Talks
Kirsten is an experienced speaker whose illustrated talks combine award-winning wildlife photography with the stories behind the images. A selection of talks is provided below, with presentations available both in person and online. To book a talk or request further information, please get in touch.
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My Bucket List & Beyond
How curiosity, learning and adventure shaped my photographic journey
Every photographer's journey begins somewhere. Starting out as a hobbyist capturing family memories, Kirsten shares how camera clubs, formal study and the pursuit of a carefully chosen photographic bucket list gradually transformed her approach to image-making. Through successes, setbacks and unexpected discoveries, she reflects on how inspiration from others laid the foundation for developing her own creative vision.
'Hand of the Devil'. Kīlauea lava flow at 3:30 am, the Big Island, Hawaii, September 2016. 5D Mark III; EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
195mm; f/8; 1/20th sec; ISO 400
Pursuit of the Perfect Pocket Photo
How photographing something I loved made all the difference . . .
What if the fastest route to becoming a better photographer isn't trying to photograph everything, but photographing what you genuinely love? Through personal stories and practical examples, Kirsten explores how the pursuit of the 'perfect pocket photo' provides the motivation to practise deliberately, develop technical skills and, ultimately, create images that are both technically accomplished and personally meaningful.
'Forest Flight'. Jumping red squirrel photographed at Neil McIntyre's hide in the Cairngorms, Aviemore. 5D Mark IV; EF400mm f/2.8L IS III USM; f/4.5; 1/200th sec; ISO 3200.
Discovering Richmond Park
A year in the life of London's royal wilderness
Richmond Park is one of Britain's most remarkable urban landscapes—a royal park where ancient trees, free-ranging deer and an extraordinary diversity of wildlife thrive just minutes from central London. Following the changing seasons, Kirsten explores the park's history, wildlife and seasonal rhythms while sharing the fieldcraft and ethical approach that have shaped her own work.
'Master of Disguise'. Jumping red squirrel photographed in the early morning at London's Richmond Park. 5D Mark IV; EF400mm f/2.8L IS III USM +2x III; f/5.6; 1/250th sec; ISO 3200.
Discovering Surrey
Looking closer at the places we call home
We often travel great distances in search of memorable wildlife experiences, overlooking the remarkable places much closer to home. Through photographs and stories gathered across Surrey's varied landscapes, Kirsten explores how returning to familiar places throughout the seasons reveals new perspectives, deeper connections and photographic opportunities that are easily overlooked. Although centred on Surrey, the ideas behind the talk can be applied wherever you live.
'Silent Strike'. Hovering barn owl photographed as the summer sun was setting in a local meadow. 5D Mark IV; EF400mm f/2.8L IS III USM +2x III; f/5.6; 1/2500th sec; ISO 3200.
The Ethical Photography Scorecard
Dilemmas and trade-offs in wildlife photography
Wildlife photography is full of ethical dilemmas, but simple rules rarely provide simple answers. Drawing on her experience as an academic researcher and insights from peer-reviewed studies, Kirsten examines the competing demands of animal welfare, authentic fieldcraft and photographic integrity. Using her Ethical Photography Scorecard, she explores topics including captive animals, supplementary feeding, baiting, audio playback, stalking and wildlife workshops, offering audiences a practical framework for weighing the ethical trade-offs involved in modern wildlife photography.
'Split-second Strike'. Diving kingfisher. Canon EOS R5 EF400mm f/2.8L IS III USM; f/3.5; 1/8000th sec; ISO 3200.
Making it at Market
A great photograph is only the beginning. Turning it into something people genuinely want to own is an another challenge. Drawing on the evolution of GnomeGirl Photography, Kirsten shares the journey from camera club competitions to craft fairs, greeting cards, trade exhibitions and wholesale. Through honest stories of successes, mistakes and continual refinement, she explores product development, branding, merchandising, pricing and the realities of selling creative work.
'Cards from the Wild'. Branding created for GnomeGirl Cards & Prints.
High Latitude Specialists
Photographing birds tin some of the harshest habitats on earth
Life at high latitudes demands extraordinary adaptations. From the windswept coasts of Norway and Finland to the frozen forests of North America, Kirsten explores how birds have evolved to survive some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Through photographs and stories, she reveals the remarkable life history strategies that help these species to endure freezing temperatures, scarce food and dark winters in the frozen north.
'A Cold Stare'. Hawk owl photographed on Norway's Varanger Peninsula, March 2024. Canon EOS R5; EF400mm f/2.8L IS III USM +2x III; f/5.6; 1/2500th sec; ISO 1600.
Wonderful Warblers
Searching for North America's Most Colourful Songbirds
Every spring, millions of New World warblers return from Central and South America to breed across North America, undertaking some of the most remarkable migrations in the bird world. Drawing on years of photographing these colourful migrants in Michigan, Kirsten explores their extraordinary journeys, breeding behaviour and life histories, while sharing practical advice on finding and photographing them. Along the way, she tells the remarkable conservation story of the Kirtland's warbler, demonstrating how science, habitat management and public support brought one of North America's rarest birds back from the brink of extinction.
'Yellow Song'. A prothonotary warbler establishing its territory a few miles south of Lake Michigan's southern shores. Canon EOS R5; EF400mm f/2.8L IS III USM +2x III; f/5.6; 1/1600th sec; ISO 1600.