Hunder: “I kind of stumbled through life”

Music journalists Mikey Cahill and Sosefina Fuamoli talk with music photographer Michelle Grace Hunder about her rollercoaster ride of a career.

Music photographer Michelle Grace Hunder has had a rollercoaster ride so far in her life.

Having started doing a sports science degree before working in sports administration and marketing with the NBL and Melbourne Football Club, Hunder went through many roles before finally picking up a camera.

She told Hit Different’s Mikey Cahill and Sosefina Fuamoli about how she finally discovered her love for photographing the biggest music stars and concerts.

“I kind of stumbled through life,” she admitted.

“I was really looking internally and thinking what am I going to do with my life, and I picked up a camera.”

“My husband really gave me the permission and space to really pursue it, and within six months I had a business.”

Hunder always worked with music stars from the beginning, including when she published a book ‘Rise’ on the hip-hop scene, which featured photographs of around 110 hip-hop artists.

Having started as self-funded, Hunder soon rose up the ranks, where she now photographs the best gigs and most popular stars, including her close association with upcoming Aussie artist Ruel.

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We covered it on Hit Different, a weekly podcast that puts music culture in context.

“Ruel is an 18-year-old artist, singer-songwriter from Sydney, who’s incredible talented and has a beautiful, beautiful voice,” Hunder said.

“We were forced upon him, but it’s become like a family unit, it’s my most favourite thing I’ve ever worked on.”

Alongside working closely with Ruel and being on-hand at the best musical moments, Hunder has also recently launched her own MGH Masterclass for budding photographers looking at how to break into the music industry.

Starting during COVID times when she received a grant to create an online masterclass into music photography, Hunder launched her program just last week.

“It was something that I wanted to do for ages, but this just really gave me the opportunity to get the right people involved, as it’s such a big process to write an online course,” Hunder said.

“It basically has everything that you need to know as a music photographer from picking up the camera to knowing what settings you need or how do you start getting paid.”

Hear the full story on Hit Different, a free weekly podcast that puts music culture in context.