New Zealand photographer Imogen Wilson’s debut book is a meditation on friendship and identity

“Everyone I’ve photographed for Dreams was going through such specific phases in their lives when I captured them, making them feel like treasures now.”

New Zealand photographer Imogen Wilson never set out to create a book. Like a lot of great things, “It all started in a totally unplanned way, without anything official in mind”, as she puts it. Known for her playful and intimate photographs of friends and the people around her she finds captivating, she’s always been drawn to those with a “strong sense of self, style and energy”.

Dreams, her debut photo book, is a collection of photographs she took during her travels through Australia and Japan between 2019 and 2022 – a tumultuous time period, to say the least. The resulting collection explores identity, adventure, youth, friendship and motherhood in a fresh and memorable way.

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There’s a haziness to the images that evoke feelings of nostalgia, but the bold pops of colour render them vibrant and alive. Below, Imogen shares the journey of creating Dreams, and how her practice has evolved over the years.

Tell us about you and your photography practice. How did you get your start, and how has your practice evolved over the years?

I started taking photos of friends and those around me who I found interesting as individuals, usually for their strong sense of self, style and energy. It was just for fun, a natural jump from my years working solely as a stylist in New Zealand. Like any creative, over time, you fall in and out of love with what you do. Usually, when you find yourself taking on a lot of work for money or others’ requests, there is little magic and motivation to create outside of that. Periods of major CBF.

That comes and goes still. Now I have more confidence in myself and know what I am good at creating and what I am not. Gradually, I’m letting go of the pressure to compare myself to other creatives and their paths or choices. Being self-taught and taking a non-traditional approach, I’ve accepted that I can work in my own way and create the things I truly want to, without trying to fit into any specific world.

What was the process of creating Dreams, your first photo book, like and who helped you bring it to life?

The world went through a complete whirlwind while I was capturing Dreams. It all started in a totally unplanned way, without anything official in mind. When I photographed Madison, it felt precious so I held onto those photos, waiting for the right time to share them. It didn’t happen right away. When I took Madison’s photos, that’s when I felt I wanted to start a new series of work, one that would unfold gradually and naturally. Maimie (Madison’s daughter) is four years old now, for context.

Most of it was shot during my time in Japan that same year, which I then showed to the Bad News Books team, right before the pandemic paused things for all of us. I had plans to move to the UK, and the series was supposed to be published in sync with my journey over there. [It was] frustrating at first but [it] has only led to the photos taking on a whole new level of significance. We decided to stretch it out endlessly, bringing Flossy on board to help us finesse and perfect everything in our own time.

Last May, I hopped on a flight to Brisbane to capture the final photos, which was the only really planned shoot, with Ella, Emily, Libby and Belly. That shoot had been postponed and rescheduled multiple times, so finally being there in their giant chaotic Kawaii stoner flat was a milestone in itself. It sat at the end of a dead-end street in the suburb of Annerley.

Everyone I’ve photographed for Dreams was going through such specific phases in their lives when I captured them, making them feel like treasures now. Publishing Dreams is a gift to them and myself. [It] feels like a lifetime ago now, with only my closest friends and past partners catching glimpses of these photos until last month.

What do you want people to think and feel when they look through Dreams?

I want people to feel nostalgic and unconscious towards time, a feeling of being lifted romantically into the moments inside, without overthinking it and smiling.

Is there a photo that’s particularly special to you in the book and if so why?

My favourite is the sparkling smiling playground of Naoshima Island in Japan.

Where can people get their hands on a copy of Dreams?

For now, Bad News Books. We will be announcing international stockists later in July.

You can keep up with Imogen here, and get your hands on a copy of Dreams here.