Outside The Frame | Episode 8 - DADAA Inclusive Arts & Community Storytelling
We had the privilege of collaborating with DADAA, a trailblazing organisation that provides access to arts and culture for people living with disability or a lived experience of mental illness.
Inclusive Arts, Impactful Work
Our mission was to craft a compelling visual narrative that celebrated the vibrancy and impact of DADAA’s work.
The setting? The historic Fremantle Old Boys’ School—a 162-year-old building undergoing restoration to become DADAA’s new home. This location, with its rich textures and timeless character, provided the perfect backdrop for a project centred on creativity and inclusion.
Creative Freedom
Working alongside and led by the dream team at Media on Mars, we embraced the creative freedom this shoot allowed.
Our goal was to capture a series of strong, emotive portraits that conveyed the joy and artistic expression of DADAA’s artists. This shoot would have been hard to achieve with only one photographer. There were three of us on the shoot and we all had important roles to play.
Our team of three took a dynamic, tag-team approach—one behind the camera, one managing lighting, and one coordinating the incredible talent in front of the lens. This synergy ensured each shot reflected the essence of the artists and their work.
Projects like this push us creatively and technically, allowing us to experiment with new approaches while staying true to authentic storytelling. There’s nothing quite like the energy of seeing images come to life on screen, witnessing the excitement build as the visuals unfold in real time.
Why This Episode Matters
It’s an awesome feeling during the shoot when the images come up on the laptop and our clients get to see the magic happening. You see the excitement on peoples faces and you know things are going well. It adds fuel to the shoot and motivation to raise the bar for the next shot.
That shared moment of connection—the spark of recognition and pride in the work—is what fuels us to keep creating.
Check out our work with DADAA.
Production Team
Director // Matt Reed
Producer // Shelley Leary
BTS Camera // Matthew Bettinaglio
Sound Recording // Matthew Bettinaglio
Editor, Colourist // Matthew Bettinaglio
Sound Mix // Matthew Bettinaglio
Location // DADAA, Fremantle, Western Australia
Order of Appearance // Matt Reed, Henry Whitehead, Odette Vonk and the wonderful DADAA talent.
With special thanks to the Media On Mars and DADAA teams, and Matthew Bettinaglio.
First published 15 Feb 2017 on YouTube @photographyproject
