STEPHANIE KILLIP
IN THE SHADOW
When a fleeting moment of childhood wonder quietly holds a deeper truth; a photograph serves as a gentle reminder that not all of the struggles we face are visible to the eye. My then five-year-old son is seen playing in a ray of light streaming through our lounge window - a ray of light only made visible with an atmospheric spritz of mist that reveals it.
Within this same image lies another, much quieter revelation. Taped onto my son’s arm, barely noticeable, is a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). That small, life-changing device is the only outward sign of his otherwise unseen reality; his life with Type 1 diabetes.
This image speaks to the fine line between visibility and invisibility. Just as light is made tangible through the mist, my son’s condition, though often invisible to the world, is still very real. My hope is that it may be a reminder of the resilience required to navigate an invisible challenge, and of the beauty and strength that exist within each of us.
ARTIST FOLIO AND BIO
ABOUT STEPH
French-born Kiwi photographer and filmmaker Stephanie Killip has built a career centred on authentic storytelling, with a deep focus on people; particularly women. From destination weddings to brand & fashion campaigns shot on film, she’s worked around the world, fuelled by a passion for people, telling their stories in the most iconic ways.
With a minimalist, humanist approach, she sees natural light as some kind of magic, often describing her work as the “love child of a Vogue cover and a warm hug”; every image carrying intention, evoking emotion, and holding that unspoken potential to become iconic for those it’s created for.
Above all, Stephanie embraces the immense responsibility we hold as photographers as it it is our photos that, after our loved ones, we’d save from a burning home. A career highlight is undoubtedly filming the wedding of Flea, bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers; a quiet recognition and let’s just say, she never imagined to be behind the camera for such a cool gig. This experience turned into a significant and unexpected milestone in part as shortly after, life came crashing down when her son got admitted to the ICU and later diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. This new challenge became a turning point, especially strengthening her love for analog photography, which she often calls her “prozac”, and deepening her commitment to honesty and intentionality in her work. And she continues to roam the world at every opportunity, husband and son by her side, and a film camera firmly in her hand.