INTERVIEW with Adrian Phoebe || AKP Photography
SD: Hi Adrian, can you please introduce yourself to my readers who don’t know you yet?
AP: Hello Suzanne, sure, my name is Adrian Phoebe and along with my wife Kiki, we own and operate AKP Photography. I have had cameras most of my life, but it want until 2016 that I learned how to use my camera through a short course at TAFE, back in Townsville, North Queensland. This is where I really got serious about photography and wanted to grow as a photographer. When I moved to Brisbane in 2017, this is when my photography started to take off. I got my first real break into fashion photography by Upma Kite and Ravishing Fashionistas, then from there I did model shoots, fashion show/runway photography, model portfolios, just to name a few.
SD: In your opinion, what makes a good photograph? How do you decide when something you create meets or exceeds your expectations?
AP: For me it is a combination of a few things. This includes lighting, composition, the mood, etc. It also depends on what I am photographing at the time. Photographing models is a lot different from photographing a landscape. With model photography, you would want them to tell a story, but it could be with what the model wears, the mood of the lighting (especially in an indoor/studio situation), any props that the model wants to use, the type of background that is used, etc. If it is a location photoshoot, does the clothing the model wears, suitable for that type of location? It would be no good to have the model wear a ball gown in a car park for example. These types of dresses, would suit a more grand staircase or a ballroom location.
When I want to create a certain scene or the model has an idea of the type of photo they want, then we can experiment, by using different poses, or again lighting techniques. To create an image that meets or exceeds my expectations, the image would definitely have to tell a story. It could be as simple as the type of look on the models face, or the type of pose, with different light sources and techniques. If I can show the model on the camera or on a computer monitor they type of photograph I have taken and they get an excited look or they say “Wow” then I know we have created a special image and one that the model is very happy with. A models satisfaction during and after a photoshoot is paramount. If we can create something that the model loves, then that is my job done.
SD: How do you describe your photography to someone who’s not familiar with it?
AP: I would describe my photography as an art form. I am just like a painter who uses brushes and coloured paints on a canvas to create their own masterpiece, then I am the same with my camera and lenses. I want to create beautiful art works for the model especially when doing a photoshoot. If I can get the photos published in a magazine, and to see the models reaction when their photos have been chosen, then that’s the beauty of it. The one thing I like to do is to discuss a photoshoot with the model, but the model has an idea of the type of photoshoot that they want to do. This brings the ownership of the photoshoot to the model and not myself. I would rather do this, because a lot of models have their own ideas and I want to help bring these ideas to life. This way, we are helping each other, the model gets the photos they want and I help them achieve this by using my skills as a photographer. This is a win win situation for all involved with the photoshoot.
SD: Is your work more about your personal experience, or do you feel it translates well to other people’s experiences or lives?
AP: I do all sorts of model photography, from fashion to boudoir, it depends on what the model wants to do and is comfortable with. I wouldn’t say it was about my personal experience, but I want to bring the feelings of the model to life through photography. There are a lot of models out there that may not be comfortable in front of the camera, because of their size, their skin colour, they could be shy, they may not like the look of themselves, their body shape and heaps of other reasons. What I want to do is to make the model feel comfortable, not just being in front of the camera, but I want the model to feel comfortable about themselves, no matter what they look like or who they are. Body positive shoots are slowly increasing, and this is a good thing, if a model is comfortable with who they are, then that is a big step in the right direction. I will only do photoshoots that the model themselves are comfortable with and I would never ask a model to go beyond that. If a model asked me to do a boudoir shoot for them and it is their first time, I always make sure that the model is comfortable and is in a safe environment. I always brief the model of what will happen during the photoshoot and I always keep the model informed of what I am doing and why I am doing a particular photo, so I can make the model look their best in the end result. If there is a model I have never worked with before, I tell them exactly what is happening throughout the photoshoot. As you can see, it is not about me, it is more about what the model wants and how they want to express themselves in a photo.
SD: Do you have a creative process that you follow thoroughly on each project?
AP: To be honest, I am not a very creative person, I can come up with an idea depending on the situation at the time. If it was for a landscape photo, I want to try and get the best out of the scenery as possible. If a model however wants a creative style photoshoot, I would sit down or contact the model before the photoshoot to discuss what we can do. After getting details, I would go through and do some research and have a look at sample photos of what the model is trying to achieve. These could be photos from pinterest or google images or I get the model to send me some sample images as well. I would then study these images and create a mood board for the photoshoot. I would send this to the model so they can have a look and say yes or no to the sample photos I have sent. Myself as a photographer, will need to get the setting and the lighting right, as well as making sure a model is looking good during a pose. The mood can change just by the way the light is, to having a model look away from the camera or closing their eyes, or doing something different. This is why the photo needs to tell the story, or give the photo a bit of mystery as for example, “what is the model thinking?” or “what did the model see?” etc. so those who are viewing the photos, can put their own story to it. This can be achieved by the manipulation of light, the slightest change in a pose or even the tiniest change in a facial expression. There are limitless ways of doing a photo, its just how the model wants to tell their own story of a photograph.
SD: Who or what inspires you and where do you get your ideas for photoshoots?
AP: My biggest inspiration is my wife, Kiki. Kiki has always been supportive of my photography and she not only models for me, but does photography as well. She does push me to better myself at photography, so to me she is definitely an inspiration for sure.
Ideas for photoshoots don’t just come from me, but from the models themselves. As I touched on earlier, when a model asks me to do a photoshoot, I ask them, “what type of theme or story do you have in mind?” It also lets them be the creators. I have a little bit of input, but the end of the day, I want to give the model what they want. I would rather not push ideas onto a model, because a model may not like doing something that I want, I want to make the model be creative doing a photoshoot, I can guide the model, but the end of the day, if they can see something I have photographed, using their creativity, then I am more than happy with that.
I also have a look at the model and see what look would suit them best, whether it be a fitness shoot, fashion shoot, swimsuit/lingerie, boudoir, the choices are endless. A model may fit a certain character as well, depending on what they look like. I can suggest that a model may look good in a fifties style retro outfit, or a gothic/medieval outfit, but the end of the day, I want the model to choose their look, because they know themselves the best.
SD: What is your favourite photograph that you have taken and why?
AP: That is a very good question, I have taken so many photographs over the years, I have lost count. I have several favourite photos, so it would be hard to choose one. I think one of my favourite landscape photos would have to be of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China it was taken at night and I put a black and white colouring through the photo. To me it looked really good and it did set a mood, and gave the photo a bit of a story. Another photo is of the Sydney Opera House again at night, looking from Kirribilli, to look down the street to see the opera house on the other side of the harbour, with the city skyline behind it, it really looked amazing, and I have seen this type of shot before and I wanted to give it a try and put my own spin on this photo. For model photos, I would have to say a couple of recent boudoir photos I did with a model, manipulating the light and using different layers to create a beautiful photo, but to me, every photo is special, whether it is a model shoot, fashion show or pageant/ runway competition, they are all my work. Of course there were plenty of photos that didn’t work either, but the end of the day, its just about the technique, the time of day, the angle, the lighting and what I was trying to achieve.
SD: Your #1 photography tip or words of wisdom?
AP: My words of wisdom would be “Photography is the art of many forms, whether it’s the wonders in nature, or the beauty of the human body. Photography is a medicine for the soul of the Image Creator – Adrian Phoebe”
Adrian Phoebe’s social media presence:
Website: http://akpphotography.com.au/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/akp.photographyau/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100051110925347
