Fine Art Photography

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 take an editorial approach to my fine art photography work. I’ve been shooting editorial stories for women’s fashion magazines for over 25 years and so draw a lot of influence from this background 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 session to cover more involved setups for Boudoir Portfolios 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 compliment 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. 

I work on an individual basis with each client

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 - as you get to keep all your images.

Your work also includes artistic nude photography. Can you describe your approach?

I find fine art and 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.

Price Guide

Fine Art Portraits 

Your individual session includes a variety of looks created within a selected location or in my Sydney studio located in Mosman NSW. Included are a set of individually graded high-resolution image files from which you can make prints from. Set aside 60 mins for this session. 

Session plus a set of 50 image files - $890 + gst

Fine Art Portfolio 

A customised shoot that provides for more detailed set-ups. Having a longer session allows more time to get creative. You also receive more detailed direction in terms of posing which is particularly good for full length and body shots. Set aside 90-120 mins for this session.

Session plus a set of 90 image files $1,390 + gst.

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 studied fine arts at the University of NSW Art & Design in Sydney. Within the course I also studied painting and film making which had a profound influence on my photography. I was later commissioned to create editorial stories for fashion magazines, including Not Just Black & White which published monthly features on nude celebrities. 

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 themseleves 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 does n’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 over come 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.