Image by Damien Bowerman.
This interview is one close to my heart – I’m a bit biased in my love for Mandarine Montgomery as not only is she a close friend, but the two pictures she took of my partner and I won her gold and silver distinction respectively at the Australian Professional Photography Awards (APPAs) last year. I’m not even sad that I came silver behind my partner’s gold, as I am so over the moon for her success.With so many artists flooding the market, Mandarine stands out due to her unique superimposed surrealist images. When she is shooting you, it’s hard to picture how the end result is going to be, but then it turns out to be this amazingly polished and intricately detailed piece of art.
The biggest part of her charm is her personality –she had so much to say and one would find it hard to believe that this sometimes relatively dark work comes from someone so bubbly, however as you get to know her it makes perfect sense – you can’t take that smile for face value because underneath is a beautiful deep soul led by imagination, fun and a twisted sense of humour.
Mandarine shares with us the major haul of awards she achieved at last year’s photography awards, her favourite career highlights and how she is still striving to achieve her own personal goals. “Aim big and never give up” is her mantra, and one by one she is ticking them off.
[images src=”https://www.theunimpossibles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Mardarine-Montgomary-award-winning-APPA-shots.jpg” title=”Mandarine Montgomery award winning APPA shots proudly hung in my gallery” caption=”Mandarine Montgomery APPA award winning prints proudly hung in my gallery” url=””]Name: Mandarine Montgomery
Age: 40ish
Occupation: Photographer & visual artist
What did you study and what was your original career path?
I did a degree in photography at RMIT and from when I was in my early teens, that’s what I wanted to be- a photographer.
Give us a brief background of your career to date:
[left]After I finished at RMIT, I did what many did back in the day which was go and assist some photographers on commercial shoots, fashion shoots-whatever they were doing. After assisting I did some of my own stuff. I worked for art directors and did travel photography, interior shoots, hotels and that sort of thing. Then I went overseas and had a solo exhibition in New Orleans. When I came back to home, I started working for portrait studios and currently work for one in inner Melbourne. I do a bit of everything there-shoot, sell, retouch, styling consultations prior to the shoot and any follow up after the shoot. Multi tasking keeps it interesting. Other than that, I have been a member of the AIPP, which is the Australian Institute of Professional Photography for about 8 years, and that keeps me motivated in[/left]
[right]my own art photography, and it has propelled my personal work to a new level. Being compared alongside your peers is the best motivation you can have. So I have entered those awards and have done reasonably well. Last year, thanks to you guys, I won the AIPP Portrait Australian Photographer of the year, which was wonderful. I also came first place in the International Loupe Awards last year in the portrait category, which was fantastic. Just recently I had a couple of my images auctioned off for a charity which raised $16,000 for Make a Wish Foundation which I am so excited about,. It had to be produced from start to finish in around 24 hours during a national professional photography conference called “The Event”– which is a very short time frame for me.[/right]
[images src=”https://www.theunimpossibles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Mandarine-Montgomery-Jason-APPA.jpg” title=”Mandarine Montgomery – Gold Award, APPA, 2013 & Silver Distinction, WPPI, 2013″ caption=”Mandarine Montgomery – Gold Award, APPA, 2013 & Silver Distinction, WPPI, 2013″ url=””]
The APPAs and the International Loupe Awards are an incredible achievement, how does it feel to have won the portrait categories in both?
APPA is the Australian Professional Photography Awards. It’s a set of yearly awards for professional photographers around Australia and it is the benchmark for the industry. The competition is harsh and to win a category is really difficult. It’s definitely the highest achievement I feel I have had. Internationally I have also entered the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) and I got 4/4 awards for that, including a gold award, which was very nice.
What doors has winning these awards opened for you?
I feel like it’s a slow progression, and I’m ok with that. I’m trying to work on expanding my art folio. I have had some interest from some galleries and I have sold some pieces to collectors overseas, which is very nice. I always try to set myself goals and time frames,quiet goals to achieve. Fingers crossed I get there in the end.
