Creative ID: 19
Wellington city.
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I am a photographer specialising in portraiture. My strengths lie in empowering my clients to experience self-love and compassion during their session – it's about transformation and seeing their inner beauty. When a client leaves their session with me, I want them feeling two inches taller and ready to take on the world. We are more than the curated Instagram selfies we are bombarded with. My goal is to spread the way we treat ourselves and others, what we look for in the world is how we experience the world. Create what we want more of in our lives. I do this through the medium of photography, and my portrait photography business.
My track record of experience and success - or the track record of experience and success of the creative or artist that I will partner with
I am a practicing, working, in-demand portrait photographer with a wide variety of clients from professional actors to models to non-professional talent. I specialise in photographing people who have never been photographed professionally before. I have a Master's Degree in Directing from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School and Victoria University, and a Bachelor of Design from Massey University Design School. I am very experienced in holding groups and coaching and directing. I directed a successful, sold out large multi-school production for a Wellington high school last year.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
High school age is the age I have had much experience with. I have directed many productions, including working with school-aged people. I directed a production at a Wellington high school last year from year 9 to 13. I have photographed many young people in my role as portrait photographer. I have expanded this year into specialising in photographing high school seniors to offer them a personalised photo shoot where they can embrace their individuality. I tutored graphic design (I was a graphic designer for 20 years) at Yoobee (then NatColl). I have mentored and have had interns of young ages, some still at school. Themes I am always interested in are equality, transformation, empowerment, love for self and others, impostor syndrome, compassion, holding space, and having a growth mindset. I thrive off lifting people up, and explore working in generosity and abundance over competition and fear.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
I have become very aware of the role I have as a portrait photographer in positively affecting people's perception of themselves. I have been developing my practice in this area, and can see how what I do affects so many people, as well as growing myself. As I grow older, I have become interested in working with people of all ages from high school age through to senior citizens in growing self-love and compassion. I launched my High School Seniors portrait packages this year, and would love to meet more people attracted to these areas. I believe we must look beyond a curated Instagram selfie. I am interested in learning more about young people's experiences these days, and hope I might fold this knowledge into my practice.