2024 Photography Awards

In 2023, I entered four of my fine art portrait images into an Australian & New Zealand Photography Awards competition, Capture Awards. I was very happy with my results from last years awards, therefore I set a goal to enter images again in this years competition.

I’ve had the pleasure of photographing some incredible children’s fine art creative portrait sessions in my photography studio this year. There were four images that I decided to enter into the 2024 Capture Awards.

I received the results of this award competition today and am so excited to have received:

• 2 x Finalist Awards!!

• 1 x Highly Commended Award

• 1 x Commended Award

As always, these fine art portrait sessions are styled and themed to cater to the children’s individual interests and their unique personalities. I truly love that these portrait sessions create both an enjoyable, memorable experience as well as timeless, evocative portraits for my clients to cherish. Winning notable photography awards with the images of my wonderful clients is really the cherry on top of this rewarding experience.

If you are interested in booking a bespoke fine art portrait session for your child / teen, please Contact me. My photography studio is located 20 minutes south of Perth. I am incredibly inspired to create more portraits that resemble breathtaking works of art.

Little Queen (Princess) In Studio Portrait Sessions

I started collecting stunning princess dresses for my client wardrobe when my daughter was 4 years old. My daughter would light up every time she put on a princess dress for her own portrait sessions. 7 years on and my princess dress collection has grown considerably, I have gowns in sizes 3 all the way up to women’s size small. My large collection of stunning photography backdrops, compliment my couture gowns. When I moved into my new photography studio to specialise in Fine Art Portrait Sessions, I knew that I had to keep photographing the Little Queen (Princess) Portrait Sessions. I offer these sessions for 4-14 year old girls, exclusively in my natural light photography studio, based in O’Connor, Perth, Western Australia. The sessions are so joyful, uplifting and memorable for everyone.

A small selection of my Little Queen (Princess) Couture Gowns, capes, crowns and flower bouquets.

A selection of stunning, vibrant studio backdrops, exclusive to our Little Queen Portrait Sessions.

THE LITTLE QUEEN PORTRAIT EXPERIENCE

Little Queen Portrait bookings can be made for individual girls and sisters can book consecutive sessions. This provides each girl with an environment where she can truly shine and become empowered. Sisters will then be photographed together in the last portion of their consecutive sessions. I am one of 4 sisters and I love to capture the close connections between sisters. These photographs will be enjoyed for family generations to come.

Upon booking, I ask parents to complete a questionnaire regarding their daughter’s age, dress size, favourite colours, hobbies and their preferred music. I will then collate a mood board to assist me in planning for their Little Queen Portrait Session.

When you arrive to my portrait studio for your session, I style your daughter’s hair with large, loose curls (if required). Once our Little Queen is dressed in her couture gown, has selected her crown and flower bouquets, we play music and the let the magic begin. Every girl exudes pure happiness, as she dances and twirls in her gown. These in-studio portrait sessions provide a safe, relaxed and enjoyable environment, that allows our Little Queen to be her authentic self, whilst boosting her self esteem. I typically allow 30 minutes for styling and an additional 45-60 minutes for the Little Queen Portrait Session.

IMAGE REVEAL APPOINTMENT

Our Little Queen and her family are invited back to the studio to view her professionally retouched portraits. The image reveal appointment will be scheduled 2-3 weeks following the portrait session. This is an exciting time, as you will select the images that you would like to purchase. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to view our studio product samples, if you are interested in displaying your images in an album or as framed wall art.

HOW MUCH DOES THE SESSION AND IMAGES COST?

Little Queen Portraiture Session fee is $250-. Image Collection pricing starts at $200- and Framed Wall Art starts at $500-. Sister sessions can be booked as consecutive bookings. There is no hard sell, you only purchase the images and the products that you love. Please CONTACT US for Little Queen Portrait Session Collection Pricing.

HOW TO BOOK A SESSION

If you have any questions or would like to book a Little Queen Portrait Session for your daughter/s, please don’t hesitate to CONTACT US.

