Sera and Jane have been delivering Byron Beach Santa together since 2018. But how did it happen?
The Rainbow Connection : 24 years on
The creative Christmas photography service Santa on the Beach between producer Jane Saunders and photographer Sera Wright had its seeds 22 yrs ago when Jane lived just doors away from Sera’s grandmother Nola Wright in Kingsley Street Byron Bay.
In 2001 Jane interviewed Nola along with her social network of Byron Bay ladies for the documentary Byron Rainbows. Jane had lived next door to Meryl and Nola Wright for 3 years and was intrigued by their lives in Byron Bay and surrounds throughout the generations.
The documentary Byron Rainbows covered the ladies experiences of life in the bay from the late 1930’s – early 2000’s.
Fast forward to 2018 Jane met Sera, a 4th generation Wright and professional photographer via admiring Sera’s coastal Byron Bay Photography on Facebook – it didn’t take long to figure out that Sera was the granddaughter of her old neighbour and documentary subject Nola.
With Sera specialising in coastal photography a collaboration quickly ignited for Sera to join the Byron Santa on the Beach team – a fun Christmas portrait project to celebrate Christmas and our gorgeous coast at the same time.
Byron Santa on the beach commenced in 2016 as a fun hobby project between preschool parents Jane, Dani and Lyndal. Sera joined in 2018 to share her photographic talent to create awesome Christmas photos for Byron families on the coast so loved by the Byron Rainbows.
The kids that visit Santa on the beach love the idea that Santa knows and enjoys a swim at their own favourite local beach. Parents also love not having to drive up or down the highway for a Christmas photo and in being able to create a beautiful memory that captures their coastal lifestyle.
There are challenges too! Namely LaNina! and having to schedule around the wind and rain – but the stunning photos are always worth it in the end.
Saunders said: Nola and Meryl Wright and all of the Rainbow Ladies ( who are mostly past now – Most recently Terry Grey in August 2022) were such gems and became great friends to me when I arrived in Byron in 2000 – just by chance of being neighbours. I was blessed to have met them, to hear and then be able to share their stories. In 2004 The Rainbow Ladies gifted me a beautiful crocheted blanket as thanks for the film work. To be working with Sera now – 20 years later is a remarkable continuation of that friendship.
View: Sera Wright on instagram
