John Hay first met Andrew in 1996 on assignment for Gourmet Traveller magazine. Andrew loved John's work, and when he decided to start work on a manuscript for Outback, John was the first person he contacted. Over a weekend of food and wine in Andrew's courtyard at Jamieson, John suggested that they immediately head outback and shoot the photos. This was before pen had touched paper!

John Hay has been photographing food for over 30 years. As well as Australian Gourmet Traveller his corporate media clients have included magazines like the Qantas In-flight magazine. He has worked on projects for food manufacturers like Bertolli Olive Oils, Kraft Foods, and publishers like Lonely Planet Guides, Weldon & Owen, Allen and Unwin, Periplus Editions (Singapore) and ABC Food Book and Television productions.  John has received critical acclaim for his prolific work on food books. Titles he has worked on include Cakes in Bloom by Anna Von Marburg, Stephanie’s Australia by Stephanie Alexander, New Food by Jill Dupleix and Good Food for Men by Gabriel Gate.

John is at present lecturing at the University of Victoria in Melbourne Australia on commercial photography.