Location photographer. Getting behind the scenes. Showing off the secret, and not so secret, treasures of the world.
2020 Reflections...
Looking back on 2020 for me. And my plans for 2021.
2020... a shitty year for humans - but a year that wasn't so bad for me. My heart does go out to all that have been badly affected this year; ill-health, lost loved ones, lost jobs/homes/relationships, mental health issues, or separated from loved ones. Also, to the parents that were locked up at home for months with their children. Oops, did I say that...
We have all experienced so much anxiety, sadness and negativity - I want to focus on some good things. There are always some positives.
I remember seeing those images and footage of our world when Covid locked us down - and how the world started to recover. Animals were wandering the street, pollution lifted, cleaner waters... I remember hoping that we could not forget about our negative impact and retain a little of that after our lockdown, but I'm not sure we have. Or will. Seeing these images was heartwarming, and I saw a positive in those scenes.
Other good stuff this year...
Two multi-day shoots to Flinders Ranges and Outback with awesome people.
I went with a client and friends I love, and we had so many laughs and adventures. I came back very tired but loved every bit of discovering more of our state.
Majestic flights over Flinders Ranges and the outback as part of those Flinders Ranges and Outback shoots.
Early morning flights over Arkaroola and Wilpena Pound. I tell everyone that if possible, they should see the Flinders Ranges by air. The wow never leaves me. We also flew from William Creek to a unique parcel of land at Anna Creek Painted Hills. An area that reminds me of the Painted Desert near Coober Pedy but more special. You can go there exclusively with Wrights Air.
Multiple trips to Kangaroo Island for work.
Since our lockdown and travel restrictions eased I seem to be heading over to Kangaroo Island a lot. Big thanks to people who have recommended me and assisted with the shoots. Everything from shooting the bushfire affected Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail to the super beautiful and comfy Hamilton and Dune holiday homes at Emu Bay.
A weekend in Darwin with friends.
Going here was like going overseas. Nearly. Such a different climate, different landscape, and a city I haven't visited since I was 18. An afternoon at Litchfield swimming, dancing at night and munching on yummy indigenous food under frangipani trees. Just a little different to life in Adelaide for me.
A work trip to Brisbane and Gold Coast just as Covid was getting ugly - but I made some fantastic contacts.
I met some amazing clients from this trip and met with the tourism industry council (who unfortunately was already struggling with mass closures due to Chinese tourists not coming) and caught up with friends. I was also recommended to join Australian Travel Writers Society as a photographer. I have now made some fantastic friends, presented a workshop for the society members, and got to know the best travel writers. I also had a brilliant night out Latin dancing at Cloudland - I'm getting used to going out alone.
All the love I received from the La Bomba latin dance community on my 40th - a YouTube video and lots of presents delivered on the day.
I had a massive weekend of birthday celebrations planned - a dance party, dining at The Salopian Inn, a stay at The Mayfair, an afternoon celebration at Never Never Distilling Co. But of course, we were in lockdown. So I was home alone - well, with the kids. And then I got a knock at the door. There were two beautiful friends with a porch full of gifts. We drank wine, chatted and laughed for a few hours - all very socially distanced (one each side of the driveway, me at the porch).
Developing friendships and learning to be more open (it's a big learning curve!)
I have loved getting to know new friends this year and opening myself up. I've always had a diverse group of friends, but my inner circle is small. Learning to be open, express myself and take chances...
Created my stock photo site - and have sold images.
Something I have always dreamed of doing. But the time commitment (which is massive) and the knowledge that it's likely an investment that may not have much of an ROI stopped me. Well, no shoots, stuck at home... it gave me an excellent excuse to start it. I have already sold some images and am now looking at how to promote it further. I have created it in a way that will be very valuable to clients and tourism operators who need a library of images for social media - but without the hefty cost of doing shoots all the time.
First campervan holiday.
Wanderlust. I do indeed. I love the idea of owning a VW Combi so I can travel the roads, surf, rest, and explore with freedom. I have camped, caravanned and glamped but never before done it in a van. And it was fun! I came back, wanting to buy one for myself. That is yet to come, I may not. But I will be booking another road trip adventure in a van soon.
I bought a cat.
When the kids told me that RSPCA needed to home their cats because of Covid, they probably didn't think I'd act on it. And neither did I. But I bought a cat. My $40 little cat cost me a lot in the first couple of weeks, with multiple vet visits for an infection. He has kept me happy during the lonely weeks, made me laugh and get angry, and kept the neighbourhood entertained with his adventures. His name is Randall. I've now learnt not to stand at the front door calling him home by his nickname 'Randy'.
When Covid hit us in Adelaide, I sat and wondered what I could do if I couldn't be a photographer. I'd been in business for 16 years and only thought about this a few times in all those years. I was concerned that if we couldn't travel, then I'd have no work. I had no idea how long we would be in lockdown for, so even location photography (I'm not a studio photographer of any means) locally was off the cards. I did worry and spent time thinking about what skills I could draw upon in a new job. Thankfully, our government helped us with Jobkeeper, and I could continue the work I love.
Work started again quite quickly when state travel restrictions eased but in the meantime, the time at home gave me...
Reflection. On who I am and what I need to do and learn to be a better me.
More time on the beach. A place I love. I took 10km walks each day and simultaneously admired and got annoyed with all the people who were now on the beach.
Rest. I keep myself very busy, and being stuck at home allowed my body to regenerate. I have to remember how I felt back then and apply it sometimes still now.
Time with my children. I am fortunate not to have to work a 9-5 pm job; I can take the kids to and from school and take time off in their holidays. Usually, I have lots of time with them. But not having anywhere to go and schedules to keep meant we could relax. I didn't enjoy all of it - homeschooling was very hard. And being alone with two children 24/7 is not glamorous, but it was nice not to have to tell them to get out of their pyjamas.
