Trent Mitchell makes photographs to find a sense of place in the beautiful mess. His work reflects a burning curiosity about the people, places and experiences that shape this strange place we call home.

Creating across the intersections of fine art, editorial and commercial practice, Trent approaches each moment with purpose, valuing authenticity over perfection. Through playful instinct and an open nature, Mitchell allows scenes to unfold naturally and reveals intuitive frames that are real and serendipitous.

Grounded with thoughtful creative vision, Trent’s photographs are marked by a raw signature that’s distinctly his own.

With a background in art direction and publishing, Trent has received international acclaim for single images, bodies of work and several self-published books.

He won the coveted Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize and has been a finalist for the award over many years. He has also been highly recognised in, among others, the International Photography Awards, Sony World Photography Awards, Head On and the Australian Life Photographic Prize.

Mitchell’s work has been widely exhibited and is held in numerous public and private collections, including the National Library of Australia. His acclaimed series and accompanying book, Australian Lustre, was presented in a solo exhibition at the Australian Embassy in Paris.

AWARDS

2025
Second – International Photography Awards | Fine Art Books
Finalist – Australian Regional Photography Prize

2023
Finalist – Australian Life Photography Award

2022
Finalist – Australian Photography Awards
Shortlisted – Australian Photobook Awards

2021
Second – International Photography Awards | Self Published Books
Finalist – Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize
Finalist – Photo Collective Stories

2020
Honourable Mention – International Photography Awards | Fine Art
Honourable Mention x 2 – International Photography Awards | One Shot

2019
Finalist - Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize
Finalist - Sony World Photography Awards | Sport
Finalist - Nikon Australian Surf Photo of the year
Nominee – Joop Swart Master Class

2018
Winner - Nikon Australian Surf Photo of the year
Finalist - Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize
Finalist - Australian Life Photographic Prize
Third – International Photography Awards | People
Third – International Photography Awards | Sport Editorial

2017
Honourable Mention x 5 – International Photography Awards | Fine Art
Honourable Mention x 3 – International Photography Awards | One Shot

2016
Finalist - Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize

2015
Winner - Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize
Finalist x 2 Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize
Finalist – Head On Landscape Prize
Semi-Finalist - Head On Portrait Prize
Finalist – Nikon Australian Surf Photo of the year

2014
Winner - Desktop Magazine | Create Awards
Honourable Mention – International Photography Awards | Fine Art Books
Finalist – Nikon Australian Surf Photo of the year

2013
Nominee – Framed Awards – Sports photographer of the year
Semi-Finalist – Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize
Winner x 3 – PhotoShoot Awards – Oceans

2012
Winner – International Photography Awards | Special
Third place – International Photography Awards | People
Semi-finalist – Moran Contemporary Photography Prize
Winner – The Galley Club Annual Awards | Chasing the Curve

2011
Winner – Capture Magazine | Emerging Photographer of the Year | Overall
Winner – Capture Magazine | Emerging Photographer of the Year | Portrait
Finalist – Nikon Australian Surf Photo of the year
Semi-finalist – Moran Contemporary Photography Prize

2010
Winner – Capture Magazine’s Emerging Photographer of the Year | Sport
Finalist – Moran Contemporary Photography Prize
Finalist – Nikon Australian Surf Photo of the year

2009
Winner – Essence of Australia Photography Comp
Finalist – Moran Contemporary Photography Prize
Finalist – Nikon Australian Surf Photo of the year

EXHIBITIONS

2021
Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize| Group exhibition |

2019
Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize | Group exhibition | Juniper Hall

2018
Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize | Group exhibition | Juniper Hall
Australian Life Photographic Prize | Group exhibition | Hyde Park

2017
Australia. Seriously? | Solo exhibition | The Moran Gallery

2015
Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize | Group exhibition
Head-On landscape Prize | Group exhibition

2012
Asymbol Gallery | Group exhibition
Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize | Group exhibition

2010
The Unseen | Solo exhibition | Concrete Crayons Gallery
Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize | Group exhibition

2009
Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize | Group exhibition

BOOKS
2024 - Australian Lustre - Second – International Photography Awards | Fine Art Books
2021 – Inner Atlas – 2nd International Photography Awards | Self Published Books
2021 – Chasing the Curve: a Portrait of the Sea – 10 year anniversary edition
2013 – Above/Below – 1st Desktop Magazine Create Awards
2011 – Chasing the Curve: a Portrait of the Sea – 1st The Galley Club Awards

SELECTED CLIENTS

Patagonia / Coopers Brewery / Uber / Tourism Australia / Tourism Tasmania / Gatorade / Balter Brewery / Warner Brothers International / Google / Suncorp Australia / Medicare / Red Bull International / Telstra / James Hardie / Commonwealth Bank / Kellogg’s / Leica / Mercedes-Benz / Rip Curl / Starlight Foundation / Nikon Australia