Contact Darren Stones
Darren Stones Visual Communications
Mail: 42 Melbourne Avenue, Glenroy, Victoria, Australia 3046
Email: darrengstones@gmail.com
Web: http://www.darrenstones.com.au/
Phone: 03 9306 0100
Mobile: 0419 200 469
Darren Stones Visual Communications
Improving Your Image
My purpose is to provide photographic services and products that achieves customer satisfaction at an affordable price.
- Supply high quality digital photographs for products and publishing
- Supply quality photographic merchandise
Photographic Products and Services
- Stock photography library catering to sales
- Sales of framed, canvas, mounted, matted and photographic prints
- Sales of calendars, posters, greeting cards, postcards
- Develop and facilitate photography workshops
Product and Marketing Services For Businesses
- Development of framed prints, canvas prints, matted prints, mounted prints, photographic prints, posters, calendars, greeting cards, postcards
About Darren Stones
I am the owner and manager of Darren Stones Visual Communications and was born and raised in Melbourne. I have been a small business owner since 1982.
Life as a tradesman
I began my working life at age 16 in the family painting and decorating business. For the next 24 years, I continued as a painter and decorator in the business that proudly serviced Melbourne. We carried out contracts for builders, interior decorators, real estate agents, local councils, home owners, landlords, and small to medium-sized businesses. From 1996-2006 I was the manager and senior partner of Stones Painting.
Life as a photographer, journalist and writer
Since 2006, my small business pursuits have been photography, journalism and writing related. I sell photographic merchandise nationally and internationally, and supply images to Australian-based businesses and organisations for their various publishing and display projects.
Life as a social worker
In 2013 I began studies in community services work and community development. My full-time employment goal is to become a social worker, mental health outreach worker or youth worker. I currently volunteer in two roles with Merri Community Health Services in Melbourne where I assist and support young carers, and I also provide 1:1 social and recreational support to a person.
Early days as a photographer
My beginnings as a photographer go back to late 1987, when at age 21, I purchased my first camera - a Mintolta X-700 SLR. A great camera indeed. I still own it, in fact I own two of them.
Interestingly, I purchased my first camera to record my first holiday travels with my partner Bronwyn. Our first holiday journey together was to Lakes Entrance in Victoria and Merimbula in New South Wales. We had a great time together and brought home a few rolls of Kodak film for processing. Since 1987, photography has been an integral part of our travels. It is second nature to both of us, and we work closely together on many occasions.
My father Gordon is also a tremendous assistant when out in the field, and he has accompanied me on many photographic trips. My interest in photography was inspired by him recording our family holiday travels when I was a kid. He took the photo you see below of me holding the bronze statuette. He was proud as punch to see me receive the award at the awards function at the Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival of Arts in June 2008.
Darren Stones
2008 Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival of Arts
Winner of the Drover's Wife bronze statuette for 'Best Photograph of the Exhibition'
Winning photograph titled Dog Rocks
Education and Training
- Diploma of Community Services Work - Kangan Institute 2013-current
- Diploma of Community Development - Kangan Institute 2013-current
- Mental Health First Aid Course Certificate - Western Region Health Centre 2013
- Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40110) - Moreland Adult Education 2012
- Diploma of Business (Public Relations, Promotion and Marketing) - Australian College 2011-2012
- Diploma of Editing (Publishing) - Australian College (completed 6 units in 2011)
- Certificate IV Small Business Management - Kangan Institute 2010-2011
- Diploma of Professional Freelance Journalism - Australian College of Journalism 2007-2008
- Diploma of Freelance Photography - Cengage Education 2006-2007
- Diploma of Freelance Travel Writing and Photography - Australian College of Journalism 2006-2007
- Mental Health First Aid Course Certificate - Norwood Services 2011
- Information Technology Microsoft Word Level 3 - Australian College 2008
- Information Technology Microsoft Word Levels 1 & 2 - Australian College 2007
- Getting Started On Computers - Kangan TAFE 2004
- Australian Community Workers Association ACWA
- Merri Community Health Services
- Volunteering Victoria
- Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance MEAA
- Australian Photographic Society
- Essendon Camera Club
- beyondblue blueVoices
- Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council
- Glenroy RSL
I am an active mental health advocate. Achievements include:
- Focus Group participant with Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council VMIAC
- Provide comment to The Sunday Age newspaper
- Business In Mind Owner/Manager participant
- Written to a Federal Government Senate Inquiry about the Better Access scheme
- Commissioned article published in HealthSmart magazine
- Mental Health First Aid Course Certificate
- Provide feedback to beyondblue as a blueVoices member
- Counsel people experiencing a mental illness
- Featured in the Hume Weekly newspaper
- Interviewed and photographed by The Sunday Age newspaper
- Article published on the Moreland Leader website
- Article published on the Moonee Valley Leader website
Contact details
Darren Stones Visual Communications
Journalist - Photographer - Writer
42 Melbourne Avenue
Glenroy, Victoria, Australia 3046
Web: http://www.darrenstones.com.au/
Email: darrengstones@gmail.com
Phone: 03 9306 0100
Mobile: 0419 200 469
Businesses That Assist Me In Business
RedBubble - Art gallery and community
Kangan Institute - Real education. Real skills. Real jobs.
Australian College - Leaders in distance learning
Craig Lawson Consulting - Accounting for your success
Mister Magnets - Advertising that sticks
Digital Works - Professional photographic processing
Brilliant Prints - The Canvas Printing People
Ausdart Australia - Picture framing specialist
Discount Digital Photographics - Supplier of photographic equipment
Cameras Direct - Supplier of photographic equipment
Telstra - It's how we connect
PayPal - Feel confident and comfortable when paying online
Flickr - Online portfolio management
