IN THE STUDIO WITH PHOTOGRAPHER BELINDA BATH

Australian-born photographer Belinda Bath spent years working as a freelance photographic stylist for print and television in Australia before moving to Hong Kong and starting her own creative business. Her vibrant colour-themed montages portray the diverse culture of Hong Kong, as well as other places she has encountered in her travels, and she also offers personalised montages for her clients. Belinda recently took the time to chat with us about her life and work as a Creative Founder.

 

Hi Belinda, can you tell us a bit about yourself? Where did you grow up and how did you get into photography?

 

I had such an idyllic childhood growing up in Country NSW, Australia. My dad was a farmer and we lived on a large working property which gave my siblings and I such freedom and room to use our imagination. We grew up riding motorbikes and horses, working during the holidays in the shearing shed and learning to drive at a very young age. I wish my own kids could have the same childhood as me, however, they are getting a different life experience. My mum is very talented at drawing and all things arty and crafty, she taught me to sew as she was (and still is) a beautiful seamstress.

I really wanted to get into fashion design and that is what I studied when I left school but eventually ended up as a photographic stylist which is really where I learnt to love photography as an art form and fell in love with the process of making a beautiful image. It wasn’t until I arrived in Hong Kong that I picked up a camera myself and really started to see what I could do with it.

 

What were some of the challenges you faced working as a freelance photographic stylist?

 

I absolutely loved working as a photographic stylist. I loved the talented people that I worked with, I loved the location shoots and trips away and I loved the fact that every day was different. One day you might be food styling and the next working on a homewares shoot, I loved the variation.

There were certainly challenges especially as a freelance worker where you never knew when the next job would come. You had to be motivated and be able to promote yourself and make connections with people. You were also working to very tight deadlines and you had to produce and you had to turn up to set with everything that you needed otherwise the shoot couldn’t go ahead (time was money as they would say) so that was always stressful. I think that is why I have a very strong work ethic and can work so well to deadline.

 

What prompted you to move away from commercial, advertising and editorial work and start your own photography business?

 

Moving to Hong Kong! I found it very hard to give up my wonderful career and move with my family to HK as the trailing spouse ( I hate that word but that’s what we are). After two years of not working in HK I new I had to find something and fast to fill that creative void. I was given a camera for my birthday and instantly fell in love with what I could do with it and the freedom it gave me. It started off as just a hobby but soon developed into my business after a friend asked me to put together a design for her using my images of HK. That was 7 years ago now and it has been growing steadily every year.

 

Your work includes vibrant montages of stunning images from Hong Kong and beyond. Can you tell us a bit about your process?

 

I usually let the images that I take dictate the colour palette and how the design evolves. It starts with an image and I build the design around that, especially with my travel designs from other countries where I have no colour palette in mind to start with. However sometimes I will see a gorgeous colour palette on Instagram or on my travels and I will have to design something in those colours, so that is usually a ‘start from scratch’ moment where I have to go out and find things and places in that particular colour palette.

My styling background comes into play a lot as I will set up certain objects and photograph them so I can control the background colours and lighting. This is one aspect of my designs that I just love doing.

I try and get out as much as possible to just photograph images to add to my collection. This is when I am at my most happiest, hitting the streets and just exploring HK on my own. HK has so many layers and you can only just scratch the surface in a short amount of time. You have to hit the pavement and don’t forget to look up, that is where you will find some true magic.

 

One of the services you offer to your clients is customised montages. Can you tell us a bit about that?

 

Customising my designs is a very unique service that I offer. You can add some of your favourite and most memorable things/places into the designs to make it truly your own, and to capture your own memories that will last forever. This is your story and your journey.

I don’t work with other people’s images, I take all the images myself and it can be just simply using images from my existing library or I can go out and photograph something specific for you. I can also photograph your family or pets to add into the designs, although the colour pallets for these are limited.

It’s a collaboration between myself and my clients and I encourage them to come to my home and be involved with the design process if they want to.  Not everything on your wish list will work in the design of course, but I work really hard to include as much as possible.

 

In terms of marketing, what channels do you find the most successful for your business?

 

I don’t do a lot of advertising, I rely mainly on my Facebook and Instagram for getting my work out there and I find that, in particular, Facebook works really well as an effective tool to grow and promote my business. One of the most effective marketing tools for me though has to be word of mouth. A happy client will always spread the word for you and be willing to show my work on their walls at home to friends. Which is why it is so important to be professional and always deliver on time.

I also donate a lot of my work to charities. This works both ways, I get to support lots of worthwhile and deserving charities in HK as my way of giving back and I get exposure to a group of people who may not have seen my work up close and printed up.

 

If you had 5 free hours with a consultant, what areas of your business would you ask for help with?

 

Only 5hrs? I think I would need way more time!

I’m a creative so the technical and business side of things doesn’t come naturally to me. Help to grow and promote my business is always an area that I could use help in, which is why I love what you are doing so much. You are helping to give small business owners the resources that we need.

I’m never comfortable putting myself or my work out there, I’m very much an ‘under the radar’ type of person so some good PR help or advice would be great.

More technical knowledge wouldn’t go astray either. Luckily for me I have a very technically savvy daughter and husband to help in that area.

 

You’re not only a thriving entrepreneur, but also a mom of two. How do you find a balance between the day-to-day challenges of running your own business and your personal and family life?

 

That is always the challenge for working women and it can be hard here without the help and support of family and close friends.

I am lucky to have a job that I love and be able to work from home and to my own hours. I always make sure that I am home in the afternoons where possible to be there for my kids when they get home, the older they get the more they need you there. However saying that they are getting older now (teenagers) and are becoming very independent.

We don’t have a full-time live-in helper so I have that ‘juggling all the balls in the air’ moment often but everyone has their chores and we all pitch in as a family and somehow make it all work. I have incredible support from my family here in HK. I would love an extra 5hours in the day!

 

Do you have any tips to give to other creatives looking to build a business out of their artistic talent and passion?

 

Hong Kong is the most wonderful place to start a business and the community is very supportive. I think first and foremost you have to be original and authentic and true to your own artist aesthetic, this will gain you the respect you need to succeed.

It’s never ok to copy other people’s work or ideas. Find a mentor or someone you trust to help you start your business. Protect yourself and your intellectual property as much as you can. Look for resources such as Creative Founders that offer genuine support and help.

Be passionate about your work, have a strong work ethic and let your artist talent shine through your work. It’s the perfect time to do something you are passionate about as often we have given up other careers to be here and we have time on our side.

 

Can you tell us about one other creative female entrepreneur in your community who inspires you?

 

I am a huge lover of the Hong Kong street art scene. There are wonderful enclaves in HK that showcase this vibrant art form. While there is not one particular female entrepreneur that I could single out or that I personally know, I would love to bring this art form to more light.

Street art is no longer kids from the wrong side with a spray can. HK walls is a non-profit organisation that provides backdrops for artists to showcase their talents. The 2017 HK walls battle will be run 18 – 26 March in and around Wong Chuk Hang.

You can also check out the work of Bao Ho who is a previous winner of HK walls and is now making living from her art.

Some of the best places to see HK street art adorned the alleyways is Sheung Wan, Central, Sham Shui Po and Wong Chuk Hang

 

Check out Belinda Bath Images and please show your support!

www.belindabathimages.com
www.instagram.com/belindabathimages
www.instagram.com/greetingsfromhongkong
www.facebook.com/belindabathimages

 

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