WHAT WE DO

Every person, every business, every brand has a story to share. fa tog’ra fi captures the essence of every story in its best light.

 

We encourage our clients to be brave with their creative choices. Our ability to create and produce powerful on-brand imagery, within budget, has led to a diverse client base spanning both the creative and business sectors.

 

We are collaborative, fun, honest and efficient. We don’t stop until we get a thumbs up.

 

 

Do you need fa tog'ra fi?

 

We are your visual storytellers.

We create and produce stories through photography and video, from concept to realisation.

WHAT

WE

DO

Big business

Small business

Collaborate

Connect

Photography

Video

Art Galleries

Individuals

Problem solve

Inspire

Production

Emotive storytelling

Podcast Production

Create

Share

Stock footage

CASE STUDIES

Photography and Video

“Simon Hewson was originally recommended to us by an artist friend and has subsequently been the Darren Knight's Gallery's photographer since 2008.

Simon has covered a broad range of artwork for us along with some beautiful artist profile videos. While Simon's efficiency, reliability and reasonable rates are all important to us, it is his sensitivity to the artworks and the attention he invests in getting the highest quality results that we most value. Simon understands that the care he takes with his photography must match that which the artist invests in creating the work; he shares with our artists pride in the quality of his work."

(Darren Knight, Darren Knight Gallery)

 

DARREN KNIGHT GALLERY

We're always happy to receive Darren's call to capture the latest show. being one of the first people to see a new body of work is always a privilege

 

Brief: Capture an image that sparks interest in an artist's show-an image that excites them to engage with the work in person.

 

Telling the story: In the art world, photo documentation is an integral part of presenting an artists work in collaboration with their show. Our aim is to capture the true essence of the show,

giving the audience the experience of viewing the work.

 

Challenge: The most challenging and rewarding part of shooting artworks is capturing the textures, true colour and meaning of the artworks, weather it's multi-media, painting or sculpture.

 

Result: We take an empathetic approach to the works to ensure we shoot from the artist's eye.

Our patience and dedication in achieving this is why Darren has been a valued and regular client of fa tog'ra fi for over 12 years.

 

 

“Having worked with fa tog'ra fi for many years, they always proactively learn as much as possible about the business and what we are trying to achieve.

Their clients service approach and laid back nature, which can be rare in this industry, has made all of our projects with fa tog'ra fi incredibly easy to run and manage. fa tog'ra fi exceeded our expectations and were instrumental in making this award winning rebranding.”

(Lilla Kelleman, Hillross)

 

HILLROSS

When you here 'wealth managment and financial service provider' do you think of beautiful

black and white images encouraging you to tick off your bucket list? Probably not!

 

Brief: Take a visual approach to rebranding Hillross along the theme

'What's your idea of Financial Freedom?' Create a series of aspirational photographs across an array of luxury lifestyle scenarios that target existing and potential Hillross clients.

 

Telling the story: We hung out with some gorgeous cars, bikes and people living their ideal life, pretty inspiring stuff! The images we captured were applied across every aspect of the business; from company stationary to office fit outs. We travelled through vineyards, bush tracks and beaches for a few months to get the perfect shots.

 

Challenge: In an industry known for it's creativity, Hillross wanted to engage their audience through a brave, fresh and fun approach. We wanted to make sure their creative courage came to life.

Result: Each image evokes the feeling of empowerment in taking steps towards achieving one's life goals. The creative team behind the brief went on to win 'Best Innovation of the year' for their brand and concept store design at the Rainmaker Excellence Awards. By taking a visually engaging approach to rebranding, it changed the game for other businesses in the field. Mission accomplished.

 

BABESCRUB

Babescrub skincare and body is a cult, luxe, beauty brand, owned and manufactured in Australia, made using pure and natural ingredients with NO nasties-they are also freakin cool!

 

Brief: Create three 'How To Use' videos for a leading American retailer showcasing Babescrub’s awesome products, while keeping the brand identity alive and kicking.

 

Telling the story: We wanted to tell the story of how to use the products in a fun and engaging way, the last thing we and the team at Babescrub wanted was a boring to camera explanation or worse still, a video with infographics. So we threw out the rule book and created a short story of how buffing and polishing  is an integral part of a Babe's life and we had a bucket load of fun with it!

 

Challenge: Our biggest challenge was that we had the amazing talent and the Babescrub team for just one day, so timings had to be perfect, with a shit load of pre-production.

We got it done on time and on budget.

 

Result: A suite of videos that engage, excite and inform, all whilst keeping true to the brand!

 

“Simon and Ilona just get it. They took our creative ideas to the next level and worked tirelessly to finesse and produce engaging bite sized digital assets. Simon and Ilona’s combined depth of knowledge and experience meant that our super tight schedule and budget constraints didn’t impact the quality of our deliverables which are intended for the international market. This entire project was filmed and produced in the final week’s of Ilona’s pregnancy and we could not have found a more professional, fun and hard working team. We are thrilled with the results and can’t wait to do it all over again with them!" (Kim Peirce, Babescrub, Melbourne)

 

MICHAEL REID GALLERY

Having worked with the gallery over some time documenting artworks and shows, we were  delighted when James asked us to create a suite of videos for the Art Signifikant members.

 

Brief: Tell the story of artist Robert Malherbe painting a portrait of James Dorahy, capturing the process and connection.

 

Telling the story: With this first story it was vital to capture everything intimately whilst not getting in the way of the process, we were essentially a fly on the wall. It was about keeping the human connection alive, capturing the brush strokes emotion and being completely in the moment.

