Not Your Average Agency Photoshoot - UnBasic Agency

When Maddie sent me the mood board for her latest branding shoot I let out a ‘Hell Yeah’.

Maddie and Mick run UnBasic, a digital marketing agency that specialises in bespoke marketing for clients that are sick of the ‘one size fits all’ approach.

I met Maddie during our prep for a charity boxing match with Fortitude Boxing. After contracting me to shoot one of her clients, we have since developed a friendship around dark humour and sarcasm. Her witty humour combined with a borderline autistic drive for marketing lends to an absolute power house of abilities in this digital space.

The man of a thousand expressions. I was in stitches of laughter during our shoot with Mick’s ability change his face into every meme you could imagine. Head of design, I share Mick’s love for BOLD imagery and love looking at his creative work.

With most internal branding being your boring cliche headshots and dull tones, we wanted to make sure you remembered UnBasic when you hit their website, receive a digital pack or rock up to their instagram.

This was a super fun shoot and i’m excited to continue working with UnBasic on some exciting client work coming up next year.

If you’re wanting to have your brand/team stand out I’d love to help! Get in touch and lets bounce some ideas around on how we can take your image to the next level.

The Cadbury Chronicles: Tales from the Fridge

When we were little snappers, there was always a shimmering Cadbury treasure tucked away in the fridge, just waiting for Dad to claim. Oh, but did he know the fridge had other, far sneakier visitors—my brother and I! By nightfall, the kitchen transformed into our playground, where we'd tiptoe like mischievous burglars, hearts racing, and snatch our golden loot from under Dad’s nose!

“Cadbury is God's chocolate! Everything else is pure rubbish!” Dad would bellow with conviction, his eyes ablaze with devotion. And who could argue? Inspired by Dad’s unwavering loyalty to the almighty Cadbury, this shoot is a sweet tribute to his favourites, captured in my bold, raw, and minimal style.

Got a wild idea bubbling in your brain? Let’s make it something extraordinary! Get in touch, and together, we’ll whip up something magic.

Fun Food!

Who doesn’t love fun food! I’m talking burgers, chips, wings and sando’s. This month I took my bold, raw, minimal style and worked with Tippler’s Tap on some bright fun food images.

I have been very inspired to shoot some poppy food pictures the last few months so when the opportunity to work with Tippler’s came about I was ecstatic!

To achieve this look I used harsh light. A lot of photographers are scared to use direct flash and rather go the safe option with soft light... Not me. Turn that bad boy on 100%, point it at the subject and let’s get some glistening highlights and crisp shadows.

This kind of set up lends itself nicely to simple backgrounds allowing the subject to pop and be the centre of attention.

What made this shoot so fun for me was the subject matter. It’s not junk food, but it’s not your fine dining experience either. It’s the kind of food that you know your eating when your out with friends just having a great time!

Head chef Jake did a great job preparing the food, styling and even lending his hand for some modelling. (the other hand has fallen victim to chef life a few to many times 😅)

I’m excited to work on more food projects (not just for the post shoot treats 😁) so if you have a client or brief that wants to stand out I’d love to hear about it!

My Favourite Project This Year - ICONS Jewellery

I have been waiting SO long to share these! Earlier this year I shot the hero images for a new jewellery brand ICONS, who are changing the game in the world of modular jewellery.

I met Amrith (founder) on a personal project I was doing (another reason to always pursue personal projects) and from the moment he began telling me about his vision I knew we would be working together in some way.

After showing him my work he immediately said, ‘Dude, can you do your thing exactly how you do it for my brand?!’
Both of us wanting to challenge the norms of our prospective industries I was ecstatic to have creative freedom to bring his vision to life.

‘I want the opposite of the typical soft, earth tone jewellery look for ICONS’, is what was clearly stated in the brief. My style is BOLD, RAW and MINIMAL, so you could say this brief was written just for me.

Amrith made my job easy, already having the shoot concept sorted and model selected. On shoot day with my talented videographer buddy Nick from VSNZ, and incredible hair and makeup artist Tania Travers we proceeded to make some iconic, bold, artistic images.

Not only is the jewellery itself gorgeous but the locking mechanism that attaches each icon to its base is insanely satisfying to play with. This new, innovative patented design is a game changer in the modular jewellery industry.

With heaps of ICONS to choose from and all the bases including rings, necklace, bangle, and earrings, the combinations and versatility of the ICONS platform is endless.

If you can’t tell already I am a massive fan boy of this new brand, and being a bit of a bower bird myself loving shiny things, this project ticked all the boxes for me.

