CARMEN ROSE PHOTOGRAPHER

Celebrating our Australian creatives. Discover Melbourne-based photographer Carmen Rose.

Featured jewellery: Helana Mckenzie Designs | Model: Julie Lillemoen @ Priscilla

Dress: Lylou the label | Earrings: Two Green Stones | Model Julie Lillemoen @Priscilla

Carmen Rose is an Australian Fashion Photographer based in Melbourne, Sydney and Bali. She has specialised in fashion, advertising, beauty and editorial for the last sixteen years.

Together with Carmen, we brought together three beautiful Australian independent labels - Lyou the Label, Two Green stones and Helana McKenzie designs in July at a time when everyone was at home in isolation. Here is the beautiful work by Carmen featuring these Australian labels.

While home in Melbourne during isolation we spoke to Carmen about her work and love for photography, her time at home and the challenges facing the industry this year.

Featured earrings: Helana Mckenzie Designs | Model: Julie Lillemoen @ Priscilla

Tell us about yourself and your work?

I’m a fashion photographer based in Melbourne, Australia. I’ve been behind the lens since the age of sixteen. I started my love of photography shooting native orchids for a local community conservation group and then gradually moved to other commercial and fashion creative work.

In 2010, I moved from Perth to Melbourne and studied fine art and focused on photography. I was always surrounded by beautiful things - my mother is a jewellery designer and antique collector and she taught me the history of various styles and eras from jewellery, clothing, architecture, furniture whatever!

I think this made me appreciate the value of honing a craft and quality of craftsmanship, especially when it comes to selecting materials and designing fashion clothing and accessories. I love supporting sustainable brands and labels that are centred on an ethos of simplicity and quality. Keeping things simple always works well with lighting , set up and natural beauty.

When did you first fall in love with photography?

I can’t recall the exact age, but I do remember immediately loving it. I think working in nature early taught me how to use light and best work with subjects that are constantly changing. I was always inspired by artists like Tim Walker, Bill Henson, Nicole Bentley. The way they could create a feeling in a scene and capture a model in such a beautiful way truly inspired me.

Australia has amazing creative talent, who do you love to collaborate with?

Oh that’s a hard question there are sooooooo many great creatives!

What creative work has you excited right now?

I get so excited by it all! I have just started a boutique studio in Brunswick www.studiohardwick.com @studio.hardwick with two friends. We just put in some stunning natural wooden floorboards ourselves - a lot of time has gone into getting that up and running. We can’t wait to get in there and create new work.

How do you see the industry shifting?

I feel with the current issue of COVID-19 shoots have changed immensely. How people are shopping has now changed and it’s hard to say if it will go back to normal or if things are changed forever. Being in Melbourne and now experiencing a second round of home isolations, it is hard to anticipate what is ahead. In the long term, I hope things change for the better and people take more time to consider what they are buying and choose the more conscious choice.

What are some independent Australian labels that you love?

Australia has so many beautiful designers and labels. To name only a few, I would say A-esque, Avenue The Label, Henne, ESSE, Alias Mae, Sunshine Symbol, and Mastani - the list goes on!

It was a pleasure to work on this project with the three beautiful Australian labels - Lylou the label, Two Green Stones and Helana McKenzie Designs, which all epitomises Australian women and design.

CREDITS

Creative team: Isolation Editorial with Julie.
Photographer: Carmen @carmenrosephotographer
Model: Julie Lillemoen @Priscilla
Make up and hair by Julie.

Thank you Carmen Rose for your collaboration and contributing your creative talent to this project | THE INSPIRED CO.

Please email Carmen for all enquiries for work: info@carmenrose.com.au.