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Allow us to create an unforgettable experience and breathtaking portraits of your Little Queen.

Christine

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Inspiration Behind A Child's Fine Art Portrait Session

FINDING INSPIRATION

Inspiration for fine art portrait sessions comes to me in many different ways. I love to celebrate history and want to create unique, timeless images, therefore I regularly scout for vintage and antique items that I can use for photo props. These treasures hold their own stories, adding depth and character to each portrait. Op shops are a great place to find random photo props and Marketplace and Etsy are good options to search for specific items that align with my vision.

Classic movies are a terrific source of inspiration for me. Every scene transports me to another era, filled with imagination and artistry. The attention to detail in the set design, the exquisite costumes and the rich storytelling ignites my creativity.

Whenever I have a fine art portrait session idea come to mind, I write it into my photo concepts notepad. I make note of the existing items in my portrait studio that would suit this theme and make a note of items that I need to source to create this vision.

When I have the perfect client for one of these creative sessions, I design a mood board, as I find this preparation ensures that every element of the final image is carefully planned and accounted for. From selecting the ideal backdrop to determining the perfect clothing, accessories and props. The mood board not only aids me in creating an immersive experience, but it also allows the client to visualize the potential of their fine art session.

As I discover more about my client’s unique interests, passions and stories, I feel so inspired to weave their individuality into their very own fine art portraits. In this collaborative process, the portraits fuse my clients interests with my artistic touch.

Ultimately, inspiration blooms from various avenues. From the discovery of rare props, iconic film characters to the connection formed with clients, each element contributes to the rich tapestry of my artistic vision. My goal with every fine art portrait session, is to capture the essence of each individual and turn these moments into heirloom family portraits.

MOOD BOARD EXAMPLES AND FINAL IMAGES

I have included a selection of my mood boards below, along with the final images. During the fine art portrait sessions, I will use all of the elements from the mood board and then make changes to perfect the final image.

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In this first example “Golden Girl”, I opted for an alternate cream dress that is in my studio wardrobe, rather than the ivory dress in my mood board, as I really wanted to create a monochromatic look. This image did not feature the golden egg that was in my mood board.

I am extremely proud of this image and thrilled it has won many awards, including Gold in The Portrait Masters Awards program (This is a very rare occurrence!). I am looking forward to having my professional photo lab print and frame this image, to display at my portrait studio.

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I handmade this flower headband, as I wanted vibrant forest florals that would stand out and draw attention to my character ‘Ella Enchanted’. Willy Wagtails are affectionately known as messenger birds, so I loved the concept of Willy Wagtail delivering a letter to ‘Ella Enchanted’ in the forest.

This image won Gold and a Judges Choice award in the Focus Portrait Awards. This beautiful framed image is displayed in my portrait studio :)

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This beautiful 4 year old girl loves books, therefore I couldn’t resist this minimalist setup, featuring a vintage dress, chair and books. I was so excited to capture this sweet, captivating photograph and so grateful that this image has won multiple photography awards.

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During the lockdowns in 2021, I was saddened by the many stories of forced separations due to isolation and border closures and I was well aware of the negative impact this was having on people’s mental health. I really wanted to photograph a creative fine art portrait to convey hope for the future.

During this time, I was contacted by a young aspiring model for images for his portfolio. I knew he would be the perfect model for this side project of mine and thankfully, he was very happy to play the role following his modelling portrait session.

Steampunk was an obvious theme for this creative fine art portrait, as I was able to incorporate the steampunk plague Doctor (in the form of the black crow). The plague Doctor sits on top of the chained and padlocked world globe, whilst my steampunk model holds the key to unlock the world.

I am captivated by the aesthetic and charm of steampunk. From the intricately designed gadgets and gears, to the elegant Victorian era-inspired fashion choices. I had so much fun sourcing the clothing and props for this creative fine art portrait session. I did not end up utilising the clocks from my mood board, as I did not want to complicate the story behind the image.

This image received a Bronze with Distinction in The Portrait Masters Awards program.

