Chapter One Upcoming Exhibition Champions Young Women In Photography

Nurturing the careers of young women in photography, Sam I Am’s mentorship program, Chapter One, is excited to present the work of its eight protégé photographers at a special exhibition held at Pix On Location in Alexandria at 6pm on Thursday, December 12th 2019.

Featuring the visual stories of Chapter One mentorship participants, the photography on show is the culmination of three month’s worth of work that saw each successful applicant paired with a Sam I Am photographer. Helping them to cultivate their story, the program included guiding the photographers through concept development and refinement, pre-production, shooting their vision, then working with their mentor to edit each story or series.

Exhibiting photographers are Alice Ballhausen, Amy Kennett, Claire Armstrong, Hyun Lee, Karen Trang, Lilli Waters, Lucy Deverall and Susie George. The mentors they worked alongside include pro photographers Billy Plummer, Craig Wall, David Cohen de Lara, James Marcus Haney, Paul Barbera, Tobias Rowles and Benito Martin. Creative industry mentors were Josephine Burns, Matt Ennis, Lucy McGinley, Scott McClelland, Matt Smith, Alex Toohey, Simon Dall, Jon Kelly and Paul Bruce.

Sam I Am founder, Samantha Simpson, says: “We are extremely excited to present to the creative industry the stories of these phenomenally talented young female photographers, who have worked very hard alongside their dedicated mentors.

“Let’s face it, females are vastly under-represented in pro photography. Statistically speaking, 80 per cent of photography students globally are female, whereas 85 per cent of professional photographers are male. Only one in nine photography award winners are women, and just 15 per cent of professional photographers are female.

“Data from major photography publications and awards shows (PDN, Clios and Lürzer’s Archive) also recorded that globally, male photographers made up between 89 per cent and 96 per cent of all work in the advertising categories between 2013 and 2017.

“To help re-address this gender balance within the next generation of photographers, it’s time to rewrite this story. For our group of young female photographers, let’s hope it will be a new beginning to their stories. A start I believe they both need and deserve.”


A special thanks goes out to Chapter One exhibition sponsors: Pix On Location, Special, Alex Reznick, Glue Society, Cream Electric Art, Killanoodle, Four Pillars, Yulli’s Brews, Batlow Cider Co, Catfish Media, Sydney Brewery, The Bogey Hole Café, Lisa McGuigan Wines and P4. Design.

Event Details:

What: Chapter One Exhibition

Where: Pix on Location, 6B Hiles St, Alexandria

When: 6pm on 12th December 2019

RVSP to: chapterone@samiam.com.au