The talented and much-loved performer Donna Campbell visited my Lilyfield studio in June to produce a fresh set of promotional images. Known for her dynamic stage presence and versatility, Donna required eye-catching imagery to support several of her upcoming projects – and she brought her signature professionalism and energy to our shoot.
From the moment Donna stepped in front of the lens, it was clear I was photographing someone who truly understands how to command the camera. We began with classic headshots, capturing her natural warmth and strength. As we progressed, the session evolved into more dynamic territory, with Donna striking expressive dance poses that reflected the vitality she brings to her performances.
To finish our photographic session, we had a lot of fun creating images of Donna in her “Dolly Parton” look – a lively character she often features in her shows, tracking her career “from rags to rhinestones”. She embodies Dolly’s sparkle and charm effortlessly, and the results speak for themselves. It was a privilege to help Donna create imagery to reflect her talents as a performer.
In June, I had the privilege of working with the team from NAPWHA (National Association of People Living with HIV Australia) on a shoot held at Sun Studios in South Melbourne. The session brought together a group of generous and inspiring community members, who volunteered to be models for the day.
The shoot was part of a broader initiative to create a fresh library of imagery for upcoming educational and awareness campaigns.
Shooting at Sun Studios, Sth Melbourne
Ready for the close-up
It was a day filled with energy, purpose, and connection. I’m proud to have played a role in capturing content that will help support NAPWHA’s ongoing work and advocacy. My thanks to everyone involved — especially those who so bravely and openly stood in front of the lens.
In a previous blog in November 2022, I featured the renovation of the downstairs section of a Melbourne home owned by my friend Ned. (See the link: https://www.johnmcrae.com/neds-place/) Well, Ned is at it again – this time turning his attention to the upstairs area. The transformation continues at this solid, 70s-inspired brick house, tucked away in the charming inner-west suburb of Yarraville.
Pic: from previous downstairs renovation of the kitchen area
This free-standing residence has always had great bones – solid construction, generous proportions, and an unmistakable retro flair. When Ned tackled the downstairs areas last year, he focused on bringing in light, opening up the layout, and adding clean, contemporary touches without losing the character of the home. The results are warm, modern, and inviting.
Ned pictured with his sister, Jacquie, at the front of the Yarraville house.
Now, with the upstairs overhaul complete, the story continues. Once again, Ned teamed up with the likeable and ever-reliable Ali from Featurepoint Constructions – the same builder who brought such care and craftsmanship to the previous stage of the renovation. Ali’s steady hand and eye for detail helps Ned’s vision to materialise, ensuring that the upstairs work matches the quality and style of what had already been achieved downstairs.
Here’s a snapshot of what’s been updated:
Bedrooms were reimagined including re-invigorated, clever storage solutions, and a lighter palette that makes the most of natural light.
The bathroom received a full makeover, with sleek new fixtures, a more efficient layout, and understated tiling to blend functionality with style.
Hallways and common areas were decluttered and refreshed, creating a more cohesive and streamlined flow throughout the space.
Ali and his team at Feature Point Constructions kept things running smoothly, with a hands-on approach and genuine attention to the details that make all the difference. The result? An upstairs space that feels calm, cohesive, and contemporary, crafted with the highest of standards.
Scroll down to check out some of the before-and-after shots. It’s always amazing to see how clever changes – both big and small – can breathe new life into a space.
Back in 2022, I had the pleasure of collaborating with the fabulous Glynis Trail-Nash to create a suite of imagery for her debut cabaret show, In These Shoes. A fashion journalist with a razor-sharp wit and a killer sense of style, Glynis was stepping into the spotlight with a cabaret about shoes, identity, and the unexpected turns life can take.
Our photo shoot captured Glynis in full stride—glamorous, cheeky, and unapologetically herself. It was clear from the start that this show had legs (and heels!) to go far. I am very happy and proud that she is representing the best of Australian culture internationally.
Glynis in makeup at the studio
Shoes on display
Fast-forward to 2025, and In These Shoes is hitting the international stage at this year’s Edinburgh Comedy Festival. Through sheer determination—and a wonderfully successful crowdfunding campaign—Glynis is taking her show to one of the biggest comedy platforms in the world.
It’s always a joy to see creative work evolve, and I’m thrilled that the images we created together are still helping Glynis to tell her story. If you’re heading to Edinburgh in July/August, don’t miss the chance to see In These Shoes – a smart, stylish, and sharply observed cabaret from a woman who certainly knows how to make an entrance.
Family portraiture is a universal category in photography … but I do not often get the opportunity to shoot this genre. Although I mostly concentrate on corporate, theatre and general commercial work, I was recently asked to photograph a Sydney family at home.
