Behind the Lens: The 2% Podcast Shoot at The Star Gold Coast


Some shoots carry energy the moment you walk into the room.

The 2% Podcast with Jess Dee Minovski and Hayley Battese was exactly that, bold, unfiltered, and full of the kind of confidence that defines women who lead with purpose and personality. The vision was simple. Capture two women from different generations, both entrepreneurs, both navigating business, motherhood, and self-discovery, and bring their new podcast launch to life through editorial, personality-driven visuals.


The Concept: Two Generations, One Frequency


Jess and Hayley came to me with an idea that immediately resonated. Their podcast, The 2%, celebrates the women who are part of that rare group who choose to go all in on their dreams, the top two percent who are building something bigger than themselves.


We wanted the imagery to reflect exactly that. The brief was luxury meets chaos, editorial meets real life, and business meets humor. The 2% is as much about ambition as it is about authenticity, and that became the heart of the creative direction.


The Location: The Star Gold Coast


We shot at The Star Gold Coast, a location that brought instant glamour and cinematic light to the concept. The hallways, and polished hotel finishes gave us everything we needed to create the feeling of success, confidence, and movement.


Each scene was designed to feel like a movie still. We used fur coats, champagne glasses, microphones, high heels, and bold colour to channel the kind of unapologetic energy that defines the 2%. It was glamorous, a little chaotic, and a lot of fun, just like their brand.


The Creative Direction: Editorial Meets Reality


The key was to create storytelling moments that felt alive. Jess and Hayley wanted to bring both contrast and chemistry to the shoot, two women at different stages of life but moving in sync toward the same mission.

We captured:


  • Playful “paparazzi” moments in the hotel lobby and hallways
  • Luxe editorial portraits that felt cinematic and strong
  • Candid laughter and chaos that showed their real-life friendship
  • Microphone and podcast props that tied it all back to the show’s identity


Every frame was designed to serve a dual purpose, high-end branding visuals for their podcast launch and strategic content for social media promotion.


The Story: Women Who Do It Differently


What I love most about Jess and Hayley is their dynamic. Jess, a powerhouse in her 20s who rebuilt her business from scratch, and Hayley, a mother of four balancing family, business, and self-expression. Together, they represent two worlds colliding, the freedom of youth and the wisdom of experience.


The 2% isn’t about perfection. It’s about the mess, the humour, and the moments in between. That authenticity was our creative compass throughout the shoot.


The Process: From Vision to Visuals


Before every brand shoot, I dig deep into the story behind the brand. For The 2% Podcast, that meant understanding their tone, audience, and message: empowering women in business to own their evolution.


We built the shoot around contrast, polished imagery with a touch of imperfection, high-fashion energy with real laughter, and bold colour palettes that embodied their unapologetic presence.


The lighting setup mixed soft natural tones with directional flash for depth and movement, creating that editorial glow The Star is known for.


The Result: Unapologetic, Elevated, Real


The final gallery tells the story of two women who aren’t afraid to take up space.

The visuals are sharp, bold, and beautifully unfiltered, just like the conversations on their podcast.


“We wanted to create something that felt like us. Fun, powerful, chaotic, and real. These photos tell our story perfectly.” — Jess & Hayley, The 2% Podcast


This shoot was everything I love about modern branding photography: storytelling with personality, strategy with soul, and visuals that make people feel.


Why This Matters


If you’re a podcast host, business coach, or creative entrepreneur ready to elevate your online presence, your visuals are the heartbeat of your brand. The right imagery doesn’t just capture how your brand looks, it captures how it feels. Explore Branding Photography with Valeria Ramirez to bring your next chapter to life.

Group of people relaxing in white bathrobes and towels on a large hotel bed while using phones and devices.
Several figures wrapped in white sheets and sunglasses posed in a row on a couch.
Person sleeping peacefully in white hotel bedding wearing sunglasses.
A series of black and white photos showing someone using a retro telephone against a wall.
Series of photos showing someone posing playfully near elevator doors in jeans and a black jacket.
A Rode camera flash unit being held against a white background.
Two people posing playfully in an elevator wearing baseball caps and casual outfits.
Black and white image showing legs of people walking down a hallway with patterned carpet.
Two people in casual outfits with baseball caps posing together in a dark hallway.
A black and white photo sequence showing a figure crawling through a curved metal tube or tunnel structure.
People in white caps and casual wear walking through a hallway with metal railings.
People walking down a hotel hallway wearing casual outfits including jeans and crop tops.
Person in white clothing falls backwards onto a hotel luggage cart in a sequence of action shots.
A sequence of black and white photos showing someone rolling and crawling under a low metal bar.
Someone in denim and a baseball cap lounging casually on furniture.
Two people playfully pose with a hotel luggage cart, one pushing while another sits on the cart wearing a red cap.
Person lying on a patterned blue carpet wearing a brown dress in a dramatic pose.
A Rode camera flash being positioned near someone wearing sunglasses and a dark jacket.
Group of people wearing black outfits and sunglasses posing together for a photo shoot.
Two people in black clothing pose playfully together against a white background for a photo series.
People in dark clothing walking through a dimly lit hallway covering their faces.
Group walking in dark clothing through hallway with hands raised to block camera.
Two women with blonde hair sit together while taking selfies and making silly faces in a casual indoor setting.
Two friends taking selfies and making faces in a bathroom mirror.
A person in black clothing laughs while standing near a staircase and mirror in an indoor setting.
Fashion models in black outfits and sunglasses posing in a modern hallway with reflective floors.
People in black outfits and sunglasses posing dramatically in a hotel hallway.