Su Cassiano (she/they) is a French Italian self taught award winning photographer based in Istanbul.
They studied linguistic, literature and cinema in Paris. After working as a movie critic and managing an underground dvd shop for a Parisian editor, Su decided to explore the world and make documentaries instead of watching them. Working many odd jobs along the way, they lived in Cambodia where they had a DIY hot dog cart business, before settling in Australia where they started to work as a freelance photographer in 2019. They recently moved to Istanbul.
Specialized in narrative portraiture and documentary, their work is characterized by the intimate relationship and gentle collaboration created with the people they portray. Their story telling aims to deconstruct harmful stereotypes while making dissident voices emerge, often engaging with underrepresented or misrepresented communities.
Su uses long form story telling and focuses on what’s happening to communities beyond the headlines, and in the aftermaths. Su’s work often centers on human rights, may it be gender based violence, queer rights or refugees resilience.
In parallel, Su has trained in shiatsu technics, which helps inform their photographic practice with trauma awareness, and an intuitive approach attuned to their sitter.
Publications and clients include Libération ( France), The New York Times Magazine, Frankie Magazine ( Australia), Hey Barista ( U.S.A.). Their work has appeared in many publications including The Guardian Australia, Archer magazine ( Australia) or Lezs
( Taiwan/Hong Kong).
Su has exhibited extensively, including at the EuroPride (2023, Valetta, Malta), the Royal Photographic Society ( Bristol, 2020), Yangon Pride ( Myanmar, 2020), Kuala Lumpur Photo Festival ( Malaysia, 2019), and has been a finalist multiple times of the Australian Photo Awards ( APA, Melbourne, 2022, 2023), Head On Photo Festival ( 2022, 2023, Sydney), and the Iris Award (Winner in 2017, finalist in 2018, 2021, 2023, Perth Center for Photography, Australia).
In 2022 they were an alumni of Eddie Adam workshop XXXV. In 2023, they were selected for the Representing Pride workshop organised by Holma, with the mentorship of Samira Damato and Tanya Habjouqa.
In 2023, Su organized a fundraiser including 18 international photographers to support the earthquake relief in Türkiye and Syria.
After living in Australia for 5 years, they are now based in Istanbul.
Contact :
su.cassianophotography@gmail.com/ + 61 404 949 725 ( Australia/WhatsApp)/ + 90 531 425 82 89 ( Türkiye)
Photo by Tristan Still