Over Exposed: Katherine Jenkins’ unusual photo series
More than a dozen people have so far taken up Katherine Jenkins on the offer to pose naked with their pet.
A photographer put out a call on social media recently with a rather unusual question: would anyone be interested in coming to her ’80s-themed home studio in Melbourne, stripping off, and posing naked with their pet? More than a dozen people have so far taken up Katherine Jenkins on the free offer, and for various reasons. “One wanted to mark a milestone birthday, another was recovering from cancer, and one saw it as a way to improve her body image,” says the 40-year-old, who works in healthcare and runs her photography sideline, Hot But Not Portraits, as a fun, creative outlet. The resulting new series, Over Exposed, is inspired by Jenkins’ affection for what she calls “awkward ’80s cringe portraits”. The images are fun, tastefully executed and intriguing. “Quite a few people are looking for a photo to put on social media, or a dating app – they want to portray themselves in an unconventional way.” Most have brought pet dogs or cats to pose with, she adds. “But I’ve also had a rabbit, a turtle and a chicken.”
Liam Jose and Kate Streader, a friendly couple from Preston, are pictured here with their blue heeler Banjo. Liam and Kate met three years ago at Neighbourhood Books in Northcote, where he works part-time while studying for a psychology degree. “I had a little crush on him,” says Kate, a freelance journalist. “It was my local bookshop, and I’m a big fan of non-fiction, so I would go in quite regularly to ask him for recommendations – and to flirt with him.” Banjo is the first dog they’ve had together; they adopted the two-year-old in December. “He’s an anxious dog but very sweet-natured and goofy, and a delight to have around,” says Liam. Adds Kate, laughing: “We call him our big muscly baby.”
The couple are so pleased with their portrait, they’re planning to use it on their Christmas cards this year. Kate does life modelling work, so she’s totally at ease with getting naked for an artist’s gaze; Liam, not so much. “It was a fun, interesting experience though,” he says. And what did Banjo make of it all? “I think he was pretty confused! But he went along with it.”
To see more of Katherine Jenkins’ photography, go to
https://instagram.com/hot_but_not_portraits/