I was inspired to enrol in The Professional Photo, Film, TV & Personal Stylist Course after a chat I’d had with a male colleague of mine. I bumped into him at a function – he looked so good. His secret? He’d been professionally styled. Intrigued by his admission, I realised that there might be an opportunity for me as a stylist.
I’ve always enjoyed fashion, colours, photography and the arts in general. But this notion of ‘style’ was something elusive: what exactly is ‘style’? I decided to learn more and signed up for a course with the Australian College of Professional Styling.
I was impressed by their professional approach, quality of content and support throughout the course. What did I learn? I learnt to open my eyes and really look at people, photographs and fashion. I learnt techniques: how to shoot a flat lay, how to fold and stack clothes in preparation for a shoot, how to create a mood board around a novel subject while enjoying and reviving my knowledge of colour styling – something I’d first come across in the 1980s!
But it was the final project that inspired me to start Planepack, a website, blog and podcast about travelling light. Since 2010, I’ve flown with carry on hand luggage only. Now I’d like to show and teach others how to do the same.
Writing, researching and illustrating light travel puts all my styling skills into practice. If it wasn’t for The Professional Photo, Film, TV & Personal Stylist Course, I doubt I would have made that step (or is it flight?) into light travel.