Tarryn Hatchett

Tarryn Hatchett is a Johannesburg-based photographer with a background in acting and art direction, and a self-described love of art-house cinema, a combination that shows clearly in the narrative, almost cinematic quality of her images. She weaves delicate visual stories built around raw, unguarded moments, capturing subjects whose vulnerability and openness demand real attention from the viewer. Central to her process is the connection she builds with her subjects, which she considers essential to capturing images charged with genuine tenderness. Her work consistently returns to themes of inclusivity, self-expression with a slightly rebellious edge, and the visual exploration of youth culture — recurring threads that give her portfolio a cohesive identity even across different projects. She's recognized specifically for her distinctly feminine gaze, and for functioning as a critical thinker behind the lens, constantly working to shift how beauty is represented within portraiture, fashion, and art photography. Her achievements reflect that critical, boundary-pushing approach: she received the Adobe Rising Stars of Photography Award in 2017, has had her work displayed on a billboard in Times Square, and has had portraits featured in both Vogue Germany and The New York Times. That international recognition speaks to how effectively her distinctive photographic voice has traveled beyond South Africa's borders.