INTRODUCTION
Hi, my name is Michelle, I am an Internationally Published and Featured Commercial Photographer & Director.
My clients include multinational agencies such as BBH, AMVBBDO, Sudler & Hennessey, Magnet Dubai, Ogilvy and brands such as Guinness, Pfizer, Dulux, Viacom, Unilever, Grünenthal, Discovery, Visa, ABinBev and Comedy Central.
I enjoy collaborating.
My superpowers include an uncanny ability to put anyone at ease in front of the lens to evoke emotive, connected performances while orchestrating a fun experience. My 19 years' of experience in the industry makes it possible for me to deliver excellence with ease for any commercial brief.
Featured Campaigns
Gold Winner at the Cannes Lions AMVBBDO Guinness Campaign #MadeOfBlack directed by Sam Smith - Featuring Kanye West's BLKKK SKKKN HEAD. Also Featuring Kenyans: Victoria Secret Model Ajuma Nasenyana, Top-Stylist Annabel Onyango, Nigerians: Igbo Rapper Phyno, Dancer Peter James, Acrobat Jerry Spring King, Singer Emmanuel Bez Idakula, South Africans: Stylist Bee Diamondhead, Singer/Model Sió Roi King, Singer Purity Zinhle Mkhize, Botswana's Death Metal Cowboys, Ghanaians: DJ Evans Steloo Kissi, Actor Narsh Alexei Smith
The shoot transpired over seven extended days in JHB, SA, where eight city blocks of the inner city were cordoned off and dressed to look like 1920s New York. Clothes were imported from all over the world and hundreds of extras dressed up to take on the character of the prohibition era. It was an incredible experience working with the world-class team from BBH London, directors - Christian and Patrick, and Monkey Films who were facilitating for Park Pictures.
The 200-Image Lifestyle Library produced and photographed for Discovery Health took place over a period of four weeks across different cities in South Africa. The campaign's purpose was to connect the health insurance's different product offerings in an accessible manner to its target audience. The lifestyle images were used for Discovery Health's corporate communication needs across print, billboard, online and social media platforms to provide a congruent visual identity to be instantly recognisable as their brand. The value in their custom-created image library has proven to save the brand millions, as well as going a long way in distinguishing the brand from its competitors' offering.
This major pharmaceutical campaign was commissioned for a new product range. The concept depicts the product enabling a two-year window of quality life for the individual, instead of therapies which would impact the patient adversely during this crucial time in their treatment. The left and right visual represents "Before diagnosis" and "after Metastasis" while the middle visual represents the window period of quality life enabled by the use of the product. The campaign runs in the Middle East/ UAE, n/s Europe as well as north Africa.
This bespoke 30-Image Lifestyle Library for Sun International was created together with a bank of Cinemagraphs for their holiday packages. Fun in the sun and connection was at the core of the communication and we had oodles of fun while creating it! Shooting in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg we had the pick of what South Africa had to offer with regards to locations and cast, while being treated to the best of Sun International's hospitality :)
In the search for optimum quality of life, free from joint and muscle aches, this is an international campaign - aimed solely at the medical profession - for a new prescribed chronic pain medication that assures the patient will leave the doctor's room pain-free and able to continue living their life to the fullest. It focuses on the body's stress areas, through natural settings depicting people enjoying everyday activities such as gardening, running with their dog and bending over with ease while enjoying family time with their grandchildren. The campaign highlights how the product enables people to break the pain cycle and continue living with increased mobility - pain-free and care-free.
Chris Isaak's infamous music video for his hit track Wicked Game featuring Helena Christensen in 1989 was the inspiration for this creative piece. It taps into the sensuality, connection and carefree interaction between Christensen and Isaak which was the perfect foundation for this showcase. Featured here is Top 10 World's Hottest Tattooed Male Model Shane Burnell, @shaneburnell, together with international model Annie Ericson, @annieericson. This campaign was shot in the height of summer on the glorious beaches that Cape Town has on offer.
The Seen & Unseen campaign unpacks the dynamics of social media, where presented 'reality' is not always as it seems ;). Through a clever use of digital tools, framed by what appears to be an Instagram app frame, the viewer is presented with a framed reality, and when they click to see the rest, what is revealed beyond the Instagram frame tells a very different story - revealing the true reality. This campaign was activated across billboard, print, social media and online.
“It was important for me to work with a team that could produce content that resonates in people’s hearts and minds without putting children’s dignity on the line. From start to finish, Michelle and her team showed dedication to the cause, and handled the subject matter with care. They exceeded expectations to create a TV ad that is not only visually striking but also sonically different from what Save the Children has done in other markets. And further to that, the content package for social media that accompanied the TV ad, was the crucial component that made it possible for us to leverage our message across all platforms to achieve our fund-raising objectives.” Marketing Manager | Save The Children
SERVICES
We work with clients to facilitate the visual translation of their most pertinent message
In the digital age where access to information is central to our existence, consumers are more discerning of the brands they choose to engage with.
“People might forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
We understand that the world is changing at an accelerated pace, and that the only way to communicate with your audience is through true emotive connection, utilising the most direct route.
Audiences are looking for respectful, authentic communication that adds value to their lives.
We see our role as facilitators between brands and their audiences.
Advertising | Lifestyle | Fashion | Conceptual | Documentary | Portrait | Photography.
Our photographic offering, across the board, focuses on capturing emotion, highlighting connection and ensuring utmost relevance to the chosen communication. Whether the challenge is to follow a specified brief to the T, come up with a refreshing take, or create content with an edge, we are up for it.
Cinemagraphs are an impactful visual medium that takes the best of stills photography to combine it with video or other moving content. Impactful content that attracts up to 15x the click-through-rate that a stills image is able to attract on Social Media.
It is what we like to call respectful advertising... ask us why, and we will gladly elaborate.
Distinguish your brand from the competitors. Having access to your very own exclusive lifestyle image/content library, gives your brand the opportunity to tailor a message consistently. Allowing brands to deepen connection with the audience while also building trust.
Emotive, connected, informed.
Brand Videos, Corporate Videos, TV Commercials, Explainer Videos, Social Media Videos, Animation, 3D, Motion Graphic Videos. Creating content that connects brands with their audiences in a relatable and relevant way.
Advantages of Shooting in South Africa with Us
Our Clients
