Q&A Sally Griffiths | Photographer
Meet Sydney-based Photographer Sally Griffiths who is usually snapping Fashion shoots. In January, she was spending time in the Northern Territory in the Aboriginal community of Kintore, capturing amazing documentaries and portraits that will be unveiled at blank_space in Surry Hills next month. She also pleasantly surprises us with other random stories about herself.
Name: Sally Griffiths
Nick name: Waaaay too many to mention! For some reason almost everyone I know has given me a different nickname!
Profession: Photographer by day, moonlighting as a cocktail waitress by night…
Location: Ol’ Sydney Town, Australia
Passion:
Photography and Formula 1! Very random I know but I’ve loved it for almost 10 years now. And I never miss a race!
How I got my break:
I wouldn’t say I got one big break, just a lot of small ones that all add up in the end. I think getting my photos published in the May 2009 issue of Pages and in the upcoming issue Frankie magazine has to be the most exciting and rewarding “break” for me because the photos were my own personal work and of something that I am fervent about. Being noticed by cool websites such as mecho is also very rewarding 
My top tricks of the trade:
I would say make sure you have a nice lens, be passionate about the subject matter you are shooting, and also know your stuff! I spend a LOT of time looking at a LOT of photographs. I am constantly looking through books and magazines both old and new, and also surfing the web checking out photography sites, reading things, etc etc… it’s kind of like a compulsion!
My style in a sentence:
How about in a word – Tomboyish! Hahaha no, no, I do wear dresses just nothing too frou frou!
Travel destination & tips:
My favourite place is the Northern Territory. I think it is the most amazing place I have ever visited and I have travelled around the world. Every Australian needs to experience the beauty of our own backyard.
I bet you didn’t know I can: Loads of people tell me I am a great dancer!
I get our inspirations from:
Anywhere! Random objects lying in the street sometimes! Everyday people and happenings, my friends, sometimes I am inspired by movies and music videos (I studied film theory at uni years ago), or sometimes it’s just a random lighting bolt idea from out of nowhere!
My latest project is about:
I am currently organising an upcoming exhibition of portraits I took of Indigenous teenagers while I was in the Northern Territory in January. It will be at blank_space gallery on Crown St in Surry Hills (2-8 July 2009). Come down and check it out! Part of the profits are going to a Indigenous youth rehab centre near Alice Springs.
My latest purchase:
A pair of black lace-up army style boots. I can’t stop wearing them!
My current favourite mecho item:
Reusable Shopping Bag Stockholm City Mission. Not only are they super cute (I want that harlequin print one!) but they are a fantastic solution to so many issues. More people need to manufacture their goods like this – and we need to support them too. Products like this are the way of the future!
Psst… One time… :
About a year ago a friend and I scammed our way into the KISS concert for free. We rocked out as Gene Simmons spat blood whilst playing his bass guitar solo (it was shaped like an axe – so hilarious!), all while fireballs and fireworks were exploding on either side of the stage. It was truly an old school rock n’ roll show.
After the concert we were driving back from Homebush on Parramatta Road when stopped at the traffic lights, I looked out the window and there in front of my very eyes, face to face, was Paul Stanley lead singer, in full makeup, hair and costume, sitting in the back seat of a Tarago. I proceeded to wind down the window and tell him how much we enjoyed the show even though we scammed in for free. He replied with something along the lines of “that’s awesome” and handed me his half-drunk Gatorade bottle! Such a classic yet surreal 70’s rock star moment!! And on Parramatta Road of all places! To this day the bottle sits on display in my bedroom
The mecho team invites you to continue the conversation below with Sally… Make it fun! Post comments with your own free personal Gravatar
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NOTE: ARCHIVE ONLY from JUNE-09. You may leave a comment but please note Sally is no longer actively responding to any questions post 30 June-09.
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15 comments
15 Comments Add your own
1.
Lulu | June 1st, 2009 at 10:10 am
am pinning to see your exhibition in slurry
2.
Mia | June 1st, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Beautiful work young lady! You seem so diverse going from fashion shoots to the Outback? What made you go there and where are you going next?
3.
Jamez | June 1st, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Where are you waitressing? (Hahah, don’t worry am not a stalker.) Hope you can quit doing that and take photos full-time. Nice work.
4.
Amelia | June 1st, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Lurvee the KISS story! You should become a paparazzi next!!!
