When Cat Bryant was photographing her son's junior football matches in suburban Perth, she never imagined 11 years later she'd be taking photos from the sidelines of Matildas games.
It's been a long journey for Cat, a 55-year-old former hairdresser from Perth's southern suburbs.
She started taking photography seriously when chronic pain and fatigue related to her fibromyalgia forced her to stop full-time work.
"I was too sick to stand up all day doing hairdressing. For about three years, I only had enough energy to go out for an hour to take some photos of [my son] playing," she says.
"I was using this tiny little battery-operated camera, every single Sunday morning, taking photos."
In 2012, Cat's mum passed away and she left her $1,000, with one strict condition: she had to spend the money on a decent camera to pursue her passion for photography.
With the money, she bought her first proper camera and lens. It was the start of something much bigger.
The thrill of shooting the Matildas in action
A British media company gave Cat the opportunity to cover the three recent Matildas Olympic qualifiers in Perth as a freelancer.
"It was terrifying at first, but it was just amazing — the sound of the crowd, knowing that you're part of this history that's happening with these awesome women," Cat says.
Trying to capture the magic of the Matildas on camera is not without its challenges.
"You've really got to have your game on. You can't say to them, 'Can you just go and take that goal again?'
"You've got to be on the ball, and never take your eye off that ball."
While the crowds are different, Cat uses the same skills she honed while photographing community football matches.
"I had this camera, but I had no idea how to use it … so I went to the library, I got books out and I just asked anybody that I thought had any kind of experience to help me out," she says.
"Each game … you hopefully get just that little bit better [and] learn from your mistakes."
Lifelong football passion fuels mid-life career switch
Cat grew up in a football-obsessed family in London, supporting Crystal Palace. Football has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember.
"Before they built the stand [at the stadium], my bedroom actually used to overlook the pitch — so you could watch the [Crystal Palace] game from my bedroom," she says.
"It was around the corner and my dad used to take me to games. Then I met my husband, who was [also] a Crystal Palace fan.
"When Crystal Palace players came over here, I got the chance through Perth Soccer Club to take their open training shots. That was one of my best days," she says.
Learning the ropes as a freelance photographer
Cat says switching careers in her 40s and starting from scratch was hard. Before she moved to Australia, she owned her own hairdressing salon in London.
"Hairdressing was all I had ever known since I left school, but being forced to slow down and take up photography was the best career move I have made," she says.
"You can sit around at 40 and say, 'I'm done', or you can see if there's something else out there for you.
"At the start, you're not earning any money [freelancing] … but the only way you will ever get any better is to get that camera out on a pitch and take some photos.
"Now I'm in a position where I have to turn down jobs because there are that many."
Reviving the art of the perfect shot
For Cat, the autonomy of working for herself means chronic pain from fibromyalgia is easier to manage and balance with work.
"Working within this illness is the way to go, pacing myself and knowing my boundaries," she says.
"You learn to manage pain better. It isn't gone, but it is much better than it was."
Now, Cat's hoping to encourage other aspiring photographers to follow their passion.
"Everybody uses their smartphone nowadays but ... planning, looking, taking a picture, and coming home and editing is a form of art," she says.
"And it's so much more fun than just clicking with an iPhone."
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