Brisbane Yoga Photography and Personal Branding with Katie West Yoga

Meeting Brisbane Yoga Teacher Katie West

The inimitable Katie West is an international yoga teacher, retreat host and mentor who carries herself with compassionate wisdom and unapologetic truth.

I fell in love with her spirit at my first class with her at Innabliss Yoga in Bulimba, Brisbane - her dynamic, flowing practice was preceded by an enlightening and meaningful dharma talk and concluded with a divine shavasana.

I left in a blissful haze of palo santo, my cup full.

A year later I joined Katie as a guest at her Byron Bay retreat, and I had brought along my camera to take candid photos of Katie and the magic of the gathering.

A year later, Katie asked me to capture her doing what she does best.

Katie was preparing to move overseas - a life change that saw her refresh her branding and build a new website. This was the perfect opportunity to provide some incredible yoga photography imagery that she could use for her new branding, and contribute to her website for an elevated online presence that would promote her new online offerings and mark her return to a treasured home base in Thailand.

I wanted to create evocative images that capture the essence of her, her practice and her offerings - to reach through screens and pull people into her world.

Katie chose Mount Tamborine for her half-day photoshoot, where palms, lush plants and winding paths would provide the perfect tropical forest setting to reflect her new Thailand location (I'm hoping I will get the opportunity to photograph her there one day too!).

Preparing for our Outdoor Yoga Photoshoot on the Gold Coast Hinterland

I met with Katie in Brisbane before a yoga class to discuss her vision and preferences for her photography session.

When I asked her to choose three words to describe how she wants to feel and how the images would look, she responded, "Elegant. Flowy. Soft."

Katie planned to wear flowing, feminine dresses and bring some props to help create this vibe. We discussed the range of specific shots we would aim for, including the wardrobe outfit and aesthetic style.

She showed me some beautiful concepts that she and her graphic / web designer had crafted, including the colours she'd like to have - vibrant green, a pop of red and earthy pink tones, with a focus on darker, lusher images. We coordinated timings and logistics for the shoot and parted ways, excited for the day to come.

Our Half-Day Photoshoot in Mount Tamborine

We woke at dawn and met at 7am in Mount Tamborine to kickstart our half day adventure together. I was super excited to show her, through my lens, how magnificent she is.

We began at one of my favourite swimming holes - the rush of the waterfall felt like a fluid, powerful and life-affirming match for Katie's essence. We knew it wasn't the winning shot location, but it was the perfect spot to ease into the energy of working together.

Katie's preference for relaxed shots and natural light photos in nature made her a perfect match for me and my photography style. I rarely use a tripod, although I cart it all over the country! I prefer to wander and capture beautiful moments as they unfold.

My photography focuses on an artful documentary style. I don't pose my clients, however I will often position them where I'd like them (the light and the setting), and guide them on how to stand or move naturally where they are.

This was a little different because Katie brought yoga to our day and I enjoyed capturing her as she flowed through asanas and movements of stillness. What a treat it was to photograph someone so embodied and graceful.

We jumped in the car to a second destination of lush rainforest - a spot I had spent considerable time scouting in the weeks prior. It was perfect, with its filtered light, palms and giant fallen tree stretching across creek banks.

Katie's adventurous spirit and down-to-earth nature made it one of my favourite photoshoots. I'm so grateful she let me take her 'off road' with barefoot tree climbs and rock-hopping.

Anything I suggested or asked for, Katie graciously moved in sync with me.

We drove to our third and final destination, stopping for a coffee and chat at nearby cafe.

Then we headed back into the forest. This section of forest had some beautiful scenes featuring dramatic light sources, giant figs and sweeping stone staircases.

Saying goodbye to Katie was just like all my other photoshoots - it is always a little bittersweet to end such a special day together, but I drove home full of joy for the way we celebrated her and her business.

Post-Production of Yoga Photography in Brisbane and Beyond

Once I'm home, the love I'm leftover with is poured back into editing.

Editing is not a quick process - a process of cropping and adjusting light, colour and composition to align with Katie's brand and vision. It requires a discernment for colour versus black and white imagery, as well as selecting the best images.

I have an editing style that focuses on clear, honest and naturally vibrant imagery, with soft lighting and shadows. I prefer to keep my images as unprocessed as possible, being as true as possible to what is seen and felt on the day.

Katie's Yoga Photoshoot Transformed Her Website

I'm incredibly proud of the artful photos I created for Katie and her personal brand.

I'm incredibly proud of Katie, for taking the leap to Thailand, for creating an online space that feels like home, and honouring herself through personal branding photography.

As a fellow travel lover and yogi, I see myself in Katie and her values of compassion, deep connection, holding space and being genuinely authentic. Her true essence is expressed through these images and I know these photos will draw more of the right clients and yogis to her.

If you'd like to connect with Katie, you can find her here:

https://www.katiewestyoga.com.au/

If you're ready to shine like Katie, book your personal branding photoshoot by getting in touch via the button below - I can't wait to meet you! I am a Brisbane based photographer who is happy to travel and ready to capture you and your light, wherever your heart is called to.

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