Photoshoot + Interview: 'Alea' by Renny Sax Photography
This free-spirited photoshoot by Renae Saxby of Renny Sax Photography is set among the tree-tops in Byron Bay.
The multi-talented Renae has actually previously worked as a make-up artist, allowing this skill to combine perfectly with her photography work. Although based in Byron Bay in Australia, the creative is quite the globe-trotter, often finding herself interstate and overseas due to her in-demand work.
We're excited to bring you an inspiring interview with Renae, and we hope you love her answers as much as we did!
.
Q: When did your passion for photography first blossom?
A: When I was a spring chicken... I was always taking photos or running around filming with the family video camera. Professionally though it was only last year.. Prior to that I had my own Day Spa in the Hunter Valley which paid the bills and provided a great lifestyle but it wasnt my passion and I felt like I was wasting my days away doing something I didnt love. So in May last year I closed the doors, rented out my home, booked a flight to Cambodia and hit the road with my camera and absolutely no idea where I was going to end up! I decided to trust in the saying 'follow your bliss and doors will open' and thankfully they did.. phew!
Q: What inspires your creativity the most?
A: Connection would have to be at the top of the list. Weather it be with the model on a fashion shoot or a gorgeous old woman in a remote village with a baby hanging off her hip I believe when you make a real connection with the person you are photographing it shines through in your work and it creates a really special artistic experience.
Showing the beauty I see in the person I am photographing is very important to me, particularly with women. I guess it probably stems from years of working in the beauty industry and my exposure to how majority of my clients really felt about themselves in terms of being beautiful - which usually wasn't very much! So I work in a way that makes them feel beautiful and reinforces just how amazing they are, I can see it and I want them to see it too! I want my work to elevate people and to be a positive reflection.
Q: Please tell us a little about this photoshoot and the experience you had capturing these beautiful images?
A: This shoot was a part of a two day creative shoot with Alea, a model from the USA in collaboration with Libertated Heart and Celeste Twikler Jewellery, both Byron based designers. Alea and I went on a two day creative adventure together and shot a series of looks, this being one of my favourites as it really captured her wild essence and the free spirit vibe of the labels. I am also a Makeup Artist so really got to style this shoot to get the exact look I was after which was loads of fun.
Q: What does an average day in the life of Renae look like?
A: To be honest I feel like since I jumped on that plane to Cambodia last year my life has been so colourful and such an adventure that I don't really know! My summer was full of fashion shoots, weddings, music film clips, festivals and it finished up touring Bali and Nepal with Emmy Award winning musician Toni Childs as photographer, videographer and makeup artist. Since then I have been in Bali, the NT and India shooting (shooting HH The Dalai Lama's 80th in his temple in Dharamasala was a highlight!) and I am now back in Nepal after working with Toni Childs and the Crystal Castle crew to raise funds to help with the earthquake rebuild. So at the moment my days are full of photographing disaster, rebuild, survival, smiles, tears and everything that I want to send out into the world to show how much these people need our help. The other day I actually photographed a birth at the Helping Hands charity run hospital for the poor which was an incredible experience!
Q: What do you hope to achieve with your photography career in the not-too-distant future; Do you have any upcoming, exciting plans that you would like to share with us?
A: Everything has moved so quickly photography and Makeup Artistry wise and I want to keep growing and expanding, I genuinely love what I do and at the moment every day is such an adventure! I really love life on the road so travelling with work is perfect for me. I have just been asked to go to Africa and South Africa to shoot so that will be an exciting adventure before the year is out!
.
We want to thank Renae for taking the time to answer our interview questions (especially because we know how busy she must be!) and we encourage you to check out more of her wonderful work by visiting her website. You can also follow her work on Facebook and Instagram (@renny_sax). Enjoy!
.
Full credits: Photographer: Renae Saxby of Renny Sax Photography | Model: Alea Rain | Clothing: Liberated Heart | Jewellery: Celeste Twikler | HMUA + Styling: Renae Saxby of Renny Sax Photography
