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A controversy has erupted in the fashion and modelling world in Australia as a 16 year old model, Zippora Seven, has been published on an 18 page spread in Russh magazine. She models in the spread alongside 16-year-old male model Levi Clarke.

This controversy raises an interesting aspect about the modeling and fashion industry. Many models that walk up and down the world's fashion catwalks are young, and a high percentage of them are under 18. It's just a "normal" for the industry. Photographers shoot these models walking up and down, a few times with garments barely hanging on. Yes there is nudity in this Russh photoshoot with Zippora Seven. But you've got to take it within context. The images are not erotic. They aren't sexual. They just are. They aren't targetted to the pornographic market but the fashion industry where this sort of thing is the norm. But then again she is a minor and she isn't mature enough to make "proper" decisions even though she may feel like she can. So is this a case of "yep, its art, not porno" excuse or "she's underage full stop".

Still surfing the photography employment pages. This time I found some jobs in a Photography Studio which aren't photographer jobs. These are support staff positions that would get people in the door to the studio. One is for a telemarketer (Nooo!!! Not those annoying telemarketing callers!) and the other is a sales consultant. The photography business, is after all, a luxury item. No one needs photos - its a luxury to take photos, and its a luxury to charge hundreds of dollars for one studio photo. Sounds vain doesn't it? Here is a list of previous jobs I've previously recorded: part time digital photographer for a studio, another job here, freelance photographers job, a job for an assistant to a photographer job and finally a job at Starshots studio.

Another photography job - this time a part time digital photographer. I went to their company website, and I found it absolutely annoying. They have one of those "cleverly" (aka awkward and hard to navigate) website where you need to put your mouse over an arrow on the webpage to make the text scroll down. Talk about ANNOYING! Anyway, job sounds okay... doesn't say how much you'll earn but since you need experience and a diploma in photography I'm guessing the pay is around $40 to $60K? Anyway, if you want to scope out photography jobs you can look: here, this one, another job and finally here for other jobs I previously wanted to observe... and no, I'm not applying for any of these jobs.

There seems to be a steady stream of Photography jobs in Sydney. I guess if you want to be a photographer, there is plenty of employment opportunities. Recent jobs I've looked at and found interesting (not that I'm looking for a job - just interested in their pay rate and what photographer positions are available out there) were this, here and here. This position seems to be an entry level photography position. No note on how much you'll be paid, but you'll definitely get a foothold within the fashion industry. The employer is Pacific Magazines for Famous magazine who require a full time studio photographer. The scope of the position seems to revolve around the very boring side of photography - shooting still life (products and stuff). But the exciting thing is that you'll definitely get a media pass if there is some event or celebrity interview/promotion ("occasional on-location celebrity portraiture").

I've been on a lookout for photography jobs here and here but for no specific reason. I guess to scope out my competition. This time they're advertising a freelance photographer position. I am assuming that this business is like an agency - they get work for you and in turn pass on the job to you while getting a commission from the whole process. They claim to pay $30 to $75 per hour. If the jobs are daily and consistent $30/hour is reasonable to pay for a freelance photographer but the question to ask them is if the equipment provided and if there is a transport allowance (petrol is so expensive!) and if other expenses are covered. Also you are looking at the quality of photographers that you attract at those prices? Does the company have a training scheme to train the photographers to output a certain standard of photos or are they simply put to work?

Last week I saw this Photographer at Starshots, which is one of those shopping mall/centre studio setups. This week there's this "Photographic assistant" junior position which pays $25K to $30,000... which is not bad provided your career is to become a professional photographer. BUT is really cheap labour since you are only getting paid about $480 a week (not including taxes) or about $12 an hour.

Photographic assistant - junior position

Work Type: Full Time
Sub-Classification: Photography
Area: Sydney - Inner

Advertiser: Studio Commercial
Salary: $25K - $30K + super and bonus
Modern city based photographic studio is looking for a full time junior assistant.

The applicant should be energetic, creative, trustworthy, have initiative, drive, be a team player, well presented, keen to listen and learn, and can carry heavy photographic equipment.

Skills
A basic understanding of photography, computer savvy. Must have current drivers licence.

