Thalia-Star Graham Dann | Australia
Thalia-Star Graham Dann is a creative based on the Gold Coast, Australia. After dedicating nearly a decade to the funeral industry, she left to fully embrace a life filled with art, creativity, and the philosophy that “every day above ground is a special occasion”.
How did you first get into photography?
My parents were both ‘professional creatives’ and photography has literally been a part of my life since the day I was born—my father has documented our entire lives. I guess I continued that tradition since the day I got my first “flip camera phone” in seventh grade and did mini photoshoots of my friends for our Myspace pages. Eventually I got a secondhand DSLR in my first year of high school and have been passionately photographing ever since.
What subjects or themes do you most enjoy photographing and why?
My favourite themes would be all things grimy, gritty, grungy, gross even. Redlight district street photography, trash, graffiti, abandoned locations. Alternative, goth, unusual looking people. However, lately going for mental health walks and taking photos of wild birds on a sunny day has sparked more joy than I had ever anticipated, so I wouldn’t pigeon-hole (mind the pun) my enjoyment there.
Please tell us about a memorable project or photo series you’ve worked on.
Within the span of six months I photographed La Dispute, Joji & Post Malone. These would be the most memorable career turning moments that come to mind.
I realised I can achieve whatever I want by just being delulu. Someone is going to photograph these guys, why can’t it be me?
What advice would you give beginner photographers, especially those who are having trouble with confidence or imposter syndrome?
This is THE most important question. I’ve spent a lot of time mourning the years I didn’t fully commit to my art, wondering where I’d be now if I had embraced my passion from the start. I didn’t feel like I had the right to take it seriously or be proud of my work. It wasn’t until my late 20s that I finally allowed myself to embrace it with confidence.
The best advice I can give to any beginner is just to fucking start, now. Be proud of your work, even when it feels like you’re not where you want to be. No one is critiquing you as harshly as you are yourself. My biggest regret is holding back out of fear, fear of judgment, fear of not measuring up to others who seemed "better" than me. But in the end, none of that actually matters. The only thing that counts is that you’re doing it. Don’t hesitate. Just do the thing. You won’t regret starting, but you will regret waiting!
What types of things do you do to stay creative?
I wouldn’t dare live a boring, mundane lifestyle, therefore I’m constantly inspired by my surroundings. From the moment I wake up in the morning in my mid-century-modern decorated apartment, to walking to work passing abandoned trap houses in a counter-cultural town, to my day job in a tattoo studio surrounded by talented artists and quirky clients. If anything, I think my life would be more relaxing if I wasn’t constantly bam-bam-bam full of ideas and inspiration by everyone and everything I see around me.
How important is community and networking in your photography career?
I think that if I had felt a sense of community with other photographers in my youth, I would have felt more supported and confident in pursuing my passion earlier on. Back then, my friends were often reluctant to be photographed (always apologetic and thankful for the moments I captured we could never get back) I guess they didn’t quite understand my drive.
It wasn’t until fairly recently that I began networking with local photographers and finally felt a sense of belonging and validation. Being welcomed and recognized by people whose work I admire has given me a newfound sense of achievement, it’s made me realise just how crucial community is in this creative journey.
What are your dreams or aspirations for the next five years with your photography?
This answer may seem like it’s coming out from nowhere, and although I have dreams and aspirations that are more ‘career’ driven photography, my honest answer is that I desperately want to travel to Mount Kosciuszko and capture as much as I can of the remaining wild brumbies before they’re culled. I’ve had dreams of trail riding in the Snowy Mountains with wild horses and taking beautiful photos of them for years and would love for that to become a reality.
What has your experience been as a female photographer in a traditionally male-dominated field?
For me, photography isn’t about the gear or following rigid rules, it’s about the joy, the process, and creating something that makes you feel something. I find a lot of males within the industry always want to talk tech and specs, and I’m like “bro this is art, I shoot based off of vibes”. I know there’s space for that, there’s space for well-calculated images and mainstream beauty, but I’ve easily just avoided where my style and approach isn’t welcomed and I prefer it this way.
If anything, my paying clients tend to book me for my enthusiasm for body positivity and comforting sessions, things I unapologetically affiliate with being a woman. Boudoir shoots, intimate shoots, vulnerable shoots, raw, real moments I find easy to slot into, although the field may be traditionally male-dominated, being a female is working for me and what I want out of this art and what it can take from me. It’s overall been a positive experience.
What message do you hope to convey through your photography to other women?
In the past few weeks, I’ve done several shoots with women who’ve made similar comments that really stuck with me. Things like, “I love this photo, even though you can see my cellulite, it’s still nice,” or “I like this one, but let’s shoot from the other side, I hate my birthmark”.
What struck me is that these so-called "flaws" they pointed out weren’t even on my radar. I hadn’t seen any of these things as negative, yet these beautiful women immediately felt the need to critique themselves. It’s heartbreaking to witness how deeply ingrained it is in us, as women, to pick apart our appearance instead of just celebrating who we are.
It made me reflect on how I’ve been guilty of the same thing, especially with my own art. We ARE our own worst critics, but the truth is, nobody else notices the things we fixate on. My hope is that through my photography, I can encourage women to just exist, to be celebrated for their authenticity, and to let go of the constant self-critique.
