My favourite 7 front covers
These are not organised photo shoots except the time. I don't work with an assistant nor lots of gears. My main equipments are a couple of flashes, gels, wide variety of lenses and lots of creativity.
My models are highly busy business people with lack of time thus I have to work quickly. Most of the cases I go to their offices and work in the circumstances I find there. I usually have only 15-20 minutes per photo shoot.
#1 - Steve Woodland - Living Edge
The Cox Architect office is a beautiful heritage building at Murray street in Perth CBD. Just as nice inside as outside and lots of natural materials and warm colours. This is exactly how an architect’s office looks like.
I loved that place from the first moment and when I stepped in I saw the opportunity of the upper angle shot. But as I always do I took few different options for the cover. I felt all pretty good but I kept my favourite to the last.
Normally, the size of the person on the cover is around half body but hopefully I can persuade my boss to use different sizes. Close ups or full body. In this case the subject is small but the whole cover is absolutely matching with the feature.
This shot was the absolute first choice from the whole team who was involved.
This is my favourite front cover.
#2 - Tim Woodall - Corporate Finance
When I arrived at Miro’s office I saw the opportunity outside and inside the foyer. I went up to the office and let them know that I was there. I was told then Mr. Woodall wanted to do the photo shoot in the boardroom only.
When I finished the boardroom shoot - which was ok but nothing special - I gently asked the client if there was any chance to do a shot outside. Yes, but not on the red carpet - he replied. Oh I see that was the problem the red carpet in the foyer. I promised to not to use it.
I do not like to add or remove any part of a picture. But on the deadline’s day I had an idea and I asked the graphic designer to mix the reflections from two different pictures. On one of the pictures the designer put the reflections where the client looked through the camera. On the another version the client’s reflection looked out of the picture and the real person through the lens. It looked a bit weird and we did not know whether it was a good idea or not.
We asked few journalists and the chief editor what they were thinking about them without mentioning the change on them. None of them understood how I made this picture and they were confused.
Finally, we decided to drop these pictures and to use the version which is one of my favourites.
Once again do what you think even if the clients are not sure about the idea.
#3 - Amy Burch and Janice McDonald - Winemakers
We spent a day at the nicest wine region of Wester Australia for finalising this feature. We visited four wineries in Margaret River and all of them were possible cover regarding the story.
It seemed to be a busy and challenging day.
When I saw the inside of Burch Family winery I felt the "wow" factor. Beautiful building with lots of warm colour, however, that was not good for the cover. (Amy told us later that all things were organised by Feng shui which is a Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing everyone with the surrounding environment. The term Feng shui literally translates as "wind-water" in English.)
I went outside scout around for a possible cover and I found a nice big wall with grapes leaves. Only one problem was the lights that are nice there in the afternoon. And there was no chance to go back for a photo later on because of our busy schedule.
I took few versions outside with them but I did not feel the "wow" factor. I asked them for a quick look in the cellar but they said it was too busy to do a photo shoot.
When I saw the place I knew straight away this was it that I was looking for. That busy background with barrels and the wine boxes with the foreground showed me how a big busy winery looked like. I asked Amy and Janice to leave everything how it was and asked them for this pose. I set up the flash and I knew this was the shot I wanted for the cover in case of this story would be the lead.
Sometimes the last setting is the best. Always check all of the places even if the client does not think the photo shoot would be good there.
Our press (Rural Press Printing) has won the best design award with this cover and feature. Congrats to our graphic design and production team Sarah, Chantelle and Darren!
#4 - Gavin and Bob Bunning - Dynasties
The dynasties feature was one of my favourite of the year. Why? Because I had the opportunity to meet very interesting people and their stories about family businesses over three-four generations!
One of them was the Bunning family. I met Gavin and Bob Bunning at Bob’s house in Applecross. (Not at a Bunnings store because the family sold the business to Wesfarmers in 1992) It was a beautiful early morning in springtime in Perth. I quickly went around the house and chose the spot I wanted to use for the cover first. I found a nice antic armchair and I organised everything in the background. I used the natural lights only. I wanted the final spot first and to choose another after that. You can’t do a long photo session with two elderly men.
#5 - Bradley Norris - Linking the city
Kings Square is located between the CBD and Northbridge. It will be a significant part of the city very soon. That's why I wanted to put the skyscapers to the background and I did not want to have the whole Kings Square on the picture.
I told Bradley I would like to go to the top of the KS2. As I expected it was very busy with fences and lots of construction stuffs but I found a narrow space for the photo shoot and I set up the flash. I shoot from a bit lower angle and I changed the flash to lower as well because of the helmet. (there is no chance to shoot without safety gear on a construction site). If I put the flash as high as I normally do the helmet gives a big shadow on his face.
I like the expression of his face. Confident and happy.
#6 - Clinton Wolf - Pushing Hard
The feature was all about Indigenous businesses challenges. So, I wanted Clinton to wear a black or dark suit and be serious.
I was not sure how his office looked like but I hoped to find a clear background with some indigenous motives.
I found a painting and a perfect armchair in the reception area. My idea was just to use two spot lights, one for his face from the side and another one for the painting and to keep the whole picture dark this way.
Before setting everything I let him know what my plan was. He did not want to wear a suit nor a jacket. In addition, as being very busy, he allowed me only 5 minutes for the photo shoot. Because of these new circumstances, I decided to not test the spotlights but I held to the dark mood. I knew I needed the shot I wanted to be taken within the first three exposures.
Even if the final version was not exactly what I had planned before the photo shoot, I was quite happy with the outcome. The shadow on his face and his hands and the whole ambience of the picture, they were absolutely matching with the feature. And as I wanted, the final version was in the first three exposures.
Conclusion: do first what you really want in a hurried situation.
#7 - Julie Bishop - Most influential
Once the decision about who was going to be on the cover had been made by the editorial team we started to organise the photo shoot. This was not easy because the busy schedule of Julie and winter time in Perth.
I was told by my boss that I have to be available 24/7. No problem, I just had to know my circumstances regarding where the photo session will be held. I agreed with Julie's assistant that I choose the place.
Finally, the photo session took place just one week before the deadline, on a Saturday morning.
I recommended the University of WA site whereabout there is a nice arcade and we can shoot anytime regardless how the weather is. It was a really rainy and dark day but I used an off camera flash with 1/2 CTO gel for warming the colours up a bit.
She asked me about the clothes and I told her that wearing something office casual would be the best. That time she changed her hair to a shorter one and that was the very first photo shoot of her with her new hair cut too.
Julie is a really nice person and easy to work with. A few guards were around us and I do keep good memories about the whole photo shoot.
I am very happy that I had the opportunity to work with the Australian Foreign Minister.