Natascha Verkaik: Melbourne, Australia 20 September 2008

Returning back to Melbourne on the second leg of my trip, Natascha Verkaik was one of the very photogenic models I’ve photographed. I know it sounds like I’m lying because aren’t all models supposed to be photogenic? I’ll let you in on a not-so-secret secret, they usually need a team of retouchers and hours of post-processing to look like what they sell to the world (Madonna, can you hear me!?). Natascha is herself a fantastic make-up artist and a part time model, but this time we had Phoebe Goulding working with us on the shoot for make-up.

This shoot was focused more on portraits simply because I love the look that Natascha gives the camera.

One always needs a reflection shot.

Bringing out the sinister and narcissistic.

The sexiest red mailboxes I have ever seen <3.

Still on the dark and sinister theme.

Love the cat-eye effect the tube lights give.

As always, a classic portrait.

Thanks lovelies.

I loved the messy black gloss eye makeup Phoebe did on Natascha but it was funny when she had trouble keeping her eye lids from sticking though it was definitely worth it (Right, right, right?).

P.S. I can’t be bothered to write long rambling posts anymore so I’m making big cuts everywhere! The end.

Merille Raagas: Gold Coast, Australia 15 September 2008

The next shoot in Gold Coast was with Merille Raagas (Model), Frankie Fong (Make-up Artist) and Courtney Meyer (Stylist) who designs for and runs a really edgy Australia fashion label Miss Unkon. Those also present were Hazel Villa an up and coming photographer, and Nellypro (Nelson Lai) who is one of the few big photographers in the Australian fashion industry. Working with them was such a pleasure because everybody was professional, helpful, accommodating and incredibly good at their job.

Makeshift makeup station behind a car boot, very convenient.

We decided to drive up to the Gold Coast at the very last minute but also big thanks to Nelson for the ride and equipment! It’s a real pity that I couldn’t get to see the Gold Coast beyond the area that we were shooting at. Perhaps next time?

Very fascinated with Frankie’s battery-operated heated eyelash curler-brush.

The location was beautiful, from where we shot we could see the skyline of the city by the beach. It was so serene, mesmerising and exciting at the same time, with the waves crashing, seagulls flying and the wind blowing through our hair. The sun was close to setting so it lit the skyline from the back, washing out most of the details and making it look heaven-like.

Courtney making adjustment for how the skirt should flow. Yes, details!

I had to lie on the rocks very close to the water to get this shot and almost got wave-crashed on a few times but it was worth it.

It got dark very fast and the temperature dropped drastically. Merille, who only has about 1% fat on her body (!!) was great throughout the whole shoot though the poor girl was freezing to death, goose-bumps and all. We had to quickly wrap up the shoot but it certainly wasn’t easy with the equipment constantly being blown by the wind.

Nelson secretly wants to be in front of the camera instead

The last photo, featuring the painted man.

Big thanks to all of you for your work and contribution xx

Elke Bonner: Brisbane, Australia 13 September 2008

Elke Bonner is one of the great young models on Brisbane (17 at the time of the shoot). She reminds me a lot of young Kate Moss, minus the cocaine and bad choices in men of course. Full of life and a sarcastic humour to match mine, we had a great shoot at Redcliffe. Frankie Fong was gracious enough to do a quick makeup for this shoot of the 3 different shoots he had to do that day! <3 We drove around for ages trying to find this ‘castle’ in Redcliffe. We were given directions that we couldn’t really understand, so that was pretty epic.

A castle? What is a castle doing in the middle of Redcliffe?? – Elke Bonner

Turns out that it was actually a novelty fort built by the side of the beach. Pfft.

Check out all that stuff! Well it’s not that much considering that it was for 3 separate shoots.

Lots of people were coming up to us asking if the shoot was for a magazine. I guess it does make people curious having 8 people photographing with so many equipment and clothes around.

The area was gorgeous, especially with the late afternoon sun. We lost a lot of time looking for the location but managed to scramble until the very last minute when the sun set.

I really think she’s going to be the next big thing.

xoxo.

Up next, travels in Bangkok and how I manage to stay alive in the middle of a political war zone.

Laura Marshall: Brisbane, Australia 12 September 2008

This time I was in sunny Brisbane! Yes the weather was gorgeous there, not at all like Melbourne but it did get a bit hot in the day and chilly at night. Nothing we can’t survive in. I think Brisbane is like a much much much smaller version of Sydney, if I had to compare it with another city but for it’s size it has an amazing amount of artistic talent, especially those involved in the fashion industry.

I was only there for a week so I didn’t have much time to work around and neither did I take any photos when I did my walkabout around the whole city in one day (I’m a terrible Asian tourist! Never photographing every new location I find myself in).

I stayed with Frankie Fong whom I’ve never met in person but was introduced by a mutual friend. He’s from Sabah (same state as I am) as well and one of the best make-up artists ever. No kidding! Check his work out. I think he’s becoming quite a big shot over in OZ land now Not only is the guy a talented make-up artist but he also photographs fantastic images. Yes we are all envious of such multi-talented species.

My model this time was Laura Marshall from Gold Coast and she has one of the hottest bodies around. Now that I envy! Fantastic to work with and has a very unique look. Some of images from the shoot:

I had to precariously balance my flash on a railing for this! Wish I had another light source coming from the left though.

Laura can testify to Brisbane late-afternoon sun as BLINDING.

Thanks Frankie for squeezing in the makeup session at such a tight schedule, and to Laura for taking the long journey all the way from Gold Coast to Brisbane!

No photo with Frankie here because he had to run off to a dental appointment

David Paris: Sydney, Australia 7 September 2008

Now, I would say that David Paris is quite the fabulous internet celebrity, also extremely popular among Sydney’s gay circuits. He’s best known as Sydney’s androgynous personality and models for Australian designers, hosts club events and has even starred in a music video. Not everybody would be accustomed to the flamboyant lifestyle he prefers but I had so much fun with him and his friends that I could hardly notice the disparity.

Half Swedish and platinum blonde, it certainly was different being around such a pretty… man! Sounds like an oxymoron, I know. To be completely honest, when I first met David and Lex (his friend who came along on the shoot), tall, skinny, blonde, and fully decked out in tight white clothing, I thought to myself, “Oh my, what have I got myself into?”. There I was, plain-faced Asian girl among all other Asians in Chinatown (our meeting point). The more I think about it, the more hilarious it gets because they were hovering over others and people were actually looking.

It was a bit like those outsider-scenes you get only in movies. Maybe I’m just being over dramatic here.

For this shoot I decided to make David look slightly more masculine than he usually does yet still keeping the whole androgynous attitude.

Photos courtesy of David Paris

We shot in Chinatown for the whole contrast between personalities thing, then moved on to Darling Harbour. Chinatown was small but extremely crowded, lots of curious bystanders watching as well as a throng of lion dancers coming into our frame. I was half expecting it to be deserted but forgot that it was the weekend!

Reminds me somewhat of an anime character, don’t you reckon?

One of my favourites from the whole shoot. I wish I had more lights for the photo on the right though.

David: Let’s shoot by the water!

Michele: You have something for the water, don’t you?

David: Can you tell?

David was also one of the few models who invited me to meet his friends and even took me to dinner at The Summit (Sydney’s fine dining revolving restaurant) before I left the city. <3

Envy us because we are hot stuff.

I had lots of fun and hope you like the photos David. Miss you and the boys so come visit me or buy me a ticket back to Sydney!