This Year with press passes for four political conferences, I only made it to two and Yes I did miss that speech! 07/10/26
For the Labour conference in Liverpool, I initially found a fantastic Airbnb. It was located right across the road from the conference venue in a newly built block of flats. The only problem was that I could only secure it until Monday morning, but the Prime Minister's speech was scheduled for Tuesday.
I tried to book a replacement room on Booking.com, but the remaining options were either expensive or located too far out of town. Eventually, I stumbled upon a listing and decided to check it out on the Saturday before everything began. I had so much trouble locating it that I nearly gave up. When I finally found the Royal Chambers Hotel; it had a tiny, weathered sign that looked ready to drop off the wall, hanging above a manky-looking doorway on a street that felt intimidating even in broad daylight. Access was entirely via a key-code system, meaning there was no staff on site. I quickly decided it was a total no-go and set out to find something better.
Because I have been working on a feature story with Louise Haigh, the First Secretary of State, documenting her first months in power, my brief this year was slightly different. Normally, I would study the daily schedule and spend my time photographing the main speakers from the press gallery in the conference hall. This year, however, I managed to get a rare look behind the scenes.
My first scheduled shoot was with Louise as she rehearsed her conference speech in a small room tucked away next to the main stage. The walls were lined with pictures of the key conference speakers, and the room was set up with snacks for the participants, a lectern, and two teleprompters. Her speech was timed for ten minutes, but the first run-through clocked in at twelve. Louise was joined in the room by her speechwriter, Nick, and her special advisor, Luke.
After the rehearsal, I headed over to the Labour London Party event with my camera, hoping to catch a quick speech from the Prime Minister and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, before they began their rounds of the regional parties. Unfortunately, the press were barred from entering the party this year. Blocked at the door, I pivoted and went to meet Louise outside the Yorkshire party event. This time, luck was on my side; I was granted full access, and once we were inside, able to photograph.
The next morning, I headed to the press room to catch the first speakers of the day on the main stage. From there, I made my way over to the Pullman hotel, where Louise was having her hair and makeup done ahead of her speech. The process took roughly an hour, mostly because Louise had to slip away mid-makeover to attend a meeting.
Later that day, I was down in front of the main stage to photograph Louise’s speech. By the afternoon, my assignment took me over to the Museum of Liverpool where Louise was hosting a joint talk with Julia Gillard, the former Australian Prime Minister. Julia and Louise met privately just before they were due on stage, and I was lucky enough to capture some great behind-the-scenes images of their meeting, as well as coverage of the public talk itself.
While we had several plans lined up for the following day, none of them materialised; government business ultimately took precedence. Instead, I spent my final hours capturing miscellaneous speakers and events around the conference floor. Holding an open return ticket, I eventually caught the latest train back to London—ironically ending up watching the Prime Minister’s speech on television rather than photographing it.
For the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham I opted for a different strategy. To save on the cost of booking another hotel room, I decided to commute up for the final day specifically to photograph their leader Kemi Badenoch’s keynote speech.
Having booked the cheapest available ticket on the 06:21 AM train, I arrived at the venue to find a noticeably quieter press room with fewer journalists and photographers than I'd seen at Labour. There were free bacon sandwiches, tea, and coffee, I headed over to the Getty Images desk at the back of the room to catch up and swap notes with the other photographers.
Before Kemi took the stage, both the shadow Home Secretary and shadow Chancellor delivered their speeches. Because the venue was less crowded, there was far more room to move around and significantly fewer officials stopping you, which made the actual job of photographing the stage infinitely easier. My plan paid off: within a couple of hours, I spotted one of my photos illustrating a Telegraph article online. Seeing it live on the site made the slow, two-and-a-half-hour journey home on a cheap ticket almost entirely worth it.
Waltham Forests new Councillors portrait commission 21/05/26
It is a big day at Waltham Forest Town Hall the first council meeting for the newly elected councillors. My brief is to photograph the new cabinet members, both individually and together, before the meeting begins.
Instead of the usual, simple white corporate backdrop, the press team has chosen to use the building's striking exterior and art deco lobby. Designed by Philip Hepworth and completed in 1942, these features provide a beautiful and historic setting. Using a large lighting setup, Mick Barnes from the communications team coordinates with each cabinet member as they arrive.
Once the individual shots are complete, we move outside for a group portrait, plus individual shots of the Mayor and the leadership team. We wrap up with a final group shot in one of the upstairs meeting rooms. I edit and process the images straight away, sending them to Mick for immediate publication on social media and the council's website.
