SARAH GINN STUDIO

IMPORTANT NOTICES

1) THE FEEDBACK LOOP THEORY BOOK:

Please note The Feedback Loop Theory will be periodically taken offline, so I can complete the manuscript to upload it in its full form and create a physical book :-) Please check this site for updates next year for progress, thank you to all the readers so far :-)

2) ENFORCED HIATUS FROM TRADITIONAL LIVE/EVENTS MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY DUE TO FILING AN IPEC CIVIL COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT CASE - SARAH GINN VS SAM NEILL & WORSHIP ARTISTS:

Due to an industry backlisting resulting from a planned (& public) civil alleged IP Infringement claim, against photographer Sam Neill & his management Worship Artists (in my opinion) I’ve decided to leave all traditional live music photography, as there is no work for me currently in electronic music. The highly political nature of the music industry has now caused many clients to no longer hire me after publicising this alleged IP Infringement/filing this case (in my opinion/after the complete loss of all booking opportunities in drum and bass & larger music festivals/venues since 2023). Retaliation blacklisting of individual creatives who don’t have powerful agents/money/record label backup/expensive lawyers etc to their disposal over IP disputes/contract disputes/pay disputes etc is extremely commonplace in this industry on multiple levels. This shows how unregulated the music industry is, and it’s very risky to pitch original concepts for standalone creatives such as myself. In this case it was Sub Focus’s management & despite my long history in D&B (including RAM records), pitching this project was ultimately a risk that didn’t pay off. I’ve unfortunately been blacklisted in retaliation for exposing the alleged plagiarism & choosing to legally protect my IP (in my opinion). This also occurs by default as people get too nervous to book me as to not effect industry connections with popular artists, and I’m immensely saddened that this has occurred for both parties.

However, these type of projects (Sarah Ginn XX - Please see intro tab above) were also pitched to The Chemical Brothers and Underworld’s respective managers at the same time with no issues. They decided to pass after considering my pitches & went no further with my original concept. So I have no regrets in pitching my work, it was an excellent project and extremely forward thinking. The reasoning behind these projects is to create art house meta ‘tool’ products that are theoretically and visually inspiring for the audience. As time as gone on my work has switched into a more intentional practice, with the audience well-being at the forefront rather than a means to sell products. Such projects need conceptual live acts to carry them out, of which there are only six artists approximately in the UK I can pitch to. It’s a shame I’ve just been very very unlucky in this instance. As I’ve said before, these situations are normal everyday occurrences, and almost expected in the music industry. Civil cases such as mine are generally well documented, as with the Four Tet VS Domino Records damages claim about streaming rights/payment. His plans to sue were widely publicised via his social media and the national/music press (see below). That case was even fraught with difficulties for him, as he publicly stated Domino had removed his album streams in protest while the case continued (affecting his income, like what I’m experiencing). This case is remarkably similar but it relates to a damages payment over the alleged usage of my IP, by a photographer on the same management as Sub Focus (in my opinion).

https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2022/jun/20/four-tet-settles-royalty-rate-dispute-domino-records-keiran-hebden

Because I will re-file this claim in due course, I’ve decided to remove myself from social media due to past legal threats/mobbing incidents (in my opinion), plus there has been a recent & serious/dangerous intimidation incident (in my opinion) that could allegedly be considered as an attempt to hide/halt/delay my initial pre-court filing due to its timing (my opinion/also advised by my legal council). Both these factors will now be submitted as potential evidence that could support my case (in my opinion). They are officially ‘on the record’ actions, and I have not signed a civil NDA/gagging order regarding the latter incident (in my opinion & from legal advice). Due to these varied negatives, I’ve made a decision to completely withdraw from the industry as a precautionary safety/well-being measure (which is my personal opinion and decision). This is also to recover from ill health due caused by the stress of these occurrences. And it acts to peacefully diffuse this dispute for all parties (presently the best outcome) while it is settled objectively via the IPEC, as all allegations are alleged (bar ‘on the record’ incidents) until a legal decision is made. Sadly, after 15 years shooting, I’m not planning on returning to shoot music live at this present time. I believe with these current unfortunate circumstances that is the only option for me presently in this area, and I’ve just completely lost the love for it. Therefore it is best to draw such boundaries in this instance.

