Heartwood Timber

Traditional timber framing, custom building, and education

Josh of Heartwood Timber is a traditional mortise and tenon timber framer and a true craftsman. He creates structures and homes designed to last for generations, shaped entirely by hand with no nails or screws.

This was my second time working with Josh, and a privilege to document such a rare craft. There are very few people in Australia working in this way, and even fewer with Josh’s depth of knowledge and care. His work sits at the intersection of building, engineering, and artistry.

This brand photography and videography project was created to show not just the finished structures, but the process behind them. The slow, considered work that transforms raw timber into something that will one day hold a life and a story.

 
 

The Project

The work was captured across several shoots.

The first was a photography session in Josh’s workshop, creating portraits and detail imagery of him shaping wooden pegs by hand. Each peg is shaved until it fits perfectly into place, using simple tools and a wooden horse. No electricity, just skill.

The second set of shoots was a larger photo and video project documenting Josh and his crew raising a barn-style timber frame on a rural property. This was designed to show both the scale of the work and the collaboration involved, while also supporting future timber framing workshops.

 
 

the process

This project unfolded over weeks, requiring flexibility and close communication. I timed visits to capture key stages of the build as they emerged.

The workshop portraits were created using a mix of natural and studio light. The on-site build was captured entirely in natural light, responding to changing conditions and the pace of the crew.

Some of the most powerful moments were the smallest details, hand-shaped pegs, visible chisel marks, and the contrast between massive timber beams and the open landscape beyond. Work that is deeply human, and impossible to replicate.


Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson
Brand photography for Heartwood Timber in Wandella, Bega Valley photographed by Honey Atkinson

Why This Project Matters

What draws me to Josh’s work is its uniqueness. In a world increasingly driven by automation and replication, this is work that cannot be copied. It’s deeply human, deeply skilled, and shaped by decades of learning. Every cut, every mark, every join tells a story.

There’s also a personal connection. Josh has built the exposed timber trusses that will sit in the living room of our own home. Having seen his process as a client, a collaborator, and an observer, I understand his work on a very deep level. To live alongside something you’ve watched come into being by hand is incredibly special.

As a photographer and videographer who works closely with makers and craftspeople, this project resonated deeply with me. It was about honouring process, time, and care, and creating personal brand photography and video that truly reflects the heart of the work.

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