Q&A Geoffrey Chuah | Fashion Photographer
Geoffrey Chuah is a photographer mainly snapping fashion and beauty shots but also capturing other pretty things from nature and life. He claims to have no nicknames… and well… we have to admit that we don’t know him very well having just crossed his path but we think nicknames are fun loving personal labels if meant well… how about Geoff, Chu Chu, Mr G or GC…? Anyway, let’s get to know Geoffrey more and see the world from his lens…
Name: Geoffrey Chuah
Profession: Photographer
Location: Sydney, Australia
Passion: Photography, Music, Cricket, Chocolate and Sleeping
How we got our break: By a lot of hard work and being in the right place at the right time
My top tricks of the trade: All the lighting skills that I have picked up over the years
My style in a sentence: Casual but chic
Travel destination & tips: New York accompanied by about 10 of my fav albums
I bet you didn’t know I am: Amazingly good with numbers
I get our inspirations from: All around me, when I go for walks, movies that I watch and the people that I meet
My latest project is about: I have a ongoing landscape and night shoot project that I am working on
My latest purchase: Shoes
My current favourite mecho item: The Fuji Instax Mini Camera, that is my new fav gadget
Psst… One time… :
I was doing a shoot for Culture Mag in New York in a bar called the Beauty Bar, an old beauty salon turned into a… you guessed it; a bar. I rocked up at 9am thinking that the owner would be there but um no, had to be let in by the cleaner who could not speak much English. Once the models arrived and started getting their hair and make-up done, I thought I better pull my camera out to load it up with film (ah the old days when we use to shoot film). Anyway, pulled my case out and couldn’t open it! Somehow it had locked itself and I didn’t have a key so my eyes rolled to the back of my head and I said to my stylist I have get this thing opened.
I walked out the door and looked to my left then to my right and guess what – a locksmith! I could not believe it and walked in there, the locksmith said 5 bucks and well, I couldn’t haggle with that but I tell you, not having a camera on the day would had made things a little bit difficult to shoot the story. Oh, how I miss New York!
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NOTE: ARCHIVE ONLY from MAY-09. You may leave a comment but please note Geoffrey is no longer actively responding to any questions post 31 May-09.
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7 comments
7 Comments Add your own
1.
Kellie | May 1st, 2009 at 10:45 am
Hi Geoffrey, How can I take the step to turn my passion in photography into a career? Do you recommend freelancing or actually working for a studio or publication? How did you start out? How much should one charge when starting out? I want to make a living of what I love the most !! but am scared. Appreciate any advice! Much love, Kellie
2.
Gina | May 1st, 2009 at 3:47 pm
hihhiihihi I like how your name starts with a G (just like me) strong and powerful. i always believe it is the reason why it’s called the G-spot (which also is a nice nickname)
3.
Josh | May 3rd, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Hi Geoffrey,
Do you work with a certain group of set designers and stylists or is it random each time? Do you sometimes style everything yourself on set too?
PS. Your last purchase were shoes,what kind of shoes??
Josh
4.
Geoffrey Chuah | May 7th, 2009 at 12:20 am
Hi kellie
Starting out as a pro can be a bit scary but if you love what you do then it shouldn’t be a problem.The only advice I can give you is to keep having some kind of money coming in when you start out just so you can have that cash flow.It also depends on what kind of photography you want to shoot if it’s weddings for example then you would be looking at changing 1000-2000 plus then prints but if it’s fashion the going rate for editorial is around 500 lookboks and advertising with todays climate it’s hard but anything from 1000 and up plus any other costs like retouching ,studio hire etc.Or if you can get a job at a publishing company that would be even better (weekly income).
When it come’s to my shoots I always get a stylist in shooting and dressing a model are to very different things.My job is to light and shoot the stylist sources the clothes and then dress the model(s) on the day it would be a lot of work if I did both.But when you are building a book some times you have to style it yourself just to get a start.Oh yeah and my last pair of shoes I bought were Aldo.
5.
Kellie | May 10th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Thanks so much for your reply! It all very scary but exciting considering taking the dip of turning my passions into a career. I guess I’m worried of not meeting ends and how do you get contacts and network with the industry? Are you part of any association, do you advertise your service and do you exhibit much of your work? I guess you just meet people along the way too which is what I love about the whole thing as well. Sorry if million questions but love to hear more! Kellie
6.
Tony | May 10th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
So, any exciting projects u workin on now, mate? Who’s the best clients u most proud of have workin with so far?
7.
Geoffrey Chuah | May 14th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Kellie
With the internet now a days sometimes you don’t even get to meet your client till the day of the shot,that’s happen to me before a few times which means you need a website even if it’s the most basic of websites.No I don’t belong to a assocation but it’s good if you are.As for starting out you need a regular in-come till the photography thing takes over eg a part time job etc.Get your book together and make sure it’s presented the best possible way because that’s your selling point and don’t forget to keep working away at personal projects because ideas from your own work you can use in payed jobs.Oh and one last thing never stop learning there’s always some thing new you can pick up on shots,I try and learn something new every time I shot directly or in-directly…GOOD LUCK.
Tony
I’ am proud of all the clients that I shoot for because they are paying me to do something I love to do.
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