The First Hello Project is a collaboration by a team of photographers & filmmakers.
OUR STORY
FOUNDERS/
River Bennett & Anabel Litchfield
It was late one night on a couch in Sydney, Australia, Bel and River were having a glass of wine. They started talking about bucket list moments in their photography journey.
Bel had captured two births and shared that is was one of her favourite experiences behind the lens. Not long after, River was invited to photograph and document a birth. Riding the high of that stunning experience, River and Bel began conversations about starting a long form project capturing births. This is when The First Hello Project was born.
Since launching, Bel and River have grown a team of photographer and filmmakers, across Sydney and Darwin. Together, they have had the privilege of documenting some of the most incredible moments in birthing suites and homes across Australia.
Meet the
Team
River Bennett
Founder & Photographer
River has a passion for motherhood, humanity and the arts in all it's avenues. Her love affair for photography started after being handed a camera while her three boys were only babies. Capturing and documenting their lives made way for her to do the same for her clients. She is passionate about telling real life stories through powerful images.
River has become a renown Australian portrait and interiors photographer, writer and freelance photo journalist. She has been made a finalist at the City of Sydney’s Australian Life Competition and her work is showcased at riverbennett.co. She is also co-founder of The First Hello.
River lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband, Joel, and three boys, Zion, Rome & Knox.
SYDNEY/
GADIGAL
Bel Litchfield
Founder & Photographer
To Bel, all the world is a story in need of being captured. She's been found with a camera in her hand for over 18 years — while also working in other creative roles including art director, graphic designer, brand strategist and artist.
Becoming a mother herself, lit her heart on fire and has since fuelled her passion to photograph life in all its vivid colour and intensity.
She has been made a finalist at the City of Sydney’s Australian Life Competition 2022 & 2024, and the Australian Photography Awards 2023. More of her photography work can be viewed at anabel.com.au, shooting a wide range of subjects. She is also the co-founder of The First Hello.
Bel lives in Sydney, Australia, with her daughter, Sunday.
SYDNEY/
GADIGAL
Philippa Bartley
Photographer
Philippa loves being invited to tell people’s love stories, their intimate moments in life. So capturing birth as part of The First Hello team is a great thrill that she's always eager for.
"I couldn’t have asked for a better job in this life. I love what I do & hope to capture your story."
She is a much sought after wedding & lifestyle photographer at philippaenid.com, which she owns and operates.
Philippa lives on the central coast with her tribe, Michael & their littles, Stella and Brooks. When she’s not documenting peoples stories, you can find her surfing, rock climbing or on some kind of outdoor adventure!
CENTRAL COAST/
DARKINGJUNG
Sam Viglione
Filmmaker
Sam gets excited by the significant moments she gets to capture but her passion lies in the fact that the moments captured get to be re-watched and re-lived through her films. She considers it a privilege to document life’s most precious moments and couldn’t think of a better way to spend her time.
Sam owns her videography business, Bloom Films with her husband Isaac. They have found a joint passion for capturing the beautiful moments in life — the ones that you never want to forget.
When she’s not filmmaking Sam enjoys family time with her husband Isaac and sons, Jasper, Spencer and Levi.
SYDNEY/
GADIGAL
Gillian Keough
Photographer
Gillian fell in love with birth photography a many years ago when she was asked to shoot the birth of an old client. The honour of the request and the overwhelming joy of sharing those intimate and precious moments, will stay with her forever. Since then, she’s become a vibrant part of our team and continues to capture these special moments for our First Hello families.
Gillian is also a freelance photographer, whose work can be seen at gilliankeoughphotography.com.
In Gillian’s spare time, she is a keen artist, cook and advocate for health and well-being.
SYDNEY/
GADIGAL
Asher Lilley
Photographer
Asher’s love for photography was passed down from her grandfather and mother. She would spend hours looking through albums of their lives. She loved how photographs enabled her to relive moments she wasn’t there, or for moments that had become fuzzy.
Since picking up her own camera at 13 yrs old and taking self-portraits on her block in Humpty Doo, she has built a reputable portrait photography business in Darwin where she resides with her family and very cheeky sausage dog.
Birth photography had been a pipe dream until she was asked by her best friend to capture their birth. Since then, she has become passionate about capturing birth stories for families and empowering women on their journey to motherhood, no matter how it looks.
DARWIN/
LARRAKIA
Annie O’Brien
Filmaker & Photographer
Annie has always been a lover of the light. She finds so much joy and beauty in watching how it changes through the day.
Annie’s superpower? She’s a fly on the wall and she loves to let moments unfold naturally. Her passion lies in creating photos that feel like YOU. Photos that you can look back on in 20 years and still bring you right back to the joy of that moment.
Annie also has her own photography business called storiesbyannie.com.au.
SYDNEY/
GADIGAL
Courtney Collis
Photographer
Courtney grew up in Sydney, enamoured with design, the outdoors and photography. She moved to Darwin in early 2023, with her fiancé and her camera in hand.
Having a background in wedding photography she wanted a different experience, connecting to people. She now photographs families, motherhood, couples and births over on thephotojournal.info.
For her photography has been beyond rewarding, capturing moments that hold a space in the heart.
Courtney is also a new mum, to Bellamy Beau.
DARWIN/
LARRAKIA
