Creating the Editorial Story - White Lights And Dark Knights

I'm glad I keep a selection of images from photoshoots I like from over the years in a, Fashion, Editorial, Modelling all-in-one general folder on my computer, so that every now and again; I come across images that I know have never been made public. I also like that I have blog posts that were made at or near the time I did some of those photoshoots as they often contain snippets of information about the work that I have long since forgotten. And yet these details were an important part of why a final picture ended up looking the way it does today. The White Lights and Dark Knights editorial is a perfect example of this. I shot three fashion stories and several portraits for issue 3 of Le Magazine. One story was a collage collaboration with a photo artist. Then there was a more straight forward studio shoot; which regardless of how good it looked I ended up spending a lot of time in post finessing to bring out it's more ethereal qualities. Then there was this story White Light.. which; after we had shot the pictures, changed direction almost entirely!!! Now this is something that never usually happens.

We had worked quite intensively on all the shoot concepts and planning; the how, what, where, when. This one was initially conceived as a shoot that could use patterns either projected or dropped in using Photoshop. We decided Photoshopping the pattern in after would be the simplest approach but; for reasons I can no longer recall the pattern concept went right out the window. (Was it a Florence Broadhurst concept that ran into a rights issue?) Clearly there was something about what had been planned in the vintage aspect to the styling, that started me thinking about the Russian Constructivists. Their use of geometric shapes and primary colours as a possible alternative to the  type of pattern idea we had started with. So the concept that we ended up with started out with me proposing a series like the red square and oblique lines image that I prepared above. But this did not seem to hit the mark for the magazine so we moved on... continued below.

Whilst doing my research on the Constructivists I started falling in love with the period portraits of the artists that I was seeing (now there's a recurring theme in my photography..) Shots of the pavilions they had built for exhibitions and the posters they produced for their shows. By this time we had already shot the images with model Sammy Raine against a basic white background and, thinking Constructivistly I dug out some night shots of the super structure of the Sydney Harbour Bridge that I had taken years earlier with my trusty Canon Pro1 top of the line Point-and-Shoot.. back in 2006!

This concept was given the go ahead and then it was just down to me doing the most complex image compositing I had ever done. On the plus side, being inspired by Russian Constructivism collage works by El Lissitzky and ‎Alexander Rodchenko meant that the pictures should not be perfectly rendered into the background. The original opening page is above, below are the original images without magazine text along with some of the pictures as they were made before becoming part of the collage images.

Sammie and I having a Monroe Moment..

Outtake from original series.

My concept and working title for the opening of the story.

The vintage inspired garments from Mrs Press combined with the slightly crazy Vivien Westwood shoes, the old stole from Coco Collectables. It all works perfectly against Sydney’s largest Art Deco structure the Sydney Harbour Bridge! After lifting model Sammy off the white background (so to speak) and dropping her over the night bridge scenes , post processing was mostly about blending B&W layers to deliver our Constructivist; now a little bit Film Noir feeling final images. I'd like to think that all the artists from whom I found my inspiration would be happy with the way the final images turned out. Even lovely Florence the unseen idea that got us started; was known to like women and design a little on the edge.

Model, Sammy Raine
Styling, Rhiannon Bulley
Hair & Make Up, Lisa Sciberras

To book your photoshoot, simply call or email Kent now!

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Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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Male Modelling and Stressed Denim, Menswear Fashion Photography - Sydney Australia

Studio & location content creation and campaign shots for jeans label Gallivant. These shorts were made for the launch a new jeans label, to open doors and land distributors. We had UK model Mark from Viviens and he was absolutely fantastic and has an amazing attitude toward his modelling work. Thanks Mark, you rock! And thanks to Gallivant too; it was quite a wonderful shoot. Grooming was provided by Lisa Sciberras.









Ready to book your photoshoot, simply call or email me now!

Book Me Here

Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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Emma K. Video Headshot.

My first ever video headshot, its only about 6 seconds but it is on a loop so you can enjoy it over and over again. More shots from the shoot coming soon, and maybe another video headshot too. The video was made as part of Emma's 'Look Out World - Here I Come - Pro Modelling Package' which we shot in my Sydney studio last Friday. I think this will become part of the studio package in the future. Thanks Emma for doing such a great job on her first ever photoshoot. Need a modelling portfolio or headshot? Just click here for details or drop me a line kent@artcommunication.com.au.

May not load on a mobile device! So take a look next time you are on your lappy or desktop. Scroll down for the still shot.

The Still headshot we created at the time  of making the video.

Call me or email to book your modelling portfolio shoot today!

