Today we’d like to introduce you to Autumn Kidd

Hi Autumn, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

I would say my journey really fully started in 2019. I had gone on a trip to Europe and spent two months hopping around, doing workaways, and staying with friends of friends. During this time the only accessible form of creating I had was taking pictures, this led me to taking my film camera everywhere I went.
Fast forward to June 2019, my best friend, Kaden Dawson, invited me to collaborate on a photoshoot with him. This photoshoot took place at the sand dunes near Yuma, Arizona. The excitement of planning a concept with looks, location, makeup, etc, had me hooked! I felt like I was exploring different parts of myself through photography. For years taking photos was all I wanted to do, but lately I have been exploring so many different ways of seeing the world.

Although recently my art practice has changed a bit, I still see film photography at the core of everything I do. These days I am working mostly in the mediums of printmaking and bookmaking. Which I see as an extension of this photographic process. I am working on melding these different mediums that I am interested in and making space for each part to portray a different aspect of myself.
With all of this said, I find that these days I am in a very transformative time for my artistic practice, as I am currently in Japan with plans to be in Rome for four months at the start of 2025. I cannot help but sit back and take in every new thing I get to experience.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

I think for me the road has had many ups and downs. There have been so many times I have had to pivot, work on my feet, or simply abandon an idea for the moment until I could comeback.

A lot of my struggles have come from moving across the country, health issues, and going back to school. Each of these big life changing moments came with their own daily struggles that I could not have expected. Managing my artistic practice along with each day to day struggle was a lot for me at points. Finding balance between life things and my goals is a struggle for me. When I have so much on my plate, I feel like I get very overwhelmed and cannot think. Sort of like having a cluttered work space, when everything is everywhere I feel like I cannot think.
There have been multiple month stretches where I have not made anything I liked and thought was worth showing the world. Sometimes I think this sense of “not being good enough” was fueled by chronically being on social media. Where it always looks like everyone else is doing so much more all the time. Not comparing myself and my journey to other people is something that I think will be an ongoing process.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

so I am mainly known for my film photographer, I specialize in 35mm and 120 film.
I am also currently in school to pursue printmaking such as screen printing, lithography, and bookmaking. I am learning these new skills to support my photography practice.
I also experiment with video work on Hi8 and little handycams but this experimentation has yet to see the light of day.

I would say the biggest things that got me where I am today are social media and working/collaborating with other like minded artists, as well as being in group shows. I have been featured and interviewed in publications such as Pomegranate Press, Luna Collective, Wastoids, Vogue Italia, and many other amazing publications.

In my photographic work, I provide clients with a unique experience that allows them to receive creative portrait work. People often come to me looking for alternative photography, work that shows them portrayed unlike how they are seen in the world. I tend to shoot darker, more intense scenarios and subjects. I also like to experiment with lighting, photoshop, printing on various papers and fabrics, and scanning. This long process allows me to have control from start to finish and allows me to have a product that is all my own. I think what sets me apart from others is that photography is not the end. It is the beginning of a long winding journey for me. I see it as a jumping off point, where my photography ends, my printmaking comes in.

I work under the name Swan Girl and I would say working and building this identity is something I am proud of and would like to progress in. I am also most proud of a few pieces. The first being my very first zine, Alone in Truth or Consequences, shoutout to my muse Sadie, hair stylist Autumn, and makeup artist Martina. This project was a mix of photography and monologue style writings mixed in. I am also proud of some larger prints I have made. Such as my photolithograph plate print of my friend Kim and screenprints I have made of my muse Danielle Gadus. I’m very proud to be able to work with other amazing artists!!

What were you like growing up?

Growing up I was sort of a weird kid.
I was like if a 45 year old lady’s soul was trapped in the body of a child. I collected porcelain masks, listened to mainly classical music, read a lot, crocheted, and drew all the time. I was not into photography so much, although I did like to take pictures on the hand-me-down cameras I received. I was also in orchestra, where I played the string bass.
Personality wise, I have always been sort of shy and soft spoken, I love talking to people but I am nervous the first few encounters, I think.
I have also always been super creative since I was very young, I have always liked using my hands and keeping busy. I found it hard to fit in and turned to making things to feel less, alone.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autumnkidddd/

Image Credits

Image 1
Model: Imogen Gosnell
Image 2
Model: Ashya Flint
Image 3
Model: Sadie Scheufler
Image 4
Model: Danielle Gadus
Image 5
Model: Morgan Garrett
Image 6
Model: Ashya Flint