Keran Barrett
Speciality: Horticultural Journalist, Freelance Garden Writer, Researcher & Stylist
I have a fairly unique set of skills that give me versatility and diversity. Initially I worked within wholesale and retail nurseries, landscaping and indoor plant hire companies. This provided me with a good mix of hands-on experience with plants. Having graduated from Ryde TAFE as a Horticulturalist, I combined my organisation skills and travel background with plants, and entered the world of publishing as part-time researcher for both ‘Women’s Weekly Garden Guides’ and Better Homes & Gardens magazine (just before the TV show started!)
For the past 17 years I have written for a variety of gardening magazines and books on a wide range of topics - most recently Readers' Digests 'Complete book of Herbs' book and regular issues of 'Your Garden' magazine. I’ve worked both as the in-house Sydney-based staff journalist with ‘Your Garden’ magazine, and as a freelancer writer for magazines such as 'Better Homes and Gardens' (turning TV scripts into extended magazine articles), NGIA website - and feel I have a professional understanding of publishing processes and timings.
Abilities include:
- Finding photography locations to illustrate a variety of seasonal articles.
- Sourcing plants, products and props and styling shots for studio or outdoor location shoot with or without a theme
- Taking a topic, determining ‘step-by-step’ processes and translating it into a photography shoot for magazine or book illustration
- Understanding the 'big picture’ of layout, space for headings, captions etc and overseeing photography shoots.
- Turning a TV script and research notes into an extended magazine article.
- Writing for a variety of publications which results in constantly updated knowledge as I research and learn from experienced industry professionals with specialised horticultural businesses or gardening knowledge.
In addition:
- I’ve lead garden tours to New Zealand and England for Ross Garden Tours and assisted a tour in France (2006-2007).
- I was responsible for the formation of this website.
- Currently I'm updating the new series of 'Gardening Made Easy' cards, collectable by mail order instalments.
Location: Sydney NSW
Mobile: (02) 8405 7981
Email: Keran@FreelanceGardenWriter.com.au
Website: www.FreelanceGardenWriter.com.au