Kent Johnson,
Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au
https://kentjohnsonfineart.tumblr.com/

http://streetfashionsydney.blogspot.com.au/

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My Studio Rules - and Six-Degrees of my MKR experiences.

Wow, I love My Kitchen Rules (MKR), what a great TV show, and it's not like other cooking shows at all. It has the tension and unpredictability of competition but with I think, more personality, the personality of the contestants who cook as teams of two. Friends, couples, lovers (well that might be over..) family. The two people who work as a team, are of course always interesting self-made pairings. This certainly adds to the wide range of emotions, character and of course cooking styles. The judges on this show have something special too; or something different to judges I have seen on other cooking shows; so all round a unique cooking cook-off experience! Story continues, scroll down..

However I had never actually watched this show before that day my phone would not stop ringing.
Me, "Hello" Them, "Nikki Spehar, have you got any pictures of the model Nikki Spehar?" "Who else has called you" "have you sold them already" "We saw some on your blog".

That very night, my partner and I started watching the MKR episodes online, Nikki "I'm a model" and her hair flicks and thought the show, and Nikki were fabulous! Sadly Nikki and her friend from Uni did not make it through to the second round - I put it down to doing the hash browns in the sandwich toaster (great idea) without giving it a good clean first and no-doubt having added an unwanted toasted-cheesy flavour!!!

Never mind by now we were addicted to the show and there were plenty more teams including Drasko and his partner who made the move to Sydney. The "Gourmet Pommies" Will and Steve who as we all now know took the MKR Crown in an as-always nail-biting finale! Well although I try not to, sometimes I get a bit celebrity stuck and my partner Vivienne had become a HUGE fan, in particular of the judge Colin Fassnidge who has a bistro restaurant at the Four in Hand in Paddington, Sydney, where we knew Drasko was now cooking. So after an at art opening at Roslyn Oxley9 it was a brief hop on a cold night to Colin's "gastropub" where we did actually get to meet Drasko and grabed a photo op too!

But the golden moment was yet to come. At the Sperry Odysseys Await launch party we finally met MKR winners Will and Steve and had a great chat with them about the show, life after MKR, their future plans, and their ears certainly pricked up when Vivienne let on that I had created Nikki's shots for her modelling portfolio. Yes those pictures, in Womans Day, The Daily Mirror and so on, and I promptly gave them one of my big picture business cards with, you guessed it, Nikki's picture on it!

So while a competition like MKR has a clear winner at the end. Life and photography are often not that clear cut; and winning is not the end, but actually a new beginning. But there are many things we can learn from a creative cooking competition like MKR that apply to photography too.

• It pays to be organised.
• Experience can give you a HUGE advantage and it will help you to avoid; cracking under pressure, which is when the mistakes start to happen, potentially ruining everything.
• Creativity is essential, but what you do with it actually has to work. (see experience)
• Teamwork and an ability to work toward a common Vision are indispensable.
• Persistence is crucial if you want to go all the way.

And at the end of it all, it really does help that you LOVE what you do and have FUN doing it; and that's how I like things to go on my photo shoots, love, creativity, teamwork, persistence, and not at all last of all, fun! Yes you need to enjoy yourself when you work, I know I do.

http://fashionphotographysydney.com.au/nikki-thats-way-to-do.html

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au/Modelling/ModellingPortfolios.htm

Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

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Colour Blocking Fashion - Every Colour Of The Rainbow.

High Fashion and Colour blocking for Le Magazine..
















Our model Emily Page was also featured in Le Magazine as a face to watch and we produced some beautiful B&W portraits for her story too which you can view here in the portrait section on my web site. I hope you enjoy our colour blocking story.

Stylist, Rhiannon Bulley
Model, Emily Page @ Viviens Sydney
Hair and Make-Up, Lisa Sciberras
Assistant, Harry P.

Call or email to book you photo shoot today.

Kent Johnson,
Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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Forget being creative - Your best job might be your last..

Most people I know when thinking about photography and being a photographer, at least in conversation with me; are big believers in the creative power of photography and the photographers power to create. That's certainly the story we get from the camera manufacturers advertising campaigns too, photography, unleash your creative powers with XXBrandCameras! When a group of photographers get together it won't all be talk about clients, chances are 'doing' creative photography will be a big part of what they will be talking about.

But if you plan on making a living from photography, especially in a creative field like fashion photography, then the 'creative' component is very likely going to take a back seat - now more than ever before. As that crazy Physicist said on TV way back whenever.. "Why is it so?". Well there are many reasons but here are a few, unless you are a such major player (no not even then) that your client is in awe, your client will quite likely expect you to..
look like them, 
talk like them, 
aspire like them,
be in awe of them (after all you are getting paid) and finally,
think like them.