I cannot wait to work together with the great team again and hopefully build a relationship shooting ICON campaigns well into the future.

You can see some BTS from the shoot on my about page here.

Suits Can Look Cool Too! - Luke Sartor Corporate

All these people in suits have souls too! And I love helping them bring out their personality.

When people hear ‘corporate photoshoot’ they think of a painful experience where they are forced into a half baked smile and left looking like another drone in the matrix.

I think it is crucial as a photographer to give your subjects an ‘experience’ as a photoshoot. So with a little charisma and charm, I try to leave my corporate clients having a great time when we break their usual daily routine for their team photos. This leads to much more genuine, relatable and human reactions, that better translate the companies team and brand.

‘What would you want on the cover of your autobiography?’ This is the question I pose to myself and my clients when we are trying to create personal branding images that gives them authority, translates their persona and communicates their story. In the endless sea of ‘LinkedIn headshots’, I really want my clients to stand out form the heard of suits.

Whether a client is a seasoned media appearance veteran or its their one moment of fame, I want the viewers of their piece to stop and take notice. ‘Bold’ is one of my core style principles (bold, raw, minimal) and that’s how we get their audiences attention.

I loathe nothing more than deathly boring brand comms, you know the ones? Stock images of another company that kind of fits your company and ‘ah it’ll do the job. Bringing the personality out of a brand and having its members bring their own individual elements that contribute to the whole, brings me great joy. Ive had the pleasure of helping some great teams express their quirky selves!

I Am Stoked - Emerging Photographer Awards

There was some absolutely insane work submitted this year in Capture Magazine ‘Top Emerging Photographer Awards’ of which I submitted 5 of my own projects.

I was lucky enough to have 4 of my 5 pieces of submitted work make it through rounds of judging which blew all of my expectations and am very stoked about the result. Coming away with two top 10 rankings and two commended.

My entires where from 3 different personal projects; Fire Fire Fire, Immortals and Good Morning Vietnam.

For Fire Fire Fire I linked up with the gentleman from D Crew at my home town fire department and shot a series of portraits in their different kit outs.

Rogan Dean is a crossfit athlete I shot for my Immortals project and Good Morning Vietnam was from a holiday earlier this year.

Im excited for my next opportunity to submit in competitions later this year.

Tech Meets Allied Health . DAMIEN ADLER - POWER DIARYS

In a niche sector of the tech space PowerDiary’s are making huge waves with their allied health practice management/scheduling system ‘PowerDiary’. I sat down with CEO and founder Damien Adler for an interview for the latest cover of Allied Magazine .

PowerDiary’s is used in over 23 countries globally and is taking the US by storm becoming one of the leading practice management systems and growing rapidly.

In 2011 Damien (psychologist) was managing his practice with multiple softwares and thought ‘there has got to be a better way’. Bringing on his brother Paul (technologist) the pair brought their skills together to solve the issue for themselves, little did they know that they had started something that will grow exponentially.

Damien, understanding the struggles other allied health practices deal with in their management systems, put it out to practices Australia wide to try help them simplify their systems. But as the software gained adoption they noticed that it wasn’t just Australian companies using it…. UK, US and other jurisdictions globally were signing up and that was when the light bulb moment happened that there software solves a problem that allied health practices struggle with globally.

I sat down with Damien who is an enthusiastic and articulate speaker, and thoroughly enjoyed our conversation about the early days, global adoption, the future of allied tech and AI and his love of mountain biking. You can watch our full interview below or download this month’s issue of Allied Magazine here.

Chis from Allied Magazine and Allied Marketing has been working with PowerDiary’s over the years to help them grow in the Australian market. The two were great to work with as it was obvious to see both of their passions for the allied space during our photoshoot.

This is my second cover for Allied Magazine and I am excited to continue shooting together as we cover everything in the sporting and health space, which are both big passions of mine.

IRONMAN - Zac Dunn

This weekend I will be hanging out with IRONMAN athlete Zac Dunn again as he is in town to compete in the Brisbane Marathon.

Zac and I first met by a chance encounter with a mutual friend on our yearly snowboarding expedition to Japan. Ever since we have shared our love of sports, training and the outdoors.

Zac not only loves the challenge of endurance sports but is an avid lifter with a grueling training regime. This is what leads to his impressive physique, having him usually about 10-20kg heavier than his endurance competitors. 😂

I look forward to watching him rip the marathon and the post event meal we gorge ourselves on, with many laughs and tails of our 6 months since meeting last.