Jackie and Gerard wanted a photographic document that would be a snapshot recording a time in their family’s life, making an image that they could refer to in the future. They particularly wanted the family to be photographed in front of the family home in Sydney, showing the house where the kids had grown up. I thought that was a great idea.
So, on a temperate autumn evening, I ventured to their family home. We shot a series of portraits of Jackie, Gerard, Majella, Jimmy and Frankie in various combinations and poses, also with their pet dog. It was a great exercise in contributing to part of a family’s heritage.
I invited my friend Michele to an afternoon birthday party on the Central Coast. This is Michele pictured below….
At a certain point in the afternoon, a wonderful 3-piece band started playing. The front-man was the well-known rocker Billy Field – respected singer song-writer, bass guitarist and music producer. He was well-known in the 70’s and 80’s for his top-20 hit singles “Bad Habits”, “You Weren’t in Love with Me” and “True Love”. He’s still going strong!
Given that normally Michele is fairly retiring in her approach (I wouldn’t say shy, but certainly not someone who grabs the limelight) I was impressed that she suddenly took the place of the drummer and started “jamming with the boys”. Apparently the drummer said that he wanted a break and Michele seized this opportunity to take his place.
What was even more astounding to me is that she was fabulous on the drums … I never knew she had this talent. The rest of the band appreciated her as well. The party guests were all up dancing and everyone had a good time. For the rest of the afternoon whenever the drummer wanted a break, Michele was “in” to take his place. The moral of the story is “never under-estimate your friends”.
We/Us/Ours is the catch cry for this “first in Australia” health facility which caters for sexuality and gender diverse people in NSW.
Funded by the NSW Government as part of their LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy 2022-2027, the centre was established in South Everleigh in Sydney by ACON, NSW’s leading LGBTQ+ and HIV health organization, with a $4.2 million grant.
The Kaleido Health Centre provides a range of primary care and specialist health services, including general practice, sexual health services, mental health support, gender-affirming health care, drug and alcohol interventions, and cancer screening services.
The building occupies one of the grand, heritage-protected buildings at South Eveleigh, at 6 Cornwallis Street, called “The Bell Tower”. As the name suggests there’s an old bell tower as part of the roof. The building has been renovated and now houses a state-of-the-art medical centre, both modern and welcoming and at the same time, maintaining its historical character.
Michael Woodhouse, CEO ofACON and Interim CEO of Kaleido Health, states:
“ACON established the Kaleido Health Centre because our communities deserve the highest level of care designed by us, for us. Too often we hear stories of people who say they can’t find safe, welcoming care that understands their lives. Kaleido Health will provide integrated care specifically designed to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ people and their families, across a wide range of health services, accessible state-wide.”
I was commissioned to photograph the newly opened building and to capture a series of head-shots of some of the staff.
It was also an adventure, since I had never before been to this smartly developed part of Sydney before. The centre is situated within the boundaries of Technology Park which is full of large, converted and heritage-listed buildings. I even managed to find a good coffee shop and barista in the vicinity at the end of the shoot.
Acclaimed author Blanche d’Alpuget recently stepped into my Sydney studio to create new imagery for promotion aligned to the release of her latest novel, “The Bunny Club”.
What an absolute joy it was to work with this gorgeous and intelligent lady. We were shooting a variety of portraits and basic head-shots, so we concentrated on changing what she was wearing, alternating the colours of her outfits.
Blanche arrived having had her hair already styled by Ivan Chircop, owner of “La Libertine Hair Salon” in the CBD. The next step was for David Cranson (MUA) to take care of her makeup.
Left to right: Ivan (Hair), Blanche and David (Makeup)
Before long we were ready to set about shooting under the lights. Blanche was a wonderful model … professional and willing to duplicate any suggestion I had in terms of pose and mood. Time passed quickly and soon we had a number of looks and configurations from which to choose.
Blanche’s literary repertoire is extensive. There have been biographies, novels, essays and numerous awards. Her best-selling 1982 book Robert J Hawke: A Biography, researched and written after they were no longer a couple, won the New South Wales Premier’s literary award and it remains the definitive work on the former Australian Prime Minister. Her novels Monkeys in the Dark, Turtle Beach, Winter in Jerusalem and White Eye have won the Pen Golden Jubilee award, the Age novel of the year award and the South Australian Premier’s award. She has also written historical novels about Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine.
The Bunny Club is something a bit different: a racy detective novel set in the harbourside glass castles of Sydney’s eastern suburbs and at the equestrian estates of the southern highlands. It opens when an ageing morning television host who is fighting to keep her job, Evelyn Sinclair, is found dead at an astoundingly grisly crime scene: hanging upside down from the ceiling, tied-up using shibari, the Japanese art of rope bondage.