[line][pullquote width=”300″ float=”left”]I always try to set myself goals and time frames, quiet goals to achieve. Fingers crossed I get there in the end.[/pullquote]
[line]
[images src=”https://www.theunimpossibles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Mandarine-Montgomery-APPA-Catalina-Miguel1.jpg” title=”Mandarine Montgomery, Silver Distinction, WPPI & APPA, 2013″ caption=”Mandarine Montgomery, Silver Distinction, WPPI & APPA, 2013″ url=””]In your APPA acceptance speech you mentioned you were always the bridesmaid never the bride, what do you think was different this time?
Well I made the joke because I have actually been runner up two years in a row to Sue Bryce,(prior to winning last year) who is a real icon in the industry.
You traveled to Los Vegas recently, how did it feel to be on the other side of the world because of your photography?
[left]America’s always fun – it was actually my third trip to America and I absolutely love America for many reasons. They embrace art there. You go into a house and its full of art and photography. Photography is a relevant thing over there-it feels sometimes like they appreciate it more than here. I really like their positive attitude[/left]
[right]and their love for art. So I went over there for WPPI, and also a photography review festival in Texas. I got to meet a lot of other art photographers, curators, magazine editors and book editors who I have maintained friendships with which is lovely.[/right]
[images src=”https://www.theunimpossibles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Mandarine-Montgomery-Penny-WPPI.jpg” title=”Mandarine Montgomery APPA & WPPI Gold Award Winning Print, 2013″ caption=”Mandarine Montgomery, Gold Award Winning Print, APPA & WPPI 2013″ url=””]What’s a folio review?
A folio review is where, in my case, I had 14 prints that I took with me and you get a 20-minute appointment with each of the 16 reviewers. They ring the bell, the doors open, and everyone charges in. There was around 30 reviewers and you sit with them one on one. They give you unbiased feedback on your images and what direction you could take. I found that extremely useful and just a lot of fun.
A folio review sounds like speed dating for photographers – was there any tough criticism, or how will the feedback shape your work?
I found the feedback really helpful. I needed to work out technical things like edition numbers and print size. Some suggested I print large- REALLY large! They also suggested using all the same paper, just to have it all in a cohesive body of work.I have two papers I print on – one’s a matt art paper and the other has a luster finish.I print the image on whichever paper works better visually.
What are some of the most exciting photo shoots you’ve done?
All my APPA shots last year were very enjoyable. The one I did recently of Dan O’Day was probably the most stressful shoot I have ever done due to the time pressure and the amount of work I wanted to put into it, but the end result was by far the most exciting I’ve ever had. To know that someone spent that much on an image of mine, and the proceeds go to charity, is amazing. Another very exciting shoot was photographing my favourite band in the world, Duran Duran, during their 2012 Australian tour. I got all access; back and front of stage, and even on stage – it was great. Their 2013 official calendar featured a lot of my images.
[left]Every year we do a different charity and this year it was Make a Wish. Altogether between myself and the other 13 photographers we raised about $59,000 which was great. My image raised $16,000. There were two bidders but it was an edition of 1 and it when it got up to $8,000, they said they would pay $8,000 each (becoming an edition of two) which was fantastic. The challenge for that image was to produce a completed image during the time I was at the event, which was a couple of days. The brief was that it had to be of a photographer at the event, by a photographer at the event, paying tribute to[/left] [right]another Australian photographer. I paid tribute to two amazing photographers based in Cairns by the names of Charmaine Heyer and Peter Rossi. I photographed an amazing photographer, Dan O’Day, for it. The first year they did it, they sold 1 print and it raised $3000. Last year they sold 2 prints at $3,500 each, which was $7000 and then they sold two of mine for a total of $16,000, so hopefully next year it will go for even more! Dan will be doing the next one. So he has a year to think about how to get it over $16,000 and I know he will, because he is an amazing photographer.[/right]
What are some of the unexpected outcomes of being a photographer?
The people you get to meet. With photography you can have an idea for a photograph, and in your quest to put the idea on paper, you meet fascinating people, and find interesting locations, and so you experience life in a slightly different way to other people. You can have some amazing experiences.
