“I just wanted to thank you for the beautiful photos you took of my children Hannah & Mitchell. The images are amazing and everyone I have shown has been blown away not only with the clarity of the pictures but also the way in which you have captured their individual personalities.”

Thank you so much, Natalie Crawford

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This works really well as it turns a photo into a true study of the person, so we suggest if you are coming in for a shoot, consider bringing in props etc to really bring out the personality of your child!

For example:

• Do they have any sports that they play? Uniforms and equipment can be used to great advantage in photos and turns them into meaningful pieces of artwork.
• Recent shoots that have used this to their advantage include this shoot with Hannah and her soccer gear, and we have also had amazing photos with budding gymnasts and their ribbons, and taekwondo outfits for emerging martial arts experts!
• Do they have any hobbies or interests? Think drama, dancing, drawing and everything in-between!

Think outside the box and you would be amazed at what our photographers can create for you!

Mitchell at 8 months is just starting to develop his personality, but as the photos its amazing the range of facial expressions that babies are capable of!

When coming in with young babies, it is important to remember a few things, so here are a few handy hints!

• Let us know what their normal pattern is so we can work with you to find a suitable shoot time – we can get beautiful photos no matter what stage they are at (asleep or awake) but as you are probably aware, it is difficult to get beautiful photos of tired and grumpy children!
• If possible, make sure they have had a good nap and feed prior to coming in for the shoot, as this normally means that they are at their happiest during the shoot time!
• Bring in a selection of clothes for your baby so we can get a good range of photos for you, and also in case of any accidents! For the same reason, it is always a good idea to have a change of clothes for the parents as well!
• Consider whether or not you want skin shots of your baby – this can be completely nude (with strategic posing for modesty) or like Mitchell, in just their nappy. If you want shots with the nappy on, it is a good idea to bring in nappy covers like Natalie did – these look much better than a standard disposable nappy!

Most importantly, relax! Its meant to be an enjoyable experience, so don’t stress if the kids get upset and don’t want to behave, we allow plenty of time to ensure if needed, we can take a break and get them happy again!

If you would like to know more about a family shoot, or would like to book on in, feel free to contact us!

Our first introduction is for Ella – she has written a few words about her experience so far. We will properly introduce Breanna in the same way later in the week, but for now, here’s Ella!

For my Year 11 Workplace Learning Program I was in search of a work placement in Photography. Ever since I was young I envied all genres in photography but personally grew a stronger interest for taking children and baby Portraits as I got older, having a big family is probably the reason for that. I’ve always aspired to become a Photographer so I figured it would be an excellent experience to begin my ambitions by doing this program. When I was searching I came across Cooper Studio, a high-end business in Photography near by. I sent an email about my request to do Work Experience for them and why they should consider me. Soon after I received a phone call about my email and how they’d like me to come down for an interview. I arrived at the interview and that was when I met Craig, I was really nervous but he made me feel welcome. The interview went well and soon after I was told I got accepted.

So far my time here at Cooper Studio has been incredible. In such little time I’ve learnt so much about the Photography Industry and I’ve met the most friendliest people to work with. I assisted at the first photo shoot I’d ever been too and it was very overwhelming, just being behind the scenes of a photo shoot was a massive privilege so you could only imagine how excited I was to be able to help out, I loved it.

Receiving this opportunity to work at Cooper Studio has definitely determined me to strive harder and hopefully set myself onto the right path to becoming a Photographer. I’ve even started to set new goals to help me with that aspiration like getting a certificate for being a Master Photographer just like Craig.With no hesitation I could easily say I’ll treasure this experience for the rest of my life.

Acting and modelling portfolios are a popular reason for our customers to book a glamour photography session at our studio.

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If you are thinking of creating an acting or modelling portfolio, there are a few things that you should consider:

• Take into consideration what line of acting or modelling you want to pursue, and bring outfits that compliment that vision.
• Consider using props – Shoreina brought in a gorgeous Venetian mask that beautifully complimented her ball gown, while also giving the impression that she is a theatrical performer.
• Think of the overall image you want to portray – do you want to appear serious, elegant, fun or casual? The Team at Cooper Studio can assist you in building a portfolio that is sure to impress!!
• If you would like to know more about how we can create a stunning portfolio to help advance your career in acting or modelling, or wish to book your shoot – contact us!

They are very cute little girls with different personalities, who will certainly keep their adoring parents on their toes! Here are some more photos from this adorable baby photo shoot:

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These are just some of the photos that Richard and Kathryn ordered from the photo shoot to be placed into a custom portrait album! I think this shoot worked so well because the babies were at an age where they were starting to explore independently, and it was the spontaneous and authentic interactions between them that made the photos so engaging!

Here’s a few tips for preparing a toddler or baby shoot:

• Expect the unexpected! I’m the father of two small children and I’ve learned that just when you think you have a child’s routine sorted out, they may well go and change the rules on you!
• This means that we usually plan on photographing the children both awake and asleep  - sometimes if baby is grumpy because she’s tired it’s best to take a few minutes to settle her, or even put her to sleep.
• As such, we usually try to build in a bit more time for baby shoots, so that no-one is rushed or under pressure.
• The shoot usually lasts as long as baby is bright and happy. We schedule about 45 minutes, but this could be as long as 90 minutes!
• It’s good to think about bringing a favourite toy along, also something personal or meaningful to the parents (how about a hand knitted rug or quilt, for instance?)
• I really like to get some skin into baby photographs. This might be a full nude, with strategically placed legs and arms, or it just might mean dressing baby in some colourful nappy covers, like in this shoot!

Remember to contact us if you’d like to book in, or just know more!

