On returning from overseas one of my first assignments was to photograph Cate Blanchett and her husband Andrew Upton for a Time Out Sydney cover feature.

The feature is about their roles as Creative Directors of the Sydney Theatre Company and previewing the STC open day where the public can see backstage at the theatre.

I’ve shot a few famous faces in my time, but it’s still intimidating getting one-on-one photo time with one of the world’s most revered actresses. I’d photographed her before, but that was among an anonymous barking press pack.

In the lead up there’s no chance to actually speak with Cate or Andrew, all communication is via the publicist. It’s hard to get too conceptual or lock in shots when you can’t discuss ideas directly with the photo subjects.

I visit the theatre beforehand to map out some potential locations for pictures, but it’s hard to set anything in stone. It’s up to Cate and Andrew what they want to do. And i won’t know that till we meet and i have to start shooting.

True to form, when we meet, Cate suggests a spot underneath the stage that i wasn’t planning on using. But i’m flexible, so we head over and decide it’s worth a shot. If Cate’s keen, then so am I.

I quickly set up a single light, ask for some costumes to hang behind them, grab a nearby bloodied box as a prop and start taking pictures a few minutes from the moment we meet.

There’s no stylist, no hair and make-up. Just straight into it with my trusty 5D and 50mm combination.

I glance at the back of the camera to see how the shots look. I relax a little. Cate looks amazing in every frame. They have great chemistry and Andrew’s nice and playful.

After a dozen or so photos i figure i’ve got what i need from this spot and move on to a new location in a large backstage area where all the sets are built.

The interview is being done at the same time as the photos, so our editor-in-chief keeps them chatting while i set up.

I experiment using flash, but the natural light looks much nicer and i stick with that.

I’m aware of my time running out and try my luck at a few more shots in the props department. I shoot a few, but the momentum is gone and time is up.

I’m relieved. I didn’t reinvent the wheel, or get anything particularly outstanding, but I didn’t fuck it up. That’s the dread that always lurks in the back of my mind.

The magazine is in Sydney newsagents now and the story is online with a slideshow of more images.

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Here’s a few snaps i’ve taken on red carpets lately. First up is Cate Blanchett who turned up for the Sydney premiere of Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull.

Next was the opening night of the Sydney Film Festival. I spent much of the time scratching my head asking the other photographers who these people were that were posing for us. I don’t think i read enough gossip mags.

This is Laura Dundovic who was recently crowned Miss Universe Australia.

Rachel Taylor is a local actress who found some notoriety in the Transformers film.

As i like to do at these things, i took some wide snaps to show the scene. Below is Krystal Forscutt who’s really stretching out her 15 minutes of fame post Big Brother.

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The Time Out Sydney juggernaut rolls on with our third weekly edition in newsagents today. It’s the magazine with a barbecue chicken with a VB can up it’s rear on the cover.

It’s hard work putting out a weekly magazine that’s so crammed with content, which explains the lack of time and energy to blog so often. But here’s a small selection of some of the portraits that have run in the past few issues.

Working on a weekly, with multiple assignments every day you learn to work very quickly, with little time for preparation or fancy lighting set ups. It’s all just natural light or my little flash. But i like working like that, fast and spontaneous.

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