Working with Photobooths: A Metro Auto Photo Workshop

Join Christopher Sutherland and Jessie Norman of Metro Auto Photo as they discuss their wider practice restoring and running photobooths across Melbourne, and will demonstrate how they work with these ageing, and at times, tricky machines.

In 2018, Chris and Jessie found a note on the Flinders Street Photobooth stating its imminent removal. Inspired, they contacted owner and technician Alan Adler and began their ultimately successful campaign to save the booth. 

Since then, Chris and Jessie have looked after the Flinders Street site, as well as restoring and maintaining a fleet of rare and original chemical photobooths purchased from Alan. The establishment of their company Metro Auto Photo in 2022, marks the next chapter of Melbourne’s photobooth history.

Join Metro Auto Photo for a workshop and discussion of their practice and the process of restoring film photobooths as part of RMIT Gallery's latest exhibition, Auto-Photo: A Life in Portraits.

Christopher Sutherland has had a career in photography, self-taught with a camera since his early teens. He has over ten years' experience as professional photographer and videographer, establishing Metro Auto Photo with Jessie in 2022.

Jessie Norman, originally from Brisbane, has extensive professional experience in marketing and graphic design, currently working as a stylist and studio manager alongside Chris. Her attention to detail and passion for vintage relics has helped her curate and envision the future of these machines with Metro Auto Photo.

Photobooth diagrams, from Photo-Me Model 17 Studio: Operating Guide and Parts Catalogue Photobooth diagrams, from Photo-Me Model 17 Studio: Operating Guide and Parts Catalogue

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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