Waltham Forest Council Elections 08/05/26
The polls had closed the night before, but the counting process began early the next morning. I arrived on my bike and headed into the assembly hall. In my mind, this would all be done and dusted by 1pm, and I was hopeful of making it to a photo meet review in Hackney by 4:30.
This should have been quick and easy. Labour had controlled Waltham Forest since 2014, and I had worked with many of the councillors over the years, photographing them at events and openings across the borough. They were always out canvassing and chatting with residents.
As the morning progressed and I spoke with the other local press photographers, I realised this could become a much bigger story. We were allowed cameras in the gallery, but not on the counting floor where all the real action was happening. As I wandered around the hall, I could see votes being piled into boxes for the different political parties. There were 22 wards and 60 council seats. Just by looking, I could see the Green Party boxes filling up across many of the wards.
As the candidates began arriving, I started asking if I could photograph them outside the Town Hall and record a few short video clips. As the day went on, I met the Green Party publicity representative, who helped gather groups of Green Party candidates for photographs and filming. I was filing images up to the Getty database throughout the afternoon, and by late afternoon the balance had tipped — the Green Party had won enough seats to control the council.
This image was taken just after the three candidates had won their ward.
By 7pm, the new councillors were celebrating outside the Town Hall, posing for pictures for myself and the BBC, while news came in from several other councils suggesting there had been a Green wave across London.
I filed the last group shots and slowly walked away from the Town Hall through the streets of Walthamstow, wondering how things might change — only realising the following morning that I had forgotten to pick up my bike.
Daisy Cooper in her St Albans constituency 12/03/26
Out of my studio and into a packed morning with Daisy Cooper and her team visiting a business, primary school and neighbourhood scheme. Arriving in St Albans with enough time to have a cup of tea and some porridge at the local Pret a Manger, before heading to Daisy’s office which is based on the main shopping street.
Our first visit is to a local business that sells pre loved goods, training young people up cycle the pieces and selling them in a large shop just off the main high street. Daisy is asked to do an call out video to advertise the business and the new eBay auctions of the furniture.
We then moved on to a local primary school, where a very caring head mistress showed us round some of the activities and spaces they are using to help the pupils cope with anxiety and better mental health. The school had a dedicated room where pupils could go if they were feeling overwhelmed, a special outdoor building for circle time where children get to discuss problems and feelings.
For the final visit of the morning we went to a neighbourhood community scheme and met a large group of volunteers who have created a App where people can ask for help with shopping or health appointments. The volunteers pick up the requests from the App and help members of the community. The group had been nominated for the Kings award and Daisy gave a speech thanking the members for their contributions, taking time afterwards to speak with each table of volunteers.
Once we were back in the town, I left Daisy and her team prepping for an evening speech and dinner and then an evening event of Women in finance in the city of London
Sisters Seen 19/12/25
Sisters Seen is a self-initiated, collaborative portrait project created by members of AOP’s F22 group. What makes the F22 community special is its spirit of solidarity: a unique network of women photographers who choose to champion one another rather than compete. Instead of rivals, we are collaborators, supporters, and advocates for each other’s success.
The concept for the project began with the super talented portrait and documentary photographer Anne-Marie Michel. We live only a few streets apart in Walthamstow and often meet to share ideas, talk through projects, it seemed very natural for us to be the first pairing to try out the idea of being a model and a photographer
It was December freezing cold, daylight disappearing almost as soon as it arrived. We decided my studio would be our location. Anne-Marie photographed me first. She envisioned a simple, graphic backdrop and clean flash lighting. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel the usual anxiety of being in front of the camera. Instead, I found myself genuinely enjoying the experience—watching her work, noticing her process. As I relaxed, something shifted. We reached a level of understanding, collaboration, and trust that’s rare among peers.
Once she was finished we swapped roles. With LED lights set up and the last traces of daylight fading, Anne-Marie sat on an old Ikea stool, dressed in her signature black. I photographed her keeping the environment very simple.
Afterwards, we reviewed the images together—discussing, comparing, and noticing which ones resonated with both of us. It felt like a true dialogue, expressed through photographs instead of words.
At its core, the Sisters Seen portrait project is a simple but powerful idea: women photographers photographing each other. It’s not just a series of portraits—it’s a creative exchange, a peer-to-peer reflection, and a collective act of visibility. An invitation to be seen, and to see each other, with honesty and generosity.
Visa Pour L’image 28/08/26
Wow, this was my first visit to the famous photo festival in Perpignan! Over the years, I had heard so much about this event. This year, I finally decided to go on a solo adventure and see what it’s all about.
