At Home with Cashmere: The Australian Photographer Capturing Life Through the Eyes of Her Inner Child
Photography: Zane Qureshi
Fashion Styling: Frizzy Valiyff
Makeup: Mani Spiropoulos
Hair Styling: Jade Langford
Can you tell me your name, age and a bit about yourself?
Hello, I'm Chandler, I’m 26 years old, I’m an Aquarius with an Aries Moon and Rising and I am a photographer based in Adelaide.
How did you first get into photography?
I feel like it’s something that I’ve always done, without realising. I asked my grandma for a camera when I was 8 and I used to take photos of everyone. And then in high school, I would always take really cringey photos at parties with my watermark on it and hard flash. I ended up travelling a lot after school and I would just take a film camera everywhere and just document people in the streets. It kind of just grew from there.
When I came back from living overseas in Spain, my friend asked me to take photos of her in the backyard on my Canon AE1 film camera, and when she got the photos back and told me “This is the best photo anyone has taken of me”. So that made me realise I like doing photography, so I just kept doing it.
To anyone who has never seen a photo shot by you, how would you describe your style of work?
“Bad Bitch”. I feel like I’m still figuring out my niche and my style, but I just want to capture the genuine essence of people and authenticity. I want to make people feel confident but also out of their comfort zones.
Where did the name “Cashmere” come from?
So when I started taking photos, I wanted to have an alter ego to produce my art through because I wasn’t feeling confident to have my name attached to it at the time. My initials are CF. So, Cashmere Flip-flops are my initials but also the duality being bad and boujee but also being relaxed and down to earth. Cashmere is one of the finest fibres out there and it’s also made of goat and flip-flops are super bogan. It’s like being the goat but also being humble.
Who inspires you and your work?
My inner child. I feel like it’s really easy to get stuck in doing what you think is right, or doing what you think is current but I think I’m just trying to honour my inner child and create things that bring me joy.
But also everything inspires me! Just existence inspires me. People that I see on the streets, or my friends, nature, pop culture and literally anything & everything else.
Have you always had dreams of being a creative? If not, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I was always doing creative things - dancing, ice-skating, making videos on the camcorder, doing fashion shows for my family, etc. I went through a phase of wanting to do everything. I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was 7, then I wanted to be a painter, then I wanted to be an actor. I’ve never thought of doing anything academic.
Would you say your family and friends have supported your aspirations in pursuing a creative career?
Yeah definitely! I feel like the majority of the people who have modelled for me are just my friends & family. We just hang out and create stuff for fun and then it turns into something that we’re going to post. They’ve supported me for sure.
What’s your favourite photoshoot that you’ve done?
One that I did with Frizzy recently. My friend Frizzy Valiyff styled it, and we had a chaotic day, but it just ended up being the best vibes, the best models and really good energy. I don’t think I have a favourite of anything in life because I just love so many things, but anything I do with my friends. I love getting to create art with people that I care about.
What are your thoughts on the Adelaide creative scene?
I think it’s great. There are a lot of people doing cool stuff, and I feel like Adelaide is coming up. I find that in other creative scenes, interstate and internationally, there’s a lot of competition, which pushes people to be better. Because there’s so much room to grow in Adelaide’s creative scene, I feel like it would be better to have a bit more pressure and heat applied to things for people to get the ball rolling. With that being said, there are a lot of really talented and amazing people that I look up to who are in the creative scene and just around me.
What’s your favourite song?
My favourite song right now is John Redcorn by SiR.
What is your favourite film?
I love so many movies so it’s super hard to pick. I recently watched this film called “The Worst Person In The World” and I feel like that was great but I also love anything A24 or any of the Batman’s (Christian Bale fan club).
Now you’ve got a Lizzie McGuire tattoo on your arm. Does that mean anything to you?
I guess that just goes back to the nurturing my inner child thing. I grew up, obsessively watching Lizzie McGuire and listening to Hillary Duff. I love how in Lizzie McGuire, the cartoon is her inner thoughts and her monologue. I feel like I have one of those myself and I have a little alter ego.
Now you’re quite a wise person. What advice would you give to people who look up to you and want to pursue a career similar to you?
““JUST LET GO OF THE FEAR AND DON’T LISTEN TO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT YOUR LIFE. IF YOU HAVE A VISION, IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SHOW PEOPLE WHAT YOUR ART IS. OTHERS SHOULDN’T TELL YOU HOW IT SHOULD BE. BE AUTHENTIC, LEAD WITH LOVE AND JUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF BECAUSE THAT’S THE ONLY WAY YOU’RE GOING TO GET ANYWHERE”.
“LIFE BEGINS WHEN YOU REALISE EVERYTHING YOU WANT CAN BE YOURS. SO FIRST, FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT, AND STAY TRUE TO THAT. LIVE IN YOUR TRUTH. REMEMBER TOO THAT YOUR PERCEPTION CREATES YOUR REALITY, SO WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE TO BE TRUE WILL BE REFLECTED AT YOU. BELIEVE THAT LIFE IS GOOD AND THAT LOVE EXISTS AND YOU WILL SEE LOVE AND GOODNESS IN EVERYTHING.””
This magazine is titled “Homebody”; what makes Cashmere feel most at home?
Socks. Slippers. Just being around people that make me feel safe and being in a peaceful space. Also being able to express myself and be 100% me.
Do you have any memorable childhood or adolescent memories of something that reminds you of home?
So my grandparents used to live at the very top a long road and we used to pick these big nuts off of the trees and see how far we could throw them. My neighbours and I used to play backyard cricket and make go-karts and go riding down the streets. I think a lot of my childhood memories that remind me of home are all just being outdoors and in nature.
Are there any foods that remind you of home?
Soup. Any kind of Soup. I love Winter because it’s soup season. Maybe some pumpkin soup with a bit of sourdough.
Where does Cashmere hope to be in five years?
Great question. I feel like I’m still trying to figure that out, but I think just staying authentic to myself, and making things that feel true to who I am. Just doing something creative. Even if I move from photography to filmmaking. I want to always do what feels right.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be and why?
I would love to shoot A$AP Nast. I think he has the best fashion of anyone in the game, personally. Or Rihanna.
What’s your wildest dream as an artist?
For my work to be famous like Banksy, but no one knows who I am.
What can people expect to see from Cashmere in the coming months?
I want to start showcasing more of the Adelaide creative scene and photographing people who I think are cool. Just bringing everyone up together. I just want to create a community!!
