Model Portfolio Shoot

Model Portfolio Photography in Kempsey with Aboriginal Model and Poet, Guyala Bayles

I’ve been shooting Model Portfolios for over 12 years across a range of cities, countries and cultures. And it still gives me a thrill. Every new model brings new energy, new expressions, new poses and most importantly….new dreams.

I love talking with my models and finding out where they want to go with modelling, what style of shoots they love and what they want their portfolio to look like.

Guayala (Lala) Bayles is one of my favourite models to work with. Now living in Brisbane, she was back in Willawarrin, near Kempsey recently, staying with family. She asked me to do a Model Portfolio shoot with her to create an updated collection of photos for her online profiles and model agency, Chic.

This is the second shoot I’d done with Lala. The first shoot was a year earlier in Crescent Head.

This time I met Lala at her family property – a gorgeous hand-built house with rambling gardens, fruit trees, veggies and a mule that the whole family adores.

Lala showed me some inspo photos she loved. She had been wanted to shoot in a similar vibe for a long time and had all the clothes, fabrics and props ready to go. While she made the final touch-ups to her makeup I looked around the property checking lighting, backgrounds and the styles of different areas. Then we got stuck into it.

We had tissues on hand because it was a ridiculously hot day. We climbed the ladder to the loft for this bedroom shot. It was like a sauna up there but Lala didn’t complain at all. I think she’s will to do just about anything to get The Shot.

I always love a shot amongst banana palms and tropical plants. Lala’s expression and pose can make a sheet of satin look so elegant.

Lala is one of the strongest women I know. You just have to google her to find out her family history and the legends she has come from. Following our portfolio shoot I filmed one of Lala’s poems about her life as an Aboriginal Australian. It is powerful! I look forward to sharing it with you, along with the accompanying portraits.

To see more from my Model Portfolio shoots, go here.