Portraits on Film — A Valentine's Day Event

Wairua Cafe posted an Instagram story looking for a film photographer to host a Valentine's Day portrait event in their space. I reached out, developed an independent moodboard, and presented the concept to the owners to secure their buy-in. From that initial meeting I was responsible for every element of the event, from the physical installation and booking infrastructure through to film development, printing, and final client delivery. The goal was to create a warm, memorable portrait experience for couples that felt light and approachable rather than overtly romantic, resulting in a tangible keepsake they could take home. _____________________ The Process: Concept Development and Client Buy-In: After connecting with the Wairua Cafe owners through their Instagram story, I developed an independent moodboard defining the visual direction, aesthetic, and event concept. The moodboard was presented at an initial meeting and secured the owners' approval to move forward with the full event. Backdrop Design and Installation: The backdrop was designed and built entirely by hand. I cut individual red paper hearts, attached red ribbons to each one, and framed the full installation with two white curtains on either side. The result was a light, textured, and visually inviting setting that photographed well on film without feeling overly themed or heavy. Event Poster and Booking Infrastructure: I designed the event poster in Adobe Illustrator, including creating a custom ribbon font, to promote the portrait sessions, which was shared across both my channels and Wairua Cafe's. To manage bookings efficiently, I set up a Typeform for couple sign-ups and integrated Calendly for individual time slot scheduling, keeping the booking process smooth for both clients and myself. Film Photography and Production: Portraits were shot on a Canon AE-1 with a 50mm f/1.8 lens using Kodak Portra 800 colour film, chosen for its warm, flattering tones and performance in indoor lighting conditions. A Sony A6000 with a 50mm lens was kept on hand as a backup to ensure no couple left without their photos in the event of a film issue. After the event, I managed the full post-production pipeline including sourcing film development and locating a local printer for physical print production. Client Communication and Delivery: I managed all client follow-up through Mailchimp, sending organized pickup date communications to each couple. Each client received 2 physical colour prints as their final deliverable. _____________________ Deliverables: Handmade Backdrop Installation: A hand-cut paper heart and ribbon backdrop framed with white curtains, designed and built independently for the event space. Event Poster: A designed promotional poster distributed across social media to drive event awareness and bookings. Film Portrait Sessions: 9 couples photographed on Kodak Portra 800 film using a Canon AE-1, with Sony A6000 backup coverage throughout. Physical Prints: 2 colour prints per couple sourced through a local Victoria printer and coordinated for client pickup, 18 prints total. Booking and Communication System: A full client-facing booking workflow built across Typeform, Calendly, and Mailchimp, managing sign-ups, scheduling, and post-event delivery communications. _____________________ The Outcome: The activation extended the Wairua Cafe brand into a new audience, generating 5,800+ views and 100+ interactions through a shared Instagram post that positioned the cafe as a creative, community-oriented space beyond its day-to-day identity. For the 9 couples who attended, the event delivered a tangible, lasting brand touchpoint, 2 physical colour film prints per couple that continued to represent the Wairua Cafe experience long after the event ended. The end-to-end brand environment, from the handmade backdrop installation through to the physical print deliverables, demonstrated how a cohesive spatial and visual experience can deepen audience connection and leave a lasting impression. _____________________ Skills Demonstrated: Film Photography · Experiential Design · Spatial Installation Design · Graphic Design · Print Production · Client Communication · Client-Facing Digital Systems · Social Media · Canon AE-1 · Kodak Portra 800 · Adobe CC · Typeform · Calendly · Mailchimp