Seems to me a lot of your work happens spontaneously:
[left]It can be intuitive or spontaneous, like the idea for photographing you guys- it just came to me that I wanted to photograph you. With many of my subjects, it is through a conversation. For example a friend was telling me about[/left]
[right]getting married, having kids and the way the relationship goes off in another direction after you’ve had kids. I was inspired to make her story come to life. And then I just built on it. It’s always in the back of my mind.[/right]
[line][pullquote width=”600″ float=”left”]It can be intuitive, or spontantaneous…[/pullquote]
[line]
[images src=”https://www.theunimpossibles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Mandarine-Montgomery-Scott-WPPI.jpg” title=”Mandarine Montgomery, Portrait Category Winner, International Loupe Awards, Gold Award Winner, APPA, 2013& Silver Award Winner, WPPI, 2013″ caption=”Mandarine Montgomery, Portrait Category Winner, International Loupe Awards, Gold Award Winner, APPA, 2013& Silver Award Winner, WPPI, 2013″ url=””]
Give us an outline of your creative process from start to finish:
[left] Basically I get the idea and draw it up. Then I work out what I need to shoot-types of backgrounds, lighting design, props that fit the story and so on. I go and collect everything and shoot what I need to. Then I shoot the subject . The photography of the subject is a tiny part compared to everything else and the post-production. After the shoot, I edit through all the images to work out my favourite images that are potentials to use for the shot, and that takes quite a while – it did with you guys because there were so many shots. I work out what[/left]
[right]expression I want to use because that’simportant- what will tell the story the best. Then I get all the images together and commence post-production which I really enjoy. The final stage is printing the image. I go through lots of paper to get it exactly right and I look at it under the right sort of light as well. At awards judging, they have specific lighting conditions so I always try to emulate that to see if my image is too dark or too light. Lastly, I mount it and then its ready to go.[/right]
Have you ever worked on something and at the end of the process thought, “I hate it, I need to start again?”
I did last year. For last year’s awards for the APPA, I had 5 images that I was working on and one of subjects unfortunately, just didn’t work out the way I wanted her to. I persevered but in the end went with the four other stronger ones.
And how do you let go of that when you have put in so much time?
[left]It’s hard, but you have to. You don’t have a choice. And if you have a deadline you just have to let it go and move on with something else. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve managed to collect a few little sayings that have really helped me “There’s always a plan B” and “there’s more than one way to skin a goose”. When I was younger, if something didn’t turn out exactly how I envisaged it, I would have a meltdown, but as I’ve grown older I think I am much better now at problem solving. If something doesn’t work[/left]
[right]out the way I first envisaged, I work out a solution so I can still get to a point where I’m satisfied. It may be slightly different-it might take me in another direction, but that is what is so wonderful about the creative process. I think it’s a really good way to be, because let’s face it; things often don’t turn out the way you think they will, in anything in life. “Never give up” is my third mantra. It’s amazing what you can achieve when you keep at it.[/right]
[line][pullquote width=”300″ float=”left”]Never give up…It’s amazing what you can achieve when you keep at it.[/pullquote]
[line]
[images src=”https://www.theunimpossibles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Mandarine-Montgomery-Duran-Duran-5.jpg” title=”Mandarine Montgomery, Duran Duran” caption=”Mandarine Montgomery, Duran Duran” url=””]
It seems to me that you have hit your stride now that you’re a bit older, how do you feel about all of these young people who want it all, who think they can finish university with a BA, they want it now and they think success all needs to be attained at a young age?
[left]That’s actually a really interesting question. Experience and maturity is a wonderful thing to have because you can realize that some people just don’t have what it takes to be super successful straight away. The ones that do and who want it, that’s fantastic! If you’re enthusiastic, go for it, because competition is not a bad thing. Some of the most creative photographers around are those who are[/left]
[right]at uni, or have just started their photography journey because they see things with a fresh view. I was the same when I was at uni – we saw things in a different way. When you get older, its more like “I’ve seen that before”. If there is more competition, the bar is getting raised and that’s good because it raises everybody’s standards. It keeps EVERYONE on their toes.[/right]
[line][pullquote width=”600″ float=”left”]If you’re enthusiastic, go for it, because competition is not a bad thing.[/pullquote]
[line]
So you have become much better as you’ve aged, would you agree?