Maybe not all of the above but most likely most of the above and most of that will not have anything to do with delivering your image brief. All this while knowing as reported in this years PhotoShelter report on photography - you only work with a client "on average three, (3) times"! When you consider some clients stay with photographers for years and many shoots you can see that even 3 bookings looks good to say the least.

Which brings us to the picture of the jumping model. I booked this shoot via the internet while the client/designer was in China seeing to the completion of the samples for the new range. A new designer for an established fashion company, this was her first for this fashion companies label. The brief was to shoot look-book images - straight up-down shots, but we also wanted studio branding shots with action/movement; and from a 'bing search' in China; I was the best bet. I was booked for my creative style, and that is every photographers dream.

The designer hit the studio first thing in the morning, right off the plane - and with her team working on the fashion, I set up the studio with my assistant as the H&MU began, and after an hour or so we were working our magic, all day long. We worked together, ate together, smoked cigarettes together (as you do, but now I've stopped) and, I think this is one of the best shoots I have ever done. Great team, great clothing, great Hair and Make Up all resulting in a large series of strong, beautiful creative fashion shots; and the clients selection is still on the websites introduction to the label well over a year later.

Was the client happy? Well I certainly thought so and I did hear back indirectly that the company owners were super happy with the shots. Have I ever worked with the designer again? No. My studio partner says its because "I was too confident and too old", "They don't like it when you look like you know what you are doing"!

Well I delivered the brief, I put my full creative energy into the shots as I always do, that's WHY I became a photographer; I brought the shoot in on time and on budget, and I for one love these shots! What have I lean't from the experience. Not much I can use unless I can be 24 again - no thanks!

Basically photography 2014 is about your social network, your work, being nice, being professional, courteous and efficient. Which is what my repeat clients like about me, and they like my creative energy as well. But do be aware, if you don't fit some clients 'idea' of a photographer, no matter what 'creative' result you come up with; you may never be invited back again..

Kent Johnson

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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Magic Happens - Digital Fashion Photography Collage, Studio + Location.

I think magic happens on my photo shoots all the time, in the studio, on location, that special communication, that special moment, that special picture; the magic does happen! But sometimes you need some special magic that does not happen in-camera, sometimes life and photography call for a little digital manipulation.This image is from a series of editorial images I created that used shots I already had as 'stock' images of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and married them with our models fashion shots made against a white background in the studio. Dark, mysterious and beautiful; everyone calls this my "Blade Runner" and "Manga" fashion picture and its easy to see why.

Can I do this for you too? You bet I can; in my photography universe Magic really does happen.

Digital composite fashion photography.
Photography and digital editing by Kent Johnson.
Model Sammy Raine.
Styling Rhiannon Bulley.
Hair & Make Up Lisa Sciberras.

Kent Johnson

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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Looking Stunning - Nikki - That's the way to do it!

I love shooting modelling portfolios. I love creating beautiful pictures and I am always grateful for the opportunity to make them. It is after all, a huge responsibility to be trusted to make these pictures and its certainly a responsibility I take very seriously. Mind you that's not to say we, the team, the subject/model and I don't have a lot of fun when we are making these shots; having fun is also an important part of the experience, it helps everyone to relax and make the most of our picture making time.

Of course you don't have to be a model to do a modelling portfolio shoot; you might just be looking to create some fabulous shots of yourself at this special time of life, which is an absolutely great idea! After all in a world of instant selfies, isn't it nice to have some pictures of yourself that really are special.

Here are some shots from Nikki Spehar's modelling portfolio shoot, and yes I think she has it, that mysterious something extra, and all these shots are from her package one portfolio shoot which provided us with a very large amount of great shots to choose from, which is what I like to refer to as the good problem; better too many good shots than too few; it's what I like to have at the end of every shoot; and that is definitely how I like it.

Model Nikki Spehar
Photography by Kent Johnson
Hair and Make-Up by Nikita Lauren
Photographed at Elephant Studios, Sydney.
www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au/Modelling/ModellingPortfolios.htm

Kent Johnson,
Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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Hayley - Professional Modelling Portfolio Updated.

It's always lovely to be asked to produce new pictures for a working model. I have photographed Hayley on a number of commercial fashion jobs and on an editorial submission. Great to get back in the studio producing a more mature image for Hayley. We did 3 'slash' 4 looks on the shoot,  a little bit Annie Hall in the business shirt and tie; a little bit sexy in the one piece black swimsuit. Fab girl out on the town in sheer top and washed-out jeans and a couple of black and white images in a cool lingerie style.

Thanks Hayley, it's always great working with you.

Call or email Kent to book your portfolio shoot today.
Kent Johnson, Sydney Australia 0433 796 863.