Photographer, with purpose.

Simone Cheung
Gadigal Country, Sydney Australia

My interest in photography started when I got my hands on my parents’ film camera when I was about 10 years old. Combined with my love for travel and my passion in promoting social equality, I began documenting what I saw on my travels and volunteer stints. This turned into what is now my social documentary projects - working with not-for-profits to elevate the voice of vulnerable and minority groups.

I of course also found joy in documenting life and giving the gift of memories. I love looking back at photos that capture moments that seemed insignificant at the time, but is in fact a special moment frozen in time.

The third trimester of my pregnancy and the birth was in lockdown. I remember my anaesthetist taking my phone and said “you may not think you want the photos know, but trust me you will”. Sure enough, a couple of hours after a long birth and the baby in the Special Care Nursery, I came across the photos of the birth and was eternally grateful for them.

I want to make sure that I document those moments for you that you didn’t know you wanted.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

  • 2021 March/April: Completed Mamatography course under the mentorship of Amy Oliver and Trish Chong, Sydney, Australia.

  • 2016 December: Completed Stories Not Selfies Workshop under the mentorship of Andrew Quilty, Sydney, Australia.

  • 2015 February: Completed Portraiture Workshop under the mentorship of Edwina Pickles, Sydney, Australia.

Non-commercial experience

  • 2022 to current - Volunteer photographer for Heartfelt

  • 2020 - Volunteer photographer for The Village Project

  • 2018 to current - Volunteer photography for New Humans of Australia

  • 2017 to 2020 - Photography and Videography Coordinator and Photographer for Women's March on Sydney

  • 2016 to 2019 - Volunteer photographer for Global Sisters in Sydney, Australia

  • 2016 - Photographer for Homestay.com in Sydney, Australia

  • 2014 - Photographer for Marie Claire Indonesia for a story on the Bali bombing survivors. The photos appeared on Marie Claire Indonesia October issue

  • 2013 - Volunteer photographer for Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney

  • 2012 - Volunteer photographer for Austraining, photographing Australian volunteers at work on assignment in-country

  • 2011 - Volunteer photographer for Kingsford Legal Centre's 30th Birthday event and subsequently published in their 2011 Annual Report

  • 2011 - Volunteer photographer for Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney 2011

  • 2011 - Volunteer for Shoot the Sydney Festival @ The Seymour Centre

  • 2011 - Volunteer photographer for the Amateur Ashes 2011

Exhibitions

  • 2019 – Selected to be part of Exposed, an exhibition bringing together 40 Australian women and non binary street photographers, Project Gallery 90, Paddington (group exhibition curated by Julia Coddington, Rebecca Wiltshire and Julie Hrudova)

  • 2017 – Associated Exhibitor for Head On Photo Festival ‘An Ordinary World’, Contact Sheet Gallery, Sydney (group exhibition curated by Paul McDonald)

  • 2016 - Art & About Australian Life exhibition at Hyde Park, Sydney (group exhibition with other finalists)

  • 2010 - Ordinarily... @ Cafe Lounge, Darlinghurst (solo)

Awards and Achievements 

  • 2018 - Third Prize winner in the Sydney Local Health District ‘Living Well’ Photography Competition as part of Mental Health Week

  • 2018 - Top 10 finalist in Australian Photography Magazine Photographer of the Year (People and Portraits)

  • 2017 - Finalist in Fremantle Portrait Prize (top 6%)

  • 2016 - Fairfax Clique Australian Photographic Society overall portfolio finalist

  • 2016 - 1 of 22 Finalists in the Art & About Australian Life prize and published in the Sydney Morning Herald. See the article here.

  • 2015 - Published in Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Traveller twice

  • 2014 - Fairfax Clique Australian Photographic Society overall portfolio finalist and finalist in six of ten months

  • 2011 - Third place in the Beauty in the 'Burbs photography competition with image subsequently displayed at the Museum of Sydney along with the 52 Suburbs exhibition

  • 2011 - Images from my Canon People's Gallery selected by Canon Australia and Leo Burnett to be displayed as part of their 'bringing the World of EOS to life' exhibition @ PMA Imaging and Entertainment Expo

Yugen (幽玄)

Japanese phrase roughly translating to “an awareness of the universe that triggers emotional responses too deep and powerful for words”.

The powerful emotions you feel when you hold your loved ones hand, when you kiss the chubby cheeks of your child, when you watch your grandma or grandpa’s delight when they see their greatgrandchild. These are emotions that you want to capture and freeze in time. And I’m here to capture them.