Finally, one last reason for exiting is to entirely remove myself/ignore an expected & foreseeable smear campaign against me (another common music industry occurrence) until it fully dissipates (in my opinion). This is until the results/full details/evidence of the civil case are confirmed & publicly available via court documents, when people to make their own objective conclusions, whatever the legal outcome. For full statement please see the IPEC case statement tab above.

Phew…I feel like I did a good job explaining all of that…

3) VISUAL CONCEPT MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY - THE FUTURE:

To get in touch with me please see my contact details on the contact page. I’m currently open to any work outside the music industry or music artwork/merch shoots etc. Plans of how my Visual Concept Music Photography will continue despite this, is by moving from an competitive/negative space, to a positive creative one, that is purely faith based and my own unique vision. I need to be adding value to the world in some other way. Plot twist: It’s going to be amazing :-)

THE ISSUES &…SETTING GOOD INTENTIONS/THE WAY FORWARD…:)

Dear viewers, it’s cosmos girl here :-) Unfortunately traditional live music photography has now become an extremely hostile place for me for many reasons, despite my skill in it and my very best marketing efforts, its been made impossible for me to carry on. I’ve been effectively bullied out of it entirely by my peers, particularly since the media team model came into effect in 2018. Once I returned full time after the pandemic no media teams would allow me to join them across 90% of electronic music events. Post Covid it is also now much more difficult budget wise too, and people have not employed me because their budgets are reduced, that has had a long term detrimental effect since 2021 for all photographers. Along with that factor there is an overcrowding of the market with newer photographers who undercut to get the work, and fewer events due to cancellations across the sector. I’ve also experienced various negative issues from multiple parties regarding my civil case mentioned above, this has created a coup de grace situation in my career (in my opinion). So for many reasons this is now a dead end I have to fully disengage from. It’s a system I cannot exist in, so I’m completely letting it go. Obviously major bummer right? Or is it though? So now that spiel is done let’s get onto the good news…

Having said that, I’ve had a great run this summer through Wunderman Thompson and Arcadia (thanks guys!) and that work is viewable on this site for your enjoyment :-) Ultimately, reality works to make me feel good and I’m currently not centering myself and following the Wu Wei of life to take advantage of that. I repeat, do not swim upstream when you can float downstream :-) These situations are happening FOR ME, rather than against me, these metaphorical dams are protecting me from unhealthy environments. These dams are actually like beaver dams, because they now create whole new eco systems in different, ethically sound and exciting new areas for me, that were previously empty. OK, read up on beaver dams because they are super magic. So, I’ve had great success despite huge obstacles etc. Its unfortunate my talent (seen as a threat) in the live shooting area has caused many of these problems and forced me out of work, but it is what it is. Occurrences like this are never personal, & the key is to just be productive/creative in other ways and not dwell on it any further. So lets now get onto ‘The Pruning Shears of Revision’ as Neville Goddard talks about to change this…

I’m now seeing this lengthy (and possibly permanent) break away from the traditional events focused music industry in an extremely positive light. This is called the observer effect in quantum physics, where what you focus on becomes your new reality. I can now see new unexplored zones for my creativity, to expand into and break out of my comfort zone, which is an amazing outcome. Forcing the outcome in a classic Newtonian sense isn’t working, so I’m completely letting go of ANY outcome. A strong mental attitude also looks for the best in any situation, even this one. I also need to look after my health as it has really suffered due to burnout etc, which is a necessity. I’m currently working reduced hours due to this because I’m very poorly right now, with the above factors causing heart issues. I’m now actively on the hunt for completely new clients and focusing purely on that, for work in any sector for positive moves. So if you have something you would like to collaborate with me on please get in touch at sarah@sarahginn.co.uk. Who knows what that may bring to me…

To the people who want to openly support, celebrate & encourage what I have to offer, my doors are open….

