Two cousins with expertise that goes hand in hand have launched a new business venture aimed at helping women take a few hours for themselves to feel comfortable and confident, and go home with memories in the form of photos that they can keep forever.

Justine Flanagan is a self-taught photographer with a decade of experience in wedding photography and portraits. Bianca Whittaker is a versatile artist and make-up artist with a passion for enhancing the beauty that her clients already have.

With Covid-19 taking away their avenue of income – no weddings on the island and no tourists booking photo shoots – the pair came up with an idea for a new business venture where they could combine their skills to do something fun and impactful for all the beautiful women that they see and know around Rarotonga.

Located at Whittaker’s own tasteful and open home decked with art, a soft breeze, and plenty of potential to set up a homemade photography and makeup studio, Coco Glamour Studio was created.

They shared that a lot of thinking went into the name of their new business, but that Coco Glamour was inspired by Coco Channel who stood for all the things that inspired them: being fashionable, having your own sense of style, being trail blazers, being empowering, and being strong while feminine.

Their vision behind the business is to welcome any woman of any shape, size and age to book a few hours of makeup done by Whittaker, followed by a photo shoot with Flanagan where they have the option of a glamour and boudoir shoot together, or two glamour and two boudoir shoots.

Clients are welcome to bring their own clothes and inspiration for makeup, or they can simply leave it up to Whittaker and Flanagan to work their magic and give them an experience that will revive their self-love and confidence and gift them with photographic memories to remind them of that confidence for life.

“Women will look at the photos afterwards and ask me: ‘Wow, is that really me?’ and that’s what it’s all about, giving them that feeling!” says Whittaker.

Being family, they say one might think that going into a business venture together would not usually end well.

However Flanagan and Whittaker say they share the attitude of “getting things done”, and they don’t waste time dwelling on disagreements but try to move on to the next thing and find something that will work for the both of them.

Being mothers has also helped them understand how to just keep moving and get things done, they add.

“We leave our egos at the door because we know what our focus is. It’s all about the women and making them feel comfortable and good,” says Flanagan.

They work hard together to create a fun atmosphere for their clients with laughter, music and attention to detail. They believe their decades of experience in both their fields in the wedding industry has helped make this easy for them.

Before and after result. Coco Glamour Studio/21102409

Flanagan describes her photographic style as being focused beauty portraits with a slight artistic and fashion bent, and being empowering but sophisticated.

She enjoys keeping the essence of who people really are and what they look like. “I work with whatever they bring. The key is to make them feel comfortable because when they feel comfortable, they feel confident,” she says.

Whittaker says she has always preferred the more natural look when it comes to makeup as makeup is about enhancing beauty that is already there and not covering up or warping a face into something completely different.

However she says with this new venture they have to be versatile to what the client wants as well as the photographer’s vision for the photo shoot.

The business is still very new but the pair already has a clear vision and a strong sense of style as well as knowledge from their past experiences in each of their areas of expertise on how to make things work artistically with another person.

Flanagan and Whittaker say they are looking into expanding to group sessions as well as individual shoots to make the experience for their clients even more of an event and a memory that they can treasure.

“It’s not just about the photos but also about the experience,” says Flanagan, adding that the intimacy and comfort of a homemade studio has made this certainly more achievable.

They are looking forward to working with all different types of women from around the island, from those they see who love dressing up daily in their island wear and makeup, and those who like their t-shirts and shorts.

Flanagan adds they have met women who have said they would book a session but would back themselves up with some excuse or set reason for why they want to do it.

She says they want to inspire and encourage women to realise they are allowed to take a few hours for themselves, that they do not need a reason, and that it is okay to feel and look good.