MARCH WRAP

Wrestling with editorials, a darkroom session, assisting work, and more.

We’ve reached the end of another month, which means we’re calling "wrap" with a summary of the smaller and often overlooked steps taken in the creative process. This is a behind-the-scenes look at the going-ons in my process, from scouting locations to analysing job proposals and the more technical side of photography. At the end is a Grocery List of things I need to look into in the following month and really shouldn’t be putting it off any longer.

DARKROOM PRINTING

I got in one session in the darkroom to finish off some Homebody prints this month. After completing all the core images I needed for Homebody, I got to print a few images from an archival shoot as I still want them in my portfolio. In total, I made thirty-four final prints in this session. This doesn’t include the test strips, the under/overexposed final attempts, but thirty-four images I can use — which makes me immensely happy because it feels like the session is well worth the payment made. Plus, I’m getting better at printing, and printing more each session. (My first solo session, I walked out with eight images). More to come on the darkroom!

WEATHER TURNS

The weather has been really hit and miss in Sydney this summer, going from muggy and cloudy with showers to an ugly grey overcast. Some sporadic days the sky will be clear and beautiful, or partly cloudy, still beautiful. If it weren’t warm, you’d think it were London. Weather apps have been a real let down, because it’ll say one thing a week before, and then completely turn the day before. Please send me reccs for reliable weather apps. The weather has been impacting shoots I' had planned. Last month, I wrote about coming up with concepts for shoots, and there was one really strong one that kept developing. This month I’d planned to shoot at least one of those ideas for a small personal project rather. I reached out to at least four agencies across Sydney to cast the model, and then had to cancel due to the weather app predicting rain. And when the day came around, it was clear and sunny. I could tear my hair out.

PERSONAL PROJECT DONE

I published two parts of my personal project Homebody this month. My anxiety levels were high for this one and I’m not too sure why. I think I was hoping for a certain type of reception; at the very least I didn’t want the project to go ignored or overlooked or something along those lines. I’ve been sitting on the project too ridiculously long, with the deadline moving one too many times. It got to the third week of March before I bit the bullet and sent it out. And the reaction has been wonderful. Something I want to explore more with other creatives is the anxiety behind releasing your personal creative work. It feels different from showing a brand the final images. I have to explore this feeling more myself.

MORE TIME IN THE WORLD OF NEWSLETTERS

One thing I’ve been more intentional with this month is my presence here, on Substack. I’ve been making an effort to engage with posts and notes that I like, and in turn I’ve been seeing more traction on my account, more engagement. Perhaps this social media app is still so small that your presence here is noticeable, unlike IG, where it feels like you’re floating in an ocean with millions of others. Besides interactions with other accounts (and the wonderful feeling of coming across the work of other photographers and creatives) I’m working on newsletters behind the scenes. This space is very quickly becoming darkroom promotion, at least the ‘notes’ section definitely is. I can’t help it. The process in the darkroom has totally gripped me, so expect more of that here. However, if there’s something you’re curious about in the creative process, let me know.

EDITORIAL WOES

Producing and shooting your own editorial has its perks and downsides. The perks are obvious: your creative concept, choosing your team, casting the model you envision for the concept. The downside to this has been finding a home for the editorial. It’s been a challenge. While the feedback on the story has been so positive, it hasn’t seemed to fit an upcoming issue. For this one, I have the stylist on my side, who at this point is more like an end-game producer; she’s been so vital on this project, so supportive, and takes action. Hopefully something gives, and we get this published.

LOOKING FOR ASSISTING WORK

One thing I want to be doing over the next few months is taking on assisting roles. I’ve been reaching out to more Sydney-based photographers, but it’s proving tricky to crack through this small, tight circle. The first assisting job I had was with an international photographer, and getting that gig felt like a right time right place kind of thing. If you know anyone out there (in Sydney) looking for an assist, let me know! I’d love to reach out to them.

GROCERY LIST

• Produce a personal project

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