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!

Going through my favorite images I was reminded of just what a blast it is to be a professional portrait photographer. I’ve been lucky enough to photograph people from all walks of life, in all sorts of situations. It’s almost impossible to say which are my absolute favorite images as just about every shoot has yielded something special. But here’s a few of my favorites for today anyway!

At Cooper Studio we are, fundamentally, portrait photographers. I guess a portrait to me is any photograph of a person that is a study of that person’s character – both their external appearance and also their internal life. I think a really good portrait has to say something, or at least make the viewer wonder, about who the subject is, and what makes them tick.

A portrait can be any of a number of things, including:

• photographs of a child or a baby, showing their stage of development and sense of wonder
• “skin shots” nudes or semi-nudes presenting a person as they are without the “armour” of their clothing
• A neo-classical study with props – sometimes objects help to define who a person is. Where a person has a passion, including the object of this in the photograph can be a strong motif.
• A location or home study, where the subject’s environment helps to define who they are.

This is really just the tip of the iceberg and this year so far we’ve done all this and more. Going back has gotten me quite excited about the best portraits of all – those that are yet to come!

Julie and Stein are a very romantic couple who seem very much in love, and the adult portraits here are a good example of a style which is both casual and relaxed and also artistic and classical due to the black and white treatment.

I thought this shoot would be a good opportunity to discuss clothing options for this kind of adult portrait shoot.

Here are some suggestions to help you choose clothing that is both relaxed and also looks great in classic portraits like these:

• choose contrasting tops – notice that Julie and Stein didn’t choose simple black and white, but Stein is wearing a charcoal shirt which offsets a jet black background.
• These photos wouldn’t have worked as well if they had been wearing the same hue (the classical white shirt and blue jeans) – by dressing differently we get a sense of each person’s personality.
• Block colours – I’ve noticed that most photographers recommend wearing block colours. While it’s true that block colours are usually a better option than really fussy patterns or logos, your clothing doesn’t have to be completely plain. Julie’s top has a pretty frill which is really feminine, while stein’s top is actually enhanced by a subtle logo on his shoulder and some fine details.
• More about block colours – In some ways this recommendation has to do with a problem that was present in early digital printing and digital cameras which had inadequate ultra-violet filtering. This would cause colours to “fringe” and bleed into each other. It’s not such a problem with good technique and modern equipment!
• For these kinds of portraits I recommend “smart casual” – that is, think of what you would wear out on a Friday night or to a dinner party with friends.
• Also, remember the “tuxedo” rule – a man wearing a tuxedo is never overdressed. Everyone else is instantly underdressed! Now we’re not suggesting all of our male clients wear a tux, but don’t be afraid to glam up, you really can’t be too well dressed in a portrait!
• A good technique is to look in your wardrobe for pieces that you love, but may not have had a chance to wear for a long time – those pieces for which there never seems to be the right occasion.
• Most of all, express yourself! Remember that most of these suggestions are relative, and mean something slightly different to everyone.

Part of our service at Cooper Studio is to discuss individual clothing ideas with our clients. For more information about adult portraits call us on 1300 305 410.

These are really elegant and sophisticated portraits and Angela was a great model, although she had never had a professional photography shoot like this before. She chose an equally sophisticated leather portrait album to display her photos in! Click here to see more of our adult portrait photography.

Today we did a fabulous photography shoot with a lovely family who hale from the Punjab in northern India. Mum Shefali and dad Rahul brought in seven-month-old Yayain for a family photography session. The session began with a chat in the lounge room where we talked about the style of shoot they wanted and we discussed the types of products they were interested in. Then it was into the studio where we got some great family photos like these:

As you can see, Yayain is wearing something different in every shot! Shefali put a lot of thought into the family’s clothes for the shoot, and had several outfits in mind for her little boy.

When choosing clothes for a photo shoot here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Dressing the whole family in white T-Shirts and blue jeans is beginning to look a bit dated.
• Think in terms of matching tones – it can be effective to have the whole family in lighter tones or in darker tones.
• Clothing doesn’t have to be white or black, but a good photographer should be able to photograph either.
• Remember that people are individuals – it’s ok for each family member to display some individuality in their clothes.
• Bright colours work well on lighter backgrounds
• Bare skin can work brilliantly too.

We are located at 109 Hampton Rd, South Fremantle – a suburb of Perth, Western Australia.

Our services include:

• Free planning of custom photo shoots
• Family Photography
• Kids Photography
• Adult Photography
• Pet Photography
• Baby Photography
• Glamour Photography
• Nude Photography
• Custom design of photographic artwork for home and office.

At Cooper Studio we take time to get to know you and what you really want from your photography experience. We offer a highly professional, unique and friendly shoot experience, combined with exquisite imagery and artwork with a choice of the highest quality finishes, including Aluminum, Acrylic, Canvas and traditional Frames.

Most photo shoots are between $150 and $250 and artwork from the shoot begins at $199. We accept cash, cheque, Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Interest free payment plans are also available.