Legendary fashion Photographer Monty Coles has done some pretty amazing things in his career. He’s shot some of the most iconic faces in fashion (ever heard of little model called Twiggy?!) and virtually every model worth photographing during his iconic years with Australian Vogue ’70s, '80s and '90s. For our 20th Birthday soiree, we were thrilled to have him photograph our guests in a boudoir-inspired portrait studio.

A kind, intelligent and extremely talented man, here’s 20 things you might not know about this low-key legend…(Monty’s answers were returned to us hand-written, and it was impossible for us not to include some of it in this post).

Monty Coles with Jean Paul Gaultier. Image by Olivia Tran.

What’s the best thing about what you do?
The best thing about what I do is that everyday is different and generally fun!

How important is creativity to you?
Creativity is everything for a fashion photographer. It can be a small hand gesture, facial expression or placement of the feet. The rest is just technique and of course, appropriate lighting.

Monty's hand-written responses

Tell us about your portrait studio at our 20th Birthday party.
For the pop-up portrait studio, I used a giant light source which gave the feeling of a large, soft window light - quite flattering. My assistants for the night were Olivia Tran, Sam Wong and Zhongda Wang who managed the digital processing. They were standout students of mine at RMIT.

Tell us about your website theloupe.org?
I started my website theloupe.org when I joined RMIT as a as a part-time tutor in fashion photography. I often post my students work and that of the RMIT fashion design students progress through their grad year. Loupe is French for magnifying glass. I'm taking a closer look at Melbourne's rich fashion culture.

How do you stay inspired?
I don't get "inspired" - I enjoy what I do and stuff happens. I want the viewer of the photographs to be inspired, either to buy a new handbag or just to smile.

Monty Coles at our 20th Birthday.

Australian Vogue cover shown at Victoria & Albert Museum, London, October 1989.
Image by Monty Coles.

Who is your dream muse?
Lee Miller. She was a beautiful model who became a photographer; she was the real life muse of photographer Man Ray, who I've been influenced by since the very beginning of my career.

What song describes your current mood?
I'm not a song person, but have a very eclectic taste in music, from tribal to Bach. I actually don't play music when I work. I've noticed that when people are energised by music they feel good and can lose concentration – feeling that is fine, but an image is a different sensual experience and needs its own attention.

What's something that people would find surprising about you?
People would probably find it surprising to know that I can stand on my head.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Have a nice cup of green tea with Yvonne.

What was the last book you read?
Revisiting "Nothing if not Critical" by Robert Hughes.

What’s been your best birthday to date?
Earlier this week with my family.

What's the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
I was in the boy scouts (for way too long!) and our motto was "be prepared". Good advice for a photographer and a father.

Music or Movies
Movies.

Sweet or savoury?
Savoury.

Morning or night?
Night.

More or less
Less.

Classic or Modern?
Classic.

Old or new?
New.

Monty Coles' 20th portait studio at our 20th Birthday.

The MIMCO Muses and Jesinta Campbel by Monty Coles at our 20th Birthday party.

Follow Monty on Instagram.