Aimee Lipscombe

My name is Aimee Lipscombe and I am a photographer studying and working in Melbourne, Australia. Photography has been a love of mine since I picked up a Pentax 35mm film camera when I was in high school. But I have taken a rather long journey, via publishing and media, to become a working photographer.

I began an Advanced Diploma at Photography Studies College two years ago. I am currently halfway through the diploma and so far it has been an incredible experience. The passion and knowledge for photography, video and art history displayed by the tutors are truly inspiring.

I have loved diving headfirst into the history of photography and being stirred by the work of photographers such as Larry Sultan, Sally Mann, Elinor Carucci, William Eggleston and more.

As much as I keep a camera close by, I also keep books on photography and photographers close by too. There is so much to learn from studying the work of others.

My photography is divided into work and study. Most of my paid work is relaxed and candid family shoots. For Photography Studies College I can delve a little deeper into the creative process, work through ideas in a visual diary and develop more conceptual pieces of work.

Much of my work to date has been with children. I love working with children. They are less self-aware in front of the camera and contrary to what everyone says I find children easy and fun to direct.

Recently I won Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers Award for Portraiture for a series where I set out to play on our fears and anxieties surrounding children. Drawing on the horror traditions of film and TV, each image seeks to be isolating, unnerving and not fully explained.

I shot this series with my Nikon D750, shooting at 35mm with my Nikon 24-120mm f/4G ED VR. This camera and lens were my workhorses up until I purchased a Nikon 35mm f/1.8G.

I have absolutely loved shooting with the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G and I rarely take it off my Nikon D750 now. To light the series, I mainly used my Nikon Speedlight SB-700.

I edit all my photos in Lightroom Classic.

One of the prizes I received from the Top Emerging Photographers Award was a Fujifilm X-Pro2. I have always been intrigued by mirrorless systems and for months I have been eyeing off the new Nikon mirrorless range, but I never took the plunge.

After less than a month of shooting with the Fujifilm X-Pro2, I have become a mirrorless convert and, as a die-hard Nikon fan, I am surprised to find that I am now a Fujifilm convert too.

The Fujifilm X-Pro2 shoots so beautifully in lowlight conditions and there is a quality to the light I just cannot seem to replicate with my Nikon. I now have the FujifilmXF 35mm f/1.4R lens and I fully intend to get to know it and the Fujifilm X-Pro2 well over the coming months.

I anticipate that on future family shoots, I will use the Nikon D750 with the Nikon 24-120mm f/4G and the Fujifilm X-Pro2 with the 35mm lens. I hope the Nikon D750 will give me consistency, while the Fujifilm X-Pro2 will allow me to push the creative envelope more.

In terms of other gear, I am doing more and more video work and I have been impressed with the sound quality of the Rode smartLav+ Microphone. It packs a punch for what it is and what it costs.

And finally, someone once said to me that the best camera is the one you have in reach and often for me, that is my iPhone 11 Pro. It captures so many moments that would have been otherwise lost in time.

My Workhorses

Nikon D750
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G (the lens I use the most)
Nikon 24-120mm f/4G ED VR (workhorse for family shoots)

Software

Lightroom Classic

My New Loves

Fujifilm X-Pro2
FujifilmXF 35mm f/1.4R

The Rest

iPhone 11 Pro
Fujifilm XF10
Nikon 50mm f/1.8G
Nikon Speedlight SB-700
Voking Wireless Flash Triggers N1 VK-WF820
Fujifilm XF 35mm R WR
Manfrotto 290 XTRA Tripod + MH804 – 3 Way Head
Manfrotto 5001B Nano Light Stand
ProMaster SystemPro Rdisc + 5 In 1 32″ Reflector 65
Photoflex Umbrella Convertible 45” (I use the white shoot-through umbrella a lot when using my Nikon Speedlight)
Neewer 48 inches/120 Centimeters Octagonal Softbox
Rode smartLav+ Microphone

aimeelipscombe.com | @aimeelipscombe