“For a photographer, being able to connect with your subjects plays a big role in shooting and is just as important as knowing how to light,” says Melbourne-based photographer, Al Habjan. For Habjan, photography is a way of connecting with his interests, and early in his career, this was rock music.
As a teenager, Habjan began shooting portraits of friends, and a stint in concert photography soon followed. “When my all-time favourite band came to play a concert in Melbourne, I saw photography as a way to get one step closer to the stage,” he says. Habjan went on to shoot concerts by several international bands during his Year 12 studies and first year of university.
After completing high school, Habjan enrolled to do a Bachelor of Arts (Photography) at RMIT, in Melbourne. “The program was what carved me into who I was to be as a photographer,” he says. “I discovered my love for fashion photography during my time at RMIT.” Now, his work appears in lookbooks, campaigns and web product photography for Australian fashion labels.
Habjan travelled widely after completing his university studies. The places he spent the most time abroad were Paris, New York, and Slovenia, where his family is from. It was not all play, as Habjan used the travel to build his portfolio. “I really wanted to see the world,” he says, “but for each trip to be worth my while, it was important for me to shoot abroad as well.”
Having picked up a camera seven years ago, five of which have been professionally, Habjan’s current priorities are assisting and digital operating for highly regarded photographers as well as continuing to shoot for his portfolio. Habjan travels considerably between New York, London and Melbourne.
habjan.com
