3 minute read
INTERVIEW
MONIQUE’S (re)touch in demand!
Not everyone has a chance to see the ‘ins and outs’ of celebrity homes but born and raised East Aucklander, Monique Laloli frequently enjoys a bird’s eye view (on screen) of a fair number including that of the late David Bowie. Here EastLife showcases Monique’s retouched photographs of Bowie’s home released from the prestigious studio of Michael Weinstein.
Even the best photographers have their worked retouched from time to time and it takes a skilled image editor, such as former Howick local, Monique Laloli, to ensure the finished result is of the highest quality.
Now working as a high-end photo editor for New York City-based, architectural photographer, Michael Weinstein, whose work has been featured in the Architectural Digest and the New York Times, Monique finds herself regularly working on the photos of celebrity homes including those of Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Aniston, Russell Simmons and, of course, super star, David Bowie’s impressive residence (pictured opposite).
“After working at the New Zealand Herald for six years, I headed to NYC on a 12-month work visa,” Monique explains. “After three months of job hunting, I landed a role at Michael Weinstein’s studio but then, when my year was coming to an end, I realised I desperately wanted more time in the USA to learn and progress my career.
“I’ve now been here nine years and love it. At the outset I had to learn a different process of retouching and, as my boss only photographs high-end properties over a certain price point, the work had to be exemplary; of the highest calibre.
“The studio’s photographers take several exposures for one photo, from dark to light then I take those exposures and layer them in Photoshop. This enables me to bring out every detail and to balance the image correctly. Quite often the view out the window is a huge selling point, and if we didn’t work with layers, the view would appear blown-out with no information.”
Having now viewed, from all angles, many celebrity homes including that of fashion designer, Kasper, (featured in the New York Times) and also film producer, Scott Rudin’s abode, Monique says she feels privileged to be assisting some of photography’s greats.
“I’m still fully focused on my work here and New York has become my second home. This job is so different from anything I might have done in New Zealand. It’s not something everyone can do and I feel lucky to have a talent for it. So, who knows what the future will bring.” Monique Laloli