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I designed a few mood board options for this lovely client fine art portrait session. This mood board is one that her mum opted for, as her daughter loves to explore outside. My clients and I loved the final result and I’m so proud that this image received a Bronze with Distinction in The Portrait Masters Awards program.

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Inspired by the artifical flower shop where this client’s mum works, I styled one of the images from her session with an autumn toned theme, holding a vase and bouquet from her mum’s beautiful shop. Again, everyone loved the final image and I’m so happy it received a Bronze with Distinction Award in The Portrait Masters.

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INTERESTED IN BOOKING A SESSION?

I find so much joy in planning and photographing these sessions and I look forward to sharing more Mood Boards and final images in the months to come. If you are interested in a memorable and highly enjoyable creative Fine Art Portrait Session for your child/ren, please contact me.

Christine

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Award Winning Portrait Images - Pro Photography W.A. - Orloff Awards

Pro Photography W.A. is a newly established organisation that supports and services professional photographers, across all genres, within Western Australia. Over the past few years, there has been a void of photography associations in Australia, therefore the development of Pro Photography W.A. was celebrated by many professional photographers living in Western Australia.

To pay homage to Abraham “Izzy” Orloff (one of W.A.’s most prolific professional photographers throughout 1920-1940’s), Pro Photography W.A. announced the inaugural Orloff Awards this year. An award program were entrants can receive constructive critique, gain recognition and be rewarded for outstanding imagery.

I firmly believe that art is a highly subjective form of expression and this led me to enter my top 4 awarded images from an alternate international award program. I wanted to captivate a wider audience and discover if my images also resonated with local judges and fellow photographers.

The format of The Orloff Awards, is unlike other awards I have entered in the past, as The Orloff Awards has 2 stages of judging. The first stage is the judging of all digital entries. Once the scoring is complete, the entrants who achieve finalist level are asked to present their images as matted prints, for the second stage of judging. My 4 images were awarded as finalist images, therefore I was invited to attend the Award Night and Exhibition opening at The State Library of Western Australia in September.

The event was extremely well organised and very enjoyable. It was so inspiring to view all of the finalists printed images in the portrait category and the many other categories, including: landscape, travel, pet, wedding, commercial and student. The Orloff Awards are sponsored by Ilford and the award sponsors included: Fitzgerald Photo Lab, Jorgensen Albums, Camera Electronic, Team Digital, Nikon, Sony, Epson, North Metropolitan Tafe and Success Legal.

Even though I didn’t win the Portrait Category, I am so thankful that I made the decision to enter this incredibly supportive, local awards program. With newly learnt skills and many new concepts in mind, I am looking forward to creating fresh, emotive images in my portrait studio. My goal is to enter the 2024 round of The Orloff Awards and hopefully make it through to the finalist stage again. It feels incredibly special to have my images mounted and printed, as part of this current exhibition.

The 2023 Orloff Awards Exhibition is open until 4th December 2023 at The State Library of Western Australia (Levels 2 + 3). If you are in Perth, I highly recommend viewing this stunning collection of photographs.

Christine

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Award Winning Portrait Images - Focus Portrait Awards

In 2017, I discovered fine art portraiture and instantly felt connected to that style of photography. I was so grateful to learn new skills through online and in-person workshops with various international master photographers, who specialise in fine art portrait photography.

FOCUS PORTRAIT AWARDS

As a member of the Focus Photography Group, in 2020 I was excited to enter a selection of my fine art portrait images into their award program, Focus Portrait Awards. Images that meet the judging criteria are awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold. From 2020-2022, I achieved the following results for my entries:

5 x GOLD AWARDS - Children & Teen’s Portrait Category

( including one awarded Judges Choice Prize )

3 x SILVER AWARDS - Children & Teen’s Portrait Category

3 x BRONZE AWARDS - Children & Teen’s Portrait Category

Focus Portrait Awards - awarded 2020 - 2022.

Attached are 5 of my favourite Focus Portrait Awards, including one Gold awarded image that received an additional Judges Choice Award. The Judges feedback for this particular image was:

“Congratulations Christine! What a beautiful and heartwarming portrait! The Judges loved everything about it… the sweet pose, her beautiful smile, the storytelling… so perfect. Very well done!”

