Bri Hammond may be fairly new to Melbourne, but she’s making herself at home quite quickly – not only in her own little abode, but also in the cosy dwellings of other local creatives. Her project Sharehomes has just launched online, so we thought it the perfect opportunity to get in touch and find out a bit more about Bri and her craft.



What is your name and how old are you? My name is Bri Hammond and I am 26 years old.

Where were you born and where do you live now? I grew up in Tumby Bay, South Australia but now I live in Melbourne, after stints in Adelaide and Northern Italy.

How does where you live affect your photography? As someone who recently changed cities I definitely think that seeing a place with fresh eyes is inspiring. Melbourne has a great creative community and I find everyone here to be really supportive and encouraging of each other’s projects.



When did you first know you wanted to be a photographer? I started out as a graphic designer and I always had an interest in photography, but I didn’t know how much I loved photography until I was working in Italy, travelling with my camera and surrounded by some really talented creatives at work. There was a point when I realised that I was including photos in every design that I made and I was getting better at the shooting and art direction than the actual designing.

What kind of subjects interest you the most? I can’t seem to put my camera down while travelling, but when I’m home I’m more interested in people and how they live.

What kinds of ideas are you working on at the moment? I’ve just launched a new project called Sharehomes, about unique share houses around Melbourne and the people that occupy them. I also love taking photos for Extraordinary Routines, where my photos of creatives in their spaces are accompanied by Madeleine Dore’s in-depth interviews about their daily routines.



When it comes to taking photos, do you have more of a controlled/set-up or spontaneous style? Honesty is very important in my photos, I try to shoot in a documentary style as much as possible. I think it’s more interesting to see dishes drying on the sink or toys on the floor than seeing a perfectly spotless home. My favourite photos are the ones that were shot candidly, with a movement or moment that I couldn’t have anticipated. I love shoots where I go in not knowing what I’m going to get, and just observing until I find a photo. To a degree I set up some photos, but in a way that gives opportunity to the spontaneous moments that I then capture.

If you were to teach a photography appreciation class, what kind of lessons would you try to teach your students? I would like to teach them about the science of light – how light bends, how it comes in different wavelengths, how it acts on different surfaces and at different sizes and distances. But that’s just the photo nerd in me. I think it’s most important to learn how to look at everything. To be curious and capture what you see, in the unique way that only you see it.



What advice can you offer on finding your personal style or aesthetic? I only very recently discovered my own personal style after cheaply printing a huge number of my photos and laying them all out on the ground. I saw that there actually was a consistency with a lot of them. It was then a matter of taking out the photos that didn’t fit, and BAM there was my style! It’s more about seeing your own work from a distance rather than looking at other photographers you like and copying them.

What are some of the challenges that you are facing in modern times as a photographer? The internet is a great tool for getting work out, but it’s also a massive distraction. I can get really obsessed with having to update my website, share to social media or trying to get work published. I feel like I’m always behind in this area and it can cloud my focus to actually just keep creating good work.



Which other photographers do you love? I love photos that make me giggle, like the ones by street/documentary photographers Joel Meyerowitz, Jesse Marlow and Matt Stuart. Andrew B. Meyers has an amazing humour in his photos too, with a graphic and colourful style. Tim Barber’s personal work is incredible. Trent Parke. Sean Fennessy. I could go on forever.

What do you enjoy doing when not taking photos? Bey Dance: dance classes where we learn the actual moves from each Beyonce film clip. Walking around and exploring new neighbourhoods. Consuming movies, wine and cheese with my ladies.

Where can we see more of your work? On my website and instagram @brihammond.