Season's Greetings

Merry Christmas to you all.

Monique's unique look, sleek body and stunning hair feature in studio fashion shoot

My latest studio fashion shoot with Monique Kathleen and makeup artist Charlie Tredway yielded so many  great images that I was yet again burning the midnight oil working them up.
I prefer to do most of my creative work in camera, and don't retouch images to any major extent.

Singer Songwriter Series features new original music talent in Australia

Recently I shot some images of artists at Singer Songwriter Series, a search for original emerging artists, a contest held in Sydney's Metro venue.

Gillian Cooper's style is what I'm looking for in a model

I feel a little spoiled shooting so often with great models, but as I've put in my request for some sunshine next week, stay tuned for the images I'll share.

So Sarah Murdoch has also noticed that so many wannabe models are lazy whingers

While catching up on local news this morning I saw this little story relating Sarah Murdoch's experiences as Australia's Next Top Model host and producer. She is quoted as telling Australian Women's Weekly "I've never heard so much whinging and as for work ethic, I don't know where that's gone"
Sarah's other quotes that resonated with me included references to "do you not realise who you are working with...and the leg up you've been given" Most photographers working with the latest crop of "models" comes across this problem often, usually from girls that basically do little more than just reflect light, then stand back demanding and whinging all kind of things. Well, I hope Sarah takes the opportunity to drag these precious princesses into the real world, via the door. As I've often said, "some people please us when they come, others when they go"

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sarah-murdoch-cant-find-model-workers/story-e6freuy9-1226199890602

Years ago, when I shot with Sarah, it was obvious why she was well on the road to success. Apart from being gorgeous, and infected all around her with her enthusiasm, Sarah was also a consummate professional, working through that particular days challenges delivering the goods we were there to produce. Well, girls, you can see for yourselves where that got Sarah.

Black is Beautifull still holds true

I had been thinking for some time that I should contact Asha O about shooting, but only now found the motivation to make the time. Yes as I've often said, I think time + motivation = having the time. But having said that, we all know that there is much that contributes to our motivation, ahh the modern world is not as simple as we would wish. So recently I planned a beauty shoot with make up stylist Michael Halder, and started the process not only to create some beauty images, but to see what I could do with Asha, what she is like, and what drives her. Here you will see some of the images from that day in my studio, very diverse images, as I explored what and who etc. My favourite so far is in the Fashion section of my website.   Now with added new images are from a recent location shoot.

Redheads, part of my eternal search, can't get enough of gorgeous redheads

While searching for hair models for an upcoming campaign, I came across Monique, a redhead with long red hair almost down to her waist. Monique's sculptured face and strong presence flooded my mind with even more images that I need to "get on film" Seen here are some images made in the back streets of Ultimo while out sourcing the garments for the studio shoot a couple of days later.

After discussing the direction and the looks I was aiming for with Charlie Tredway, the Makeup Artist, we started on a visual journey that has been rewarding and exiting. It's on the first shoot with a new model that I start to get a feel for her or him, and can work on getting that emotive essence that seperates each of us.

Local babe Gillian Cooper struttin' her swimwear body at Narrabeen Beach

After shooting the client's beauty products on the sand, I thought we should use the last rays of light to shoot some frames for Gillian's website and book. It was getting cooler but Gillian perservered and her enthusiasm reminded me why I love shooting with her.

Modelling Fashion Portfolio shoot of Sophie

I first found Sophie rehersing for a local Fashion Designers runway show and dragged her off to do a test shoot that very day. At day's end after a studio and location swimwear shoot, she has come back for more.

New Zealand shoe designer Kathryn Wilson launches her shoe range in Sydney

Kathryn Wilson, New Zealand's creative shoe designer launched her contemporary range to a select few media fashioistas at Tokonamu, in Surry Hills, in a sensual candlelight setting. As you can see here some sexy yet stylish designs that span from slinky flats to sexy stilletto boots and even stylish mens shoes form a great part of her latest contribution to the local luxury shoe market.

Stylist gets in front of my lens

I have wanted to shoot Liz since I first laid eyes on her, but like so many makeup artists, they prefer the relative safety of the shadows rather than the limelight. But now she relented, as long as I made some sexy images of her. Did I ask "why now?", nope, I employed the age old tradition that I have subscribed to for as long as I can remember.....shoot first.... ask questions later!

As I'm now working on a project to shoot and document the people who work behind the scenes, I will soon be able to give all these creatives a brief insight to what it's like to be in the spotlight. I expect the experience to be illuminating in some way for all of us. Stay tuned, all will be revealed.

Shooting Lingerie for Fashion Advertising

Gillian Cooper, one of my fav lingerie models

/>

Turning it around, making the most of a bad day's weather

Again the weather turned bad, this time with raging cold wind as well. But once in the mood to shoot, shoot I must! Knowing the area, I moved us out of the wind and got on with turning a bad afternoon into good images. Of course I had been down this road before, so after digging into our bag of tricks for some suitable threads, we aimed for a better end to the day than looked possible earlier. All good soul food.

At the charity reunion I contributed some of my images from those good ol' days for the slide show

When Joy asked me to contribute to a nostalgic slide show, I started to dig up what I could. although a couple of disasters including a burst water main, had destroyed much of my archive of images, I did get a few together.

                            Margaret Werthiem, one of the Werthiem twins for POL Magazine

                                                      Georgia Rielly for Clairol hair colour

                                                            Joybell for Clairol hair colour

                                                               Jill Goodall for MODE Magazine

                                          Jill Goodall shot in Sydney CBD for MODE Magazine

                     Michelle Martin shot for her comp card, one she used successfully for five years

                                       Deborah Hutton for John Serafino Designs Double Bay