Nostalgia for Old Buenos Aires

In the first few decades of the twentieth century, Argentina’s capital city was celebrated for its affluence, elegance and movie-style glamour, the ‘Paris of South America’. Buenos Aires has been the subject of months of research and writing for this photographer, as well as the inspiration for street photographs in Argentina and a fashion shoot in Australia.

Of course, there is a lot more to the turbulent history of this place, evident in some of the journalistic-style shots I took on my travels. However, for the Perth-studio and Melbourne-location fashion shoots, I wanted to remain ‘nostalgic’ for the classic beauty I saw in Buenos Aires… even if it’s somewhat faded in the 21^st century.

Thanks to my beautiful models Rhyannin and Andy for their hours of work with me on these and other shoots, and to talented artist Laura, who assisted in the Melbourne shoot.

See more of our art photography

Do your business photos need a reality check?

The Do’s and Don’ts of Photographs for Your Business

Are you still using TIRED OLD STOCK PHOTOS on your website and marketing material? Or a profile photo from 1985? Are your images saying polished, professional and modern… or dated and corny?

Some common photo mistakes businesses make:

• Using American stock photos for an Australian market
• Using a very old profile picture that no longer looks like you
• Using a non-professional profile picture, such as you on holiday or on your wedding day (just because you looked nice)
• Using photos taken on an every day camera by someone on your staff (maybe it’s ok for Facebook but for your website and brochure?)

The above mistakes are common but they say you don’t pay attention to detail or think about your market’s needs. It’s important to make sure that the photos representing your business:

• Accurately represent your brand. Do you want to say polished and professional, fun and quirky, relaxed and approachable…? Whatever your message, you will always want to say ‘We pay attention to the details.’
• Appeal to your target market. Subtlety, creativity and clever humour works well in Australian markets.
• Are up to date. There’s nothing to put a prospect off balance like seeing a photo of you and then meeting someone who looks completely different in real life. Sure, you want to look good in your photo but you also should look like you. After all, there’s no-one quite like you!
• Are professionally taken. Did you know that product photography is a slow, fiddly and highly technical process? Slapping a product down on the table and taking a quick pic with your phone’s camera is NOT the same thing. Did you know that professional studio lights can make you look your absolute best? Or that certain expensive lenses are needed to create the effects you see in professional photos, like that lovely soft focus that blurs out a background?

Photographs are not just a record of something but also ‘say something’ about you and your business. The photos below were taken for Philipa the Virtual Personal Assistant. The colour image says her brand is quirky, fun and approachable. It gets your attention because it’s different and it has a high energy to it. She’s busy and she’s on the move. The black and white image says professional and creative. It is also an image with ‘punch’ that will get attention.

Professional photographers know how to create the mood and message you are wanting to project.

Photography for your website and marketing material need not be time-consuming or costly. New Work Photography provides a 30 minute CREATIVE CONSULTATION which includes an image health check for your website, profile picture and marketing materials and some great photo ideas to get you started. This in-person consultation is just $75 and it’s obligation-free, plus if you book your photography with us, your consultation fee is credited towards your photo shoot. Not only that, but if you are less than 30 minutes from Perth we’ll come to you.

To book or find out more visit www.newworkphotography.com

3 HOT Ideas Stretching Event Photos Further

You are planning a big event and want photos that will record the night… but how about photos that will WOW your guests and help them remember your event for a long time after? What about photos as an experience, photos as a gift, and photos as valuable marketing material?

Here are some unique services NEW WORK PHOTOGRAPHY provides to stretch the value and impact of event photography.

1. THE STYLE SHOOT: Photography as an experience they’ll remember

Imagine a party where the guests are dressed up and ready to have fun… and enter to find a photographer’s studio set up, ready to take their glamour portrait.

Style Shoots break the ice and create an atmosphere of either VIP glamour, or just plain fun and laughter, depending on your theme! Guests at cocktail parties or charity balls feel like movie stars, while guests at a costume party will enjoy getting into character with fun props and backdrops provided by New Work.

2. PHOTO RESTYLING: Photography as a gift to wow your guests

You’ve chosen photos of your team, your guests or your clients that you would like to gift to them, either in digital or print format. Maybe you’ve also chosen a photo to blow up and print for your home or office space. Having the images restyled in black and white, vintage or poster art can be a wonderful surprise for the recipient and will make your event stand out from the crowd.

3. PHOTO BRANDING: Photography as a powerful marketing tool

Since you’ve paid for professional photography at your corporate event, why not stretch the marketing value further by having your photos branded with the event name and date, or even have your logo attached! These images can be used in social media and email marketing campaigns, as well as in brochures and other printed material to demonstrate what your business is all about.

Best of all, New Work’s packages always include a CD of images in high and low resolution so you can use them again and again in print and online.

Find out more or contact us to discuss how we can help make your event hot news!

Adventures in the city

One photographer’s wanderings in Melbourne

My Melbourne holiday was a chance to switch off, hang out with family and friends, spend time wandering alone and going on little creative adventures! While there I did a lot of journal writing in cafes, research at the beautiful State Library and the Immigration Museum, sipping wine at tapas bars and reading or just daydreaming, visiting art exhibitions and of course… a lot of walking and photographing!

Here are some street shots, as well as shots from visual artist Laura Delaney’s Post-Grad exhibition opening, taken during my Melbourne trip.

At the NW Fashion & Photo Night

Everyone dressed to impress at the NW Fashion & Photo Night on 10th March 2011, an evening of glamour, creative expression and networking organised by New Work Photography.

Canton Lounge Bar was the perfect setting, with a stylish lounge, exceptional service and food and drinks flowing. The red carpet was rolled out to greet guests and later doubled as the runway for the Caldi Design fashion show.

The show featured classic and new garments from up-and-coming Mt Lawley designer Caldi Design, looking to Australia’s Autumn, with both muted and bold colours in a range of edgy styles. The garments were complemented by jewellery by local designer HM Sass, and suede ankle boots by Betts. Hair and make-up styling was by Changing Faces Makeup, and among the models were those from WA’s own Cantik Models.

Guests also enjoyed an exhibition of art and fashion photographs by New Work Photography’s director Julissa Shrewsbury, with proceeds of sales going to the Global Good Foundation, a local charity empowering women from backgrounds of domestic violence. The guests were also treated to New Work Photography’s signature Style Shoots, a glamorous form of entertainment using photography. To top it off, some lucky guests received beauty prizes from Eve Organics.

Check out some behind the scenes, runway and Style Shoot photos below. If you had your Style photo taken on the night, for a limited time you can view the gallery and choose images to purchase here. You will need the password emailed to you!

Exploring the dark side

We recently completed an art photography shoot with the lovely model Rhyannin. This shoot was the first in a series of a black and white study inspired by watching crows in the suburban landscape. The shoot was a combination of fashion and art photographs.

Shot in black and white in bright sunlight and often purposely under- or over-exposed, these images hold an elusive quality hinting at darkness or displacement.

Limited-edition prints of art photographs not available online will be sold at the NW Fashion & Photo Night to raise money for the Global Good Foundation, empowering women from backgrounds of domestic violence.