Grace Elizabeth: Brisbane photographer on her new passion project

When abortion was criminalised in Alabama in the US earlier this year, the decision sent shockwaves that reached the home of photographer Grace Smith. She channelled her disappointment for the women affected into a passion project she called, She Chose.

When abortion was criminalised in Alabama in the US earlier this year, the decision sent shockwaves that reached all the way to the Brisbane home of Grace Smith.

The 25-year-old (below), who is a professional photographer and a passionate advocate for women’s rights, channelled her disappointment, anger and frustration for the women affected into a passion project she called She Chose.

Photographer Grace Smith of Grace Elizabeth Images.

Grace’s exhibition, which opens at Newstead Studios later this month, features 25 portraits displayed alongside the emotional, personal stories of eight women and one man.

Each shared with Grace their experiences with abortion, emergency contraceptives and reproductive rights before being photographed for the series.

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Grace says she hopes the honesty of the works will help start a dialogue “about a topic women feel shame in talking about”.

“My hope is that by reading these raw, brave and personal stories … we can all be open minded as a community and be reminded that every individual woman’s journey is rightly her own,” says Grace, who lives at Hendra.

Emily, 29, is one of the women featured in the exhibition She Chose. Photo: Grace Smith

When the idea came to her, she put the call out for women’s personal stories on her Grace Elizabeth Images Instagram account, and was blown away by the candour of the responses.

“These brave women had to make choices at some point in their life. These choices have come from a place that only a woman can know.

“They have made decisions that by no means have been easy, but have given them autonomy over their own bodies, a freedom and a path to live their life. These are reproductive rights.”

She Chose, Aug 31- Sep 20, weekdays,

7am-2pm, Newstead Studios, Newstead