Featured Portfolio | Catherine Chea
University Student Catherine Chea came into The Photo Studio Australia after a split second decision to enter a competition that was running on Instagram.
2017 had been one of the hardest years of Catherine’s life, dealing with both mental health issues and an eating disorder. Catherine wanted to use her time at the studio to celebrate how far had come after recovering.
“I always hated the way I looked and I always hated taking photos. But that one day when I went to The Photo Studio, I was so grateful that I was given the chance to feel beautiful for the day.” Says Catherine.
Her photos from the shoot show her beautiful and healthy side too, as someone who is relaxed and comfortable in their own skin.
Catherine describes her own style as a mix of contemporary and cozy, focusing on a mainly minimal elegance.
“My personal style is either really clean and smart casual, or if I’m really lazy it’s a hoodie and tights. I don’t like to wear a lot of make up, I prefer a fresh face look.”
For the shoot itself, Catherine took her sleek and timeless aesthetic and intertwined it with a few relaxed pieces similar to styles seen at New York Fashion Week.
“I have always like the vogue, professional, editorial styles, as I have always admired the fashion and modelling industry. I also have a little crush on Keira Knightly, which is a possible reason as to why I like the vogue look.”
While Catherine’s personal style for the shoot stems from a clean and classic editorial sense, her own creative influences extend far beyond. Her surroundings have a big impact on her own creative projects.
“I draw creative inspiration from nature, often in my drawings and photos that I do myself. I also get creative inspiration from simple and minimalistic things in life.”
Just as she draws inspiration from her environment, Catherine says another strong influence on her are various models and influencers on social media.
“One of my favourite Instagram models is a girl named Kicki Yang Zhang. She is who I wished I could be if I were to be an Asian model.”
Catherine is optimistic that when people look at her images they will see someone who knows who they are and is proud of it.
“I hope that when they look at my photos that they see someone confident. In those moments that were caught on camera, I felt beautiful.”
