It feels like a bad dream to remember the details, but sometime in March 2020 my entire calendar of live music costume work was completely decimated, within days of Covid19 reaching our shores here in Australia. I’ll never forget the fear laden shockwaves that rippled across my beloved music industry that month. My devastation was definitely based on concern for everyone else within my industry. You see for me, I had been working at an unsustainable rate with maximum output since 2014 and I needed permission to stop. Covid19 was a gift to my physical health and wellbeing, and I silently gave thanks for at least several weeks. Well, that is until I realised the actual gravity of the global pandemic and what the fallout actually looked like worldwide.
With time to think and zero jobs booked I needed a healthy creative project to focus on … myself. It was time to invest in me, 2020 would be the year for me to level up and strengthen myself emotionally, mentally and professionally.
Since just after finishing high school (a while ago now) when I was preparing my first portfolio to get into a Fashion degree, I have been an amateur, frustrated photographer. I have muddled my way through photo moments, and even managed to get photos published in magazines over the last few years that have been taken on my phone. These I have often credited under fake names due to my silly lack of confidence, but no more!!
Enter my life changing career collaboration. I consulted my creative coach and mentor Andrea Smith of Applause Genie. She found me a Photography Teacher and mentor Kristina O’Callaghan and we began writing grants, many grants in the hope I’d win one.
Fast forward to the eve of January 2021 and I was standing in front of my very first purpose-built film and photography set. It was completely designed and constructed by me, surrounded by the most incredible newly purchased photography equipment. My new equipment included my very first actual real camera and tripod, studio lighting and more. The grant writing had paid off. By the 4th of January I had an entire creative team assembled in the space to shoot a supremely talented young emerging artist. My photography teacher and mentor (Kristina) would hold my hand for my last session under her guidance (which happened to double as my very first official photography shoot eek!). Also present would be my favourite music industry publicist Kylie Cobb, videographer Bianca Hinton, my partner John and Andrea. I could not have done it without them.
The grants I wish to acknowledge, as part of this journey and with much gratitude are, in order of being won:
- Arts Queensland Individuals Fund
- RAF Relief
- Arts Queensland Digital Adaption
These images of CRY BABY for her 2nd single release titled ‘Best of Luck’ will forever mark the day I celebrated my way out of the darkness of 2020 and stepped into 2021 a new ME. With a special new super-power, I’m now armed with my sewing machines and a beautiful Nikon Z 50.
None of us can do life alone, reach out and collaborate with your creativity, magic might just happen.
Cindy Vogels First published in a shorter version for Gympie Living Magazine 2021
