Angela Butler (Coote, Class of 2005)
Deeply influenced by the Art and Photography department as a student, Angela Butler became the founder of Rolling Stills (photography company). Now, Angela lives a thrilling life, capturing stories through her lens.
Penrhos Memories
In her role as Sport Captain, Angela Butler (Coote, Class of 2005) led the Penrhos sporting community to victories in swimming, athletics, cross country, equestrian and rowing. She especially loved the early mornings rowing on the river. Winning the First VIII race was a standout milestone for her.
Beyond the sporting field, Angela loved the energy of Dramafest and was hugely influenced by her engagement in the Art and Photography departments.. Upon reflection, Angela comments that achieving a Subject Exhibition in Photography played a huge role in her the foundational confidence to pursue a creative career.
Angela's Professional Journey
Angela is now a Western Australian commercial photographer and the founder of Rolling Stills. In recent years she has been documenting the soul of regional Australia, specialising in tourism, regional storytelling, and brand photography. She often collaborates with her husband Jacob “Shakey” Butler, a mural artist. Angela balances a thriving creative career with life on the road, raising their two young daughters along the way.
Since leaving Penrhos, one of her major highlights has been creating an art trail across regional Australia with her husband, and their children. More recently, she has stepped into a role of R.M. Williams ambassador, travelling to regional events across Western Australia to capture stories of people and place.
Overcoming challenges
Angela said "In terms of journey, there have definitely been challenges along the way. One of the biggest was learning not to wait for opportunities to come to me. At one point, I realised that if I wanted to create meaningful work, I had to go out and find it myself. It taught me resilience, confidence and the importance of backing yourself, even when things feel uncertain."
So, Angela took charge of creating opportunities. She packed up her house, bought a caravan, and hit the road as a family. At the time, her children were just two and four years old. With her husband, often having to fly out for work, it would usually just be her, the girls, a 3.5T caravan and her camera.
Angela wasn't afraid to put herself out there, reaching out to communities, station stays, council and local events. "It felt a bit like ongoing job hunting, with plenty of 'no’s' along the way. But then you’d get a 'yes', and with it came the most incredible stories, genuine connections and life-changing moments. That’s what made it all worthwhile."
“Give everything a go. When you find a passion, follow it wholeheartedly. Seek out mentors, like the legendary Geoff Fisher, who I met through schoolwork experience, and don’t be afraid to start from the bottom. Learning both the craft and the business from the ground up is where the real value lies”
Angela's photography