Photography | Business | Marco's blog | add new comment | read more»

Submitted by Marco on Tue, 29/04/2008 - 9:24am.

Watch a private photoshoot with bikini babe model Mae McLachlan. I took all the standard glamour photos and I decided to do something a little more edgy, and a little more artistic... Photography by Sydney Photographer, Marco Palmero.

Presenting the White Kitten Fashion Show Transeasonal Collection 2008 Launch. Designer is Pia Gladys Perez of Style Warehouse. Video shows models preparing for the show backstage - hair and makeup being done and finally the fashion show. The event was held at The Establishment in Sydney, Australia on 12th October 2007. View the Fashion Show Photos. You can also watch the video of the fashion show.

To be a Paparazzi or not to be a Paparazzi? It's tough to be one. Because you don't always get the "money shot". Those days are the worst for a photographer. I had one of those days today. Just loitering at the back of a courthouse waiting for a subject that never did appear. My sanity was *this close* to breaking. Maybe I should just stick to creative portrait photography. Things are straight forward and move much more quickly.

The famous Dove advertisement - retouching a woman's photo to make her look fantastic. Simply amazing what a little airbrushing and photoshop retouching techniques can do...

I've setup a new website for my photography business which sports my name: MarcoPalmero.com. It took half a day to setup, including setting up the servers, typing up the website html and css using notepad and the graphics. It took an extra hour to copy the existing portfolio from the original Photos2View website and to find a few new photos to add to the page.

I have also setup another blog - aptly named Sydney Photographer Blog - which will only have topics regarding photography (unlike this current blog which tends to be very random about topics). I've posted up photos I took from last Saturday from Eric and Prescilla's Wedding.

Here are the unadulterated, unphotoshopped photos I took last Friday at The Fort 2 @ Space - a Hoopdreamz event.

It featured models - five of them - competing for the first Miss Hoopdreamz title.
View Models Gallery

The event also featured the launch of Battlegrounds (a dancing competition) and Eleazar...

View artists gallery

Here's a Black and White photo of Fairfield Station (with a train leaving the frame). It's been a while since I've posted any photos from my beloved Nikon D70. I've posted a lot of mobile pictures I took with My K750i in the Philippines. So what are the specs of this photograph? D70 with 85mm f1.8 lens at 1/125 seconds. Taken around 5.30pm just as the sun dipped under the horizon...

Other info about the Black and White photo of Fairfield Station: Fairfield is a suburb of Sydney, Australia located in the South-Western region of the sprawling city. The station was opened with the line in 1856 when a single platform and crossing loop were provided. Because the station ceased to be on the Main South line from the early 1920s, the station is relatively untouched architecturally.

Looked outside my window and this is what I saw: a nice sunset over Cecil Hills. Enjoy the panoramic photo. This panorama was put together by AutoStitch. It does the job and best of all - its free!

I was cycling around Cecil Hills the other week... riding back home on Frederick St (the street that leads onto North Liverpool road), some hoon was going 90km/hr in a 50km/hr zone. They need to put speed humps on that road - too many people speed on that stretch. Anyway, the guy in the car was just gunning the engine... After the intersection I caught up to him. Some unmarked copper caught the bastard. Serves him right!

In Australia, Dampa (pronounce "amp" like amplifier and "pa" as in parachute) is simple bread made from water and flour. In Manila, Philippines, Dampa (pronounce "Damp" as in dump truck and "a" as in apple) is a location in Paranaque city. It is very close to the international airport. And if you do eat there you will definitely hear the deafening roar of a 747 jumbo flying over. Dampa has a market selling seafood and an adjoining area of restaurants that don't (seem to) have a menu.

Dampa is a wet market meaning that the seafood sold in that market are not iced or frozen but kept wet and alive. Normally fish is iced or frozen when it comes to our fish mongers in Australia. After you buy the seafood from the markets you can take your 'catch' down the street to have it cooked by one of the restaurants. Ask your fish to be Ihaw-Ihaw – which I think means char-grilled. Food was affordable when I was there. The whole bill to feed three people amounted to less than $40. And we are tal