I would like to think so! I feel like I’m less insecure than when I was younger, about many things. I think that’s something that happens to most people. As you get older, you get more comfortable in your skin, because you’ve had more life experience. Some people develop this faster than others, but in some ways it’s a life long work in progress.
How has your style evolved since you were younger?
[left]When I was 21, I was still shooting film. I have always tried to be a little different in the way I produce things. For example, at uni I used to split tone black and white prints with sepia and blue tone and created some very colourful pieces. I also used to shoot a lot of industrial landscapes. There is a very famous photographer Jerry Uelsmann, who is a surrealist photographer, but instead of[/left]
[right]doing any Photoshop, he is old school. He would have 12 enlargers set up and he will dodge and burn or ‘composite’ images together in a surrealist aesthetic – all in enlargers. I used to try and do that as well back when I was at uni and now I have got Photoshop to do that which has allowed my images to become a lot more complex.[/right]
[images src=”https://www.theunimpossibles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Mandarine-Montgomery-Chris.jpg” title=”Mandarine Montgomery, Silver Distinction, APPA 2010″ caption=”Mandarine Montgomery, Silver Distinction, APPA 2010″ url=””]
How do you keep learning?
[left]Going to photography events where you can listen to professionals talk about how they do things and the latest technology is a really good way to keep you inspired and to learn new tips and tricks. Everyone does things differently and there is always, especially with Photoshop, 20 ways to do the same thing. When you’re[/left]
[right] going to these things you’re only taking 10% of what your hear, but even if its 5% it might help you learn something that will save you time or propel you into a new direction. I also learn from life experience. You learn from travelling, people you meet, just hearing their stories-life’s just learning.[/right]
[line][pullquote width=”300″ float=”right”]learn how to charge… otherwise you’re doing yourself and the industry a disservice.[/pullquote]
[line]
What would you say to someone starting out in the photography business?
[left]I would say, that first of all and foremost, you need to educate yourself, don’t just think you can get the latest DSLR camera and suddenly you will be a photographer. There is so much more to it than that. Go to classes, find an assisting job, study famous images and work out what makes them special. It’s so important to have that background behind you at the very least. You need to learn how to charge, the worst thing for the industry is not charging enough. If you make a list of all the expenses you have when you are doing a particular job and you’re not charging enough to cover those, you’re going backwards and you are doing not only[/left]
[right]yourself a disservice, but the industry as well. You’re going to struggle to survive too. That’s happening a fair bit now. The other thing I would say is there is a lot of competition around, so you need to be very dedicated, as it’s not always the easiest industry to be in. It’s not all parties and rock star lifestyles. The photography part of it is just a small part of it; there is so much other stuff you need to do. The marketing, the paperwork, the pre and post-production and some of those things can be quite draining and boring, but you have to be able to do them or know how to outsource them.[/right]
What would you say to your 21-year-old self?
I wish I had more confidence and drive back then. I think I would of also travelled much younger. I would have done some more exciting stuff at that age. Maybe try not to be so career focused straight out of uni, but go have a gap year and see the world. I didn’t travel abroad until I was 25 when I went to America.
I would invite a mixture of artists, musicians, scientists and photographers – among them, people like Maggie Taylor, a photographer some people compare my work to. ParkeHarrison, a husband and wife team who do beautiful monochrome sepia imagery would be there too. Also Jennifer Thoreson who is an incredible talent, and beautiful soul. It would be a great dinner party.
What’s next for Mandarine Montgomery?
APPAs are coming up again this year which I have to prepare for and I would love to go back to WPPI and maybe do another folio review. The world is an interesting place and it has opportunities if you put in the hard work, and you’re open to it. So we will see what happens, hopefully more adventures!
[line]
For more information on the AIPP visit aipp.com.au
To be inspired by some incredible photography, join the livestream of the upcoming Australian Professional Photography Awards, running from 12th-14th September.
For more information about Mandarine Montgomery, visit her website mandarinemontgomery.com.
