Elise Derwin is an award-winning photographer based in Lismore, NSW, who specialises in documentary and editorial photography.   

Fuelled by curiosity and a genuine connection to the people and places she’s photographing, Elise aims to capture not just moments, but whole stories. She enjoys getting to know the people she’s photographing to tell important and often personal stories, and the resulting images are rich with humanity and compassion. 

Elise has a Bachelor of Design (Photomedia) from the University of Western Sydney, and has extensive experience as a press photographer. Her images have featured in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Guardian, The Australian, The Telegraph, Herald Sun and The NT News. She has also captured iconic images for Tourism NT, and is the official photographer for Darwin Festival. 

Currently based in Lismore, Elise regularly travels throughout northern NSW and southern Queensland for her work and is available to travel interstate for assignments. She has also worked extensively across Australia, particularly in the Northern Territory, and has undertaken several overseas assignments, including to the United States, East Timor and Indonesia. 

Selected Awards

• 2022 PHOTO COLLECTIVE Australian Photography Awards 2022 Finalist - Antoinette
• 2022 CITY OF SYDNEY Australian Life Photo Prize Finalist - Antoinette
• 2022 PHOTO COLLECTIVE Stories 2022 Shortlisted - Rain Bomb
• 2021 BALLARAT INTERNATIONAL FOTO BIENNALE Martin Kantor Portrait Prize Finalist - Lindy Lee
• 2021 CITY OF SYDNEY Australian Life Photo Prize Finalist and People's Choice Winner - It Always rains Before Kickoff
• 2017 MEAA NT Media Awards Photographer of the Year - Body of work: The NT News
• 2017 PANPA Newspaper Awards Finalist - Portrait Photograph of the Year - Soap
• 2017 PANPA Newspaper Awards Finalist - Sport Photograph of the Year - Silver Lining
• 2016 MEAA NT Media Awards Photographer of the Year - Body of Work: The NT News
• 2016 PANPA Newspaper of the Year Awards Photography of the Year Features / Lifestyle winner - Nudist Nomads
• 2016 PANPA Newspaper of the Year Awards Finalist Features/Lifestyle - Legends of the Tiwis
• 2016 PANPA Newspaper of the Year Awards Finalist Portrait Photography - Fire In His Soul
• 2016 Music NT Portrait Prize Winner and People's Choice Winner - Elsey Day
• 2015 MEAA NT Media Awards Finalist - Body of work: The NT News
• 2015 Music NT Portrait Prize Winner Green Stone Garden
• 2014 NT News Photographer of the Year - Body of Work
• 2013 NewsCorp Photographer of the Year Finalist - Body of work: The NT News

Selected Group Exhibitions

• 2022 Photos1440 – State Library, Sydney
• 2021 Photos1440 – State Library, Sydney
• 2020 Still Life in Lockdown – The Darwin Festival, Darwin
• 2017 Nudist Nomads - Head on Photo Festival, Sydney
• 2017 INsTagrammers Exhibition - Northern Territory Library, Darwin
• 2017 Women Who Shoot - Gallery Two Six, Darwin
• 2015 PROOF: Photo Essays from the Top End - NCCA, Darwin

For all enquires and assignments:

mobile: +61 420 522 517

email: elise.derwin@gmail.com

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land, the Arakwal, Minjungbal and Widjabul people of the Bundjalung Nation where I live and work. I pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. I acknowledge their ongoing connection and custodianship for Country.