This Jump Is Enormous... Pro MTB Rider Testing

When Sam Frazer invites you to come shoot the gang at young legend Dane Folpp’s place you know I’m there! The afternoon session was a final test for the group before they each head off to different comps around the world.

Sam sending a massive front flip as well as working on his backflip no hander’s.

Eight time mountain bike world champ and olympian Caroline Buchanan with a no hander.

Dane sending a massive triple tail whip 180… and he in only 16 🤯.

Baxter Maiwald with a 360 front flip.

Watching these guys and girls was truly breathtaking to watch. Multiple times in the session my mouth was on the floor. I can not wait to get out for the next one.

Be sure to check out their instagrams for some videos of them sending the noise 🤘.

Luke

Bold . Raw . Minimal - Harsh Lighting Technique

Earlier this year, I embarked on an exciting test shoot in the studio with model Jamie Verster. I experimented with harsh lighting techniques to capture jewelry images, which are typically shot with soft lighting. My aim was to infuse these images with a bold, harsh lighting setup to make them really pop. This shoot served as a creative exploration that I then referenced for ICONS project.

I am particularly drawn to the crisp shadows and vibrant, contrast-rich colours that this technique produces, all while maintaining flattering skin tones. To achieve this effect, I used a bare bulb strobe directed straight at the model.

Although this strobe method can be intimidating to some creatives, mastering its nuances can yield stunning results.

I love how this type of lighting commands attention and distinguishes itself from the conventional 'soft fashion' lighting prevalent in the industry.

Don't forget to follow Jamie — she's an incredible personal trainer, emerging model, and a talented UGC creator!

Mt Coot Tha Trails - MTB

Hitting the trails testing this week with fellow creative Nick Ravn and mountain bike athletes Bergen O’Neill and Noah Davidson.

We hit the trails in the dense bushland of MT Coot Tha which provided some challenging conditions to test our skills against a busy backdrop and fast riders.

Through the bush we found some great framing between peep holes and speckled light creeping through the canopy.

Noah and Bergen are both competitive MTB riders who spend their time racing between Brisbane and the iconic Tasmanian bike park Maydena.

The wooden bridge shot is one of my favourites from the afternoon, especially with Nick laying down and putting it on the line to get the shot! Committed to the craft.

I am also a sucker for back lit photos and especially this one with the evening sun shining through the forrest.

I look forward to creating with these guys again and please be sure to give them all all follow on their socials.

Life Outside - ANZAC Day

As a veteran myself I have a special place in my heart for fellow ex defence members who may be struggling as civilians in ‘Life Outside’ the military.

During the interviews I conducted with veterans I wanted to gain their perspective on what are some of their struggles, triumphs and things they think the community can do to help support our soldiers when they leave the military.

A key take away from Jake who was an infantry soldier and sniper, is that, ‘it can be as small as someone talking to us that can make a huge difference in our lives. We are not psychos, we just might be having a ruff time.’

Brendan has gone onto become a helicopter pilot after leaving defence and he thinks that having a clear purpose once you leave the military is key to success on the outside. Finding or creating your own purpose will help you have direction when you are the now master of your own ship.

For Angus, finding a community is key to dealing with struggles on the outside. Having a group of like minded people that you can lean on in hard times and hold you accountable when building your new life.

For this Anzac Day please take the time to just say hello to a veteran. Because you never know what they may be dealing with and this small act of kindness can make all the difference.

Thank you for your service.

Luke

Winter Is Coming...

Winter is still over 2 months away but I’m already excited.

I LOVE cold places. I often catch myself day dreaming of snow, mountains, lakes and frozen forests.

These are some of my favourite images from adventures to cold places.

Out the back of a small set of trees at the peak of Iwatake mountain is a bakery with a deck off the side of the ski resort. This is the view from that deck while I enjoyed my coffee and cinnamon scroll.

Zac and I hiking up Lotte Arai Hokkaido before one of the best runs of our life.

Outside a small burger joint in the Hakuba lives a converted old school bus where you can enjoy a beer and a burger after a day on the slopes. Pitvipers, beers, snowboarding 🏂

One of my favourite days boarding was actually on a day of average snow. We hit the park and I set up one of the jumps. Once the park rats worked out that that dude standing on the side of the jump was holding a camera… they began to send it. This guy was super cool.

The open plains in between the mountains of the Mt Cook, Aoraki area New Zealand. We wish we were going on that chopper.

White out in back country Hokkaido Japan.

You can find a vending machine on almost every street in Japan.