I have almost finished reading my copy of Blanche’s book. The novel was launched at the Manly Writers Festival on the last weekend in March. It is available in most bookstores or can be ordered on-line at this link:
With the increase in the need for housing for both local and overseas students, Sydney is seeing the proliferation of dedicated developments for our academic youth. One such initiative is Y-Suites. This company has recently opened its third tower in Redfern, called Y-Suites on Margaret. Previously, they have opened Y-Suites on Gibbons and Y-Suites on Regent, in close proximity. They have also developed similar accommodation facilities in Adelaide, Canberra and Melbourne.
I was commissioned by the company, based in Singapore, to cover the opening activities at this latest downtown complex. Over the period of a day, I captured images of students arriving for the first time to check in to what will be their new homes for the duration of the scholastic year
While many of the students had recently arrived from overseas, there was also a collection of local students who had decided, for reasons of convenience, to move into accommodation close to the institution in which they had enrolled.
There was an air of excitement and expectation as these young people navigated their way with their suitcases from reception, where they checked in then collected their keys, to the first sight of their new homes after they opened the door to their apartment.
I photographed an enthusiastic young man from China who arrived with his colleague. His smile radiated the joy he felt as he entered the foyer and anticipated entering his apartment. I photographed him opening the door to his room for the first time. Some of the rooms had balloons tied to the door-handle so that the students could “cut” the string of the balloon in a ceremonious gesture when “coming home” for the first time.
I also photographed a young girl from out of town who spoke fluent French. Her father and mother had driven from rural NSW to accompany their daughter to help her settle into her new home. Her mother was in fact French and although they now lived in Australia, French was often spoken at home. I understood this once I realised that the girl’s Australian father had lived for many years in France and also spoke fluent French. They were all having such fun creating a new sense of community.
My day was filled with photographing these joyful comings and goings. I also managed to capture some of the communal spaces in the building for documentation purposes, as well as shooting the exterior of the building from various angles.
I wish all the students a wonderful time in their new home while they pursue their studies. I fondly remember my own time as a student in the halls of residence at Monash University in Melbourne. It was such fun and I made wonderful friendships and long-lasting bonds. It was also a time of great growth as I ventured out from my safe family environment to be totally independent for the first time.
Video footage was also required for this project. Y-Suites wanted a 60-second reel of the day’s events. I worked with Nick Jones from “Grip Shoot Boom”, an excellent videographer, pictured below.
The following is an overview of the day’s events at Y-Suites on Margaret, as filmed and edited by Nick.
I was on a job the other day and I looked out from the balcony to what I discovered was an impressive and unusual view. It was an elevated impression of the city of Parramatta that I hadn’t previously seen. I am sharing this because I found it visually intriguing … and so I felt like including it in a blog post.
I was taken by the way the city skyline looked somehow “unreal” in the light, almost surreal as if some AI program had created it. I think it was merely a result of the soft afternoon light and the fact that I was using a telephoto lens, which has the tendency to compress imagery.
I also liked the tall residential building constructed directly opposite where I was positioned. I couldn’t help looking directly into the stack of neighbouring, domestic boxes and wonder about the inhabitants. It reminded me of when you used to fly into the old airport in Hong Kong, past all the high-rise apartment buildings, looking at the laundry hanging out to dry, with various other signs of inner city living.
It was also intriguing to look down to see that just below me was one of the old cemeteries of Parramatta, with gravestones covering a large area adjacent to the residential towers. This contrast and juxtaposition fascinated me.
While photographing the parade entry for Positive Life NSW I managed to snap images of some of the other entrants. Here is a smiling selection of the other people marching and cheering, having a good time, sharing the love, dressing up, and adding extra “bling” to their lives for the night.
Mardi Gras is a well known celebration of “all shapes and sizes”, inclusion, diversity in all its flavours and simply a wonderful feeling of good will to your community. It was easy to feel that generous mood amongst the participants. It gave me a feeling of hope for the future.
I had the great pleasure (and absolute buzz) to photograph the Positive Life NSW marching entry for the 2025 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade.
While I have regularly photographed the Mardi Gras over the years, the one and only previous time I photographed the parade from “the inside” was in 2009, when Matthew Mitcham was Chief of Parade after he won gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Now, it was a great experience to again have that same point of view, sixteen years later and with the same sense of excitement and celebration.
The events started at the offices of Positive Life NSW in Surry Hills where everyone taking part congregated, received a branded t-shirt and a travel pack of sandwiches and other snacks. Once the sun set and the parade began at Hyde Park, time flew by as we were cheered along by thousands of people lining Oxford Street and Taylor Square.
