Cockatoo Island Portrait Session: Jo & Alex

We’re so excited today to show you a really cool couples portrait session we did on Cockatoo Island! We hopped on a ferry with this very cool young couple, Jo and Alex, to take their photographs in the unique surroundings of the island. Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney Harbour and a quick ferry ride from Circular Quay.

The island did not disappoint. These photos do not show one tenth of the interesting stuff there is to see on the island. Jeff and I both agreed that it is now one of our favorite places to shoot around Sydney and another trip is definitely in order! The grungy surroundings make it an awesome location choice for a more non-traditional and edgy photo shoot. There is so much history on the island, and there’s even an audio recording you can borrow to listen to as you walk around. The island has had several uses over the years: it was a jail and workshop for convicts, an industrial school, a prison, and a ship repair yard. There are all kinds of old derelict buildings, bizarre rusted industrial equipment, pieces of submarines, massive empty warehouse spaces and a cool tunnel running the length of the island. To finish off your visit there is now even a cocktail bar complete with lawn chairs on astroturf, where you can enjoy a sunset piña colada before boarding the ferry back to the city. Makes for a great day out!

So we’d like to introduce you to Jo and Alex, everyone. I was lucky enough to work in an office with Jo, who certainly rivals the best cubicle-mates I’ve had the pleasure of sharing padded grey walls with. Her friendly nature, strong work ethic, lovely smile and sense of humour would always bring a great many eyes and noses peeking over her cubicle wall. She is modest and would probably blame her sunny disposition on her frequent “bucket coffees”, but if caffeine could bring on that charm, then please Mr. Barista, serve me up a Venti size.

I thought it was especially cool that Jo was keen to pose for some photos sporting her brand new haircut. Jo had recently shaved her head for the World’s Greatest Shave, a fundraising event for the Leukeamia Foundation of Australia. The money raised goes to support research, care for people living with cancer and support for their families. Jo got lots of sponsors and managed to raise over $1,900! How awesome is that?

Alex seems like such a great match for Jo. He’s kind, he’s cool, and he’s sharp as a tack! Alex comes from a family full of PhDs… if you challenge him to a philosophical debate, chances are you will lose! Over dinner one night Jeff and Alex really got into it— maybe I’d have to say that one was a draw. ;)

I admire these guys as a couple because they are at once dreamers and realists. They are both strong and independent, but they also make each other’s hearts melt. They are romantic and they are also pragmatic. These two want to travel the world together, but when they do they will be smart about it. They have lots of goals, and each one will be approached with a mix of excitement and careful planning. I look at these guys fondly like a (ahem) slightly older sibling and I think about how much possibility lies ahead for this young couple. No matter what they do I’m sure they will go far in life, and it makes me smile.

Jo and Alex were so natural in front of the camera. You can just see how connected to each other they are.

In some of these shots I couldn’t help but think these two just looked like hipster magazine models. They could totally make designer jeans fly off the shelves, don’t you think?

What the heck are these cement blocks for and why are they painted like that? Makes for a fun backdrop anyway!

And this is that tunnel I was talking about. I don’t know what a tunnel is doing on small island… it kind of felt like a bomb shelter. Guess we should’ve listened to the audio tour. :P

It was great that these guys were keen to climb all over everything!

If they were selling designer jeans before… now they’re selling vintage sneakers!

Thank you Jo and Alex for a fun photo session and a fun day. You are a beautiful couple, and we are very happy to call you our friends! And thanks to our readers for making it this far. If you enjoyed this photo session, let us know in the comments below!