 

Challenge: Robert is a very fast painter, which on one hand is thrilling to watch but on the other could be a challenge with filming all the essential elements.

 

Result: James, Robert and the Michael Reid team were thrilled with "The Portrait's progress".

We captured everything we set out to and a little bit of magic along the way. The story has gone on to be shared with a much wider audience. The feedback about the human connection,

the story telling and the end result has been overwhelming.

“I was aware of the quality of Simon's artist profile videos so he was the natural choice to produce three films for Art Signifikant. The heart of Art Signifikant is art education, so it was important to find someone who could produce high quality online content for the discerning members of our art education program. The end result of our first collaboration "The Portrait's Progress" exceeded my expectations with Simon capturing the unique connection between artist and sitter and the energy within the painting process. Our members and other stakeholders were thrilled and can't wait  to produce more videos with him soon.” (James Dorahy, Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney)

 

"I WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTLEY NO HESITATION IN RECOMMENDING THESE GUYS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO CREATIVITY, THEIR APPROACH TO STORYTELLING AND CAPTURING EXACTLY WHAT OUR BUSINESS WANTS TO SAY."

Leah Hitchings, Corporate Playground

OUR WORK

PHOTOGRAPHY

OUR WORK

Photography and Video

PHOTOGRAPHY

VIDEO

TOM POLO

RO9

 

CLIFFORD HOW

ARTHOUSE GALLERY

HOUSE LUPE

LINTEL STUDIOS

 

ZULAIKHA LAURENCE HOUSE WITH  ARCHITECT BRIAN ZULAIKHA

BRESIC WHITNEY

EVA NOLAN

OLSEN GALLERY

JULIA ROCHE

 

IN THE STUDIO

 

NOEL MCKENNA

TIED UP DOGS ROSE BAY

EBONY RUSSELL

CERAMIC ARTIST

BABESCRUB

BEHIND THE BRAND

FOR THE LOVE OF...

TRISTAN'S STORY

 

ROSES ONLY

DELIVERING LOVE

TORO

SPRING TVC

 

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

WHO WE ARE

Get to know us a little better...

SIMON

Born 1978 in Louth, England, Simon’s love affair with photography started at age four. While other kids were eating crayons, he was busy snapping everything from weeds to Wellingtons. The camera was broken but Simon didn’t mind - it was his and that’s all that mattered.

Simon finally scored a working camera at age 10. He tirelessly photographed his family dog (R.I.P. Copper) and dear old Nan as she slept. On his 14th birthday, Simon got his first SLR and promptly moved into his Dad’s abandoned darkroom. There he spent countless nights printing black and white photos using out-of-date paper and developer.

Like the rule of thirds, Simon’s career progressed in threes; three years studying photography at Boston college, three years completing a BA Hons Degree in Photography at Cheltenham and Gloucester Art College and three years working as an assistant photographer in London.

In 2002 Simon became the Studio Manager and In-House Photographer for a London advertising agency.

Three years on, having gained a wealth of experience, Simon left his role and pursued a series of personal projects that took him, and his future wife, around the world.

In 2005 Simon and Ilona moved to Australia to begin their life together. His career has since blossomed, establishing many creative, engaging and long-lasting relationships with a diverse array of clients. Simon’s passion persists: capturing and telling stories through still and moving images.

 

Awards

2010 Centre for Contemporary Photography, Kodak Salon,

Excellence In The Use Of Colour

2013 Centre for Contemporary Photography, Leica and Ilford Salon, Excellence in Photomedia Overall winner

 

Solo Exhibitions

2012 ‘Shadowed By A Roadside’, Gaffa gallery, Sydney

(accompanied by the book ‘Shadowed By A Roadside’)

2012 ‘Playground’, Gaffa gallery, Sydney

 

 

 

ILONA

Ilona’s early love of all things creative was well documented on her family’s Sanyo video camera. Dad Fabiszewski would film an endless barrage of dance concerts, plays and shows as lil’ Lones lit up Central Coast stages in flashy leotards and far too much blush.

After topping her year in photography at school, Ilona pursued three talents: photography, dancing and acting. She studied Art Photography for two years before getting a job as a photographic and studio assistant. Determined to broaden her horizons, she moved to London in 2003. It was there Ilona met Simon, worked as his Photographic Assistant and then lured him back to the land of sunshine and Speedos.

Ilona worked as a Studio Manager in a Sydney photographic studio for two years before pursuing dance full-time.  She went on to gain an extensive list of credits to her name as a dancer and choreographer. These include: Top 20 dancer for So You Think You Can Dance, TV show Dance Academy, TV appearances for Grammy winner Duffy and working with artists Vanilla Ice, Kylie Minogue, Jessica Mauboy and Guy Sebastian, to name a few.

Once firmly established as a hip-hop dancer and choreographer, Ilona honed her talent for acting through short courses at NIDA, Screenwise and Screen Practice in Sydney. She now draws on her extensive knowledge and experience both in front of and behind the camera to manage production, direct talent, edit videos and craft emotive, personal stories from Simon’s compelling footage.

 

GET IN TOUCH WITH US

Why not drop us an email or give us a call to chat about your next vision?

Sydney, Central Coast, Australia

 

 

 

Simon Hewson

 

Phone: (+61) 0406 333 490

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Thanks for visiting! Great stories are made from the most unexpected encounters, we’re hoping to start a beautiful thing with you.

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