Good stuff for 2021...
Interstate trips to meet with new clients - starting with Queensland in early February.
Shoots interstate.
A holiday in WA and Cocos Keeling Islands.
My 41st birthday which I am going to celebrate like my 40th.
Developing closer friendships (and someone to love and share my life with).
Helping SA tourism continue to tell their story.
Inspire people to discover and adventure - live life.
Continue my learning about ME.
Surf, dance and adventure as much as I can.
Stay in some more SUPER BEAUTIFUL and LUXE accoms...
Keep focused.
We don't know what our future holds; however we can, and do, create it. Without plans, we wander. Sometimes that can work, like when I'm travelling, but I want to make the most of my life. Not saying I stick to the plans, but at least I know the direction I want to go. I'd hate to be stuck on that roundabout and not know what road to take.
How to use photography in social media
What are the top five do's and don'ts of social media? Let's ask a pro.
One of our lessons in Better Pics for Business was Social Media and the use of photography within it. I asked Tania from bizeez communications for her advice. I think her top five 'Do's and Don'ts are worth sharing with you.
Tania has 30 year’s operational and consultancy experience in Australia and the UK ranging in hotel management, employment, and wine. Through her Barossa based creative agency, bizeez communications, Tania can assist tourism, hospitality and wine business’ grow by way of powerful PR, marketing, web and social media solutions.
Tania is a respected blogger and commentator on modern marketing trends for the wine and tourism sectors and has gained a reputation as an entertaining and knowledgeable digital marketing specialist and trainer. She provides current information, evokes discussion, makes technical terms easy to understand and delivers practical actionable outcomes.
Tania launched bizeez communications in 2010 and has since worked with numerous business owners and marketers needing assistance with modern marketing and communications strategies including wineries, food brands, chefs, restaurants, accommodation providers as well as industry specific organisations throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Top 5 Do’s (or Don’ts) for using pics on social media.
1. Number one rule is Use them! If you’re posting across any of the major social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn and yes even Twitter – use great photos to promote your brand. Visual assets are an essential tool for communicating your brand’s story, and it’s reported that you have a 4 x greater chance of interaction with imagery than a text only post. So imagery in your marketing strategy is extremely important.
2. Don’t steal others’ photos. User Generated Content is fabulous and really should be part of your content marketing strategy, but there are some important rules to remember and one is, don’t steal! Ask if you can use imagery on your social networks. Never think that because a photo is on the internet, that it can be used for your own purposes even if it’s your business.
Also, according to a study comScore undertook in 2015, brand engagement rises by 28% when consumers are exposed to both user-generated imagery and brand created imagery. So definitely do consider UGC in your content marketing strategy - just do it ethically and legally.
3. Mix it up – you don’t have to use just a photo. Use a photo with text overlayed for inspirational quotes, blogs, etc.
4. If you’ve gone to all this trouble and taken fabulous photos, then created great visual assets, feel free to brand them. If they go viral (i.e. get shared across the internet), then people will be able to seek out your business because they know where the original imagery was created.
5. Avoid cheesy stock photos in your marketing. People want to see your business – not some notion of what it could be. There is a place for generic stock photos for sure, but if you’re promoting your own business, don’t use stock photos of another establishment.
To see more of what Tania does head over to www.bizeez.com
A weekend away at Seawall Apartments Glenelg
After hanging out with the good folk at Seawall so much over the last year, updating their gallery of pics, I finally manage to stay. Purely my fault for taking so long.
A weekend of working ON the business, coffees and a wine or two. What an awesome place to hang and create. The beachfront room, with private balcony just adds to the awe factor. With The Glenelg precinct just minutes away (by foot) it would be easy to spend all day out, but I am so comfy watching the world go by, rugged up with glass of wine in hand on the balcony or comfy sofas inside. Oh, it's a hard life. Thanks to my cousin Shaya from The Family Law Project for laying the hard q's on me, and getting a different train of thought started.
Www.thefamilylawproject.com.au And of course, www.seawallapartments.com.au
Simple portrait
Sometimes people just don't have the budget to hire a photographer. Be it for personal use or for business use. There are some simple ways of getting a better photo that you can employ - point and shoot, iPhone or with a DSLR.
Though I don't normally photograph babies, I love it when I do. My friend and I do a contra of services. This photograph above was shot just inside a wall of windows. And that's it. We lay a white sheet or rug down as the background, put the aperture down to f2 or something similar, and shoot away.
How to do it yourself?
Get your set ready in front of an area that has a lot of light coming in from a door or window.
Put a heater on if it's cold. Baby will be happier.
Lay baby as far away from background as possible. This will minimise what is in focus in the background. A good way of disguising creases and dirty marks while drawing attention to baby.
Get in close to baby, as close as the camera can focus.
Focus on the eyes.
Get someone to help with getting babys attention. Baby likes noises, clicking, colour, talking, and a book swished in their face, the breeze making them smile. Go with whatever a newborn wants - not much you can do here.
Baby doesn't always have to smile. Some of my favourite images are those where baby is screaming or looking disgruntled.
Use an editing program - there are a host of free and paid ones around - to crop, edit colour or make the image black and white. Have fun with it.
This technique can be applied for business portraits, or simple product shots that don't have a reflective surface. Perhaps exchange the clicking and baby talk for recounting funny stories and jokes, or asking the person to think of their favourite things. Think holidays, yachts, winning the lotto, relaxing...
For more interest, turn the subject side on to the window. It creates beautiful three dimensional light.
And remember, light bounces in all directions. If the side facing the inside of the building is too dark, get a white/gold/silver board, sheet or similar object and put beside them, facing towards the window. This will bounce light back in on their face.
