Fine Art Portrait Photography
For those drawn to beauty, intimacy and timeless artistry, Kiren creates fine art portraits in Sydney that combine the sophistication of fashion editorial photography with the emotional depth of art-house cinema.
Working from his Mosman studio, selected Sydney locations and natural-light settings, Kiren creates intimate photographic series.
With more than 25 years of experience across fashion, editorial and portrait photography, his approach is highly professional yet relaxed, creating an environment where you can let go of the camera and simply be yourself.
“ There is something uniquely beautiful about loosing oneself in the luminosity of a face or the tonal landscape of a torso.”
Can you describe your approach to fine art, artistic nude and boudoir photography?
Having spent most of my life working as a fashion photographer I draw a lot of influence from this area, particularly when it comes to creating visual stories. I’ll create a series of images that are woven into a loose narrative and photograph the subject at a location such as boutique hotel or in a casual studio setting with natural light. I find this is more comfortable for people who are new to having their picture taken. I also have a selection of outdoor settings in Sydney for people who relate more to being out in nature.
I’m very much drawn to authenticity, so providing people with an environment where they are comfortable enough to be themselves is an important part of the process.
As many people will be new to the experience, I provide step by step on-camera direction and wardrobe advice. Basic portrait sittings for individuals take around an hour. There are extended sessions to cover more involved setups for Boudoir Photography and for various location shoots.
Have you any preparation tips?
Clothing is a personal choice however I recommend wearing an outfit that is going to complement your physique and work with the overall theme of the shoot. If your aim is to look slim wear darker colours. If you’re undertaking a portrait with a partner consider a look that will work for both of you. If you wear make up, only wear as much as you would during the day. Have your hair cut a week beforehand to give it time to settle.
Your work also includes artistic nude photography. Can you describe your approach?
I find fine art and artistic nude photography is a way to celebrate the human body without the usual labels and attachments we carry. In a sense it’s the ultimate expression of freedom. Being nude is the most natural state we can be in but for numerous reasons including cultural conditioning many of us are either shy or made to feel ashamed of our bodies.
It’s important that the sitter feels confident enough to switch the critical mind off. That’s that part of them that is always saying “I’m not good enough, I’m too this or that”.
From a creative perspective, much of my work is in black and white. Black and white allows us to remove ourselves from the ordinary. Unlike most other genres of photography there is something quite extraordinary about transforming the human body into pure form and shape.
How are your pricing structured?
Unlike commercial portrait studios, I just charge the one flat fee as opposed to a session fee followed by a viewing session with a sales person where you have to purchase each image separately. You receive a full set of images. This saves you having to make difficult decisions about which images to buy and which to let go of.
PRICE GUIDE
FINE ART PORTRAIT
$890 includes gst
A refined portrait experience for creating a small series of intimate, expressive images.
60 minutes
Multiple looks
Studio or selected location
Curated collection of high-resolution images
FINE ART SERIES
$1,490 includes gst
A more immersive photographic experience for creating a cohesive body of work.
90–120 minutes
Multiple looks and settings
More extensive creative direction
Studio, location or outdoor setting
Curated collection of high-resolution images
What draws people to undertake a fine art portrait?
I’ve had people come to me for a wide range of reasons. Some will undertake it as a creative project or as a form of artistic expression - there is a real sense of desire and allure around this type of photography. Some will be doing as a romantic gift for a partner. Others will be doing it for themselves or as an exercise in self-acceptance. Whatever the reason, nearly all come away from the experience with a certain sense of empowerment. Whether intentional or not, I think it’s a way of allowing ourselves the opportunity to feel comfortable in our own skin.
When did you first start taking fine art portraits?
I completed a Fine Arts Degree majoring in photography at the University of NSW Art & Design. Within the course I also studied painting and film making which had a profound influence on my photography. I was later commissioned to create celebrity portraits and editorial stories for fashion magazines Vogue, Harper Bazaar and Not Just Black & White.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
A lot of the inspiration for my photographic work, not just Boudoir comes from film. I’ve always been inspired by French cinema, particularly from the New Wave era. I love the black and white nostalgic look of Jean-Luc Godard or Truffaut. I’ve also spent a lot of time in France. I find the appoach to art in general thoughout Europe tends to be a lot more subtle and internal than what we see in Australia. Other inspiration comes from painting, particularly artists who use window light such as Vermeer.
Have you advice for women who are particularly body conscious? Don’t you have to be a model to look good in these types of photos?
A lot of the time the thing that draws a person to an image or what they find beautiful about a photo of someone very much comes down to the subjects energy and their ability to be themselves in the picture. Feeling beautiful or sexy is very much a state of mind regardless of your age or your dress size. It’s understandable that people who have never worked with a professional photographer are going to feel a little awkward at first. I find it doesn’t take long though before they start to let go and discover the fun and expressive side to all this.
I’ve been commissioned over the years by magazines such as New Women to undertake nude photo shoots around the theme of Body Positivity. Ironically what we found is that one of the best ways to overcome body sensitivity is to actually partake in such an activity. Interesting enough when asked, the hardest part for most people was not the shoot itself but the anticipation.
Planning a Fine Art Portrait?
Let's talk about your ideas, what you'd like to create and whether the studio, a private location or an outdoor setting is right for you.