So when I started LaMode magazine I didn't think the publishing industry would be where it is today. And that is less print magazines and more online publications, but in a lot of ways that shouldn't really surprise anyone that works in the industry. I am talking about the publishing industry in general not fashion and or woman's magazines. So why did this happen ? More to the point how did this happen. One word can describe that and that word is "Online" and we all know what that means don't we. It is so much easier to access your articles that you may want to read online or images that you may want to check out via your favourite social app all done with a touch of a button.

Yes that's right the internet has changed the way we live our lives and in some ways it has destroyed them. I have never been a big fan of looking at a tiny little screen too read a article or look at a photographic editorial that may have catched my eye and want to have a better look at, once I have clicked on the link. BUT that is how most of us now live our lives, and I can't see it changing anytime soon??? I still love picking up a magazine every now and then and having a flick through, and I have to admit that I haven't bought a magazine in what would seem a very long time. I think that has a lot to do with me wanting to create my own images and not be influenced by any other photographer. But I do look for inspiration when ever I travel or go about my day to day business.
Just out of interest I love watching interviews on youtube from photographer who's work I admire such as David Lachapelle and Glen Luchford. As your work should be a ever changing landscape, just like the world we live in.

             

Photographer and Stylist-Geoffrey Chuah
Makeup artist-Verity
Model-Jenna.G @Chadwicks and @Elite
Clothes by Only Denim and Vero Moda 

Long Sleev V neck Shirt by Vero Moda, Shorts by Only Denim

Short Sleeve button up shirt & Denim Dresses by Only Denim

Wrap Dress by Vero Moda Denim Jacket by Only Denim

Waist Coat Dress by Vero Moda

T-shirt by Only Denim, Jump Suite by Vero Moda

A lot fo you may wonder what we get up to when we are shooting our editorials for LaMode, well this is what it looks like when we create the magic.

I think it's time for me to start writing about my photography again rather than rant on about social media and how it effects you me and everyone else.

So, my new editorial  "Beach Glam" was a very special shoot for me in the the sense that, I got to shoot fashion on a  beach and get the clothes wet. That only really happens when you get to shoot editorials for Elle, Vogue or a big commercial magazine.

The team was amazing, Suzie who styled the shoot and designed the clothes was wonderful to work with, her ideas came out when they needed too and the  gorgeous Laura R from Chadwicks  was so easy to direct. Verity who was our amazing makeup artist was so on point with everything she touched it really rounded off great team for this editorial.

So I think it is time to touch on my inspiration for this editorial for LaMode Magazine. Where do I find it? well it use to be from other fashion magazines. Yes I used to buy them each month back in the day when most magazines didn't really have there websites up and running or should I say when the internet wasn't as big as it is today. What did I look for when I picked up a magazine? not really the clothes or the makeup, but the composition  and the light was one of the first things I looked at then it was the hair,YES the hair. I am a big believer that the hair can make or break a image in the editorial it's self. Back when I first started out shooting, I always used to get a hair stylist in for the shoot. You could say I was a frustrated hair stylist, if the hair wasn't looking good then I wouldn't shoot. Now a days I prefer to keep the hair, simple e.g the wet hair look that you see in most of my shoots. Or I will  glam it up a bit and give it some body and make it sort of big with some texture to it. As for inspo for a lot of my shoots when I first started out, for me it was about the GLAM yep glam to me will never die. Who doesn't want to look glamorous when they leave the house or go out. I think every lady does? .......So I decide to shoot on the beach because it as made the overall feel of the shoot look different, if I was to shoot  on the street or on a indoor location of some kind, I don't think it would look as good or have a point of difference . It is basically a point of difference, that will make your shoots stand out from the crown.

So on that note the next time you want to step out that door and look different, try something new that will make you stand out form the crown. Like Beach Glam.

Designer-Suzi Rose 
​Photographer-Geoffrey Chuah
Make-Up and Hair Artist-Verity
Model-Laura R @Chadwicks

Swimwear-Seapia and We The Dreamrs
​Photographer-Geoffrey Chuah
Makeup and Hair-Verity Gershenson
Model-Whitney Anna@Chadwicks and Wilhelmina's LA

The world we live in is changing all the time. It was not that long ago that we use to get all our daily information from the news paper, now it's from our phone. The digital revolution has taken over our lives and is here to stay. We seem to be buying magazines and the daily news paper less and less don't you think?? Ask yourself when was the last time you picked up a hard copy magazine or paper and had a read though it or even bought a copy of your favourite magazine to read??? There is my point, we find it so much easier to look something up on our phones, ipad or computer than buy the hard copy of what we want to read. I use to love buying magazines each month and read them from front to back. Now I find it so much easier to scroll though my Facebook news feed and check out the latest editorial from French Vogue or what ever, my point being is??? Is the publishing industry dying?? or has it just evolved into what we call convenance. I think it is a bit of both, like any business you have to keep changing with the times to keep your business a float and if it means changing how you get your information out to your readership then if digital is the best way of doing it so be it.

Believe it or not I was so anti blog and online magazine when the internet start out. Only because I was old school and use to love love reading hard copy magazines, and not to mention that is where I got my start in the publishing industry. Being published in a proper magazine eg hard copy, was the ultimate buzz and goal. And I think that should be the case for any photographer, and that is seeing your work in a well recognised publication. And that is becoming harder only because the digital revolution is or should I say, has taken over .........UM .......... everything. 

That is the reason why I start LaMode magazine, out of share frustration of not being able to work for the magazines I wanted to work for. So I started my own online publication to feed my creative juices. So here you have it 4 and a half years down the track and I am still shooting and writing for LaMode, by the way I shoot for myself and hold no restrictions to what I shoot and how I write. 
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Bikini by Seapia 

Two piece by Seapia

Bikini by Seapia

Two piece by We The Dreamrs

One Piece by Seapia 

Bikini by Seapia

Bikini by We The Dreamrs

What is Social media? It's a funny question to think about isn't? What started out as a way to keep in touch with friends and family, and find the ones that we have losted. Social media has turned into a multi-billion dollar industry over the last 6 to 7 years. But who's counting right, from Instagram, Facebook,  and Twitter and god knows what else is out there to consider it's self a social media plate form. We use social media every day to express our self's right?  So the point I am making here is that we use what ever social media plate form that we are on, to connect and show people what our life is like or show off, and sometimes it can be a little  superficial  don't you think?

I am Sorry for being so direct and to inform you that not everyones life is what it seems. I am the first person to tell you that my images are retouched but in a way to make them, well look real and attainable. Brands use social media to reach out to new costumers  all the time, it really is a vicious cycle. Brands use influencers to promote there products (sometimes for money, sometimes for free) to reach new costumers who in turn want to spend money to be like the person in the pictures in the brands social media. It is never ending, but hey this what we signed up for isn't it???? But in saying that if you don't like what you see, you can delete or unfollow that person or brand. So yes we still have the power to be able to see what we want, is that right? Or do we??? We still get "notifications to say that such and such has posted. I personal don't mind the social media monster as it keeps me in the loop with who ever I decide to follow or friend, actually it's part of my job to do so, and that's keep in the loop of  who's who of the industry. And it will become more important for me in a few months time, I am keeping tighted lip on that one.  

Till then keep enjoying the Australian Summer.

Swimwear/Lil And Emm
Model/Joanna Eden
MakeUp Artist/Verity
Photographer/Geoffrey Chuah
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