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Hazel Blake
Author portraits
Suzanne Visser, author and publisher, by Hazel Blake 2023
Hazel's story
There have been 3 paths to my destination as a portrait photographer. Firstly drawing and art were my childhood refuge. From an early age all I wanted was to be an artist, but my parents forbade it and insisted I get a proper job, and so I did.
In my mid life I got a camera and my love affair with beauty began. I photographed amazing scenery and then began candidly photographing the communities in which I lived.
In 2016 at 56 yrs old I signed up for a Digital Art course – using photographs to composite stories and I attended a workshop with American Fine Art Photographer Brooke Shaden. Brooke is an artist making conceptual fine art using herself as a model. She is young and beautiful, and it seemed to me therefore it was easy for her to make beautiful art. I started trying to do the same but felt completely overwhelmed with feeling too old, too fat and definitely not beautiful enough.
Persisting; I strived to find a way of putting myself in art, which led me to learning about portrait photography. My self-portraits started out very painfully. But throughout the year I gradually uncovered myself. I was encouraged by a growing number of followers who saw me as courageous and leading the way. My portraits got more and more revealing, and a very magical thing happened - I begun to see my own beauty. Firstly it was just parts of my body, but eventually I took a portrait that I totally adored. Fat and 57 – I had finally revealed my real beauty to myself.
It was then that my life paths converged. The artist within me finally stepped up, the love of a camera as a medium seemed the obvious choice and I finally had the skills transferable to help other people.
I have been blessed with a big overweight body all of my life, and I say blessed because it has finally become a gift. It now helps me to do what I do now, because I painfully know what it feels like to not be comfortable in your own skin. I know what if feels like to hide yourself, not wanting to be in any photographs and to know how disappointed I will be. My passion has now grown into to helping all people see their unique magnificence.
So now I am a portrait photographer, artist and body image campaigner, creating magazine-worthy branding images, heirloom portraits and artistic expressions for people. I have a deep desire to help everyone see their PERFECT UNIQUENESS and access more self acceptance and confidence.
I specialise in portraiture; which means people can rest assured that they will always look great, whether it’s their contemporary or business portraits. I provide a fully customised, immersive and often transformative experience.
There isn’t a bigger joy in the world than to touch someone else’s life, in a way that helps them transform it. Knowing that you had a small hand in that, wow! What better job is there! With portraits I have a chance to make a real difference and I love that!
My photo sessions encourage you to be yourself, appreciate yourself, change the way you see yourself.
2020 Internationally Accredited
ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHER
The Portrait Masters USA.
2019 WINNER - HOME BUSINESS
Albany Chamber of Commerce
South West Region (WA)
THE PORTRAIT MASTER CONFERENCE
In person participation - Phoenix Arizona 2019
COMPETITIONS
The Portrait Masters - (ongoing)
Bronze with Distinction – 17
Silver – 2
Art Not Waste – Denmark WA 2016
SPEAKING
Women’s Leadership Forum,
Albany Chamber of Commerce, WA 2018
Epic Photography Conference Geelong VIC 2018
Smart Chics, Denmark WA 2017
EXHIBITIONS
2016 Back to Back – Denmark WA
2023 Wise Women’s Legacies - Broome
PUBLISHED
Somerset digital Magazine 2016
Awake magazine 2016