‘Be open to everything and attached to nothing’

Wayne Dyer

I’m also completing The Feedback Loop Theory book as a priority, and my Stage Energy Transfer System. So any academic people please contact me, I would love to apply for grants etc to enable me to do this full time/undertake a PHD on the metaphysical/science and spiritual energy of music. I have a lot of writing to do, and these winter months are perfect for that…As I tend to write more at night time. I’m going through a real creative spurt with this and 3 new chapters to The Feedback Loop Theory are currently in the works, because reading and writing is so soothing right now for me. These haven’t been forced either, but stem from the gigs I’ve covered this summer and my at home music listening habits. It has been particularly interesting to me, that my music writing/theory has had more hits on it in the last two years than my photography. So I must follow the divining stick towards it….

With all this in mind, photography wise, I’m also going to release all of my Sarah Ginn XX music work online over the next 4 months, as example pitches that I’ve sent to prospective clients (including the infamous Sub Focus one). Because I don’t think they should be locked away in my archives but set free as a legacy of that work. If they are made or not, isn’t really of importance, the ideas and the process is. One of which was Eminem some years ago, who I made a prototype XX pitch for way back in 2018 that was sent to his photographer for collaboration consideration. I’ve been listening to a lot of rap and hip hop recently, rediscovering my love for its craft. This was officially my first XX type project so it’s quite interesting to view in hindsight 6 years later. My Chemical Brothers pitch will be published shortly, because who doesn’t love them! With pitches I worked for DJ Shadow/Bicep and Fatboy Slim to come. I’ll also be showcasing a lot more analog photography personal work in time, that concentrates on alternative processes, plus aiming my work at corporate clients. Over the last year I’ve been lucky enough to work with Justin Quinnell who’s a great alternative process photographer, and have been on his courses run with Ruth at the St Paul’s Community Darkroom. These have been really inspiring for me. Photography is ultimately a chemical reaction so it’s been great to go back to the bare bones of it. This is more of a ‘slow’ creative process, than digital photography. So in a way is more mindful and I also need to learn new photography skills outside of paid work, as an ongoing professional practice. More unicorn tricks basically. And more fun for me ultimately. Fun is not an optional action for me now, it’s what I need to move forward. It’s also where the best work is made.

Demonstrating music within photography also isn’t all about press shots and live gigs, its so much more than that. And I’ve always been a forward thinker in this area. You CAN do music photography outside of that system, and I’m skilled enough to do that and it’s also AWESOME? I still have lots of ideas that centre around using music scientifically within photography to come. This ties in much more with my theory writing. My last book was mainly photos and a small bit of writing, my next book will largely be writing and some music science experimental images, which I’m working on now. So visual concept music photography is still my remit but it’s just shifted, into more fertile zones. More experimental ones, more forward thinking ones. I need to go in, not control the out. TRES EXCITE as the French say :-)

INTRO TO SARAH GINN STUDIO

Sarah Ginn Studio is a multi media studio that specialises in photography, creative system building, academic writing and lifestyle products. Basically I am that unicorn.

For more information on new projects please view the Sarah Ginn XX tabs and recent music work. I specialise in event and low light photography in particular, and the branding of photos to create a seamless cohesive look for my clients. I also experiment with scientific and military processes through my work and I’ve been a pioneering electronic music photographer since 2007. With ten year residences held at fabric and Arcadia amongst other labels and festivals.

Both fabric and Arcadia have fully influenced my work with their integrated outlook on music performance, and have enabled me to come up with the Sarah Ginn XX projects a couple of years ago. XX is where academic theory and photography collide and are designed to be multifaceted and multimedia projects.

Since 2022 I have started to write, creating meta tool essays to encourage people to make things by combining science, pop culture and metaphysical/spiritual ideas to create The Theories, which are short essays. At this present time the first essay, The Feedback Loop Theory will be available in a forthcoming long form book for creatives to access to see how their art travels through space and time, and why all art is important. Music is a special medium that amplifies energy and my early writing reflects how it acts within a system, like many systems in our lives. The book will be open source so anyone can contact me with their own ideas to add to it. Future theories to be completed are: The Planet Music Theory/The Focus Theory and The Mutual Muse Theory. Some of these are workflow systems to be used to carry out collaborative creative projects, such as the Sarah Ginn XX project.

My work is available through my book Super Sharp Shooter and my photography is extensively shown in fabric’s 25 year book titled: fabric 25. Links to buy these books are below