Playboy to Summer Fridays: Ali Mitton Reclaims the Female Gaze

"If people want to work with you, they’re going to find you. So you've just got to create the work, be aligned with your own taste, and put it out there." — Ali MittonFrom a darkroom in the Gold Coast to shooting global campaigns in Los Angeles, photographer Ali Mitton has built an undeniable, sun-drenched career capturing freedom, raw movement, and elevated beauty. But what happens when the high stakes of commercial advertising pull you away from your artistic centre?In this incredibly raw and transparent conversation, Ali opens up about building massive relationships with legacy brands like CoverGirl and Aerie, navigating the toxic comparison loops of Instagram, and how a devastating personal crisis, losing her dream home in the 2025 LA wildfires, sparked an existential creative reckoning. We dive deep into the differences between the Australian and American industry landscapes, the realities of high-stakes commercial sets, and why true artistry requires the courage to say "no".INSIDE THE EPISODE: 00:00 — Intro04:32 — Owning the Title Before You've Earned It07:46 — Protecting Your Signature as Jobs Get Bigger12:06 — The No-Retouching Era16:16 — Getting Dropped21:10 — How Dream Clients Actually Find You24:35 — Shooting Playboy for the Female Gaze28:29 — Legacy Clients, Celebrities & Managing Egos34:35 — Being the Client for Once36:55 — Losing the House in the LA Fires43:45 — Learning to Say No48:04 — The Impossible Shot List57:51 — Beauty's Nostalgic Rewind1:01:28 — Instagram Rewind: Behind the ShotsConnect with our Guest:Ali Mitton on Instagram: https://bit.ly/4vLjmuR Website: www.alimitton.com https://bit.ly/3T12QJjEnjoyed this Episode? Join our Community!Your host, Arielle Thomas, on Instagram,⁠@arielle.thomas⁠ https://bit.ly/4v21hbyUs, on Instagram,⁠@processthepodcast https://bit.ly/4xJ1EKlWhatsapp Community @processthepodcast https://bit.ly/44pdcFfFollow us to get notified every time a new episode drops every Tuesday. See you at the next one! * This episode includes third-party images and video clips used for educational commentary and visual references. All rights and ownership belong to their respective copyright holders. This content is utilized under Fair Use principles and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with Process The Podcast. For takedowns or  copyright inquiries, please contact [email protected]