Juli Balla | Hold the Glamour

September 20, 2014

Juggling work, travel and family life

I cannot believe how busy I have been these last few months with work, travel and family life. It really is a juggle most of the time as a working mother and a struggle some of the time coordinating all the sectors of my life and career, let alone my husband’s.

My time has been split between the US, Europe and Australia of late. My body has been in so many planes and times zones — I sometimes wake up and am not sure where I am.

My latest shoot in Sydney, Australia for Ezibuy provided some fun and happy behind-the-scene shots I’d like to share with you. Please see below…

Behind-the-scenes of the recent high summer Ezibuy shoot

Did someone say something funny?

At Mondo Studio, Sydney shooting for Ezibuy

Checking the monitor — wearing a maxi dress

A multi-coloured maxi dress ready for high summer fun

A hot pink number on the monitor

Happy days shooting the cover try for High Summer in studio

Happy days shooting the cover try for the catalogue in studio

Juli Balla and Craig Beaglehole on hand to make sure all is in order

The amazing photographer, Juli Balla and I — in-between a cover try or two

Our Rosebay location house

In Sydney city on some amazing balcony

How do you make it work with family, life & career?

What strategies help your family survive and cope with all the juggling?

Be well till next time.

L.
xoxo

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November 1, 2013

Pictures of Juli Balla’s exhibition

On Wednesday night I was invited to Juli Balla’s photographic opening of her exhibition titled, ‘Persona Non Grata’ (as you know). It was an excuse to dress up — I had fun.

Juli created characters from around the world and gave them life through copy and accessories. The pieces are a good size and she is only selling five copies of each photograph. See below for more details.

The invitation

Sydney – On my way to the opening

Sydney – The opening is a go

Sydney – Juli Balla and guest

Sydney – Dijana Mulhearn (Fashion writer and author of Wardrobe 101) and I

Sydney – one of Juli’s best pieces of the evening

Sydney – The opening in full swing

Sydney – One of Juli’s male pieces that made me laugh

Sydney – Geoffrey Boccalatte and I admiring the show

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October 30, 2013

Juli Balla – Persona Non Grata

This evening I’m heading to an opening of Juli Balla’s collection of photographs titled, ‘Persona Non Grata’ in Darlinghurst, Sydney.

No doubt the fashion photographer I work with regularly and friend will attract an exciting crowd of fashionistas and colourful personalities.

I’m looking forward to seeing her work that she has exhausted herself over these last few months.

Stay tuned for some pics of my night…

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January 8, 2013

42 degrees and still shooting

I’m currently in Australia and today I finished my first shoot of the new year. We were shooting the autumn/fall collection for Sara by Ezibuy. It means layers, coats and boots for the cooler months ahead.

It’s hard to imagine however, the fashion industry is always at least six months ahead of the game with design, sourcing the fabric, manufacture to shooting the samples and getting the images ready for advertising. It’s a long lead time.

The weather has been hot, hot, hot and today we battled beauty and fashion in 42 degree celsius heat in Sydney like true professionals (107.6 degrees fahrenheit). The heat wave we are experiencing throughout Australia did not stop us from making and creating fashion magic. We started at 5.30am this morning to ensure we weren’t shooting during the hottest time of the day.

Sydney – call time is at sunrise

Sydney – Juli Balla and the Sara crew hard at work

Sydney – smiling and shooting whilst the temperatures soar

Yesterday we spent on the Northern Beaches shooting in one of my favourite location homes. The property looks like something straight out of Palm Springs, U.S.A. I love it. Unfortunately, jumping in the pool and cooling off after work was not an option for me or the crew. What an incredible view!

Sydney – my dream house on the Northern Beaches

The first couple of days of our shoot, we spent inside the studio. It is certainly easier for all without the elements and humidity wreaking havoc on hair, make-up, equipment and clothes. We turn the air conditioning up, the music goes on and we get down to business. It is calm, controlled and smooth.

Sydney – Annette McKenzie & I (my amazing hair & make-up artist)

Sydney – in studio

Sydney – kisses from the hair & make-up table

Since I started writing this post this afternoon, over a hundred and forty fires have broken out in N.S.W. alone. Other states in Australia are also battling fires in hot, dry and windy conditions that have proven to be devastating and uncontrollable. My best wishes and thoughts go out to all those affected and threatened by the catastrophic temperatures and erratic fire patterns that lie ahead of this evening. I wish you all, well.

What are you going to do to stay cool during these hot summer months? What tips do you have?

What are you looking forward to come autumn/fall as far as fashion goes?

What trends are you noticing and excited about?

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June 23, 2012

Where the ocean meets the sky

Sydney – the studio, quiet and empty before the day starts

Sydney - the rack of clothes that need to be shot

Sydney – the racks of clothes that need to be shot

We started shooting the spring and summer catalogues for Sara by Ezibuy last Friday in a studio in Sydney at 8am. Traffic is a part of Sydney life and it took me an hour to get to work (that was with no traffic accidents or incidents). Once inside the studio, Annette McKenzie (genius) starts on hair and make-up. By 10am we were ready, Juli Balla (photographer) and the crew were ready to start shooting the new season looks.

Sydney - hair & make-up done with curlers setting my hair

Sydney – hair & make-up done with pin curls setting my hair

Sydney - curlers out, touching up my lips with a hint of colour before getting changed into outfit #1

Sydney – curls out, touching up my lips with a hint of colour before getting changed into outfit #1

Scanning the racks of clothes once I was ready to get changed I noticed there were some key pieces that I really liked and simply had to have. The new season clothes were bright, colourful and included skinny jeans that fit me like a glove (one of my all time favs). Stripes are still very much in and still one of my favourite trends. There was a navy and a tea coloured linen jacket that I really liked too. Having basic neutrals in your wardrobe is a must in my opinion. It’s all about variety and versatility.

This routine continues over the next few days in studio. Our days of shooting merge into one as the days go by. At the end of our Sydney stint we head up to Palm Beach (Northern Beaches of Sydney) to get some location shots done. One can’t go any further than Palm Beach and its a 45 min – 1 hour drive north of Sydney (depending on traffic of course).

Palm Beach is somewhat far for the crew to travel and we mumble to ourselves about the distance and 6.45am call time however, once we are there and Andrea Rowe (amazing producer extraordinaire) walks in with delicious coffee and we have a moment to enjoy and take in the breathtaking views, we soon realise how divinely beautiful and blue this part of the world is. What were we saying?

Sydney – Palm Beach, view from the house we were shooting in

Sydney – Palm Beach, our view of where the ocean meets the sky

Sydney – Palm Beach, the day is done and I am heading home

Sydney – Palm Beach at ground level

Tomorrow we depart for Noosa, Queensland for the rest of the Sara shoot. Stay tuned.

Where have you been where the ocean meets the sky? What beautiful places do you dream of visiting and experiencing?

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