TARA ROONEY

I would like to start talking about you and your background. Who are you and how did you start taking pictures?

I've always loved taking photos. When I was a young kid, I would use up all my mum's disposable cameras on photos of my teddy bears! But I properly began teaching myself photography when I got my first DSLR at age 15. I loved visual Art as a teen, but found that my school would only let you explore illustration - and I can't draw or paint well AT ALL. I took a break from it for a couple of years and focused on studying, but whilst I was studying at UCL I got involved in theatre and started photographing plays. This reignited my love for photography, and snowballed into taking actors' headshots, which led to taking portraits - and now it consumes most of my time because I enjoy it so much.

When I see your photos I feel 'a sort of silence that makes me reflect on many different things'. But what do you want to express through them?

In general, I like to express vulnerability. In my self portraits, I like to show myself being comfortable expressing my boredom, sadness, confusion or contentedness. I like to portray emotions that might be jarring or contrasting with the visuals. As an example, in some of my images from my 'female friendship' series, I asked my subjects to dress in pink to go with a pink background to create a 'cotton candy' aesthetic. With this look, I asked my subjects to look bored, unamused, even sassy. I liked the contrast of having pink, a colour often associated with young girls, with models that are grown women telling the viewer with their eyes 'don't tell me to smile'. In my group photoshoots where I photograph large groups of women who have never met, I am trying to convey unity and sisterhood. Women are taught to be competitive with one another, and to tear eachother down. I try to subvert that in my work, and show that women working together is MAGICAL. 

You are not only the photographer but often also the subject. Is it a kind of therapy for you? otherwise, what is the reason why you take pictures of yourself?

I started taking self portraits as a form of therapy. At the time, I was going through a tough time with my mental health. I rarely left the house, and missed photographing people. I tested some shots on myself, and found that they were some of the best images I had ever taken. They were raw, vulnerable and emotive. Even though taking self portraits is practically difficult, it is the most free and limitless way to photograph. You can be vulnerable, test out all your weirdest ideas and no-one else has to see them. The photos are mine, and solely mine, so I have full creative control. It has also been a great thing for my self esteem. As a teen I struggled with body image (like most of us do) and self portraits have led to me loving myself more. I've learned to see the beauty within myself, as well as my physical appearance. I'm quite an introverted person, so it's reassuring that I can still create work in the comfort of my own home, without needing anyone by my side.

Why do you take photos of only female models/people?

I mostly shoot women and non binary subjects, but this isn't necessarily a conscious decision. My social circles mostly consist of women, as I studied English at university, worked in theatre, and went to a girls' school - so I've always been in female-dominated environments. The vast majority of my followers on social media are women, so when I request models for TFP shoots - it's almost always women that approach me. So I don't exclusively shoot women, however it has worked out that way! I suppose it is also because of the themes I like to explore: sisterhood, female friendship and reclaiming female/non binary sexuality. My work is associated with these themes, so then I attract more women clients. I would like to explore themes of masculinity and femininity with male subjects to challenge myself, so perhaps that could be my next project. 

You also have a YouTube channel. I found your video on being a photographer at BLM protests very interesting. But what is your opinion about it? When is reporting a fact more important than not doing it? For example, that video made me think about war photo-reporters ...

I have a very new and tiny Youtube channel! It was initially supposed to be only about photography, but I've really enjoyed making videos about my dog so it'll probably end up being about lots of things. I recently made a video debating whether it's ethical for white photographers to photography BLM protests, because I had seen such strong and conflicting opinions all over social media. I personally wouldn't photograph these protests, as I believe it's a great moment to showcase black photographers, capturing events related to black issues. As a white person, I don't want to take the main stage, but be there to support and assist. That being said, I believe that most white photographers capturing these protests have good intentions and I don't judge them too harshly. They're attempting to capture history and raise awareness of an important issue, however the issue of revealing the identity and therefore endangering protesters was the nail in the coffin for me. I don't want to risk someone's job or safety, as it goes against my goal of being an ally. 

With regards to war photographers, I also think there is a fine line. Photography is a powerful medium and can provoke emotion and even action. For example, the heartbreaking photo of Alan Kurdi, a 3-year-old Syrian refugee by Nilufer Demir. This photo was credited for causing a surge in donations to charities helping refugees, for example Migrant Offshore Aid Station recorded a 15-fold increase in donations within 24 hours of the photo being published. These photos can shock people in action, which is crucially important. However, there are situations where photographers are being voyeuristic and using suffering to create a "viral" image, which is exploitative. 'The Afghan Girl' by McCurry MADE his career. It's been praised as one of the best photographs in history. He claimed that her “haunted eyes tell of an Afghan refugee’s fears”, but Sharbat Gula (the girl in the photo) revealed the fear was due to random man coming into her school wanting to take her photo. She states that this photo is a DANGER to her. She had no say in this, and doesn't reap any of the rewards McCurry has. And this leads back to my views on photographing BLM protests: there are too many white saviours who cause more harm than good. 

What is the most important goal you would like to achieve in the future?

I don't have specific photography goals. I aspire to make a comfortable living from artistic photography that I have creative control over. I would love to get to a place where I no longer have to take corporate gigs to get by, but to take creative photos of creative people for a good living. That's my goal.

Last question: why do you photograph? why photography and not something else?

I have had other creative outlets in the past. For a while, I was an actor. I found it to be damaging to my mental health as it was financially unstable, and relentless rejection. As an actor, you are (mostly) carrying out someone else's creative vision and words. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it isn't right for me. I like to be able to carry out my vision, or collaborate with people that I am creatively compatible with. As a photographer, you are the director of the image, so it's your vision! Being freelance is also much more suitable for me than working a 9-5, so being a self employed photographer has been the best job I've ever had.

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