When ever I shoot swimwear, it's not just about the location or how I light the model. It's about the model it's self, because without the model there is no shoot. That was one of the first things I learnt about this industry. Is that the model is the star and everyone else is there to help and support the model on the day to make her look and feel amazing in front of the camera. Which in turn helps the photographer or in this case myself to produce and shoot a amazing editorial possible. 

So here is a fun fact, Geoffrey Chuah the owner of LaMode magazine and photographer of this shoot use to love shooting fashion and I still do. But you will find that shooting swimwear is not always as easy as it looks. You have to think about sharp and form as well as the time of day you are shooting, to make sure that you are not creating to many hash shadows. But again that all depends on how you light!!! And what you want from the final images. So to finish up, if I was to chose one subject to shoot for the rest of my career. That would be the female form .....notice it's not swimwear, fashion, portrait or even people. Because remember that clothes, swimwear or anything else that is throw into a shoot is a extension of your expression of what you are creating on the day.

Photographer-Geoffrey Chuah
Model-Mary Strickley@Chadwick Models
​Make-up Artist-Joe Adams
Swimwear Brands-Cuva and Karen Hurley Collections
​

One Piece by Karen Hurley Collections

One piece by Cuva Swimwear

Swimwear by Cuva swimwear

Bikini by Cuva Swimwear

One piece by Karen Hurley Collections

Two piece and Rashie Jacket by Cuva swimwear

Bikini by Karen Hurley Collections 

Two Piece by Karen Hurley Collections
​

When you set out to do something that you don't plan that well, you can get yourself in to a lot of trouble. Well on this occasion, I did and didn't if you get my drift. I have never been to the Blue Mountains before, and I was determine to cross this one off the bucket list in the first few weeks of the year. 

My mind set was to take some breath taking photo's of the valley, and take in some nature. As I haven't done neither for a long time.

It took a 2 hour train ride then a 45 minute walk to get to the out post then another 30 minute walk to get to the look out. Once I reached the look out I have to admit the view was breath taking and not to mention very inspirational. But it didn't stop there as I wanted to see and do more. I climbed down the mountain and discovered the 100 meter drop water fall. That had me pretty god smacked ......so to finish my day I had to climb back up and the mountain ........Not as easy as it sounds........ then walk back to the train station. On my ride back to civilization I had time to reflect on what I had just done. And that was take myself out of my comfort zone and take some images that were different to what I would normally like to shoot. 

It was a pretty fantastic day, all in all you can check out my images of " The Greatest Adventure" right below me. No pun intended.

Another year, another swim shoot. Remember to embrace what you have and aim big for 2018. 

That is what LaMode Magazine will be doing. We will be building on what we have done and growing from there. Creating more editorials and having fun along the way shooting them.

Not to forget our theme for the Summer "Woman Empowerment"

Enjoy "Rainbow"

Photographer-Geoffrey Chuah
Swimwear-Auqua Swimwear
Make-up Artist-Eve Lyn
​Model-Karina Beilina@Viviens Model Management

When we see the world in colour, we all see it differently to one another. That is what makes photography so much fun to be involved in.

Looking back over the last 3 years of LaMode magazine there haven't been to many times I have shot in black and white. There isn't a real reason behind that, most of the time my photography brain is locked in colour mode because that's how I like to see the world we live in. Not that I dislike shooting in black n white, in fact I love it ( If you check out most of my culture editorials, they have been shot in Black n White) it's just that when I shot fashion or swimwear I like to translate what I create with my eye and my photography brain into colour. There is also so much more you can do in post production as well when you are adjusting the colours and contrast. Not to mention all the other little things you can do in photoshop.

So this brings me to my latest swim editorial with the drop dead & amazing Cassie Thompson. I am so blissed that I get to work with so many different models from not only Australia, but also from all over the world. Which is why I chose woman empowerment for my theme for this Summer here in Australia. I intend to shoot a few more swim editorials for LaMode this Summer and maybe even sneak a fashion shoot in there as well. When we arrived on location for this shoot, I had never been on this beach( Turimetta Beach which is about 45 minutes drive from Sydney ) before and was a little bit surprised that I just about had it all to myself. Apart from a couple of surfers trying to catch a wave .....talk about deserted island!! Anyway it made the day a tad more fun in the way we had the whole beach to our self's to shoot the editorial, and it is also the reason why you don't see anyone else in the pics .....funny that.

So the next time you are at the beach working on your tan. Close your eyes and "Draft Away" to the deserted island you would like to spend a few days on, with your  loved one.

Happy Summer everyone.

Photographer-Geoffrey Chuah
Swimwear-Rye Swimwear
Make-up and Hair by Eve Lyn
​Model-Cassie Thompson@Chadwicks Sydney