Athol Shmith, Julie Reiter modelling for Patons Bluebell Crepe, c 1960s, gift of Michael Shmith, 2000, © the estate of Athol Shmith, licenced by Kalli Rolfe Contemporary Art.

From 1938 Athol Shmith’s principal studio was in the Rue de la Paix building on Collins Street. John Cato joined as a co-director in 1950 and the business flourished, at one time employing 26 staff, including Hans Hasenpflug and Norman Ikin. Shmith’s son Michael recalled tremendous variety: not only fashion and portrait photography, but images of homewares and cars, and ‘countless knitting catalogues’.