As a photographer, no two work days are the same and I need to stay on top of my diary at all times.
I could be shooting a fashion story in a photography studio, on location at a restaurant for food pictures, or a portrait of someone in their own
Being a photographer is my dream job and staying connected to other people in my industry whether it’s for future jobs or just inspiration is super important.
The first thing I do most mornings is drinking coffee and scroll through Instagram on my new Surface Go.
Social media is invaluable not only to get my work into the public eye but also as a research tool. I follow small independent magazines like Luncheon and Buffalo Zine as well as bigger titles like Vogue Italy and The New Yorker (mainly for the cartoons).
Instagram is great for casting models as you can quickly see who is in town and get a glimpse of what they look like in real life; I prefer it to the agency sites. Instagram is also amazing for spotting new beauty and fashion trends or interesting people that could be good for photo shoots.
Photography is a competitive industry and as well as shooting commissions I think it’s important to do your own independent work too and support the next generation of creatives.
After breakfast and five minutes of meditation (I never skip either!), I will be back on the Surface Go to check to my emails, the device is a new addition to my work routine.
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I shoot for Viva three days a week so there are always shoots to be arranged, one of my recent favourites was a portrait of a pet lamb: cuteness personified. I am in contact with New Zealanders in all sorts of industries from florists, to chefs, fashion designers, and artists as well as the Viva team of editors and writers.
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Advertise with NZME.Keeping my online presence up to date is key, I maintain my own website which needs to stay fresh and relevant with my latest work.
The Surface Go is perfect to take to meetings with new clients as it’s an easy way to display my photography portfolio. I’m currently working on a new website for my writing work, so it’s great to have a device at hand at all times to make notes or lists of work to include and also to design the site itself.
If I have a shoot booked it could range from a plate of perfectly presented sushi to a group portrait of eight of Auckland’s top chefs drinking champagne, a still life of a pair of golden slippers or a fashion story with three models and a pet dog. Depending on the set up I will hire lighting equipment or rely on a trusty assistant holding a reflector.
The Auckland weather is so changeable I’ve learnt to not worry too much if it’s raining on an outdoor shoot as chances are the weather will change again in five minutes. I like to keep the atmosphere cheerful, upbeat and efficient on all my shoots, so everyone goes away having had fun as well as getting the shot.
I love to shoot a mixture of digital and film if I can, as different cameras help you see the same situation in different ways. I grew up shooting all film and I’ve recently got back into it again, but nothing can beat digital for ease of use and reliability.
When I'm not working (or thinking about work) I like to keep up my Netflix addiction. I love watching documentaries on the Surface Go in bed, I like a mix of fashion and crime documentaries but also fun series like Jane The Virgin and The Good Place or British comedies to remind me of my years living in London — I highly recommend People Just Do Nothing for a good giggle.
New Surface Go is perfect for all your daily tasks, giving you laptop performance, tablet portability and a stunning touchscreen with the power of Windows 10. From $699, visit Microsoft.com/en-nz
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