Mitch Nivalis (they/them)
Hello! Thanks for finding me.
I’m a photographer and film maker with a strong commitment to social change. Basically I’m drawn to projects that have the potential to make an impact and improve visibility and aspects of our society like advocacy for Indigenous, LGBTIQ, multicultural and disability communities; as well as projects around mental health, the environment, education, gender equality and the prevention of violence against women.
It also means, regardless of what project I’m working on, from headshots, to image libraries, to short promo videos, I’m thinking about the impact the images or video I’m creating for you can have beyond your own organisation’s needs.
My passion stems from years spent traveling, working and volunteering around the world in my late teens and early twenties. It comes from my lived experience as an LGBTIQ person. And it comes from a general desire to contribute to the world in a way that allows future generations to have an easier time of things.
Beyond my role as a photographer and film maker, I also founded and teach photography through my company With Camera in Hand. and am a lived experience speaker for Women’s Health Grampians’ “Equality for All” program. I’m committed to giving back to the community and am currently involved with my local CFA as a volunteer firefighter. Prior to this I’ve served on the boards of Food is Free Inc, the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Women’s Health Grampians and the advisory Committee for The Courier (Fairfax newspapers).
In 2020 I completed my first research study on the role of photography to create social change. The final report can be downloaded for free via my website. I’m now extending this research via a Master of Arts (Photography) at PSC in Melbourne.
If you’d like to chat about a project, I’d love to hear from you.
Mitch