Clarissa with her faithful companion and assistant Pepper, at the front of her studio. “I’m a working mum with two children, so for me it’s a dream to step into a beautiful space that is separate from the house, but still provides the benefits of being home.”
“The room is a versatile space. Mostly it’s used as a photographic studio for fashion shoots, product shots, portraits and even children and baby sessions”.
This artwork by Clarissa entitled, “Paper Bark ” was captured between Point Plomer and Port Macquarie, NSW whilst on holiday with her family. “After seeing nothing but the 4×4 drive track and shrubs for miles, we discovered this sparkling diamond.”
“My favourite useful things are probably the timber furnishings and props my husband Luke makes, like the round Tasmanian oak table and bench.”
The Victorian ash serving boards were also made by Clarissa’s husband Luke.
When people see the space for the first time – “They comment on where we live, how private it is and how they saw kangaroos on the driveway. Then when they step into the studio they comment on how nice the space feels.”
“Oh Pepper, “The assistant”. This little girl had a broken heart when our youngest went to school and the house became quiet. We live on 30 acres, so quiet it really is. No one around to play dress ups or play ball and I’m a bit boring when on the computer. So when we have studio appointments Pepper thinks everyone is here for her, especially if children visit. When I pick up my camera she goes and sits at the studio, staring down the driveway…waiting.”
“I also create landscapes and nature based photographic art for my online shop.”
“The door handle was made from timber collected from our property and salvaged steel from a construction site. I just love that the timber is from our own land.”
1. What’s the room and who uses it?
The room is a photographic studio used by me. My husband Luke and I had a shed built and then split it in half (well almost half). On one side is Luke’s shed and on my side we plastered the walls, polished the concrete and added windows for natural light and high ceilings for the photographic backgrounds and equipment.
2. What do you do for a crust?
I’m a working photographer. I specialise in artistic portraiture and work with businesses helping them create social media and website imagery. I also create landscapes and nature based photographic art for my online shop – www.csphotographicart.com
Before being a mummy I was a secondary school studio arts / visual arts teacher. After becoming a Mummy I began doing what I was teaching.
3. What goes on in the room?
The room is a versatile space. Mostly it’s used as a photographic studio for fashion shoots, product shots, portraits and even children and baby sessions. The room is also used for studio appointments and pop up shops / open studios for the artworks to be viewed.
4. Favourite piece in the room and why?
Oh this question is hard to answer, I am a person that is ridiculously attached to things and am the most sentimental person on the planet (am I right or am I right hubby?). My favourite useful things are probably the timber furnishings and props my husband Luke makes, like the round Tasmanian oak table and bench.
However, my absolute favourite thing is probably my camera/cameras. Its like my old mate that I couldn’t imagine a life without. It’s always by my side. It’s my guilty pleasure and my work horse at the same time. There is no barrier between work and play when it comes to photography for me. As long as I have the camera around my neck I’m in my element.
5. Anything on your wish list that you would love to add to the space?
A spilt system air con. I know one of the models I photograph would agree with me. The portable fan just isn’t cutting it when we have four or five people in the room on a hot day and we all start melting.
6. What do other people say when they see your room for the first time?
Firstly, everyone comments on Pepper, my assistant Australian Kelpie. Pepper greets all guests at their cars and then drops the ball at their feet. They then comment on where we live, how private it is and how they saw kangaroos on the driveway. Then when they step into the studio they comment on how nice the space feels.
7. Why do you love this room?
I’m a working mum with two children, so for me it’s a dream to step into a beautiful space that is separate from the house but still provides the benefits of being home. I love that the studio is a versatile space that allows me to style it in many ways and transform it when needed.
8. What’s one lovely memory you have whilst being in the room?
Painting the space with the excitement of it almost complete. It was a little messy with two little kiddies at the time helping me, as well as our kelpie dropping the ball in the paint, but still a lovely memory shared.
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