From environmental science to photography - but always focused on the built environment.
Childhood holidays on King Island meant being close to animals in a very raw way. We pulled crayfish pots heavy with life, fished for sharks, ate muttonbirds fresh from the rookery. Back then, it felt normal - part of island life.
There was so much abundance, you barely questioned it. But beneath that abundance was something I couldn’t shake: how easily we take from nature, and how little we stop to notice what’s lost. By my teens, I’d stopped fishing and become vegetarian - once I felt that connection to the life around me, I couldn’t ignore it.
The first decade of my career was in environmental science. I tracked groundwater contamination on construction sites and wrote environmental impact assessments for major infrastructure. I worked on marine infrastructure approvals for the Victorian desalination project where I was told, many times, that all the penguins would die. They didn’t, but it taught me a lot about how emotive environmental decision-making can be.
The next decade, I swapped the clipboard for a camera. Over that time, I’ve partnered with more than 200 built environment businesses, documenting sustainable design across Australia - showing what’s possible when architecture respects both people and place.
Along the way, I became a Certified B Corp (only 21% of Australians know what this is - find out here), rethinking how I run my business so it contributes to people, planet, and community.
Fun fact: my Honours degree in Zoology focused on sexually transmitted diseases in birds. Not exactly cocktail party material, but it taught me the discipline of rigorous research - a skill I bring to every project.
Now, I’m dedicating the next chapter of my career to something deeper: helping the built environment move beyond “less harm” to actively restoring nature. That’s the heart of my fledgling second brand, Business of Biodiversity.
Living on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country, also known as the Macedon Ranges near Melbourne, Australia.
Minimising harm. Maximising good. Using business as a tool to protect what matters.
When you work with me, you’re part of this commitment:
Certified B Corp - independently verified for social and environmental performance since 2021.
Climate Neutral certified - offsetting all business emissions, plus the full footprint of a two-person household (working from home makes it hard to pretend they’re separate).
1% For the Planet member - going above and beyond, giving the equivalent of 5% of revenue annually to environmental non-profits through cash, time, and services.
Conservation legacy planning - I’m looking to purchase land for a long-term conservation project to protect and restore nature. If you know of a place worth safeguarding, let’s talk.
Working with me means supporting conservation beyond the building site.
I publish annual impact reports to track progress and keep this work transparent.
Eight reasons why you'll be glad you chose to work with me.
01. I speak your language (and know where north is).
I understand HRV systems, thermal bridging, and why you get excited about airtightness results. I know that north-facing windows aren't just "nice light" - they're strategic design decisions. I understand that performance doesn’t stop at the building envelope. It extends into landscapes, water systems, and the way projects work with living systems over time. When I photograph your high-performance building or nature-positive project, I’m not just capturing pretty rooms or gardens - I’m documenting performance that matters.
02. Anyone can take a photo. Not everyone shares your values.
Yes, everyone has a camera now (and soon AI will too). But here's what technology can't replicate: genuine alignment with your mission. I only work with architects, designers and builders creating genuinely sustainable projects. If you're designing for people and planet, we're already speaking the same language.
03. I'm Australia's only Certified B Corp photographer.
While others talk about sustainability, I've put my business through rigorous third-party assessment. I'm carbon neutral, donate the equivalent of 5% of revenue to environmental non-profits, and use my business as a force for good. When you hire me, you're supporting someone who walks the talk.
04. Your project gets pitched for you (and I don't charge extra for it).
I have established relationships most of Australia’s editorial and architectural magazines, and am represented by an agency in Milan for international publications. I actively pitch your work because I believe sustainable design deserves the spotlight. My strike rate is consistently high, and this service is included - not an expensive add-on.
05. Cost-sharing makes premium photography accessible.
Cost-sharing allows architects, builders, designers and suppliers involved in a project to share the creative fee for a shoot, while each party pays the same licensing fee. This means everyone receives full usage rights, and the more collaborators involved, the lower the total cost per party - saving anywhere from 20–60% compared to commissioning the shoot alone.
06. I have two brands, with one mission: making the built environment nature-positive.
Through the Marnie Hawson photography studio, I document sustainable design that shows what's possible. Through the Business of Biodiversity, I help businesses take practical steps beyond carbon accounting to actually support nature. Together, these brands make it easier for the industry to deliver buildings that are genuinely better for nature.
07. I only shoot projects that matter.
I work exclusively with clients advancing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals - sustainable architecture, green infrastructure, regenerative landscapes, climate solutions, and biodiversity conservation. I don't shoot anything else because these are the most urgent issues of our time. You're not just designing buildings and gardens; you're creating spaces that respect natural systems and support human wellbeing. I document this work because it matters, and every image helps others see what responsible design looks like.
08. I'm here for the long game (and putting my money where my mouth is).
Sustainable design isn't a trend - it's the future. I've built my entire practice around supporting this shift, and I'm so committed that I'm planning to build my own small, nature-positive Passivhaus on a large conservation property. When you work with me, you're partnering with someone who doesn't just photograph sustainable spaces - I'm investing in creating one myself. I understand that today's high-performance buildings are tomorrow's standard, and I'm here to document that journey while living it too.
Podcasts
I've spoken on podcasts talking about finding your purpose, how I often stand in the kitchen wondering what the point of life is (don't we all?), sustainable architecture, validating performance, being held accountable, and creating meaningful impact over just profitability.
