Yani Clarke is a documentary art photographer based in Lismore in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, Australia, working on Bundjalung Country. Her practice is driven by immersive projects that uncover raw, often overlooked stories at the edges of culture, ritual, and community.

Her work has been published in VICE, F-Stop Magazine, Empty Kingdom, and Pearl Press. Clarke has been a semi-finalist for the Head On Portrait Prize and the Maggie Diaz Photography Prize for Women, and has been nominated twice for the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass (2016, 2018).

In 2024, she was a finalist for both the Perth Centre for Photography Award and Women Street Photographers, with work exhibited internationally in Brazil in 2025.

In November 2025, Clarke presented her first solo exhibition, LUCKY ROCKET, at Elevator ARI in Dumberimba / Lismore as part of the Head On Photo Festival Open Program. She is currently expanding a body of work rooted in her home region, tracing themes of recovery, ritual, and the shifting edges of belonging.

Alongside her documentary practice, Clarke has an extensive commercial background working with musicians and touring acts internationally. She has worked across Canada and the United States with international touring artists, including shooting a U.S. tour with Half Moon Run, for whom she designed two album covers shot entirely on analogue film. Her work spans artist headshots, press and promotional photography, album artwork, and music video production — including the music video for Emilie & Ogden’s Go Home.

Clarke continues to work with musicians in Australia and internationally across headshots, press photography, album artwork, and tours.

interview with yani (APPLE PODCASTS)

Selected Exhibitions & Recognition

  • Lucky Rocket — Solo exhibition, Elevator ARI, Head On Photo Festival Open Program (2025)

  • Finalist — Perth Centre for Photography Award (2024)

  • Finalist — Women Street Photographers (2024), exhibited in Brazil (2025)

  • Semi-finalist — Maggie Diaz Photography Prize for Women (2017)

  • Nominee — World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass (2016, 2018)

  • Semi-finalist — Head On Portrait Prize (2014)

Selected Publications

  • VICE

  • F-Stop Magazine

  • Empty Kingdom

  • Pearl Press

Exhibitions

  • Portraits of People, Gallery on the Lane, Southport, QLD, Group Show (2011)

  • Head On Portrait Prize, Sydney, NSW, Group Show of Finalists at National School of Arts (2014)

  • Maggie Diaz Photography Prize for Women, Bright Space Gallery, Melbourne, VIC (2017)

  • Issue — Color 2024, F-Stop Magazine, Group Show (2024)

  • Light/Night, La Baqueria, Vancouver, BC, Group Show (2021)

  • COLLECTIVE, Perth Centre of Photography, Perth, Group Show (2024)

  • Women Street Photographers, São Paulo Photo Festival: April 25-27, Group Show (2025)

  • Head On Photo Festival, Open Program - Series: LUCKY ROCKET, Elevator Ari, Lismore NSW (2025)