6 questions with Jessica Kirby, photographer

Jessica Kirby is a Melbourne-based fine art and fashion photographer that only recently moved here from Brisbane. Her captivating work, which is mostly shot outdoors, explores fear, romance and feminism. You can follow Jessica here, here and here.



1.When did you realise you wanted to pursue photography? 

When it became more about creating art for the purpose of making people see something in a different light. It occurred to me that I am able to materialise my dreams in a platform that I can control artistically - from there I can effect people, tell them a story, inform them on a subject, all of which I find powerful.

2. Which mistakes did you make in the beginning and what did you take away from them? 

All of the retouching mistakes. All of them. I look back on my first images and cringe! It does continue to remind me how far I have come and that is comforting for the future.



One mistake that I am still working on is giving too much of my work away for free, I’m in that stage where it is hard to say no when it sounds promising of social media exposure or publishing. I keep getting stuck into traps where the people I am collaborating with start treating me as if i’m working for them and I only ever say something when it is too late. I’m working on it.

3.  If there was one piece of advice you could give to your younger self, what would it be?

To create from pain rather than imploding.

4. Name 3 items on your 'bucket list'

To move to New York
To live in the mountains
To live purely from my photography

5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I'll either still working my ass off in a tiny apartment in New York City or settled down in a home office where I can print from home and live in the mountains -hopefully in New Zealand. 

6.Which advice do you wish you had gotten?

That the hardest experiences make for brilliant stories.