Melbourne-based photographer
Welcome, I’m Shava Cueva.
Photographer Creative Values-Driven Melbourne-based
I help ethical brands, cultural projects, and conscious businesses tell their stories through honest, natural photography. My work is rooted in sustainability, plant-based culture, and visual storytelling that feels real, personal, and purposeful. I focus on food, product and documentary photography.
How I Can Help
I offer:
Brand storytelling photography for cafés, creative spaces, and ethical businesses
Cultural and editorial projects (like Bebidas de Oaxaca)
Stock imagery available for licensing via Stocksy
Collaborations and visual consulting for aligned projects
You can bring my work into your space, buy some prints in my store.
Work With Me
Storytelling photography for brands, cafés, and creative spaces that care in Melbourne, Australia.
Fine Art Prints for Slower Living
Bring stillness, texture, and light into your everyday space.
Each print is a quiet invitation to reconnect with nature, with handmade materials, and with what really matters.
Thoughtfully printed on museum-quality, FSC-certified paper using 12-color giclée technology. Available in multiple sizes.These art prints are available worldwide.
1. Essentials Session $350
A simple, clean session to get you beautiful, on-brand images.
2. Brand Story Session $680
Tell your full story with visuals that show your process, space, and values.
3. Full Creative Day $1350
A deeper, more flexible collaboration for conscious brands or content creators.
These packages are designed for brands in product, food, and architectural spaces, but I’m also open to working with other values-aligned businesses. If you're in a different niche, I’d be happy to create thoughtful, professional photography tailored to your needs.
These are not just clients; these are brands and projects I connect with and believe in.
The brands, projects, and spaces I photograph reflect values that matter deeply to me. Health, sustainability, products, studios, mindful nutrition, and the thoughtful design of spaces that inspire connection and harmony.
Click the link to explore some of these collaborations and see how I bring these values to life through photography.
What Clients Say About Working With Me
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“Working with Shava Cueva has always been a great experience for La Tequila Cocina de México. He’s a true professional, passionate about his craft — always focused and committed to excellence.”
Mexican Restaurant La Tequila
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“Shava is a joy to work alongside. He has an amazing eye for the details and is very talented. Professional, committed, and has great turnaround times — from concept development to final photos. I’d work with Shava again in a heartbeat.”
Lakitos food strip rolls
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“We’ve worked with Shava Cueva on several occasions, in different places and settings, and the results always exceed our expectations. He’s a photographer who captures the soul and passion of the people behind the brands. His work goes far beyond just product photography.”
Tequila Ocho team
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![Visual storytelling for artists, makers, and creatives—Kilnfolk photography series captures the mood and purpose of a working studio.]()
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![Hand holding a green ceramic mug against a background of palm leaves.]()
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![A photo series captured at Meet&Gather, a bright and welcoming coworking space in Richmond, Melbourne]()
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![A plate of traditional Mexican chiles en nogada, garnished with cream sauce, pomegranate seeds, and parsley. Nearby are cheese and fig pieces on a wooden board, and pomegranate segments on the table.]()
La Tequila Mexican Food
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![Modern living room with concrete walls, large windows, gray sectional sofa with decorative pillows, wooden coffee table, potted plants, and outdoor view of green foliage.]()
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![Mexican cuisine ingredients and preparation, including cherry tomatoes, avocados, cheese, lettuce, spring onions, tomato sauce, tortillas, garlic, fresh herbs, and topped enchiladas.]()
Alimentos y Salsas de México
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![Expert Photography for Architecture, Food & Sustainable Brands – Melbourne Australia]()
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![High-Quality Photography for Hotels, Cafés & Sustainable Brands – Melbourne, Australia and New Zealand]()
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![Premium Plant-Based & Product Photography for Conscious Brands – Melbourne & Australia]()
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![Capturing Ethical Brands, Architecture & Culinary Art – Melbourne & Australia]()
Siento 11 Apartment
The combination of Oaxacan art with modern touches gives the apartment a unique character and essence.
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![Visual Storytelling for Sustainable Food, Ingredients & Design – Melbourne & NZ]()
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![Bringing Ethical Products & Hospitality Spaces to Life – Melbourne, Australia and New Zealand]()
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![Specialised Food, Product & Hospitality Photographer – Melbourne, Australia and New Zealand]()
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![Expert Photography for Architecture, Food & Sustainable Brands – Melbourne Australia]()
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![High-Quality Photography for Hotels, Cafés & Sustainable Brands – Melbourne Australia]()
Sustainable Food & Lifestyle Photography
What I Believe
Visuals should feel as real as the story behind them
Food is culture and culture is identity
Small, ethical brands deserve high-end creative support
Creativity is a tool for care, connection, and resistance
I no longer photograph products or foods that harm animals, people, or the earth
Photography focus on health and plant based living.
Working with brands that prioritise sustainability and real, natural ingredients is what inspires me and brings me joy.
I’m also deeply focused on my book and project, Beverages of Oaxaca: Sustainable Food & Lifestyle Photography, which explores the rich cultural heritage of traditional beverages through storytelling and imagery.
Based in Melbourne, Australia
My focus is on collaborating with brands that create with intention and make a positive impact on the planet, from cafés and restaurants to ethical spaces.
Based in Melbourne, Australia, I capture honest, authentic stories of brands creating meaningful change.
If your brand is making a positive impact on people and the planet, let’s connect I’d love to collaborate!
Beverages of Oaxaca project
I am the author of Beverages of Oaxaca, a book which documents the preparation process of 87 traditional beverages in photographs and interviews.
For 13 months I traveled around the state of Oaxaca taking pictures and videos, conducting interviews and learning about this region.
The contents of the book display beverages from all over the state, including a variety of cacao, fruit and herbal based drinks, tepaches and atoles.
My Personal Collection
This gallery represents how I perceive the world and what captivates me the most.
Each project has been a dream projects I could do every week without needing to be paid because it’s what I enjoy most, what fills me up, and what makes me happiest. Observing the details of nature, colours, textures, and how they change with light and shadow, not only in landscapes but also in building patterns.
Fine art prints inspired by light, texture, and the natural world.
Bring stillness, beauty, and a sense of place into your everyday space.
Each print is a quiet invitation to slow down and reconnect with nature, with materials, with what matters.
Available in multiple sizes and printed on museum-quality, FSC-certified paper using 12-color giclée technology.
Discover prints that carry the same calm and care as the moments they came from.
Blog
I use writing to reflect on the evolution of my creative practice, the values that guide me, and the choices that shape my work as a photographer and storyteller.
If you're curious about my journey, past and present, you’re welcome to explore the stories below
Explore more of my work and past interviews about my photography projects in this section.