This fantastic shoot  was timely as I’ve been researching horse photography recently and noticed that most photographs were designed to be classical displays of the horse’s breeding, but there really wasn’t much that spoke of the very special relationship that owners share with their horses. I wanted to do something that was a lot more personal, timeless and emotional. So check out some of the other images we got:

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A lot of our customers don’t realise that we photograph many kinds of pets as well as human subjects. And as this shoot shows, it doesn’t have to be limited to just cats and dogs!

• Naturally, horses need to be photographed on location (our studio is big, but not that big)!
• Think about including other loved ones – and even other family pets – in the shoot! (We’re always up for a challenge!)
• Your horse doesn’t have to be a show winner! They are an important part of the family, so let’s tell an emotional story! Think about what they mean to you and your family members!
• To book a horse portrait, contact us!

Jodie joined us late last year as the silly season of Christmas fast approached and she’s quickly settled in to be the friendly face and voice of Cooper Studio! Make sure you say hello next time you’re in the studio or on the phone (contact us, here)! And, just because I can, here’s a few more pictures (she’ll kill me for this!):

Jodie’s job is two fold: She’s an accomplished photographer, so she might be undertaking your photography assignment, and Jodie is also in charge of planning all of the photo shoots in the studio.

In other news, we say goodbye to Mirco Bortolozzo, who has handled production and order fulfillment for the past three years. Mirco is now off on an adventure through Asia – I believe he’s somewhere in Vietnam as I write this! Good luck Mirco!

Mirco’s position has now been filled by a fellow Italian – Valentino. By co-incidence Valentino grew up in the same part of Italy as Mirco. More about Valentino soon!

One of the things that we love doing at Cooper Studio is fitness themed portrait photography. I thought today I’d share some of the recent work we’ve done based on fitness:

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We often have customers who have been working very hard on their bodies at the gym or are very heavily involved in a particular sport. It’s a fantastic time to celebrate your body, isn’t it? (Actaully, I can relate to this, as I’m also working pretty hard at the gym at the moment – maybe I should book a shoot for myself!)

When preparing for a fitness shoot, here’s a few pointers:

• If you do weight training, bring some weights to the portrait session with you
• In fact any accessories will be handy – note the climber in the photos above? He brought rope and chalk. See how well the chalk worked out!
• If you bring weights, also do some reps just before the shoot – we all know how that has an immediate effect on the hardness of your muscles.
• Don’t wait to be in absolutely peak condition! If you’re anything like me that’s always just over the horizon and always will be! How about just rewarding yourself for how far you’ve come today?
• Consider some nude or semi-nude images – they are obviously not for everyone – but if you’re proud of your body why not have some tasteful body shots while you’re in great shape?

We’re always happy to help you plan a shoot. Contact us if you have any questions, or would like to know more!

I was lucky enough to be the photographer for this shoot, assisted by our photo shoot co-ordinator Jodie.

Cara lives in the Northern Territory, where she is represented by Making Faces Model Management, but she travels down to Perth fairly often and took the chance to have a photoshoot with us in our studio on her last trip.

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After Cara arrived on the shoot day she took some time to work on hair and makeup in our changeroom and then we started the shoot on a plain black background with Cara wearing a really striking red dress. After a few frames, it was already obvious it was going to be a great shoot – although Cara was feeling a bit nervous she really lit up for the camera!

When preparing for a portfolio shoot we always advise you to bring too many clothes, rather than too few! And Cara brought a number of tops, dresses and several swimsuits to the shoot, as well as some amazing Kailis pearl jewellery. For the next shot we decided to team some black bikini bottoms with a cute black top and we shot another great sequence on the black. After this we switched to natural light, using our windows and reflectors to create some more amazing swimwear photos.

We also had some fun making a little documentary of the shoot. Jodie whipped out a spare camera and took some great photojournalism photos of the shoot. We’ve made it into a cool YouTube video – check out some of my “dance moves” as I direct the shoot! The video is here:

After the shoot I’m glad to say that Cara loved the images and ordered one of our lovely image boxes, which are proving very popular for our model portfolio and beauty shoot customers. If you’d like a shoot like this contact us!

Before the shoot, Carly told us she would love artistic photographs of her little family and we suggested some moody black and white and sepia toned images, including some semi-nudes to compliment the lounge room of their cottage in Cowaramup.

When photographing infants and newborns, it’s important to allow plenty of time, as most little ones have a three or four hour cycle of wake, feeding and sleep, but it’s also possible to take amazing images throughout much of this cycle. While it’s quite normal to photograph babies while they are either awake and playful or asleep, this shoot proves that the most amazing images can be had while baby is feeding too. 

When we take baby photos we always want to show baby in different moods. The other fantastic surprise with this shoot was Huon’s totally infectious facial expressions. Priceless!

When preparing for a baby or newborn photography shoot there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Is there anything sentimentally special that you can bring along to include in the shoot? Carly brought along a special hand made blanket which we used in the photo above.
• It’s worth bringing spare tops along for mum and dad – as any parent with an infant knows, it’s not uncommon to have your shirt soiled!
• It can be nice to get clothed photos of baby too – but remember that certain outfits can bunch up and look a bit out of place in the photos.
• Don’t worry about small blemishes or cuts (babies often cut themselves with their fingernails) – these can usually be retouched quite easily.
• Likewise birthmarks can be retouched, but do you want to? It’s worth discussing with your photographer.
• Cuddly toys like teddy bears can look great in photos, especially when the bear is as big as baby!
• A good photographer will allow a reasonable amount of time – so if baby needs a break, that’s usually ok.

If you would like a baby photography shoot contact us – we would love to discuss some ideas!