Behind the lens with photographer Lee Calleja-Thomas
Styled photoshoot for Jackfruit the Label (creative direction: Greer Quinn, hair and makeup: Bec Purcell and photography: Lee Calleja-Thomas).
Being a career artist takes grit and determination. Forward Communications Managing Director Greer Quinn wanted to find out what inspires and drives photographer Lee Calleja-Thomas, who describes her style as photo-journalism-meets-fashion-photography.
Q: What inspired you to become a photographer?
Lee: I think it’s driven by being genuinely really interested in life from a really young age. I was fascinated by people's joy, sadness and the full spectrum of human emotions – and how they showed on people’s faces and bodies. At age 10, my father took me to a photography exhibition. I could see all those emotions captured in profound stillness, and that was it for me. I was in hook, line and sinker.
Model Phoebe Hill models in the open air (creative direction: Greer Quinn, hair: Bec Purcell, makeup: Charada Hawley and photography: Lee Calleja-Thomas).
Q: Now, interestingly, even though you were in hook, line and sinker, you first studied accountancy?
Lee: My parents, at the time, couldn't afford to put me through photography school because back then the avenues were more upfront payment colleges. I didn’t really consider that such a course was an option. It was a very strange vocation to take, particularly to my parents, who had migrated from Europe. I wanted to show my appreciation for their sacrifices and their hard work. I did the right thing and told Dad, I would do a business accounting degree and perhaps end up working at a corporation like Ford Motor Company in marketing or something.
Q. And how did that go for you?
Lee: It was a big struggle. I always gravitated towards the arts students. Always. People didn't even recognise me in my own course. During my second year statistics exam, I just looked up at everyone – and they all suddenly appeared to be a sea of robots. I put my pencil down, and went, "Yeah, this is not for me, this is not who I want to be”.
Our favourite muse Phoebe Hill again in all her glory (creative direction: Greer Quinn, hair and makeup: Ellie Green and photography: Lee Calleja-Thomas).
Q. And so, at what time, did you actually seriously take photography in terms of a career option for yourself?
Lee: The year I quit, I went to Europe for six months. I bought a second-hand camera and started shooting, shooting, shooting. When I got back to Melbourne, I got my first photography job as a real estate photographer. And even though it wasn't the genre I wanted to be in, I was just so happy to be taking pictures.
Q. How would you describe your style today? Because this is 20 years on now that you've been behind the lens.
Lee: That's really a hard question for me, because I know a lot of people could sum up their particular style. I would just say that my style is trying to capture the personality...whether that's a wedding, portrait, content or a family photoshoot. So my style is kind of a mixture of photo journalism and fashion photography. The fashion edge comes in because of my love for fashion and personal style. So it's a bit of a synergy between the two.
Styled editorial photoshoot for vegan cheese manufacturer Dairy-Free Down Under (creative direction: Greer Quinn, hair + makeup: Bec Purcell and photography: Lee Calleja-Thomas).
Q. What's been a career highlight so far with your photography? Has there been a particular shoot or a type of shoot that has particularly sparked joy?
Lee: From a commercial or industry recognition perspective, it was when my images were printed on a massive scale for a jewellery designer and displayed at the Q1 Building on the Gold Coast. But from a purely creative avenue, it was definitely working Forward Communications and the team you brought together. I was truly able to let my creativity flow. You just provided free reign and support to do whatever I wanted and I think the results from those shoots – particularly with [model] Phoebe Hill – are, in my mind, some of the best stuff that I've done as a creator. Oh and also, every weekend I get to shoot a wedding. Even though the whole world is not seeing these images, it's such a highlight to me when I get to my inbox and read how happy my clients are – that I managed to capture their true personalities, the true feeling of the day and tell their stories for them. That's my major career highlight and it happens a lot.
Corporate photoshoot for Brisbane consultancy Critical Input (creative direction: Greer Quinn, photography: Lee Calleja-Thomas and talent: Tom Whiting).
Q. Something that I've observed with your work lately, because I've been following you for some time, is you manage to just somehow make everybody look beautiful, while still being themselves. You're not making them look beautiful through photoshopping them within an inch of their lives, you're actually making them beautiful by capturing their inner beauty and their most mesmerising characteristics with your lens. How do you that?
Lee: I would agree with that. I think first and foremost, I try and make them feel as comfortable as I can possibly make them feel in front of a camera. I give them the space to be themselves. I sit back and observe them before I start shooting them. So even though they don't really know it, I am kind of checking them out and looking for their best angles and finding the light before I start shooting. That way, I know when we start shooting, I've put them in the best possible and most flattering lighting. And even if I've only known the client for a short time, I work hard to establish a rapport and try and make them have fun with the process. People are always more beautiful when their guard is down. I like to catch those in-between moments where authenticity and flickers of vulnerability shine.
Behind the scenes with model Phoebe Hill, vegan makeup artist and Jackfruit the Label Founder Charada Hawley and stylist Bec Purcell. Photo: Lee Calleja-Thomas.
Q. Where do you get your inspiration? Because you're constantly re-inventing. I've seen your work really evolve during the past decade. How do you stay inspired and how do you stay current?
Lee: I've always got a fashion magazine, or three, sitting on my coffee table. I'm also really inspired by homewares. I don't know how that fits in. I love the photo journalistic side so I'm often on CNN sites and looking at photography – and observing how colleagues are translating what they see in an artistic way. I avoid looking over the back fence at what local photographers are doing because even though there’s great local work happening, I want to interpret my local environment and culture and capture that through my own eyes. So, I tend to spend more time studying what’s happening overseas.
Lee Calleja-Thomas captures hair and makeup artist Bec Purcell behind the scenes at an editorial photoshoot for Forward Communications clients.
Q. A lot of artists are their own worst critics and that can be very difficult for an artist and their resilience in this industry. You've obviously survived and thrived for a very long time. How do you know when you've done a good job? How do you measure that? Because I'm sure that's part of the fuel that keeps you going.
Lee: When I was starting out, that was a massive, massive challenge. I was constantly looking behind me and comparing what I was producing to everything else. I quickly found out that that didn't suit me. Being a spiritual person, I don't like comparing myself to other people. I don't think it's healthy. It’s actually a lesson I learned from Oprah Winfrey. I remember her talking about when she first started The Oprah Winfrey Show and everybody was telling her that there was no way she could compete against Phil Donahue and all the other presenters at the time. She decided to tell her production team she didn't want to look backwards...she just wanted to look forwards. She wanted to get better at what she was doing. That's definitely what I try to do. I always want to be better at what I'm doing. I love and appreciate the amazing work that's coming out of the Gold Coast and our surrounding regions in Byron, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. There are so many talented people, but I just think it's toxic to compare because we all bring something really unique to the table. With our own individual eyes, we all see the world differently.
Lifestyle product shots for vegan cheese and condiment manufacturer Dairy-Free Down Under.