KIMBRA KRAFT TIME: Designing the Backdrop for her 2012 headline USA tour...

Backdrop Illustration by Jose Vigers

Earlier in the year, whilst on Kimbra's video set for her single Come Into My Head, I was asked whether or not I could help collaborate on something visual to add another stage dimension for her US tour. Always up for a fresh challenge I gladly accepted! We needed to create something with colour, depth, imagination but also practicality. It would have to be packed up every evening and because each venue had different stage measurements we had to have some flexibility. Detailed, durable and easy to compact. So it was decided that we would create a beautiful backdrop to extend upon the world created by Kimbra and her band. They're all pretty stellar musicians, so I felt the pressure to do something cool!

'Stay Hard' - Jose Vigers

NON, JE NE REGRETTE RIEN: Who doesn't love a moody atmosphere...

LAUREN MOODY @ VIVIENS

Hello gorgeous creatures! How are you? I've missed you! 
It's been a while since we've sat down and had a little chat together so I thought I would put on a little bit more of a show this time! We all know I'm a big fan of drama so I thought we would do something a little more quirky... a little more unusual... a little more Thom Kerr perhaps?

ABOVE:

Gail Sorronda polka dot button up
Vintage hand painted skirt, tutu and head scarf, stylist's archives

LIFE SKILLS 101: Time to concentrate!

Hello my beauties! I've been really bad with the blogging, I know! I cannot explain to you how much everything has been changing in the last month or so. It's been one of the busiest times I can remember as a photographer - but also equally as exciting. To keep you up to speed I've recently been appointed the Australian editor of Black magazine. I love those guys - they have been very supportive of my career ever since I interned with them six years ago. Making coffees and sweeping floors. We all start somewhere baby! I take pride in working with the magazine and I'm really excited for you guys to see the next issue and all the fresh content. It's going to be ridiculously amazing!

Sapphire @ DALLYS

Some of you may have seen the shoots I've been doing with kiwi super babe singer Kimbra. I've had some of the pictures pop up in places like Teen Vogue and Interview magazine (one of my absolute favourites in the world!) which I'm immensely proud of. I've also been contacted by more international  artists wanting to work with me, so it's been a delicate balance of slowly finishing up my workload and preparing for a big relocation soon. There were so many things that I wanted to shoot these last couple of months but I simply ran out of time! There will be more opportunities I'm sure!

Sapphire @ DALLYS

SPHINXES WITHOUT SECRETS: My Alice McCall Campaign

Winter has finally arrived in the great land of down under! I've been freezing it up in Melbourne as of late spending a little time hanging out with me, myself and I. We all need a little down time occasionally... Now that I've had a chance to slow down I wanted to finally share with you guys my Alice McCall campaign images. Featuring the always engaging Kaila Hart from Chic, I employed the services of my favourite girls, Lauren McCowan on hair and Jovita Lee on makeup. We shot at this amazing prop house where we sourced these fabulous statues. Click here to see a behind the scenes video put together by the very clever Dan Moon. I'm very happy with the final result. 

Working with Alice was great because she really encouraged me to really let loose creatively with the concept. I think she's been a great client who seems to understand the importance of creating hyper unique imagery that can captivate an audience. I think the market is so saturated with repetitive imagery at the moment that it feels like a breath of fresh air to see these images which are more like pop art then advertising. And if you happen to live in Melbourne or Sydney, get along to one of the Alice McCall stores to see these glorious images as giant billboards. Even more fabulous in real life darling!

TO BE OR NOT TO BE: Shanna is the question!

Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you some beautiful pictures of the intriguing Shanna Jackway from Pride Models. I always love my Adelaide adventures because there's a wealth of fabulous new faces to work with, some of which I'll be sharing with you shortly. You may recognise Shanna from her recent appearances in Australian Vogue, Russh and one of my personal favourites, Black Magazine.

I'd heard wonderful things about Shanna via kiwi photographer David Shields so when the opportunity came up to shoot together I setup a studio with the ever charming Becca Gilmartin on makeup and Ashleigh Janssen on styling. Shanna truly is a unique beauty who not only has massive potential, but the calm approach required to keep a steady focus in this somewhat chaotic business! And I think the final pictures speak for themselves!

FRESH FLOWERS: Arts & Crafts time...

