My years photographing Julie Bishop — the ‘Rock Star of Politics’

Over 14 years of photographing Julie Bishop, I saw sides to her most people would never see, writes Kym Smith. There’s a reason I call her the ‘Rock Star of Politics’.

As a press photographer for 16 years, I’ve been behind the lens during many politicians’ best and worst moments. Some of them understand you’re there to do a job, others struggle with your presence.

Julie Bishop, regardless of the day she was having, was one who always understood.

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It was 2004 when I first snapped Julie — or JBish as she’s widely known — in Canberra’s Parliament House as then Minister for Ageing. Since then I’ve taken her picture thousands of times.

Julie Bishop in 2004 as Minister for Ageing during Question Time in House of Representatives, Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith

Everyone has their things that make them who they are and Julie’s love of fashion, her style and her adoration for the West Coast Eagles is just part of who she is. Love her or hate her, her style is one of her greater qualities and has made for wonderful photos over the years.

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But that’s only a small part to what makes her the real Rock Star of Politics.

Looking like a rock star as she hopped off a helicopter in Fiji, then Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop knew how to work the camera. Picture: Kym Smith

In this business, you’re always after the “money shot”, that one photo that tells a story with no need for words. The one that captures the emotion and events all in one frame. It’s not easy to achieve but with Julie, it was hard not to get it.

Always professional, affable and knowing what she wants as well as what the photographer needs made her a wonder of a photo opportunity and would always ensure an amazing image.

With US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sydney Harbour in 2014 for the annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations. Picture: Kym Smith

Our professional relationship was built on trust and ensured me seats near Julie on planes, trains and yes, in automobiles.

I never would have gone to Iran, Myanmar, Fiji and so many other places had it not been for the relationship and understanding I’d built with Julie over the years.

Julie Bishop getting ready for her morning run while on a visit to Myanmar. Picture: Kym Smith

Not rain, wind nor mud puddles would stop her. Picture: Kym Smith

On a trip to Myanmar in 2014, I saw a side to the then Foreign Affairs Minister most people would never get to witness. We were in Myanmar for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting and East Asia Summit. Julie offered Australia insight into what her job entailed by granting me unrestricted access to her.

A behind the scenes look at Julie Bishop in her hotel room reading briefing papers while on a visit to Myanmar. Picture: Kym Smith

Whether it was seeing her strategise in briefings or car trips to events or in her hotel room, we were able to share some natural and candid behind the scenes moments with the nation, something you don’t see often.

Julie Bishop appearing on morning TV and it starts to pour rain during her visit to Fiji after Tropical Cyclone Winston. Picture: Kym Smith

In a plane travelling from Sydney to Thailand, a journalist and I were sitting in economy when a barefooted Julie left the front of the plane to personally brief us on our next stop. She crouched down on her knees and delivered the brief. Many others in her position wouldn’t have left their seats.

Visiting Koro Island which was one of the worst affected islands of Fiji after Tropical Cyclone Winston. Picture: Kym Smith

Her ability to adapt to any situation always astonished me. Whether it be interacting with kids in Fiji after delivering aid from the Australian government or hosting the US Secretary of State John Kerry in Sydney, she had a way of treating all people as equal.

You could be the US president or a cleaner, it wouldn’t change her approach to you.

A woman of grit, style and grace. Picture: Kym Smith

JBish is one fit lady, I’m many years younger than her and she could run rings around me. Her passion for running every morning, no matter what country she was in or the weather made for amazing photographers, whether it be getting up at 5am to run in time square or running on a beach in the Netherlands. Her commitment and determination for the early mornings is lost on me.

It was a tough act chasing down the Foreign Affairs Minister but after shots like these at Scheveningen Beach in The Hague, Netherlands, it was always worth it. Picture: Kym Smith

I’ve found myself running across sand in pant suits to get that great snap of her. Thankfully, in Fiji they had a bus for me to follow one of her runs so I could jump out at certain points. In Myanmar, a golf cart allowed me to follow her on a run through a rice field.

There was always something special when @kymbo9 photographed @JulieBishopMP pic.twitter.com/wT7KndaS9k

— David Crowe (@CroweDM) February 21, 2019

It was a sad moment but definitely not unexpected when Julie announced her retirement from politics this week. As I watched her speech from behind my lens, I admired her composure. She had no notes, spoke articulately and from the heart and calculatedly, she left on her terms. Which has always been a mark of JBish’s mostly hidden hard edge.

An exclusive photograph of Julie Bishop leaving Parliament House after announcing her retirement from politics. Picture: Kym Smith

This may not have been the ending she dreamt of but with her head held high she’s left a major impression on Australia and a very fancy set of shoes to fill.

Kym Smith is a News Corp Australia photographer

@kymbo9

— As told to Vanessa Croll