Meet Sophie Grace White - a 24 year old photographer from the Lake Distract in England, but currently residing in Maplewood, New Jersey. She's been a photographer for ten years, shooting busy city streets, portraits of people, live music, and more.
Scroll on to see some of her work and read the interview all about her.
1) What do you shoot with?
I typically shoot with a Nikon D800 digital camera for work and a bunch of roughed up and ready film cameras for my personal works! You tend to need a strong digital camera for paid gigs but, for me, it's important to shoot my personal life and more intimate projects. I like to use film cameras because the whole process is slower and, in ways, more romantic.
2) What or who got you into photography? Did you study it by yourself or were you taught?
I've always been interested in emulating the naked eye. As a kid, I'd draw and trace and became obsessed with how the TV & the photographic process worked. My grandad was a motorcycle racer back in the 1960's and always had a camera on his hip during his travels across the globe and later in his life. When he died his film camera was left to me which really made me take the art seriously.
Since then, I've studied photography, in England, for several years, gaining 3 qualifications and a degree from Manchester School of Art in the medium.
3) What do you prefer to shoot?
It really depends on what I'm working on. Live music can demand digital - sometimes you have to upload right then and there from the gig, depending on the client's needs so digital works most effectively. I love shooting with broken cameras or worn out film. Having that lack of control over the outcome is so refreshing and can really teach you a lot. Sometimes my best ideas come from my mistakes.
But really, what's important for any photographer is to shoot with what you've got. I hate that money causes a photographic hierarchy and I've battled that mentality my whole career. I've worked on $1 thrift store cameras and huuuge-worth-more-money-than-your-life Hasselblad cameras.. it's all the same to me. I still only own one digital camera and one single 50mm portrait lens. It goes with me to every gig and festival and it always gets laughed at by some prick with a telephoto lens... I always get my images though!
You don't need the fanciest camera you just gotta practice with what ya got, have faith and get at it.
4) Who are your favorite musical artists (and your favorite photographers)?
For a good time call - The Rolling Stones, DeeOhGee, Blossoms, David Bowie, The Minks, Elton John, Sports Team, Brittany Howard, Michael Kiwanuka, Howlin' Wolf, The Kinks or Muddy Waters.. Dusty Springfield reminds me of my Mum. So she's way up there too.
I've always been interested in both photographers and artists across the board. Yayoi Kusama, Salvador Dali, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Norman Parkinson, Bill Cunningham, John Baldessari, Annie Leibovitz, Tim Walker, Gordon Parks all spring to mind. I probably think about those lot daily
5) Where does your inspiration come from?
I have my best ideas when I'm out running, which is unfortunate because I hate running. It does clear my head, however, and focus me in a way that drugs and alcohol never could which is why I had to give them up (sorry for all of you who had harmful romanticized addictions on your suffering artist bingo cards).
I like to read, listen to music, draw and talk it out with friends. Some of my best ideas have come from those insane ramblings you have at 2am on the phone to your slightly dehydrated and over-caffeinated friends putting the world to rights and some dark humorous wrongs. I'm really grateful I have those people to call upon and that they eventually do pick up!
6) What's the hardest part about your profession and the easiest part of it?
Hardest part? Getting paid gigs and getting harassed for being a woman doing her job at said gigs. It's hard. You gotta learn to stand your ground and when it's best to walk away. I'd rather work with great people for free and than be surrounded by assholes loaded with dirty money. But as I said, you do what you can..
7) Do you have any tips for someone wanting to get into concert photography (or photography in general)?
Shoot your friends first. Just portraits. Get to know the human body and how it looks in movement. Take your camera and images, when its safe again, to your local venue - ask if you can shoot for free and for practice. Practice like hell. Gig lighting is a bitch and even now I'm still learning on the fly. Always be on your best behavior - you don't know who could be watching you or who could be your next big break. Don't fuck it up by being too wasted to take the shot. Be nice! It's free to be kind and it can lead to some great friendships, career opportunities, and insane stories.
8) What do you like to do for fun?
I used to go to art galleries and gigs! Nowadays, I like to practice my macramé art. I have an online store called @hotcakehaus! I make guitar straps, bags, wall hangings.. it's a new skill that's completely separate and just calms me down completely! I also play saxophone and journal.
9) Where would you like your photography to take you and where have you gone so far?
My photography has allowed me to work across the UK, Nepal, Poland, Germany, and across the USA. Next? I'd like to settle somewhere eventually and build a studio and grow vegetable patch.. I'll probably stay on the road though, it's in my bones to hightail it outta town now!
10) How has quarantine affected your photography?
I've had to completely change my focus. I'd love to get back to live music but I'm not holding my breath. I'll be there when she returns but for now, I'm focused on self-publishing new work, working with magazines, and trying to find avenues that are still viable and interesting creatively. My pandemic project 'Deep Down Happy' will be released via CONSTRUCT zine later this month so keep an eye out for that on my instagram - @sophieinthestudio!
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