Inez

Beautiful Inez called me looking for business portraits, but then opened up about the fact that she really wants to exist in photographs for her husband and two boys. We had such a wonderful Session and she blew me away with her beauty, both inside and out!

Photography: Agnes Kiesz/Pure Studios
Make-up Artist: Sara/Elegant Make-up

... and here's a look Behind The Scenes of Inez's Session:

SUBSCRIBE to stay in the loop! http://bit.ly/2eL0P0r Here's a look behind the scenes of Inez's Personal Branding Photoshoot. photography: Agnes Kiesz/PURE studios make-up: Sara/Elegant Make-up @elegantmakeups PURE studios ~ PURE you http://purestudios.co INSTAGRAM - http://bit.ly/2dt1z4n SNAPCHAT - @pure.studios FACEBOOK - http://facebook.com/PureStudiosPhoto WEBSITE - http://purestudios.co EMAIL - admin@purestudios.co let's capture pure you.

Decorating with Portraits - 3 Easy Ways

Seaside scenes, landscapes and abstract works all have their place, but nothing will ever be as meaningful and cherished as beautiful portraits of you and your family. Your portraits displayed proudly celebrate your family, fill the rooms with it's history and simply make you smile every single day you look at them. They add indescribable warmth and make your home truly Yours.

Today I want to share with you 3 of my favourite, creative ways of decorating with portraits that are easy, elegant and modern!

  1. Gallery Wall

A Gallery Wall is such a creative way of displaying your portraits. It is always a big conversation-starter in our home. Sky is the limit here! You can mix different styles of frames to create a more eclectic look. To add a twist, I hanged the frames, but left the middle one leaning on the wall. You can add photographs to your wall as you create more memories and as your family grows!

  1. Portrait Shelf

A Portrait Shelf gives you so much freedom - you can move your portraits around, try different combinations and easily add to it as you go!

3. Sideboard Portrait Display

This is a very traditional way of decorating. My tip to make it more contemporary is to not only use frames! Right here I mixed frames with beautiful bamboo blocks to add versatility and depth.

Few last tips:

  1. Use mainly Black & White Photographs – they are timeless and will not create a messy look.

  2. Use Matts – even a small photograph in a matt looks elegant and grand!

  3. Choose Candid Photographs expressing emotion in addition to traditional portraits for Variety!

What are some of your favourite ways of decorating with portraits? How did you decorate your home? Do share - I would love to know!

The colour EVERYONE looks great in

Those who have already been photographed by me know that I always encourage people to bring at least one white clothing item to a Session. Some people love wearing white and some have NEVER worn it and are quite reluctant to be captured in white.

Here are 5 reasons why I love photographing people in white:
 

1. It is modern yet timeless

A crisp white outfit has the air of freshness that looks beautiful in photographs. It is edgy yet it never goes out of style! A great combination of contemporary and classic.

Anchelaa Thiru, Transformation Coach

Anchelaa Thiru, Transformation Coach

2. It is a perfect canvas to tell the story of who you are

Whether you are wearing white for a Personal Branding or Portrait Session, it will not take the focus away from you. Instead the focus of the photograph will simply be You – your expression and smile, your personality and your story.

Nancy Miller, Marketing Planning Expert

Nancy Miller, Marketing Planning Expert

Daniel Pillai, Media Personality

Daniel Pillai, Media Personality

3. It works with all skin colours

White compliments all skin colours beautifully. Although some people would argue it looks better with more tan, proper lighting by your Photographer will ensure white looks gorgeous even with pale skin.

Renata Klimaszewska

Renata Klimaszewska

Tracy Peart, Citytv Make-up Artist

Tracy Peart, Citytv Make-up Artist

4. It is flattering - if your Photographer knows how to pose you properly

Many people only like wearing dark colours for Photo Sessions, because they feel they are not very fit at the moment. Unless you are a model, it is not your job to pose yourself in the most flattering way. It is your Photographer's job to guide you through posing and to make you look your best - in white as well!

Tricia Aneesa, Real Estate Agent

Tricia Aneesa, Real Estate Agent

Laura De Sanctis, Nutritionist

Laura De Sanctis, Nutritionist

5. It is very easy to integrate images with dominating white into any type of design

White is a great colour to wear during a Personal Branding Session. Those images have to work well with different types of design. Images with dominating white are easy to integrate into your website, your social media, business cards, fliers and pamphlets, magazine advertisement etc. You will not be stuck after having a Session with images that do not fulfill your needs!

Anchelaa Thiru, Transformation Coach

Anchelaa Thiru, Transformation Coach

I hope I have convinced you to bring at least one white outfit to your next Session! Until then...

The He/She Project

The He/She Project is Daniel Pillai's celebration and acceptance of all the experiences that have led him to this point of self-expression.

Daniel was bullied as a child in school and at home with his family. Often times whenever he experienced and faced this unacceptance it was through derogatory terms such as "He/She" to distastefully highlight his feminine characteristics as an innate abnormality.

This photo editorial is an attempt to reclaim the phrase "He/She" and any variation associated with it, across any language and culture.

Today Daniel uses the phrase which was used to malign him and his spirit to celebrate himself through images.

"I am proud to be HE. I am proud to be SHE" - Daniel Pillai

Creative Concept: DANIEL PILLAI & Pure Studios
Photography & Design: Agnes Kiesz/Pure Studios
Dupattas: Mani Jassal

#theHeSheProject

Do you VALUE yourself?

Last month I had an experience that really made me want to write about self-value. I had a beautiful woman cry from happiness during her Portrait Reveal. Since she started having kids, she avoided the camera and did not feel beautiful because of what her ex-husband had told her. Seeing this great woman in front of me, seeing her tears and hearing about her experience I could not be more surprised...

 

Where do you get your sense of self-value and confidence from? Is it from other people or from within yourself, from knowing you are a good person and that you are worthy? If you get it from others, it is a matter of Luck, it is a matter of what people you will meet on your journey. Do you appreciate your body simply because it is healthy and strong? Do you feel bad about yourself because skinny models are on the pages of magazines and then seven years later you do not feel curvy enough, because now the trends have changed?

When I first became a professional photographer, it astounded me how many people were scared of the camera. Many people take photos when they HAVE to, way less people take photos to create a legacy for themselves and for their family. People would call me and say mostly: “I HAVE to take new headshots” or “I NEED photos to put in my new project”. 

Exist in photographs, do not hide behind the camera.

Why?

You are good enough Now. Not when you loose weight, not when you have fancy wardrobe, not when you get your dream pair of shoes. Now.

When photographers take a photo of someone, although we are taking the photo of their outside-self, it is the energy of the person and their inner beauty that we see – that is our guide when we take the photographs of people. And every human being deserves to be seen!

While on the subject of self-value, I just HAVE TO mention The He/She Project which we had the pleasure of working on with Daniel Pillai - it was such an honour to be a part of Daniel's journey to self-acceptance. Here is a look behind shooting The He/She Project!

love always,

Agnes

Tracy Peart

Tracy Peart is the exclusive Make-up Artist to Citytv's Breakfast Television and Cityline responsible for making hosts like Tracy Moore and Dina Pugliese look flawless on a daily basis. But this time, it was her turn to shine! We had so much fun capturing different sides of her personality with candid, sophisticated, sexy and feminine looks.

Make-up: Tracy Peart

Photography: Agnes Kiesz/PURE studios