Students from the @academyofmakeupaus (Sydney campus) offered their services to participants in the parade to enhance the visual presentation with fabulous face painting.Once the face painting was complete, t-shirts collected and people suitably nourished we all head towards Hyde Park and the marshalling area.Everyone collected in College Street after locating their float. There was a short wait as people congregated. Then the parade began….excitement prevailed! The Positive Life float started quite early as we were early on in the line-up.Then…..suddenly, after the waiting, we headed off to start the parade at Whitlam Square. That’s when time seemed to speed up….and in a flash we were almost at the end of the parade and it was all over.
United for Care is an independent living provider, working in partnership with Vertika, to make appealing accommodation available for their clients
On the morning of October 30, 2024 (a date I particularly remember because it was also my birthday), people gathered at the newly completed Redfern facility to celebrate its grand opening.
A diverse group of attendees came together to listen to speeches, participate in a traditional smoking ceremony, mingle, and enjoy the refreshments offered, which included a much-appreciated coffee barista service
The traditional smoking ceremony is part of an ancient Indigenous practice that involves the burning of native plants to create smoke. This smoke is believed to have cleansing properties and is used to purify the space and those people present. During the ceremony, participants often share stories, songs and rituals, fostering a sense of community and connection to the land and ancestors. The specific plants used can vary by region, but commonly they include eucalyptus, sage and other native herbs.
Guests in Sydney were warmly welcomed to the Cope Street inauguration and encouraged to explore the state-of-the-art accommodation facility, which is located within walking distance to the transport services and shops along Redfern’s main street.
Sharon Calabro is one of Australia’s finest and most respected singers and cabaret performers. Moreover, she is a wonderful human being who is both professional and loads of fun to work with
Sharon decided it was time to update her portfolio and promotional imagery. So we organised a studio shoot before Christmas, before the start of Sharon’s busy summer schedule.
Joining us at our photo-shoot was Alex Divanis , the talented make-up and hair artist, who has extensive experience in the industry. He has recently returned to Australia after living overseas.
For our shoot, Alex decided to style Sharon’s hair in a new manner. Normally Sharon sports a fringe but for these images, Alex flicked the hair back from her forehead. It worked really well and Sharon was super happy with the result.
It was a great moment for us to work together to create something special. I will share more of the final, retouched images in a future post. For now I’ve included a few unedited proofs as a teaser.
It was a perfect day for a Christening at the St George Serbian Orthodox Church in Cabramatta. The youngest daughter of Tania and Ray Duricic was about to be christened.
Many of Tania’s and Ray’s friends and family were present to witness this joyous and celebratory event. It is always at events such as these that you realise how important it is for people to come together and socialise and interact…no matter what the occasion.
Since I am not accustomed to witnessing an Orthodox Christian ceremony, I was fascinated to see the traditional proceedings and rituals. The interior of the church has many murals, paintings of religious figures, gilded objects and is rich with colour and gold.
At this christening, the role of the godparents is to attend to the person being christened, to present Kristina and to repeat the vows given by the priest. The parents stand in the background, supporting their child from a distance.
Once the service was completed, everyone moved to a nearby reception centre where the festivities continued, complete with musicians including a very enthusiastic piano accordionist and keyboard player, as well as a delicious feast.
It also happened to be Kristina’s first birthday. Obviously you can’t have a birthday without a cake and the obligatory blowing-out of the candles. It was a most fantastic day, not only for Kristina but also for all those who attended.
Janet Anderson on the red carpet for the CGA Awards Night, 2024
It was a Friday night at the ballroom of The Establishment and it was the awards night for the Casting Guild of Australia
What is the Casting Guild of Australia? Well in their own words….”The Casting Guild of Australia (CGA) was formed to bring recognition to Casting Directors across Australia who cast film, television, TV commercials, theatre, new media and reality. The CGA gives members a forum to share ideas and exchange information, provides unified standards for safe, inclusive and fair practices, engages in charitable activities, and highlights its members’ achievements.”
Each year, the Casting Guild of Australia (CGA) holds an awards ceremony to recognize outstanding individuals in various categories, akin to the Oscars for casting agents. This event is unique in the southern hemisphere, as it celebrates and acknowledges casting achievements across all mediums, including film, television, advertising, theatre, and online content.
Group image of some of the 10 young, up-and-coming, new talent.
On Friday night, attendees gathered in the ballroom to mingle and socialize, celebrating the achievements within the casting community. During the event, several awards were presented, and ten promising young talents were recognized as future stars likely to achieve national and international fame. The evening featured speeches and was expertly hosted by the erudite duo, Christian and Connor Van Vuuren.
