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Swimwear CampaignLaunch CampaignSwim Photography

1 June

I was pretending to be Rebekka’s boyfriend, paparazzi shooting her as if we were tourists on holiday, snapping keepsakes.

So excited to finally reveal a swim campaign I shot last year October at one of my favourite beaches on the Gold Coast for a new Australian swimwear brand, Splashd! starring German model Rebekka Zimmermann (represented in Australia by Que Models).

The ‘Don’t be Koi’ Women’s Rash Guard - One of my favourites for it’s Botticelli-esk mermaid painting.

I was honestly floored when I received the samples from Melbourne based Splashd. They captured aquatic life including mermaid print in such an old world way. The print designs of botanicals and aquatic creatures are especially reminiscent to those illustrations of naturalists of centuries past - think back to the period of the Age of Enlightenment (1600’s to 1800’s). Somehow Splashd has a way of mixing classic geometric patterns with naturalists illustrations in such a dynamic way, that personally, I feel the brand is already off to a strong start in their brand identity.

I’ve always believed swimwear design comes down to the print and fabric. There is only so many ways you can re-imagine designing the form of swimwear, that in order to stand out from the noise, it boils down to the print design. Having prints that nobody else has access too, can really set a swimwear designer apart from the crowd. And for the consumer as well! These swimwear prints are works of art in their own right and I am seriously eyeing a few of the windbreaker jackets and shorts for everyday wear.

“Whale of a Time” cropped windbreaker matched with “Tide and Seek” bikini bottoms

For this shoot, Rebekka and I had 4 hours to shoot 8 different print designs, each with different ensembles, be it a bikini bottom or a shorts, jacket or bikini top or crop top or full length rashies. Essentially 3 looks in one times 8! The samples were posted to me and I ran through each look with the designer over a phone call. As they are based in Melbourne, I also suggested some models to them based on their brand’s ethos of athletic, sporty and smiley natural beauty. I thought Rebekka perfectly summed up that aesthetic.

Rebekka and I met just before the sun began to rise above the horizon. It was a bit chilly that morning, as late Spring, but we got lucky with the weather and the sun came out despite a few cloudy patches. Rebekka did her own hair and makeup, albeit the brief was to be as natural as possible. I brought a few props like the surf board, flippers and snorkel masks. It was a blitz as we ran to different parts of the beach, to try and capture different backgrounds to suit the print, as I either wanted to harmonise with the print or contrast it. I had mentally prepared the night before with sticky notes on each ensemble of where I’d shoot and with which props if any. We got lucky as we were near to wrapping up, when two kayakers washed ashore. I politely asked them if they’d mind if we could pose with them and they happily agreed and said we can even take them out, as long as we brought them back ashore.

Never underestimate how much time is lost when shooting on location, moving between areas while lugging all the baggage with you. As it was just myself and Rebekka, I could only work with the natural light, I could not even scrim, as I’d need an assistant to hold it. As much as its harder work on your own with a model, they are my favourite kind of shoots, as I find they allow for more intimacy and genuine rapport to be built between the photographer and the talent, which then translates into more authentic captures. Time is always a constraint, as is the shifting light as the sun transits across the sky, but sometimes limitations incubate the creative imagination.