Talent snapping fashion, commerce grew to match his physical stature

PHOTOGRAPHER

28-8-1946 14-3-2012

RICHARD Millott, a well-known Melbourne photographer who built an impressive list of corporate and individual clients for his own business, has died of advanced melanoma at Peter MacCallum Hospital. He was 65.

Richard, who was born in Kew to Gwen and Jack Millott, attended Carey Grammar School, then studied photography at RMIT from 1971-73, before working at the studios of Brian Brandt.

Richard towered physically over his peers, and his talents grew to match his stature. He matched the best in fashion and commercial photography, with creative standards inspired by global giants such as Richard Avedon. He balanced technical and practical demands, using technique as a vehicle for his imagination. In 1980 he won the local Hasselblad Masters, the first of many photographic awards for portraiture.

And when he started his own business, he worked in areas as diverse as fashion, food photography, political advertising and architecture. He inspired and nurtured the careers of many others, individually and through a strong association with both the Australian Institute for Professional Photographers and the Australian Commercial and Media Photographers, of which he was a founding member and later a director. An unfinished project, a book of beautiful landscapes of Phillip Island, is expected to be published.

In retirement, he built himself a large rough-hewn eucalypt garage (his "man-cave") at the family beach-house, where he enjoyed woodwork. The garage was also fully sound-equipped, so he could listen to his favourite jazz musicians. He also loved the theatre, attending the Moving Clickers film group, Melbourne's oldest film society, and was a passionate North Melbourne supporter.

Richard is survived by Tina, his wife of 37 years, children Ashley, Amber, Celeste and Jenna, granddaughter Lani, father Jack, and sister Margaret.