Bonn Creative: Fashion & Multimedia Master | Get The Shot Ep. 4

Step into the vibrant world of Bonnie (aka Bonn Creative), a photographer who seamlessly blends the spontaneity of events with the polish of high-end Fashion Photography. In this episode, she reveals how shooting film sharpened her digital discipline and why a couple of skateboards can be just as effective as professional cinema gear.

Watch the full episode here:

Episode Overview: From Event Photography to Multimedia Art

Host Talia sits down with Bonn Creative, a dynamic photographer known for her “invisible” candid style and vibrant fashion work. Bonnie shares her journey from being the “friend with the camera” at parties to shooting major campaigns and directing music videos.

This episode explores the intersection of planning and spontaneity, offering a refreshing take on how to create professional work without overthinking the process or relying on expensive gear.

Techniques: The Discipline of Film Photography

Bonnie attributes much of her ability to capture natural, unforced moments to her practice of shooting film, which taught her to slow down and be intentional.

  • Slowing Down: Shooting film forces you to completely slow down, often working from a tripod and narrowing down possibilities rather than “spray and praying.” [01:41]
  • Limiting Options: By limiting herself to a prime lens and a set number of exposures, she treats every frame as if she has “one shot at this,” which refines her eye for the decisive moment. [02:05]
  • Creating a Scene: The goal is to create a sense of a scene that doesn’t feel forced, ensuring the viewer doesn’t feel the “work” that went into setting it up. [01:08]
  • Progress Tracking: Bonnie uses her past work as a benchmark; if she can look at photos from six months ago and see improvement, she knows she is making progress. [04:45]

Workflow: Balancing Control and Collaboration

While she can plan meticulously for personal work, Bonnie prefers a collaborative and adaptable approach when working with designers and on set.

  • Collaborative Direction: For large projects, she prefers the designer to take the reigns on Creative Direction, viewing her role as giving their physical art a digital home. [02:49]
  • Practical Execution: She positions herself as the practical problem solver, piping in with “how do we practically make this happen” while avoiding overthinking the shoot. [03:08]
  • Organic Planning: Bonnie admits to being a “shocker” at lighting diagrams, preferring to bring her kit and see what feels right on the day to maintain spontaneity. [03:29]
  • Creating Space: Her on-set philosophy is to create a space where ideas can come from anyone (for example, models or makeup artists) rather than dictating every single move. [08:42]

Versatility: From Stills to Music Video Production

Transitioning from stills to motion, Bonnie treats Music Video Production as a playground for storytelling, viewing video simply as images that move.

  • Moving Stills: Bonnie approaches video with a photographer’s eye, visualising it as “what would it look like if it was moving” rather than getting bogged down in cinema technicalities. [15:03]
  • The One-Button Switch: She encourages photographers to realise that video is just “one button away” on their camera and to start playing with it for fun. [13:04]
  • Ridiculous Concepts: Working with trusting artists allows for “funny crazy concepts,” like putting a guy in a car boot or fake stabbing someone in a cake shop. [13:58]
  • Complementary Crafts: She finds the intensity and run-and-gun nature of music videos complements her still photography craft, enhancing her overall storytelling abilities. [14:26]

Philosophy: DIY Rigs and “Just Do It”

Bonnie is a massive advocate for the “just do it” mentality, proving that you don’t need high-end equipment to achieve professional-looking shots.

  • DIY Camera Rigs: She shares a story of drilling planks of wood into a bike helmet to create a hands-free POV shot at age 14, proving innovation beats budget. [16:33]
  • The Skateboard Dolly: If a client wants a dolly shot but lacks the budget, Bonnie’s solution is simple: “Two skateboards and a tripod, done.” [17:09]
  • Problem Solving: When clients have big ideas but small budgets, the thrill comes from thinking creatively… Like screenshotting locations on a map while driving, to make it happen. [18:23]
  • Ego Removal: Embracing “sh*tty rigs” and hiccups takes away the ego that can exist in the video space, focusing purely on getting the shot. [17:33]

“If I can look back at my work even 6 months ago and be like ‘I’m doing better stuff now’ it means I’m getting better.”

– Bonn Creativ

Q&A

Q: How do you capture photos where it feels like the photographer isn’t there?

“I think that in like trying to create a sense of a scene and something… that doesn’t feel like a forced image… I think a big thing that helped me get there was incorporating shooting film in my practice.”

Q: How much of a fashion shoot is pre-planning versus what comes naturally?

“I’m very much the kind of photographer that I don’t like overthinking shoots too much, I will have my kit and be cool with everything I have. We’ll make something work.'”

Q: Do you have any advice for getting into video?

“It just doesn’t need to be perfect… Anyone who knows sh*tty rig, well I love that stuff… It looked stupid, but it was like how am I going to make this happen.”

Q: What advice would you give your younger self?

“Just do everything. Take a photo of it, just do it, and look at it, think about how you can make it better, and then only through that, you’ll find what you really enjoy.”

Bonn Creativ’s infectious energy and practical approach to creativity serve as a brilliant reminder that the best gear you have is your imagination. Whether she is taping a tripod to skateboards or shooting high-end fashion, her focus remains on fun and storytelling. We hope this episode inspires you to pick up your camera, hit the record button, and just get the shot.

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In this series, we speak with photographers from all walks of life about the stories behind their work; the behind-the-scenes chaos, the spontaneous camera rigs held together with tape, the interactions with strangers, and everything that got them there. Sometimes you gotta go out of your way to get the shot.