Photo name: Duality.

Photographer’s name: Eliza Burrell.

Salon name: Nikola Krstev Salon.

Model: Haili Timms.

Hairdresser and make-up: Erin Shanley.

Hairdresser’s comments:  I was inspired to give a different perspective on what it takes to be a hairdresser.

It’s not just about cutting hair all day; being a hairdresser can sometimes feel like being a psychiatrist without the qualifications. 

We try to give our clients a better sense of well-being, confidence and self-esteem as it allows us to fully enjoy the services we provide and our working environment. 

I thought the competition would be a great way to showcase the importance of happiness and confidence as it revolves around a charity dedicated to improving mental health.

I wanted to have an unconventional model who  wasn’t a size eight girl with great hair and a stereotypically perfect look.  I went for an  avant-garde idea of creating beauty around a curvaceous lady. 

Haili has a depth to her that allowed me to create dark elements in her make-up, but use her beautiful, light coloured hair to create this whimsical seashell.

I think it is an amazing idea for hairdressers and photographers to collaborate because it opens so many doors for people to show their different concepts on hair, and of course promotes great industry professionals in the area. It also gives new generations a chance to be heard and seen.

 We all have a lot to deal with in our lives, especially when it comes to our mental health, but unlike physical health, not a lot of people pay attention until something major happens.

I feel that Highlights for Hope is doing a great job in spreading the word and utilising social networking and media to add coverage to a larger group of people.

Photographer’s comments: A work colleague knew I had an interest in photography and mentioned the competition to me. 

I love taking photographs of landscapes, but had not really worked on portraits before. 

I thought it would be great to challenge myself in that way.

 I also love getting involved in community/charity events and thought it would be a great opportunity to do something meaningful. 

In this photo I wanted to capture the duality of Erin’s creative personality.

Erin and I discussed different influences for the shoot, but I wanted Erin to create something she truly loved without limitations of what she would normally be expected to do. 

We shot the piece at night-time in the salon so I had to use an array of different techniques to combat the difference of light, but I feel that having these beautiful drop lights to work with in the salon gave a really nice warm feel to the photographs. 

The relationship between hairdressers and their clients is quite personal. Erin is a great communicator and really made Haili’s personality come out through the hairstyle she created. 

I think hairdressing is a great platform for this charity as a beautiful haircut can give you confidence and make you feel connected with others.

Of course anything that supports the happiness of our community is a wonderful thing.

I used a Cannon Digital SLR 600D, EF50m f/1.8 ll lens, with F/4.5 aperture using Adobe Lightroom for digital effects.

About Shoot The Hairdresser: The competition, sponsored by the Illawarra Mercury, is part of the Light and Hope fund-raising campaign to keep open the doors of the Light and Hope Mental Health Clubhouse in Burelli Street, Wollongong. 

Photographers are vying for more than $4000 in prizes with the finalists featured at a corporate evening at the Novotel Northbeach on September 30 and at a pop-up gallery in Wollongong Central during the first week of October. 

The judges of this year’s competition are Wollongong City Gallery program director John Monteleone, Mercury pictorial editor Kirk Gilmour, award-winning hairdresser Peter Thomsen, Novotel Northbeach general manager Walter Immoos, photographer Steen Barnes and Access lawyer Graham Lancaster. 

The 15 finalists will be featured in Good Life during September.