Christian and Connor Van Vuuren, hosts for the CGA Awards night, 2024, on the red carpet.
There was also a special appearance and presentation by Sally Riley, the notable filmmaker, writer, producer, who was head of the indigenous branch of Screen Australia and then Head of the Indigenous Department at ABC, during which time she executive produced Mabo and Redfern Now. In 2015 she was appointed Head of Scripted Production at ABC, which commissioned series like Stateless, Mystery Road, Total Control, After Taste, Rosehaven, Wakefield, The Newsreader and many more. Sally is now Creative Consultant at SBS and NITV.
Sally Riley (filmmaker, writer, producer) during her presentation at the CGA Awards Night, 2024
It was a great night filled with good energy, and with the flash of the red carpet photography going non-stop as the award winners and guests were snapped in front of the media wall. Sending my congratulations to all the award winners.
The team at Charter Hall and Prime Construcitons came together to mark the commencement of a new development at Minto. A short ceremony was organised where speeches were made and refreshments were consumed, as well as the symbolic turning of the first sod of ground.
The “sod-turning” is a symbolic re-enactment of the first bit of dirt that is dug up when work on the site is commenced. Three very shiny shovels were prepared for this construction ritual and then the appropriate individuals dig into the ground and dislodge the first bit of dirt (see photo).
A delicious spread was provided for breakfast on the dayPhoto: commencement of construction on the site at Minto
It is always a pleasure to photograph Australian singer and performer Prinnie Stevens and the recent shoot at my studio was no exception.
We captured three different looks over the space of one morning. Prinnie required some updated imagery for promotional purposes. As is always the case, Prinnie presented herself with total professionalism, which makes my job as a photographer far less complicated.
We started with a relaxed image, for a more casual feel. Prinnie chose to have her hair out, the makeup was natural and simple. We shot the image on a strong, peeled-back, black background.
The next shot was more colourful. Prinnie was wearing a lilac knit jumper and I chose to light her differently, using a more high-key, shadowless, front light, together with a purple gel on the background to mirror the colour of her jumper. I also added a warmer side light to give this image extra highlights in her hair.
For the final look, I changed the lighting again. This time I wanted to reflect a more sophisticated look. Prinnie slicked back her hair and applied a tad more makeup, including a different lip colour. I chose a “butterfly”-type lighting approach, with a couple of side lights added for effect. I gelled the side lights with a quarter blue gel to give a bluer tone on the sides of her face.
I enjoyed meeting up with Prinnie and working with her again to create a series of new imagery. I believe she was happy with the results and I look forward to our next session.
It was a festive morning at the grand opening of the newly completed Merrylands facility of United For Care, in partnership with Vertika to provide supported independent living (SIL).
United For Care is an organisation that provides many kinds of support and assistance within the disability sector. It has partnered with Vertika, a company specialised in the development of vertical integrated specialist accommodation within the same sector
Nick Jones (video) and I (still photographs) covered the event, and recorded many of the morning’s activities. We even managed to include a number of voice-to-camera interviews with selected participants.
We toured the newly created apartments, hearing from some of the executive team as well as listening to a speech from Jacob, the very first resident of the complex. DJ Dylan from Wollongong was spinning on the turn-table – not to mention the amazing coffee cart out the front of the building with a wonderful array of cup-cakes. There was also a heart-felt “welcome to country” performed on the upper terrace.
I’ve long had an interest in perfumes. I remember arriving in Paris after I first started traveling in my early 20’s and loving to try all the various fragrances at the large Parisian department stores. Through the years, I have sampled many … and subsequently I’ve spent heaps on purchasing these very expensive bottles of, essentially, scented water.
While my interest in perfume has continued, I look for new fragrances and in particular alternatives to the costly luxury brands. So I responded with great interest when I was approached to create imagery for ESNC, a new in-store boutique at the Bankstown Shopping Centre, for a brand which sells perfumes designed and manufactured in Turkey.
I set out to take images of the newly-built retail installation. The counter/shop has been built by Alishan Yucel from Feature Point Constructions. I have shot projects before for Ali in Melbourne (see previous post here). Ali completes beautiful work … his finishes in particular are amazing. Based in Melbourne, he created modular pieces of the ESNC counter at his workshop. He then transported the units to Sydney, to be assembled on site at Bankstown.
I spent time with Sam (owner of ESNC), his wife and the sales crew during one Saturday morning, and captured both stills and video of some of their interaction with the general public. I’ve posted some of the results as part of this post and the images speak for themselves…..dropping in to the ESNC store in Bankstown will definitely be a lot of fun.