5.
sydneyChick | June 1st, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Hey Sal, it’s refreshing to see a photographer get out of their comfort zone from the ‘wanky’ glam fashion photo studios.
you seem to be a nice warm character and your work with the Aboriginal kids really shines! keep up the great work
6.
Sally Griffiths | June 2nd, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Thank you guys so much!!
It’s so nice to read such awesome comments!!
Lulu – I am in a sudden panic about my exhibition as it is only a month away now!! Hopefully it will be ready in time! Watch this space, I will put up more details about it as they come to hand!
Mia – Yes, I know fashion shoots and Aboriginal communities are a world apart but it’s the only way I stay sane!! I do love working on fashion shoots but I don’t know how most people can just do that their whole career – it would seriously do my head in!! I went to Kintore to visit a friend who had been working out there with Aboriginal kids for 2 years. I never expected to take any good photos – let alone have the published and exhibited! It has been a nice surprise to have them so well recieved, especially amongst the fashion community, but I think that proves there is more substance to the industry than is otherwise perceived. What’s next?? I have a few crazy ideas…
Jamez – I was doing photography full-time until a little thing known as the GFC came along and robbed us photographers of all our good paid work!!
Amelia – Paparazzi annoy the crap out of me!! NEVER will I turn to the dark side!!! hahaha
sydneyChick – Thanks for the nice comments!! It things like that that keep me motivated everyday. It’s a hard slog and so easy to want to give it all up but when I do, I just think of all the nice things people have said to me! Thank you!!
7.
Jamez | June 4th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Why really? Well see it like this, you have more time to do more of what you want now oppose to what you had to do when working full-time and build up your portfolio until economy picks up again!
8.
Lee | June 4th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Would like to check it out your exhibit too! Have you had many exhibitions before? Also, do you have to pay to exhibit your stuff or do the gallery pay you? Just curious how it all works, I always wonder how they make money as most people just like me just go there to look but not really buying… or is it just me? (D’oh!) As you said, it is GFC!
I like the how some of the proceeds go to charity though… I might chip in for that!
9.
Alicia | June 9th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Awesome photos! Do you use digital or film?
10.
Sally Griffiths | June 11th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Howdy again guys!
Jamez – Yes working on my own stuff is exactly what I’ve been doing! Shooting personal work is important and almost always pays off in some way!
Lee – My exhibition will be **2ND to 8TH JULY** not 1st to 7th as written in my blog piece. I will try to get this updated. Exhibitions are a lot of hard work and very expensive. I don’t expect to make much money (I wouldn’t be a photographer if I did) but breaking even would be nice! Each gallery is different so it depends but generally I would say you pay the gallery. I am planning to make the works as affordable as possible so hopefully I will get a few sales! The problem with photography is that it doesn’t sell much anyway, well not as much as paintings do. I will have a collection bucket on the opening night and throughout the exhibition for the rehab clinic for those not interested in buying or not able to afford it. Hope to see you there!! Come up and say hi if you do come! Opening night – 2nd July 6-8pm.
Alicia – I use digital mostly as it is cheaper and faster (scanning and spotting negs is such a pain!) but I do prefer film so I sometimes shoot it for personal projects.
11.
mecho team | June 19th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Sally, your exhibition dates have been updated in the post. Hope to see you then!
12.
noah | June 20th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
nice work, whats your current or next project on horizon?
13.
Sally Griffiths | June 28th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Hi Noah,
Sorry for the late reply – it’s crunch time for my exhibition so I’ve been a bit slow getting back to everyone…
I’ve been so focused getting the show together that I kind of haven’t thought about what’s up next! I’m looking forward to having some quiet time after it’s over and getting the chance to clean my very messy house!
As for projects, I’m thinking my next personal project might be a year or so off, I have a few random ideas but not sure which one will come together at this stage. Stay tuned to mecho as I’ll be sure to post news of the next project when it’s underway.
Also I’m thinking of going back to visit Kintore and help out there for a few weeks at the end of the year because I miss it so much!
Hope to see u at the exhibition! Come up and say hi if you do come as I’ll be there all week!
Sal
14.
mecho team | June 30th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Thanks for the blog love Sally and sharing your beautiful work! x
15.
Elise | August 4th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Hi Sally,
Just wondering if you studied, what course did you do and where did you do it? Also for your fashion work do you have an agent? was the exhibition successful? hope so!
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