Based in Albany, Western Australia, Kate Jefferies travels the vast Great Southern region as a rural sales consultant for Ray White Rural WA, often clocking up thousands of kilometres in a single week. She thrives on the long drives along dirt backroads, where the land itself becomes part of her work.
“It’s not uncommon for me to do up to 2,000km a week when I’m busy, and I spend a lot of time on the dirt backroads, which I love,” she says, capturing both the scale of the region and her commitment to connecting buyers with the properties she represents.
Growing up on a farm gave Kate a unique perspective on land and the families who care for it. She has learned to respect the deep ties people have to their properties, understanding that many farms carry generations of history.
“It has given me a deep respect for the land, the people, and the strong emotional bonds between the two. Many of the properties carry generations of family history, and I’m very conscious of representing it properly and navigating the emotions that come with selling a farm with empathy and consideration.”
That connection also allows her to see potential beyond what’s visible, identifying opportunities for future growth or development that might otherwise be overlooked.
Photography has become an integral part of how Kate brings rural properties to market, and she realised early on that the way a property is presented can completely change buyers’ perceptions. Rather than outsourcing images, she began photographing each listing herself.
“Photography has always been my way of telling the story of things that aren’t always noticed straight away. I realised quickly that the way a property is captured can completely change how it’s initially perceived by potential buyers,” she explains.
By taking her own images, Kate ensures that every listing is treated with care and a personal touch, reflecting its unique character rather than relying on generic visuals. Over time, her photography has developed a recognisable style, forming a sort of “brand within a brand” that complements Ray White Rural WA. Buyers and vendors often comment that her images feel more personal and authentic, and this consistency has helped her build a strong social media presence that enhances each campaign.
Drone photography and videography have added another dimension, allowing Kate to capture depth, scale, and perspective that ground-based images cannot convey. These tools also let potential buyers experience the property before they even visit, which is especially valuable in regional markets where travel distances can be significant.
Kate’s dedication to getting the perfect shot goes far beyond the technical. Pre-dawn starts and golden-hour captures are routine, and she often makes multiple trips to ensure conditions are right.
She recalls one morning when she and colleague Cassie Lamont set off in the dark for a two-to three-hour drive, eventually four-wheel driving down a sandy beach track to capture sunrise images.
“It’s so important to capture a property in the best light to do it the justice it deserves,” she says, reflecting a commitment that blends patience, creativity, and respect for the land.
This approach extends to highlighting unique features or hidden gems that make a property stand out in the rural market.
Being self-taught has given Kate a distinctive, honest style that prioritises authenticity over polished commercial imagery.
“I’m not so guided by what everyone else is doing, but what I see in front of me and how I think it should be represented. That means my images are a little less ‘produced’ and have an honest realness,” she says.
Photographing each property herself allows her to develop a deep understanding of the land, tailoring campaigns to suit each property’s individual story while ensuring that every detail is thoughtfully captured.
The long, varied days of rural real estate are familiar territory for Kate, honed from her farming background. She integrates photography seamlessly into her workflow, seeing it as part of the job rather than a separate task.
“I see photography as part of the job, not separate to it. Yes, sometimes the days are very long, but when my vendors see their property online and say, ‘It looks so good I want to buy it,’ it makes it all worth it.
“Having farmed for so long, I’m used to days being long, varied and unpredictable,” she says, showing how resilience and adaptability developed on the farm continue to serve her in real estate.
For Kate, the combination of rural expertise, photography, and personal storytelling makes her work rewarding on both professional and personal levels.
“Every week I get to explore new places and meet new people. It’s the best; every property presents something different and constantly pushes me to learn new skills and find new ways to showcase properties,” she says.
“I love that I get to handle every aspect of my real estate listings and I wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s the farm girl in me – where there’s a will, there’s a way!”