Photographer’s Eye for Natural Beauty Behind Signature Look
Cranbourne North photographer Arline Figaro brings a wealth of experience and a stripped-back, natural aesthetic to her portrait work. From Maternity, newborn and family shoots to beauty, boudoir, business and personal branding, Arline is all about empowering clients and bringing out their best from behind the lens.
Arline grew up on the island of Mauritius, a small and intensely multicultural island near Madagascar and South Africa. As she began a career in fashion design and lingerie, working with designers such as Janet Reger, Elle Macpherson and Kayser Lingerie, she felt drawn to the beauty and design of the photographs that surrounded her work. As part of her design course, she even undertook a unit on the subject. She began photographing family, friends and the natural world around her, drawing from her design work and National Geographic magazine for inspiration. In 2016 she launched her own portrait business.
Together with husband Clarence and two sons Mattheiu, 17, and Nathan, 11, Arline has been living in Melbourne’s southeast for the past 11 years and her business has continued to thrive. Specialising in portrait photography for individuals and families, Arline says, “I create beautiful images to help my clients bring their professional profile to the next level. I create memories through images and help families to exist in photographs for the generations to come. I love meeting people and creating images for my clients. For every portrait I shoot I make a new connection and know a little more about the person.
“I love photographing people in general. I love seeing the special moments families have, where I would’ve loved to capture these moments in the past. Thankfully now, I can achieve this dream. As a fashion designer I love styling women for photoshoots. I enjoy using flattering lighting and poses.”
Reflecting on her personal heroes of the photography world, Arline points to the greats such as Annie Leibovitz, Jerry Ghionis and Russ Jackson. “Annie Leibovitz is one of America’s most famous portrait photographers. Her iconic pictures of celebrities first appeared in Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair in the 1970’s. I am inspired by her Vanity Fair style in terms of lighting and composition. She has the ability to capture each person’s unique personality.”
Jerry Ghionis is an Australian-born photographer who is now based in Las Vegas. “He is a great wedding and fashion photographer. I follow his courses online and have learnt a lot about lighting people and also how to pose them.” Russ Jackson, a British family portrait photographer and speaker/educator specialises in studio lighting. “I love his minimalist approach to newborn photography where he keeps it simple but at the same time evokes emotions. Sometimes less is better.”
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Of her own work, Arline says, “I really like photographing newborns and kids, however, it’s hard sometimes with toddlers and babies. You always have to stay calm and collected and I need to make sure to make the family feel comfortable and at ease. Not just for kids either, photographing women is difficult as it is hard to be in front of the camera, so my role is to make sure they feel confident and to be themselves. Newborn and kids’ photoshoots are always fun. They are unexpected and make funny faces. Even their little cry makes my heart melt.”
Photography packages include studio maternity and newborn shoots, timeless family photography, gorgeous beauty and boudoir shoots, corporate headshots and personal branding shoots to take your professional image to the next level. Arline specialises in black and white photography and natural, minimalist style colour shoots
To book a portrait session with Arline, call 0423 042 164