Truth is, we’re all a little weird in the bedroom (no, not like that…). We’re talking about the good stuff, the real, unfiltered, between-the-sheets quirks that make us who we are. The doona hogging, midnight snacking, late-night Googling, and questionable PJ choices we’d probably never admit out loud.
Because if we’re honest, the bedroom is where the magic and the mischief really happen. It’s the place for whispered confessions, outrageous dreams, and those little rituals that never make it to the outside world.
This time, we’re pulling back the doona with the brilliant Giulia Giannini McGauran, or GG McG, as she’s better known. A 3x ARIA-nominated creative director and photographer, Giulia’s work is a riot of colour, character and play. She’s captured iconic moments with everyone from The Wiggles to Crowded House (yep, her Rolling Stone covers even won Cover of the Year, twice!) and brought brands like Disney, Spotify and New Balance to life with her bold vision.
Known for creating sets that feel like worlds of their own and for finding the spark that makes her subjects shine, Giulia is letting us peek behind the curtain and under the covers to share a few of the quirks and comforts that keep her inspired.
Hi GG, thank you for letting us peek inside your bedroom. For those who haven’t met you yet, can you share a little about who you are, who you share your bedroom with, and what you do day-to-day?
Hello! Such a pleasure to be here!! I am a creative director and photographer in the music industry, I share my bedroom with my wonderful husband Zaac. And our home with our little baby.
Zaac and I both have strange work structures and every day/week/month looks a little bit different for us!! But mostly, day to day, we go out for a coffee and a walk together first thing in the morning then get stuck into work. This involves editing, pre-production and shoots for me. And for Zaac, recording, rehearsing, writing or touring.
Your work spans iconic musicians, major brands, and award-winning projects like shooting Crowded House for Rolling Stone magazine; there must have been some laughs and “pinch yourself” moments, what surprised you about the boys from Crowded House?
That shoot was an incredibly special one. The deadline was super tight, so we had to create the concepts and sets (one of them being a room completely covered in their lyrics) and pull together the team at lightning speed. The band were funny, smart, present and incredible to work with.
Something I wasn’t surprised by per say, but I really loved, was how playful they all were. They jumped into different poses and were fun and engaged the whole time. Nick Seymour (band member and artist behind their iconic album covers) also dived into painting the bands logo at the front of the set which really made the cover concept feel wonderfully whole. I think it was definitely one of my favourite shoots of all time.
Can you share a moment when a project or photoshoot completely pushed you outside your comfort zone, and what it taught you about yourself or your creative process?
It was 2 weeks before our wedding, we needed to start painting everything for it in the studio and I remember laughing to a friend saying the only work I would take on before the wedding was The Rubens on the cover of Rolling Stone. By some bizarre timing in the universe the next day I got a call from Rolling Stone saying ‘We think you’ll love this, we need a cover, it’s The Rubens’.
In the band is my Husband, his two brothers Sam and Scott and our close friends Scott and Will. So the pressure was absolutely huge. There is a difference between stress levels when it comes to personal pressure and professional pressure. One is pressure and one is stress haha. And this shoot had both. With the added timeline of getting it all done before the wedding. I felt like in Mario Kart when you hit one of those magic turtle things and you propel forward at lightning speed.
It definitely showed me even though I thought I was at my top level of speed and production, that there is always a level above.
You’ve had two huge milestones in two years, a wedding and a baby! How did you navigate these life-changing moments while keeping your creative career thriving, and what have they taught you about balance, partnership, and prioritising what matters most?
It has been such a huge two years!! In all honesty I wouldn’t have any balance without my partner Zaac. He has risen to every single new moment and milestone and soared past what I was ever hoping for in a partner and dad. From 3 months post-partum I was able to dive back into a few major projects that popped up with full support, kindness and joy. I am so deeply grateful to him. I always knew that kindness was the most important quality in a partner, my parents have it in spades, but it really is in this phase of life that I can see exactly why.
