How Fiona Sexton Found Her Niche as Australia’s Leading Allied Health Photographer

“Action builds confidence. You don’t start with it - you earn it, one small step at a time.” - Fiona Sexton

From Physio to Photographer: The Pivot No One Saw Coming

When Fiona Sexton enrolled in a photography diploma in early 2020, she thought she was simply following a creative curiosity - a side project to complement her years as a physiotherapist.

Then the world stopped.

Three children at home. Homeschooling. Studying full-time. And somehow, in the quiet chaos of lockdown, a new career began to take shape.

Photography - once her weekend meditation - became her calling.

“I’d always loved capturing landscapes,” Fiona recalls. “But as I started learning, I realised I wanted to explore what photography could mean as a business.”

That curiosity would soon connect her past life in healthcare with a future in visual storytelling.

Starting from Scratch

Like many women building businesses through the Origin Woman Network (OWN), Fiona began with equal parts enthusiasm and overwhelm.

“There’s so much you don’t know,” she laughs. “So I just took it bit by bit. Learn one thing. Try it. Learn the next.”

Armed with determination and a spreadsheet, she started knocking on doors - literally.

One day she walked into a local osteo clinic with a handful of brochures and walked out with her first client.

“They told me, ‘We were just talking about getting photos done.’ It was one of those serendipitous moments that made me realise I might actually be onto something.”

That single shoot became the seed of a business that would soon grow - fuelled by courage, community, and connection.

Claiming Her Niche

At first, Fiona photographed everything - families, food, branding, headshots - testing what felt right. But again and again, her Allied Health background drew her back to clinics, practitioners, and wellness professionals.

It wasn’t until an OWN retreat that the pieces finally clicked.

“Kath and Mira said, ‘You already know your niche. You’ve lived it.’”

Still, claiming it out loud was terrifying.

“What if it’s too small? What if I lose clients?” she remembers thinking.

But over time, the opposite proved true. The more Fiona leaned into her identity as an Allied Health Photographer, the more her business flourished.

“I realised I wasn’t narrowing my audience - I was finally speaking directly to them,” she says. “There’s an Allied Health clinic on every corner. My job was just to help them find me.”

Today, Fiona proudly calls herself Australia’s only specialised Allied Health Brand Photographer - a title earned through clarity, courage, and community support.

The Power of Picking Up the Phone

Some of Fiona’s biggest business breakthroughs came not from strategy, but from action.

Last year, she ran her first Facebook ad campaign - a big leap in both investment and visibility. One of the entrants happened to be an osteopath and business coach hosting an event that weekend.

Instead of waiting for an email reply, Fiona picked up the phone.

That call led to an event shoot, which led to multiple collaborations, new clients, and eventually, an invitation to photograph a national physiotherapy conference for more than 400 clinic owners.

“All of that came from one phone call,” she smiles. “Sometimes you just have to act before you overthink it.”

Growth Through Community

Through her time in the BAR Series and the wider Origin Woman Network, Fiona has become known for her calm focus and steady momentum.

“She’s the definition of momentum,” says Kath Clarke, OWN Co-Founder. “No drama. No ego. Just clear, consistent action - and a commitment to doing business the OWN way.”

That grounded approach has positioned Fiona as a mentor within the community - guiding other photographers and business owners to trust their process and grow at their own pace.

“Not everything happens at once,” Fiona reflects. “It’s taken two years of small steps to feel confident saying what I do. But each phase mattered - learning the tech, building experience, finding my clients. It all added up.”

What’s Next for Fiona Sexton Photography

With her rebrand complete and a steady stream of clients, Fiona is now building systems to support her next wave of growth.

Her Brand Essentials and Brand Elevation packages offer Allied Health professionals everything they need to elevate their brand photography - from visual strategy to storytelling.

To celebrate the launch of her new website, Fiona is offering:

👉 A free Brand Essentials top-up session (1-hour shoot, 15 images) with every Brand Elevation Package booked between July and September.

“It’s perfect for teams who might need an update six months down the track,” she explains. “New staff, new services - it keeps everything fresh and aligned.”

“If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do - just start. Action creates confidence.”

Beyond the Business

For Fiona, the transformation goes far beyond the camera.

“It’s given me a new sense of purpose,” she says. “I feel proud that I built something from scratch - and that my kids see me doing it.”

From homeschooling to headlining, Fiona’s story is proof that clarity comes through action, not perfection - and that when you claim your lane, the right opportunities find you.

You can connect with Fiona on Instagram at @fionasextonphotography or meet her at the Amplify Festival on August 7, where she’ll be part of the official OWN photographer team capturing headshots and behind-the-scenes moments.

Final Note

In the Origin Woman Network, we talk about showing up and radiating.

Fiona Sexton doesn’t just show up - she leads the way. 🌿