Meet Chantal
Who am I?
Hi, I’m Chantal, I’m a certified Professional Photo Organiser and a qualified Professional Organiser, and above all that? I’m someone who believes in the power of stories. They say a picture tells a thousand words, and I believe sharing photographs, and the stories that go with them, has the power to connect people through a celebration of legacy, history, and of course stories.
My story begins in a valley, surrounded by forests and farmland, at the foot of a Swiss mountain. As a child, I loved nothing more than helping my mum organise our home. My childhood dream was to grow up to be just like my patient and practical mum. My dream came true. Switzerland is a country renowned for accuracy, discretion and efficiency. I am imbued with these very Swiss qualities and since the start of my career I have drawn on them every day. Initially after leaving school I trained to be an executive assistant, I then completed a Bachelor of Business Administration and I worked within the Swiss financial sector.
I became a mum myself and, when our children were aged one and three, my husband and I were given the opportunity to relocate our family to Australia. We seized the opportunity and moved to a beautiful, but bushfire prone, area of Melbourne. It was a wonderful new start, and I launched a professional organising business whilst balancing motherhood.
In 2009, like all Australians, I witnessed the horror and the devastation of Black Saturday. Seeing whole towns destroyed made me realise the importance of protecting family photographs. I was inspired to pursue specialised training in photo organisation. You know when you just click with someone – or something? As soon as I began my training, I knew I had found the perfect fit for me.
Recently, I returned to Switzerland to organise my mum’s extensive photo collection. As we worked side by side, sorting, scanning and storing, my mum told me stories about many of the photographs. We have always been close, however sharing her photos and their stories created an even deeper connection. It was an experience I’ll never forget.
Honour your own stories and tell them too. The tales may not seem very important, but they are what binds families and makes each of us who we are.
– Madeleine L’Engle
How can I help you?
Drowning in photos feels incredibly overwhelming- I know the feeling. Technology can be daunting and the risk of losing your photos can feel completely terrifying. Armed with my extreme level of care and attention to detail, I will bring order to your photographs, take the time to understand you and your reality, and empower you to maintain your photo collection.
You see, photographs give us the ability to overcome time and distance, strengthen family ties and even shape identity. I would love to help you experience this for yourself through a well-organised photo collection. Together, we will return your photographs to your life so that you can share them with your family, now and into the future.
When I feel overwhelmed, I follow the advice I give my clients: start today with a small step. I would be honoured if you choose to take the first step by contacting me.
