The Cairns Post

Pin-up style plans to celebrate ladies

- JACK LAWRIE jack.lawrie@news.com.au

A CAIRNS photograph­er and businesswo­man, thriving in the downtime caused by the COVID crisis, has created a collage of 40s pin-up style photos depicting the town’s most successful female business owners.

Veronica Sagredo of Blueclick Photograph­y has created ‘Ladies in Business’, a project that features a female business owner every day for 30 days.

Each woman is photograph­ed in “pin-up style”, with hair, makeup, outfits and props reminiscen­t of the pin-up style of the 1940s and 50s era.

Ms Sagredo said for the majority of the women it was the first time they’d been photograph­ed in this kind of style, and there were plenty of nerves, along with a lot of laughs and excitement.

Each photo also has an accompanyi­ng interview about the woman and her business and business tips they get to share with everyone.

Ms Sagredo said she was overwhelme­d by the devastatio­n the pandemic had on the town’s economy and wanted to do something that would brighten the lives of the impoverish­ed business community.

“Cairns is, at heart, a tourism town, but it is also a place full of small-business owners and self-employed people and

COVID she said.

“I saw the effects happening first-hand in my own business, but also in the businesses of many wonderful women around Cairns.

“I wanted to do something to give people a smile, give them something else to focus on for a time, and give some publicity to their businesses by featuring the women behind the business”.

Ms Sagredo said she was drawn to the pin up photograph­y style because it was fun, playful and eye-catching.

“I wanted to showcase a diverse range of industries from a wide variety of local businesses,” she said. affected everyone,”

Some of the women featured in the photo series include Bridget Evans from Paronella Park, Charisse Russell from HK Russell and Hannah Lane from Berry Lane Hairdressi­ng.

Ms Evans said taking part in the project cheered her up during Paronella Park’s closure.

“Participat­ing in the Ladies in Business program was so much fun,” she said.

“When Veronica mentioned the project, I was feeling pretty low. Paronella Park was closed due to COVID and I was a ball of stress.

“Spending a day getting dolled up and hanging out with Veronica was the perfect medicine. The fact that she is undertakin­g a project of this scale – completely for free – speaks to her character and generous spirit.”

With the project almost at its end, Ms Sagredo said she was overwhelme­d with requests from other ladies wanting to take part.

“I didn’t expected to have such a great response. Some are suggesting to have a calendar or a book made,” she said.

The Ladies in Business photo series can be viewed on BlueClick Photograph­y’s website, Facebook and Instagram page.

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 ?? Picture: VERONICA SAGREDO ?? STYLE QUEENS: Leanne Harmer from Buzz Music (left) and Bridget Evans from Paronella Park (right).
Picture: VERONICA SAGREDO STYLE QUEENS: Leanne Harmer from Buzz Music (left) and Bridget Evans from Paronella Park (right).
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