Anna Hubble – Seeing the Northern Beaches from Above

Sometimes, the most unexpected things take flight. For local drone photographer Anna Hubble, what began as a spontaneous road trip moment quickly transformed into a passion, and now, a growing creative business.

Originally from the UK and now happily based on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Anna’s love for the ocean and the outdoors has always run deep. But it wasn’t until her brother handed her a drone during a family trip to Western Australia that everything clicked, literally.

“I’d always followed Drone Shark App on Instagram and was fascinated by the marine life they were capturing from above,” she shares. “But I never thought I’d be flying a drone myself. That changed when my parents came to visit, and we road-tripped from Perth to Esperance. My brother brought his drone, and once I had a go, I fell in love with it.”

After returning to Sydney, Anna borrowed her brother’s drone and started uploading her photos to a small Instagram page for family and friends back home. That account has since evolved into @annahubbledrones - a visual love letter to the coastline she now calls home.

“I didn’t plan to start a business,” she says, “but people started asking if they could buy prints, so I’ve been working on making that possible. It’s just grown organically from there.”

Learning to fly wasn’t as technical as it sounds, at least not at first. “My brother taught me the basics, and luckily, he trusted me not to crash it. I think the best way to improve is to keep getting out there and flying. Even when I’m not capturing anything, it’s therapeutic just being by the ocean.”

That sense of peace and presence runs through everything Anna does. Whether she’s capturing crystal-clear shots of Dee Why Ocean Pool at sunrise or tracking the humpback whales migrating past Long Reef, her work reveals the quiet magic of the coastline — the kind of beauty you miss when you’re not looking from above.

“We don’t have ocean pools like this in the UK,” she laughs. “If we do, they’re not quite the same vibe. As an ex-swimmer, discovering how many are dotted along the coast was such a joy.”

Although she won’t reveal her favourite hidden spot, “I think locals would appreciate me keeping that one a secret!”, she lights up when talking about finally capturing whales with her drone. “I’ve loved whales ever since visiting Hervey Bay years ago. So being able to film them from above recently was pretty special.”

Despite having no fixed schedule, Anna tends to fly by instinct. “I don’t plan shoots. I go out for ‘me time’ and if I catch something, that’s a bonus. The light is always best early or late in the day.”

The local response has been warmly encouraging. “Everyone’s been so lovely. I’ve had some amazing conversations with other drone photographers and curious locals. One reel I did of Dee Why Pool during Cyclone Tam really got people’s attention.”

Outside of her photography, Anna works as a physiotherapist at a local aged care facility, a connection she hadn’t expected to merge so beautifully with her creative work.

“I show my photos to the residents and it sparks so many conversations. Some can’t get to the beach anymore, but seeing these familiar places from a new angle really lights them up. It’s a reminder that photography isn’t just visual, it’s emotional. It connects people.”

That sense of connection is what keeps her going. “Drone photography shows us patterns, textures, and moods we can’t see from the ground. It deepens our appreciation for where we live. I think it makes people fall in love with the coastline all over again.”

For now, Anna’s happy simply flying and sharing her images. She’s made her prints available for purchase and has her eye on upgrading to a DJI Mavic 4 Pro someday, “the shots from it are incredible,” she admits.

And yes - she’s still trying to name her drone.

“I feel like it needs something space-themed because of my surname, Hubble. I mean, it’s capturing vast landscapes and big skies… it definitely deserves a name soon.”

To follow Anna’s journey or purchase prints, connect with her via Instagram at @annahubbledrones