Several months ago I sat down with Becca Gilmartin, the fabulously talented makeup and body artist, to have a brainstorm session with her. A particular brand had approached me about wanting me to create some unusual pictures and I thought it would be fun to incorporate her body art. We set a challenge to try and create movement within the visual illusion which we hadn't seen in body art photography before. So up we got at the crack of dawn to buy some fresh flowers, then back to the studio to paint the lovely Liliane Pearl who generously lent us her lovely long limbs. We started by painting her blue, then Becca etched this beautiful tree on her back with branches extending from each human arm. We then created a cap made out of real petals and proceeded to photograph Liliane holding the flowers from different angles whilst a wind machine blew the petals to create the movement. The final result is the visual puzzle you see before you. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it. Sometimes it's fun to step away from the world of fashion!

PS: The birdy on the shoulder is real, courtesy of the pet shop!

PROUD AS PUNCH: It's Fresh Face Time!

Laura

Hello my lovelies! Sorry it's been so long since I posted... Everything got really REALLY busy there for a while with everything coming at once! I'm super keen to share with you all that I've been working on... My latest campaign has launched for Myer Miss Shop and Pedestrian TV, I've got an Alice McCall campaign which will be hitting the streets shortly and I'm finishing up my first film which has led me on an unusual personal journey over the last few months. I also have wonderful new representation which I will be sharing with you shortly. All in all, it's been one of the most challenging periods of my life, but also one of the most rewarding, as I've learnt that you discover a lot about yourself and those around you in the process of chasing your dreams. 

As always I've been travelling around the country and this time have ended up in Adelaide, working with a bevy of beauties from Pride Models. I've had an amazing time, being treated to some wonderful South Australian hospitality, and I'm excited to share with you some of the dynamic new faces that peaked my interest! Starting with these two beauties... Laura above and Sedale below. 

Laura reminds me of those cool eighties french beauties that you see in old school Vogue. At only 14, she already has a lot of international interest but there's no rush as she's in the development period and I'm a big believer in taking your time when it comes to modelling. 17 year old Sedale captivated me with her aboriginal heritage and her exquisite baby doll features. She moved beautifully in front of the camera, and I can't wait to share with you her other pictures. I think she's definitely one to keep an eye on! My partner in crime during this trip has been makeup artist Becca Gilmartin who provided these sensational beauty looks. Perth used to be known as the place to find amazing models, but with all the unique new faces emerging from Adelaide it looks like the game is beginning to change. And as I always say, there's nothing wrong with a little healthy competition! 

Sedale

DANGER DANGER: Nicole Pollard - high voltage!

When I first met the strikingly amazonian Nicole Pollard from Chic I got the distinct impression that she's quite the street wise beauty. Repped by Next in the big apple, she returned to our shores from an exceptional New York fashion week debut, booking twelve shows no less. A great response for someone dipping their toes in the international market. Beyond the hype though, you can see that her take on what seems to be a blossoming career is done with a steady focus and appreciation for all opportunities presented. You'll be seeing a lot more of Nicole over the next year, and hopefully so will I! In the meantime, here are a couple of snaps to get you in the mood. Styled by the uber talented Sarah Birchley, a rising style talent in her own right, and beauty by resident genius Lauren McCowan - the pictures reveal the fiery spark that Nicole delivers to the lens. Bam!

VIXEN EYES: Olivia Thornton - The New Heartbreaker

During the course of 2011, over many industry gossip sessions with my girlfriends, I was amazed by how many straight girls seemed to have a crush on Viviens face Olivia Thornton. She seems to be the thinking woman's beauty! That said though, I'm sure the same spell is cast over the various men who cross her path! I spotted her for the first time in the flesh working it at the Jaime Lee runway show at Sydney Fashion Week, then enjoyed reading her model diary for Pedestrian TV. 

Both of us are originally from Queensland, so when we managed to escape our various families over the silly season, we got together to take some pictures which I'm very happy with. I'm surprised she hasn't shot for Vogue or Harpers yet, but not surprised to discover that she's recently signed with DNA models in New York. 2012 will be your year Olivia - you are one very cool lady! A special thanks to Lauren McCowan for providing sensational hair and makeup as usual, and the uber lovely Sarah Birchley for styling! Make sure you follow all these talented babes on twitter - and add me while you're at it!