Light Up Mag × The Light Lab
The Flash
Issue
Compendium of the Cool
A special edition of Light Up Mag celebrating the people behind interesting businesses, brands and ideas.
Have you ever thought about being in a magazine?
Now you can become part of the Compendium of the Cool.
20 spaces · 5 + 6 December 2026 · $250 + GST
The Concept
You're not buying a photoshoot.
You're applying to become part of the Compendium of the Cool.
The Compendium of the Cool is a collection of 20 interesting people, businesses, brands and stories — brought together for a unique magazine experience combining professional photography, storytelling, visibility and connection, and published as The Flash Issue, a special edition of Light Up Mag.
What You'll Experience
One day. Six parts of the story.
01
The Studio
A 10–20 minute session at The Light Lab in Tauranga — a professional photography studio and our creative collaborator for this edition.
02
The Photoshoot
Professional editorial photography with photographer Nicholas Charles. Considered, unhurried, and made to feel like a magazine shoot — because it is one.
03
Your Images
Receive a curated selection of 5–10 professionally edited photographs, yours to keep and use as part of your brand.
04
Your Story
Answer a few short questions about yourself, your business and what you're building. We shape it into editorial.
05
The Magazine
Your story and images become part of the digital Flash Issue of Light Up Mag — published, archived, and shared with our readership, with an opportunity to appear in video content.
06
The Connection
Meet the other selected business owners, creatives and interesting people taking part in the edition.
Why Be Part of It?
Be seen.
Put yourself and your business in front of a new audience.
Tell your story.
People want to know the person behind the business.
Create something you'll keep.
Professional editorial photographs that become part of your brand.
Become part of something new.
Join the first edition of a project bringing together magazines, photography, storytelling and business.
Who Is It For?
You don't need to be famous.
You don't need a huge following.
You simply need to be someone building something interesting, creative, meaningful or worth knowing.
Business owners, founders, creatives, entrepreneurs, artists, designers, hospitality owners, local brands and people with an interesting story are all welcome to apply.
The Location
The Light Lab
Historic Village, Tauranga
Inside Tauranga's Historic Village, a creative precinct of studios, galleries, artists and cultural spaces. The Village's community photography studio is our creative collaborator for The Flash Issue.
159 17th Avenue, Tauranga South, Tauranga 3112Find the studioThe Two Shoot Days
Which day works best for you?
Choose your preferred day when applying. We'll organise the final photography schedule after selection.
Saturday, 5 December 2026
Sunday, 6 December 2026
Either day works for me
The Details
Spaces
20
Where
The Light Lab — Historic Village, Tauranga
When
5 + 6 December 2026
Session
10–20 minute editorial studio session
Investment
$250 + GST
Applications are reviewed before participants are selected.
Submitting an application does not guarantee selection. Selected participants will receive confirmation, their allocated day/time and payment instructions.
Special Edition
The Flash
Issue
Compendium of the Cool
The Magazine
Published as a real edition of Light Up Mag.
The final project will be published as a special digital edition of Light Up Mag featuring the selected participants through photography, stories and editorial content — readable as a beautiful in-browser flipbook, right here on this site.
A limited printed edition may also be created separately.
Think you belong in the
Compendium of the Cool?
Tell us a little about yourself.