The Judges Choice Award Prize was an exquisite framed print, all the way from professional photography lab, Digitalab in the U.K.. This stunning piece of art is proudly displayed in my portrait studio and I can’t help but smile every time I look at it.

I am so thankful that my work is acknowledged and appreciated by industry professionals. Such acknowledgment fuels my determination, giving me the confidence to continue pushing myself to improve my craft. My success in entering awards has confirmed my love for capturing portraits in a artistic way and solidified my decision to specialise in this unique genre of photography.

FINE ART PORTRAIT SESSIONS - Booking Now

I am currently designing mood boards, planning and preparing for upcoming fine art portrait sessions, to be held at my Perth photography studio. I look forward to sharing some of these images with you in the future.

If you live in Perth (or have plans to travel to Perth) and would love to experience a memorable Family or Children/Teen Fine Art Portrait Session with me, please reach out here. I would love to create unique, captivating images for your family.

Christine

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Award Winning Portrait Images - The Portrait Masters

One of the most exciting aspects of my photography journey has been entering photography awards. Entering these awards became more than just a way to gain recognition, it became an opportunity to grow and evolve as an artist.

THE PORTRAIT MASTERS AWARDS & ACCREDITATION

In 2020, I decided to challenge myself and push my creative boundaries with my Fine Art Portrait Photography. Being a member of The Portrait Masters (formally Sue Bryce Education), I felt so inspired to enter my images into their biannual competition.

The Portrait Masters is an International Photography Awards & Accreditation program. A panel of world-renowned Master Photographers critique and score all entries in 12 Portrait Categories for expression, connection, styling, composition, posing, lighting, focus, overall technique, presentation, post-production and storytelling. Each image is reviewed by five judges and an average score is given. Those images that meet and exceed professional standard, receive Bronze (70-74 points); Bronze with Distinction (75-79 points); Silver (80-89 points) or Gold Awards (90-100 points).

I am extremely proud that every single image that I have entered into these awards, have been awarded with Bronze, Bronze with Distinction, Silver and Gold! Due to my consistant results over the course of 2.5 years, I achieved my Associate Photographer Accreditation with The Portrait Masters in July 2022. This is a significant achievement - in 2023, there are only 3 other photographers from Western Australia who have achieved this level of accreditation.

AWARD WINNING RESULTS

In the January 2022 Portrait Masters Award round, I was overjoyed (& honestly so shocked!) to be awarded with 1 x Gold and 3 x Silver Awards. Up until this point, I had only received Bronze and Bronze with Distinction Awards.

To give you an idea of the fierce competition, the stats for this particular round of Awards were:

Total number of entries: 6766

Gold Awards: 6 (1 of these were mine!!)

Silver: 284 (3 of these were mine!!)

Bronze with Distinction: 993

Bronze: 4322

The remaining entries were Approaching professional standard.

INSPIRATION, CRITIQUES & GROWTH

Being part of such competitions exposes me to the works of incredibly talented photographers from around the world. It is inspiring to witness their perspectives, their unique interpretation of the world and the stories they tell through their images. These competitions allow me to learn from others, to draw inspiration from their work and to continuously challenge myself to improve.

The feedback and critiques from esteemed judges provide invaluable insight into my craft. Constructive criticism pushes me to refine my techniques and experiment with different styles. I am so grateful for this feedback, as I can see the advancement in my own work over time.

The thrill of entering photography awards is not solely about winning or recognition, it is about the journey itself. It is about the growth, the inspiration, and the sense of purpose it instills in me as an artist. The knowledge that I am part of a vast community who shares the same passion and dedication is so exciting. I am currently planning new Fine Art Portrait Sessions, with the intention to enter the images into future rounds of The Portrait Masters Awards. My next goal is to achieve Master Photography Accreditation status :) Thank you to everyone who supports me in my photography journey. I can’t wait to create more magic in my photography studio.

Christine

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