In terms of prioritising, I really just think that everything can matter most. I feel my daughter matters the most, and my husband Zaac and my family and my work and friends. They all matter the most at the same time and it all feels just more full and generous now.
Your wedding dress, designed by Mariana Hardwick, was out-of-this-world stunning. Where did the inspiration come from for the customised hand-painted design you embellished the dress with?
I found the dress on Still White, the minute I saw it I knew it was perfect for what I wanted to do. I met the person I was buying it from when I tried it on, and I really liked her and her vibe too so it all just felt really right. I always wanted to paint it, and write my favourite moments we have had together all over it. But I didn’t want to plan the design. I wanted it to reflect exactly that moment in time so I just started painting it. Straight after the first stroke of paint I had a bit of an ‘uhoh’ moment and wished I’d planned it, but then relaxed into it and got into the flow.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt about motherhood that no one prepared you for?
I love everything about motherhood so far (maybe except for breastfeeding, that’s a whole crazy journey in itself). But the thing no one prepared me for was honestly how absolutely crazy the whole birth thing is. I chose to have a c-section, I always wanted to have one as I felt it was the safest option for my baby and I. It was WILD. I was speaking to Felix from the Cat Empire shortly after and he put it perfectly, the only thing more rock and roll than rock and roll is having a baby.
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Your Nonna is close to your heart. How has she inspired you?
It has been such an honour being so close with her. We were always close but for the past 3 years we have lived in the same apartment block and we have seen her a few times a day, every day. It has opened my world. I have learnt so many things from her and she has inspired me in so many ways. She has really shown me that being on old person is just being young in an older body, that friendship between a 33 year old and a 97 year old is just as strong as between friends the same age, and just how much trust and strength it takes to navigate the world as an elderly person.
It has made me see how difficult and inaccessible our society is for older people, people using walkers, wheelchairs and with different abilities (we can put people on the moon but cant seem to make mobility scooters that aren’t harder than a car to drive). I don’t yet know how I can help make positive change in this area but I really want to. And It has also made me extremely aware of what’s important, to enjoy everything as much as I can, to be generous, and to surround myself with joy and people I love.
Welcome to Between The Sheets, where the only rule is: there are no secrets between the sheets.
What’s on your bedside table right now?
Flowers, Rytual by Chloe Wilson and the Tommee Tippee temperature egg.
Do you have a pre-bed ritual (book, playlist, skincare, journal) that sets the mood for sleep?
Absolutely not haha. I’m shocking when it comes to any wind down routine. For the 13 years before I had my daughter I would often work from 9am until around 2am. I’d be up late editing. Now I hold slightly better hours but I definitely am still bad in this area.
What’s the most sentimental item in your bedroom, and why does it matter to you?
A framed photo I did of my nephew dressed as a little hungry caterpillar, my sister, Mum and Nonna. I love it. It just makes me happy.
Do you dream in colour, in photoshoot ideas, or something completely different?
Abbbbsolutely not. My dreams are not fun at all, often they involve setting up or cleaning up for hours or freaky ones like having to peel endless chewing gum off my cheeks and teeth, having hands pop out of my belly button or seeing an old high school music teacher in a Kwik-e-mart. Definitely wish I had some fun dreams.
What’s the most creative idea you’ve ever had lying awake at night?
I come up with all of my ideas at night! The good and the bad haha. I always have worked better at night!
If you could swap bedrooms with anyone in the world, whose would it be?
Honestly theres not a bedroom in the world I’d want to swap for my own. I love my bedroom. Its just ultimate comfort, happiness and calm for me.
What is your biggest bedroom design splurge?
Ooh!! Maybe a Jack Irvine painting!! I love Jack’s work and it adds so much colour to the space!
If we opened your wardrobe right now, what colour or item would we see the most of?
BLUE AND ORANGE.
When you hop out of bed, where is your favourite spot to dine south-side?
Hands down Jerry’s in Elwood!
