What I learned about un-gatekeeping photography at Fujikina London

Fujikina London was nothing short of amazing. To share so honestly and be met with such open arms and open hearts is something I’ll hold close for a long time. The conversations, the incredible questions, the tender moments, and most of all, seeing again that the power of storytelling can be so moving and inspirational. Fujikina London reminded me that photography is never just about the image. It is about the stories behind it. The lived experiences, and the way those stories ripple out to inspire others.

Gathering in community at Fujikina London

One of the most powerful moments of the day was the women’s panel, beautifully chaired by Fujifilm’s Amy Bates. The power of storytelling was a bedrock of the panel discussion. Focusing on our experience as women in the photography industry. I sat and shared alongside Dawn Eagleton, Tigz Rice and Madeline Penfold, each of us from very different genres of photography. Having built our careers in very different ways. It was amazing to hear stories from those I sat beside on stage. Listening to the voices of those who joined through questions and conversation.

This Fujikina London panel was a reminder of how much strength we find when we share our voices together. Storytelling is not a solitary act, it is relational, it is connective, it is communal. Every story shared creates resonance in someone else, sparking recognition, inspiration or even the courage to share their own.

Un-gatekeeping photography

In preparing my own talk, I held the theme of Fujikina London – un-gatekeeping photography – as my North Star. For me, this wasn’t just about making photography more accessible in a technical sense, but about what it means to unmask and bring our whole selves into the room, as we do each time we take a photo. Because our biographies and how we see the world are inextricably entwined with each image we take.

Though I have openly shared that I am AuDHD (autistic and ADHD), I had never centred a talk around neurodivergence. At Fujikina London, I knew the most authentic way to honour the theme was to speak vulnerably about my own lived experience. Un-gatekeeping for me meant unmasking. It meant confronting that inner chatter of how this would be perceived. Assumptions, judgement, the spiral that can whip up and I kept nipping it in the bud. That internalised ableism is always a work in progress.

I believe in standing in and sharing from a place of radical authenticity. No smoke and mirrors. No masking the reality, bending and shaping myself to who I think I should be in any given moment. Because in unmasking my AuDHD to myself, I’ve been unlearning all of that. So, meeting this moment of un-gatekeeping was a threshold.

To meet a wild edge in myself to share about how my neurodivergent brain shapes the way I see and shoot the world, as well as how it shapes my inner landscape each and every day, behind what people see on the surface.

The liminal power of storytelling

What unfolded in that space were liminal moments of deep connection. Vulnerability became strength, story became bridge, and the audience and speakers together created a shared space of learning and empathy. Someone else’s story once illuminated my own. Fujikina London gave me the chance to offer mine back, knowing that it may spark recognition for others too.

This is the radical power of storytelling. When we tell our truths, we create room for others to see themselves reflected and to step forward with courage. Fujikina London was a living example of this. How photography is a modality of expression. A way to translate meaning, identity and belonging, a sense of feeling at home.

Gratitude and looking ahead

I am truly humbled for this opportunity and grateful to Fujifilm for creating a platform where stories like these can be shared. Their intentional amplification of women’s voices, and their commitment to un-gatekeeping photography, shows how much power there is in reshaping who gets to tell stories. As well as how those stories are received.

And the good news is, if you missed this weekend: Fujikina London continues this week!

Fujikina London runs from Thursday 24th September – Sunday 28th September 2025. Don’t miss out on this incredible celebration of photography, community and creativity.

Get your tickets here.

And if you’re visiting, don’t forget to pick up your goodie bag with the latest Fujifilm Focus Magazine and sticker set. Featuring my Film Simulation Recipe – a little piece of creative inspiration to take away. As you soak in everything Fujikina London has to offer.

Find out more about how I’m sharing stories and connecting people, place and planet, here.

official fujifilm x-photographer 2026 – present