Shoot for the Spotlight with Anniss + Barton
Kurt Anniss and Nathan Barton, are the creative duo behind Anniss+Barton. With over a decade of experience in high-fashion and beauty photography, they’re passionate about helping their clients create standout work, that gets noticed.
Anniss+Barton, know what it takes to create a winning collection. Their photography has helped hair stylists take the top spot in all Australian award categories. From concept to final shot, they’ll collaborate with you to craft visuals that capture the passion, artistry, and innovation behind your work.
They genuinely love what they do, and always aim to deliver nothing but the best for their clients. Most importantly, they believe in building strong, lasting relationships— their clients often become their friends.
Mocha Hair Editor Louise May recently chatted with Kurt and Nathan about their partnership and got some insight into preparing for a photoshoot and where to begin!
Can you tell us about ANNISS+BARTON and how your creative partnership began?
ANNISS+BARTON began when we met studying photography. Nathan and I had similar creative inspiration, and after a few test shoots, we decided to go into business together. One of our first hair shoots was with the legendary Benni Tognini, and our first big campaign was for a swimwear brand on an Italian cruise ship. Everything has just rolled on from there. We both love storytelling through photography, and the creativity in the hair industry has not only inspired us but also helped shape and build our brand into what it is today.
With over a decade of experience, how has your perspective on fashion and beauty photography evolved over the years?
Over the years, our perspective on fashion and beauty photography has shifted from simply creating visually striking images to focusing on storytelling and connection. We’ve learned that every image needs to evoke feeling or tell a story.
Technology, trends, and influencers have all evolved the creative process. The experience has taught us that collaboration, adaptability, and authenticity are key to creating great work.
What’s your favourite part of the process-concept creation, shooting, or post-production? and Why?
For me (Kurt), it’s the shooting-that’s where the fun, the flow state, and the exhilaration come in. Everything comes together, and you get those happy accidents and spontaneous magic that make each shoot unique and fun. That said, the real magic starts in pre-production and creative conceptualising. That’s where the vision is shaped and the foundation for the shoot is laid.
Post-production is Nath’s playground, where he brings his creative finesse to the treatment, retouching, and finishing touches, taking the imagery to the next level. Each stage has its unique magic, but together they form the perfect creative process.
What is the focus for 2025?
2025 is all about creativity and bringing back proper ‘creative and advertising’-where the focus is on standout ideas rather than just content for content’s sake. We’re also exploring how AI-generated content can complement our real-world creative process. This year, we’re aiming to make some serious creative noise and deliver work that truly stands out.
Your services cover everything from concept to final delivery. How does handling the entire process help you bring a client’s vision to life?
It’s a little bit control freak on our part-but experience has shown us that when we keep our finger on the entire process, it allows us to maintain a seamless and cohesive vision from start to finish. It ensures we get the results the client wants and makes everyone’s lives easier. By being involved in every step-concept creation, shooting, and post-production-we can ensure the final result stays true to the client’s goals while allowing room for creative flexibility. It also means we can adapt quickly to challenges, make informed decisions on the fly, and deliver work that not only meets but exceeds expectations. This holistic approach is how we bring a client’s vision to life with clarity and impact.
Pro tip for preparing for a photoshoot?
For a hair shoot, the hair needs to be the hero-so having your vision locked in during pre-production is crucial. The creative elements should complement the hair and concept seamlessly. Having a story behind your shoot is also, in our humble opinion, pretty crucial-it helps the audience engage with the collection on a deeper level. And always aim high-shoot as if it’s for the global stage, whether it’s Hair Artist of the Year or the pages of Vogue. When you aim for the highest level, your results will naturally elevate to something extraordinary.
Tell us about one of your most favourite recent shoots.
One of our favourite recent shoots was for White Sands Australia, working with Wade and Daphne Savage. We had the privilege of showcasing their Australian brand of this global hair product with six sensational models and a talented crew, including @kerridimattia on hair, @shevkellymua on makeup, and @biancaarose_ on styling, with beautiful talent from @BrooklynMgmt. The results speak for themselves-it was a fantastic commercial hair campaign and really helped elevate the brand’s image.
Putting together a collection for a competition can be very daunting and challenging, especially for someone who hasn’t done it before. Where does one begin?
Start with a clear vision, an idea, a story-this will be the foundation for your collection and what sets it apart. Think about how the concept will flow through each image and ensure every element complements the hair, which should always be the hero. Surround yourself with a great team who can help bring your vision to life, and aim to produce work that feels like it belongs on a global stage.
And we can’t stress this enough: use the best models or talent you can find. The better the canvas, the better the outcome.
Also, we recommend checking out our book, Making the Cut, created specifically with the hair awards in mind.
See it here: www.annissbarton.com.au/makingthecut.
It’s packed with our best insights and advice to help you create a standout collection.