Horse riding in Glenorchy New Zealand is up there with one of my favourite experiences. Also Glenorchy is one of my favourite places to visit. It feels like your in last settlement on the edge of the world. It is absolutely gorgeous.

Evergreen Content Workshop

A common theme amongst some of the professionals and brands I work with is you guys are struggling to come up with original content ideas that resinate with your audiences.

Iv’e partnered with Allied Magazine to release my first workshop teaching you how to create Evergreen content that will be relevant today, in a month, next year and forever.

THE AUDIENCE IS THE ASSET and we teach you how to create value that builds the die hard fans that love you, jam with your message and when you are ready to sell, will buy from you.

The curriculum includes:

• Why Giving Free Value Makes You More Money

• How to Come Up With Original EverGreen Ideas

• Using AI to Your Advantage

• The Gear You Need (and Don’t Need) and How to Use It

• Free (or very cheep) Software/Apps You Can Use

• 1 Day a Month Content Days For Bulk Content

• How to Overcome Camera Anxiety

• Which Social Media Platforms to Use

• Hosting Your Own Content on Your Website

• Content for 2 Types of Leads: Clients and Business Partners

• Q&A

• We Make Some Content!

I have packed this with as much knowledge as I can so that all you have to do after the workshop… is start.

I hope to see you there.

Luke

Send It!!! - MTB

Sitting there ‘ready’ to take the shot, my mouth dropped as Sam Frazer sends an enormous back flip over a massive jump. Needless to say I wasn’t ready for him to send it like that after only being at the park for 5 minutes 😅. ‘Send it again please’

These are some of my favourite images form my session at Boomerang Farm MTB with professional riders Sam Frazer and Ted Oakley.

The intention of the day was to show the scale, speed and size of the tricks you can throw at this park.

Some of the jumps were absolutely massive for us mere mortals and these guys made them look like play.

Shooting conditions were tuff as there was a lot of distractions in the back ground with the forrest and these guys were ripping some serious speed to keep up with.

Im stoked with the set we were able to come away with, be sure to check out the full set here and Sam and Ted’s instagrams to see more of what these guys can do.

Attila - New Talent

I love the creative collaboration between photographers and models when we set out with no fixed goals but to just see where our creativity takes us.

Greeted by this tall, charming and enthusiastic young man in my lobby, I was taken back by his energy and keenness to try different ideas and modify on the fly.

We worked between a ‘paparazzi interview’, outdoor formal wear (failed haha) and portrait sitting to create some great portfolio pieces.

Very keen to see what we are able to create in the future. Check out the full set in my blog post and give Attila a follow @attila.mbe

Good Morning Vietnam

On my latest trip I headed to the rich cultural realm of Vietnam.

My journey started in the wet north experiencing the street food of Hanoi, the still waters of Hạ Long Bay and the cultural streams of Ninh Bình. Although we had inclement weather while we were in the north, this only added to the ancient feeling of cultural Vietnam.

Our trip then took us to the tropical island paradise of Phú Quốc where we enjoyed dinner on the beach, drinking Vietnamese coffee while riding around on scooters and the amazing European inspired Sunshine Town.

Finally our journey ended in the nations capital Ho Chi Minh City known to the locals as Saigon. Where the highlight was the historic war museum and Củ Chi tunnels.

Although there was ample scenic vistas to photograph I really wanted to capture the human element of Vietnam. I hope you enjoyed this snippet from my trip and you can see the full gallery here or my travel portfolio on my website.

IRONMAN - Run

Part 3/3 of my IRONMAN - Swim, Ride, Run series ‘Run’.

Zac hitting the track for some timing work to break the long session training week.

I really love the colour of the red track contrasted with Zac’s bright blue sunnies and blue sky making this set really pop!

IRONMAN - Ride

Part 2/3 of my IRONMAN - Swim, Ride, Run series ‘Ride’.

Banging out 60km to over 90km sessions a couple times a week when in prep for an IRONMAN is an incredible amount of volume for normies like us but athlete Zac Dunn froths them with ease.

This set was shot at a gorgeous spot in my home town Mackay and I really enjoy the back lighting coming through the pine trees making it look like it could of been shot in the hills somewhere else in the world.

Keep an eye out for my final set ‘Run’.

IRONMAN - Swim

Part 1 of 3 for my Ironman Swim, Ride, Run series.

Athlete Zac Dunn on his morning training session. An absolute mountain of a man, Zac’s morning swims are minimum 3km and consist of a combination of long slow swims and interval sessions.

The half in half out of the water shots are a favourite of mine and make Zac look more like a super hero. Keep an eye out for the next set in the series ‘Ride’.