“I love simple, fresh, pure and captivating images,” says Katie Fiorillo, who has always had a passion for art and design. “My mum bought me a Pentax film camera when I was a child and I loved taking photos of my horses and my dolls,” she says. “I remember the excitement of seeing what I took photos of, and what was in focus!”
Before becoming a professional photographer, Fiorillo was a qualified hairdresser and makeup artist. This creative skill set allows her to incorporate hair and make-up artistry into her maternity images. “I feel my passion for these creative industries has helped my images, and my business, to flourish,” she says.
Fiorillo trained in photography at the Gordon Institute of TAFE, followed by mentoring with Brisbane newborn photographer, Kelly Brown. “I chose to do one-on-one mentoring with Kelly Brown as I admire her work,” says Fiorillo. “I think she is one of the world’s best.” Fiorillo also attended newborn workshops where she learned to safely pose newborns, and other techniques of photography and editing which are unique to newborn sessions.
Since 2012, Fiorillo has run Sugar Images, in Geelong, where she specialises in maternity, newborn, and family portraits. “Shooting portraits is to capture and create memories to be treasured for a lifetime,” she says. Fiorillo was awarded Victorian Professional Family Photographer of the Year at the AIPP Victorian State Awards in 2015. Her newborn portraits also won first and second place at the recent WPPI Photography awards. In 2015, she also won one Silver with distinction and one Silver award at the 2015 AIPP APPA, and was named the winner of the Home Based and Micro Business of the Year at the Geelong Business Excellence Awards.
sugarimages.com.au
