Natalie Goldstein

For Natalie Goldstein, the journey from in front of the camera to behind the camera, has been all about finding a deep relationship with her own senses of artistic perspectives.

What a photographer means, what a subject intends, what an audience experiences – are all part of the rich tapestry of expression, reaction and the emotional 'to go' that drives and draws Natalie's passion for photography.

"Even when I was working as a model I was always fascinated with the way things worked on the other side with the light hitting my face and the slightest movement changing things in a beautiful way. 5 years ago someone offered me the chance to shoot their kid's party, things really just took off from there. Capturing a kid's smile or a family moment that frames their memories for a lifetime was actually a really big responsibility."

But Natalie had a photographic maelstrom of ideas crashing through her developing artistic psyche. And a moment of inspired guidance led her to nestle under the experienced wing of Wolfgang Mustain to learn more of the technical side of things.

"I had worked with Tony McGee, Barry Latigon and Willy Camden so I knew how I wanted someone to move in front of a camera since that came naturally to me as a model. But I needed to supplement that with core technical skills. I love to use natural light in all of my work and that requires me to find a equilibrium point between my photographer's instincts for a picture and the technical skills to maximise the shot's potential"

Natalie credits the top photographers she has worked with for teaching her much, especially the importance of rapport between photographer and subject. An example is her love of photographing children both for work and just for fun.

"I love kids, the innocence of them and the way that if they like you they like you .Children have a sixth sense which we all lose (and possibly rediscover) as we get older. If you watch the way children play, laugh and some ( a lot of the little boys) flirt with the camera it says a thousand words. I know when I look at old pictures of my son I can still see the magic of the day in the picture. Photos can be about many things but some of the power is simply in the record, the snapshot and the way it brings beautiful memories back."