As a professional photographer in Perth, I’ve had the privilege of working on a variety of exciting projects, but being selected as the official photographer for the 2023 Tourism Calendar by the City of Swan was a particularly special experience. This project was more than just a typical photography assignment—it was an opportunity to showcase the breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant local businesses that make Swan Valley a must-visit destination.
The shoot spanned four days of intensive photography, covering 12 distinct scenarios across Swan Valley, Perth WA, and surrounding districts. Each location was chosen to highlight a different facet of what makes the region so special—from scenic vineyards and artisan markets to historical landmarks and outdoor adventure spots. Working with over 25 different people as featured talent required careful planning, coordination, and an adaptive approach to composition and lighting.
Planning & Concept Development: Creating a Visual Narrative
As a photographer in Perth, I always start a major project like this with detailed pre-production planning. Since the 2023 calendar theme was “Explore the City of Swan”, my goal was to create imagery that felt immersive, inviting, and full of life. I worked closely with the City of Swan team to understand their key messages, branding goals, and target audience, ensuring that every shot aligned with the vision of showcasing Swan Valley as a diverse and vibrant destination.
This meant selecting the right time of day for natural lighting, scouting unique angles that best captured the essence of each location, and preparing for changing weather conditions. Whether it was an early morning mist rolling over the vineyards or the golden hues of sunset along the Swan River, I meticulously planned my shooting schedule to take advantage of Perth’s incredible natural light.
Technical Approach: Capturing the Essence of Each Location
Each of the 12 scenarios required a different technical approach to lighting, composition, and camera settings. As one of the leading photographers in Perth, I always ensure that every shot is technically precise yet emotionally compelling.
1. Landscape & Nature Photography: Wide-Angle & Depth of Field
For expansive vineyard landscapes and rolling hills, I opted for a wide-angle lens (16-35mm f/2.8) to capture the full grandeur of the scenery. To add depth and visual interest, I often incorporated foreground elements, such as wine barrels or native flora, leading the viewer’s eye through the composition. I also used a narrow aperture (f/11-f/16) to keep the entire frame sharp and detailed.
2. Lifestyle & People Photography: Natural, Candid Moments
A key focus of the project was showcasing real people engaging with the experiences that Swan Valley offers. This required a documentary-style approach, using a 50mm or 85mm lens to create a shallow depth of field (f/2.0 - f/2.8), ensuring the subject stood out while keeping the background softly blurred. My goal was to capture authentic interactions—whether it was a winemaker carefully inspecting grapes, a family enjoying a picnic, or an artist at work in a local gallery.
3. Food & Wine Photography: Precision & Lighting
Since Swan Valley is renowned for its wineries and gourmet food experiences, I took special care in capturing the rich textures, vibrant colors, and inviting ambiance of these locations. Food photography is all about light control, so I used reflectors and diffusers to soften shadows and highlight natural colors. For wine and beverage shots, I played with backlighting techniques to create a glowing effect through the glass, emphasizing the rich tones of reds, whites, and rosés.
4. Aerial Drone Photography: A New Perspective
To truly showcase the scale and beauty of Swan Valley, I incorporated aerial drone photography, capturing sweeping views of the vineyards, winding rivers, and lush green landscapes. Drone shots were particularly effective in giving a sense of place and scale, providing a fresh perspective that wouldn’t be possible from the ground. The key challenge was timing the drone flights to capture the best light, ensuring the landscapes looked vibrant, inviting, and cinematic.
Challenges & Adaptability in Outdoor Photography
Shooting in multiple outdoor locations comes with its own set of challenges, from unpredictable weather conditions to managing natural and artificial lighting. As a Perth photographer, I’ve learned that adaptability is key. On this shoot, I encountered:
Changing Light Conditions – Early morning and late afternoon provided the best golden-hour light, but midday shoots required using polarizing filters to reduce harsh reflections and glare.
Wind & Movement – When shooting outdoor dining setups or people interacting with their environment, I had to adjust shutter speed and ISO settings to counteract movement without losing natural light balance.
Coordinating Talent & Scenes – With over 25 different people featured in the shoot, directing talent while ensuring that the photos felt natural and unscripted was a major priority. I focused on giving minimal direction and capturing people in real, authentic moments.
Bringing It All Together: Editing & Post-Production
Once the shoot was complete, my work as a photographer in Perth shifted into post-production and editing. This phase involved:
Color Grading – Adjusting tones to reflect the natural warmth and vibrancy of Swan Valley, ensuring consistency across all images in the calendar.
Retouching & Detail Enhancement – Refining sharpness, contrast, and clarity while maintaining the authenticity of the scene.
Format Optimisation – Preparing high-resolution images suitable for both large-scale print (calendars, brochures) and digital platforms (web, social media).
Final Thoughts: A Project That Showcases the Best of Perth’s Tourism
The 2023 City of Swan Tourism Calendar was more than just a collection of photographs—it was an opportunity to tell a visual story about one of Western Australia’s most culturally rich and scenic destinations. Seeing the final images in print, displayed throughout the Swan Valley district, was an incredibly rewarding experience.
For businesses, tourism boards, and brands looking to capture their story through high-end photography, working with an experienced photographer in Perth makes all the difference. At Sam Irwin Media, I specialize in creating visually compelling commercial, corporate, and tourism photography that brings brands to life.
If you’re searching for photographers in Perth to help showcase your brand, business, or destination with cinematic, high-quality imagery, let’s collaborate. Get in touch today and let’s create something extraordinary together.
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