Bonn Creative - Givemas Day Twelve

Bonnie Jarrett is a 22 year old “thinker, dreamer, problem solver, full time photo taker & part time creative-anarchist.” Making waves in the Melbourne photography scene, KOS recently sat down with her to chat about what it’s like to be an emerging creative in 2021.

Bonnie Jarrett

Hey Bonn! It’s so nice to chat to you and to see your online portfolio growing once  again. How did you feel when you were able to get back on a shoot when restrictions  were lifted? 

Hey Natalie! Thanks so much for having me, I was absolutely ecstatic to be back shooting.  Over the last two years of on/off lockdowns, a lot of concepts continued to be pushed back.  Being able to have them finally come to fruition has been not only super rewarding for me but  for all the awesome people I get to work with.  

Did you find that being in lockdown helped foster your creativity and discover new  ways to make content? Or was it more difficult to bring to life the ideas you wanted to  try? 

Lockdown definitely pushed me to be creative in new ways, from remote shooting through  FaceTime, to dressing my housemates in all kinds of ways. I experimented with self portraiture  and sought different ways to create images. At times it was discouraging to create due to the  limitations of being inside but it also functioned as a time to dig deeper into the beautiful  history of photography and seek out alternative inspiration.

You’ve posted online that you recently finished your uni degree and spent the later half  of this year working on your final uni assignment. What have been some of your  favourite projects you’ve created through your degree?  

Completing my studies at RMIT has been a super rewarding experience. I had the opportunity  earlier in the year to create my first photo book Get Home Safe, which documents the realistic  experiences of night life. Combining imagery with thought provoking poetry that makes  commentary on the experience of navigating night life in a feminine body.  

The largest of my works created during my time there is also one most important to me. In  Conversation With My Mother, is a series of self-portraits that are my attempt for catharsis and  connection in which I reflect and pay homage to my late mother. 

Through these images, I  confront my loss while creating a dialogue around nostalgia, the fear of fading memories and  the threads we cling to when we lose someone. This body of work is one that I have not yet shared but aim to exhibit early next year. 

In one sentence, how would you describe your current photography style? 

A window to how I see the world. 

Much of your work focuses on fashion photography and portraits, what is it about  these two styles that draw your interest? 

I find that photographing people has so much to offer: on one hand it can be a true  interpretation of them in their style and uniqueness, and on another you have the opportunity  to create a character or a story that just exists in the frame. For me, photographing people and  fashion is an opportunity to make something beautiful. 

Outside of photography, you’ve also created shorts like Prom Night, Sweet Goodbyes,  and music videos for the likes of Ivoris, Raria and Earnest Jackson. Is this a medium  you’re hoping to experiment more with? 

I’ve always loved working with video and often try to find ways to explore it further. Making  shorts and music videos has become an extension of my craft and something I hope to  continue to learn and grow with.

As a teenager, you first made a start in event photography for parties, clubs and  weddings. What has the live aspect of event photography done to help you in how you  approach a shoot now? 

Starting my journey into photography with events allowed me to become comfortable in  almost any situation. Being around new people, or travelling to new places, became  something that I loved just as much as capturing those moments.  

How would you say that your photographic voice has developed over the last five  years? 

I think artistic voice and style is constantly evolving for all artists. It changes with experience  and influences. Figuring out what I wanted to shoot gives me better artistic direction, which is  something I wouldn’t have without the relevant experiences in my teen years. This has allowed  me to bring my online brand and personality together more closely, because I know more  clearly what type of imagery I want to create. 

Who would you say are your biggest photography influences and what is it about their  work that speaks to you or inspires you so strongly? 

Sam Dameshek, Brooke DiDonato, Duane Michals & Amber Asaly are some of the many  incredible photographers that inspire me. Their work is captivating and embedded with such  brilliant storytelling. 

What advice, technical/practical or personal, would you like to give to other  photographers out there that you wish you knew when you first began? 

My main advice is shoot as much as possible. It’s something I stuck to early on in my journey as  a photographer and not only pushed my skill set but also grew my connections in Melbourne's  creative scene. 

If it means rounding up your friends on weekends, hitting up people on  instagram or calling that venue you really want to work at, find what you want to shoot and do  it as much as you can.  

You can check out Bonnie’s work at bonncreative.com and follow her on instagram at @bonncreative.

WORDS: NATALIE WILLIAMS
PHOTOGRAPHY: BONNIE JARRETT