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

I can go weeks without surfing! I don't love not surfing, but sometimes that happens.

When you're not behind the camera, what fills your cup?

Walks in nature, swims/surfs and being around good company.

Finding other creative pursuits or learning about human behaviour and self-development also interests me.

What are you dreaming about at the moment? Are there any projects, films or goals you're working towards?

I am working towards releasing a few passion projects.

And I'm dreaming of the day I get to work with a travel company to document multiple new countries, promoting new parts of the world and unique stories.