If you’ve been following me on Instagram or stalking my portfolio (no judgment — I love it),
you already know what Unbar Photography is about. But if this is your first time here, let me
set the scene.

I’m Annalee. I’m a brand and event photographer based in Brisbane, and I named my business
Unbar for a reason — because the biggest thing standing between most people and a great
photo isn’t a bad angle or bad lighting. It’s the bars. The self-consciousness. The “I’m not
photogenic” story. The stiffness that creeps in the second someone points a camera at you.

My job is to bring those bars down. And this blog? This is where I pull back the curtain on all
of it.

What You’ll Find Here

I’ve been thinking about this blog for a while — what it should be, what I want it to do for
you, and honestly, what I’d actually enjoy writing. So here’s the plan:

Once a month: A real case study about a client, event, or project.

Not a polished highlight reel. An honest look at a shoot — who the client was or what the
event involved, what they were trying to achieve, how we approached it together, and what
the images ended up doing for their business or organisation. I want you to see the strategy
behind the shots, not just the shots themselves — although the final images will absolutely be
shared too.

Once a month: A travel experience.

Because inspiration inspires art, and my love for travel has always been — and continues to
be — an important thread running through my work and my life. I’ll be sharing those stories
and the artistic and cultural impact they’ve had on my photography: the locations, the light,
the colours, the people, and the magic that happens when my love for travel and the camera
collide.

Regularly: Articles on the craft and the business of showing up visually.

We’re talking branding, headshots, events, what makes a great image work for your business
(and what makes one fall flat), how to prepare for a shoot, and the real conversation about why so many business owners are sitting on outdated profile photos that don’t actually
represent who they’ve become.

Why Bother with a Blog at All?

Fair question. We’re living in a world of 10-second videos and disappearing stories. Blogs
feel almost retro.

But here’s the thing — the people I work with aren’t making snap decisions. Hiring a
photographer, especially for your personal brand, is an investment. You’re trusting someone
to represent you. And before you do that, you want to know who that person is, how they
think, and whether they actually get what you’re trying to build.

This blog is how you get to know me beyond the portfolio.

It’s also where I can go deeper than a caption allows. There’s only so much you can say under
an Instagram photo. Here, I can tell you why we chose that location, what the client was
nervous about, how we shifted the energy mid-shoot, and what the images ended up meaning
to them six months later when they relaunched their website.

A Bit About the Unbar Philosophy (In Case You’re New Here)

The name came before the business model. I kept coming back to this idea that so many
people want to show up fully for their brand — they know they need better images, they
know visual content matters — but something stops them. Fear. Self-criticism. A bad
experience with a photographer who made them feel awkward and rushed.

Unbar is the answer to that.

On every shoot, I work like a director. I guide posing, wardrobe, location, lighting, and props.
I don’t just show up with a camera and say “just be yourself.” I create the conditions where
being yourself is actually possible — and then I photograph what comes out.

That’s the work. And honestly, it’s some of the most rewarding work I’ve ever done.

What’s Coming Next

The first case study drops next month and it’s a good one.

My client is a Brisbane business owner who wanted to level up her brand and attract the right
clientele — the kind of client who truly values what she does and is willing to invest in it. But before we even picked a location or talked about what to wear, we sat down and did the work
that most photographers skip entirely.

We’ll walk through how we approached her brand, what we were trying to communicate, and
how those decisions shaped every creative choice that followed. And because this is an
ongoing relationship — not a one-and-done session — we’ll also look at what those images
have done for her business over time, and how her visual brand continues to evolve.

It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes look I wish more photographers shared. I hope it changes
the way you think about what brand photography can actually do for your business.

In the meantime, if you’re curious about working together, or you just want to see more of
what Unbar looks like in practice, the portfolio is right there waiting for you.

And if you know someone who’s been putting off getting proper brand photos because they’re
dreading the process — send them here. Tell them this is the blog where someone finally
admits that the camera-fear is real and explains what to do about it.

Let’s get started.
— Annalee

Annalee Beckman is the founder of Unbar Photography, a brand and event photography
studio based in Brisbane, QLD, available worldwide. She specialises in helping business
owners look good online, sell their services with strategy, and show up with confidence.

View the portfolio · Work with Annalee · Get in touch