Portrait Photography for Oral History Practitioners

A sensitive, revealing portrait provides depth and dimension to the story told in an oral history. This workshop will be presented by award-winning photographer and oral historian Philip Gostelow.

This 3-hour workshop is aimed at oral history practitioners to improve their skillset in taking quality portraits of their interview subjects. Targeted at both iPhone and digital camera users, students will learn helpful tips that will prove an invaluable guide to shooting portraits with confidence.
Following an introductory presentation of inspiring portrait examples, basic lighting considerations, location set-ups and etiquette, Philip will conduct a brief demonstration, before students pair up to do their own portrait assignment in class, finishing with a critique.

The number of places is limited to 16 applicants for a conducive learning and discussion group.

RSVP by 20 June, 2026 to Lynn at contact@oralhistorywa.org.au 

Philip Gostelow is an Australian photographer, filmmaker and oral historian specialising in editorial features, portraiture and corporate branding imagery.

He began his photographic career in Tokyo in the early 1990s, and has since been based in Sydney, Shanghai and San Francisco. His work has been featured in leading international publications including TIME, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Independent Magazine, Forbes and Vogue China. He is currently based in his hometown of Perth, Western Australia.

Alongside his photographic practice, Gostelow works in oral history and film, and is a member of the OHWA Committee.