Interview with: Claire Wakeford

Claire Wakeford

We chat to Melbourne based photographer, Claire Wakeford about her beautiful imagery & where she finds creative inspiration.

Tell us a little about yourself and what path lead you to become a photographer.

I got my first serious camera when I was sixteen, that same year my sister had just passed her drivers test. We would go on long drives, stop on highways to jump fences and I would bring along my camera, so naturally these trips turned into photo days. It just kind of happened & I’ve been doing it ever since.

How would you describe your photographic style?

A mix of nudes, nature, colour and movement.

Where do you find creative inspiration?

It’s hard to say but words and phrases have become a trigger for me. like; wrinkle. wax sculptures. braids. a thousand different ways to cut an orange, sit in a chair, put on a jacket. Moles – a series. seeds and pits. Sticky. Depending on where I’m at, it can come from anywhere.

Can you give us a little insight into your creative process? What cameras do you use?

The majority of my work has been shot with close friends and loved ones, so these shared experiences are what drive and shift my approach when I’m shooting with them. I rarely have photos planned out before taking them, I mostly just look at my surroundings and search for light. So, I’m primarily just letting my intuition take over. My go-to film cameras are my Fuji GA645 (medium format) and my Canon EOS 500 (35mm).

Are you working on any new projects at the moment?

I’m working on putting together a performance piece on unhealthy rituals, a devotions series based on a past self, and a few collaborations with ethical brands. What do you do when you’re not taking photos? I’m usually either waiting tables to pay rent, planning new shoots or spending time with nice pals. Lately I’ve also been trying to draw and write more.

If you could collaborate with anyone who would it be? And why?

Ohh probably Molly Steele or Ben Giles. Molly is a daring activist photographer who also jumps trains in her spare time. Ben makes these wild collage pieces which are vibrate and inventive. I’ve been dreaming of making mixed media photographs for the longest time. It would be a dream to work with either of them.

Are there any budding artists, photographers or designers that you are loving right now?

I’m lucky to have so many beautiful and creative friends that I get to crush on. Jessica Penny (writer), Brooke Jayne (photographer) and slowsmog (music).

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Trust your intuition and make the art that you want to see in the world.

Do you have any tips for other aspiring photographers like yourself?

Take risks, shoot a lot and often, don’t let yourself fall into deep funks of self doubt. Everyone, even the photographers you admire have the odd bad shoot/s. Get into the habit of taking mental photographs of the things you see in your everyday life. You don’t need to be behind a camera to learn how to see things differently.

You can see more of Claire’s work at clairewakeford.com and @c_claire_e