Rockford Public Schools introduced me to photography for the first time, which led to my career as an editorial, commercial, and fine art photographer.
I was a yearbook photographer at Guilford High School. The first step in becoming a yearbook photographer at Guilford was to attend a week-long photography camp at Indiana University. I have fond memories of this experience as I learned how to process film, print photos in the darkroom, and how to use an SLR camera. As a member of the yearbook staff, I spent so many hours photographing school events, classes, and many more hours processing film and printing in the darkroom. Aside from teaching me technical skills, the yearbook class taught me a lot about myself. As someone who at the time was still figuring out who I was, this experience forced me to meet people and speak to people who I may never have interacted with. It was the beginning of learning a skill that I use everyday now - interacting with strangers and learning to connect with them quickly. And entering spaces where you know nobody and learning about them.
I went to Guilford because of its strong math/science programs, and to be honest I never considered photography as a career (didn't know it was an option). I always considered it to be a hobby that I really enjoyed. So, I want to mention how important it is in the arts to have passion and really love the thing that you are doing. Everyone I've met and worked with to date who is successful in the creative field shares this trait. Making a career for yourself in the arts is challenging from the start, and maintaining a career is even harder. It's a long road, and your drive and passion are a bit like your north star. I am so thankful for everyone who opened doors for me along the way to make my career possible, and I'll always be thankful to RPS 205 for introducing me to the weird and wonderful world of photography.
Originally from Rockford, IL and a graduate of Guilford High School, Winnie Au now lives in New York City with her family and basset hound, Clementine. Winnie spends her time photographing people, food, animals, and the spaces where these things live. As an award-winning commercial photographer, Winnie has worked with clients such as Coca Cola, Mastercard, American Express, The New York Times, Elle Decor, Refinery 29, and Vanity Fair UK. Her photography has earned recognition from numerous awards, including American Photography, the Photo Annual, and Communication Arts. Her work exhibited most recently at Fotografiska Stockholm, Fotografiska Tallinn, and Fotografiska New York. She is the co-author of Dog-Friendly New York, and her her new coffee table book Cone of Shame will be released on July 9 2024.