I found a tiny town with narrow streets using every bit of its architecture to provide exhibition spaces for photographers from all over the world, showcasing their, projects, and photo stories.
The first evening, I was invited to the opening drinks. It felt daunting as a non-French speaker with only a small amount of Duo lingo Italian under my belt, but off I went to have a go. Once there, I realised virtually everyone spoke French. As I walked through the guests, I hoped to hear at least someone speaking English.
I was in luck. I met Bernadette Tuazon, who had flown in from New York from CNN to review photographers' work. I had spent the previous month trying to get accredited and register for reviews, so Bernadette kindly explained how the system worked and offered to review my work later in the week.
On Monday, August 31st—while everyone in the UK was enjoying their last bank holiday of the summer—I attended the first evening screening in the open-air theatre. All the work from the exhibitions and other stories from around the world were shown on a massive screen. By this point, I was starting to recognise people from the drinks the evening before and could talk to other photographers about their incredible work.
Seeing the collective work of photographers from all over the world was incredible. We are exposed to so little information outside our own countries and the algorithms that social media creates for us. I fully recommend that photographers come for this alone. Yes, there is a lot of war and humanitarian disaster on display, but we cannot remain in blinkers. We must take every opportunity to see the bigger picture.
By the last day I had managed to achieve several reviews and was looking to stop for lunch in a restaurant that had looked good all week. As I approached the waiter he asked myself and another diner if we minded being placed on the same table. We both accepted and began to chat. This Juliette’s first trip to the festival working as a communications manager to a NGO she had come to review photographers portfolios. We had lunch and met later for dinner attended the screening and then found the bar Le Grand Cafe de la Poste, where everyone hangs out, should you decide to go the the festival.
Three Days of Design 10/06/26
I love this festival, it’s visiting a city by the sea where the transport works and most people cycle to get around. It’s a small enough city to bump into people as you go to each of the showrooms, exhibitions and events and of course the bars. At the end of each day a steady string of designers and press make their way to the Palae Bar on a narrow street off Kongens Nytorv, where during the day open sandwiches are served with draft beer and in the evening the occupants spill out onto the pavement and road around.
During the day I cycle to venues with my camera and photograph. One venue is further out of town and by the time I arrive the sun is out and the venue is floating out on the water. The exhibition is being held in a clubhouse with a sauna next door and a deck on either side leads to the now inviting water. The room has natural lighting and a large window onto the water. Bread and Butter is the name of the exhibition and this year they are focusing on perfect pairs of objects in bathing. Exploring the idea of rituals and health benefits the designs are laid on a large table with the backdrop of the window on the water.
For me water always draws me in and I spent way longer here looking and photographing the objects soaking up the light and wishing I had brought my costume for a quick dip before heading back into the city.
Lorraine Butler For the Irish Times 23/04/26
Lorraine is the CEO of CPM International, her interview with Mark Paul discussing the difference between business in England and Ireland.
My brief was to photograph Lorraine in a recognisable London setting, we chose Westminster bridge as both sides of the Thames have recognisable land marks Big Ben and the London Eye.
After googling the best spots to take a photograph and a recce, I felt ready for our 10.30am shoot. Lorraine arrived in a red pant suite, perfect to stand out amongst the crowds of tourists at the bottom of Big Ben. We made our way through to a quieter spot and began to photograph in under an hour we had covered both sides of the bridge and several other locations. Lorraine then dashed off to a company meeting in Central London and I made my way back to the studio to edit.
RPS 40% project 9/01/26
Yvette was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on 5 September 2025. She was previously Home Secretary from July 2024 and is the first woman in British political history to have served in both roles.
Yvette served as Shadow Home Secretary from 2021 and chaired the Home Affairs Select Committee in Parliament between 2016 and 2021. She served in the last Labour Government between 1999 and 2010, including as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Pontefract and Castleford in 1997.
As you can imagine, arranging this portrait took some time, given Yvette’s schedule. It’s mid-January, there’s snow in the forecast, and I’ve spent the past couple of days liaising with her team to discuss possible locations. I catch an early morning train to Wakefield; it’s cold but still no snow, and I get the feeling the day might fall into place.
Yvette has chosen The Tigers Rugby League Football Club as the location, a site firmly rooted in her constituency. The stadium is in the middle of a refurbishment, with new seating and facilities being installed. Even so, it has real charm—a grounded, down-to-earth character. Ali, from Yvette’s team, kindly collects me from the station and drives me to the stadium so we can take a look around before she arrives.
The sky is grey and the air sharp, but the light is even, which helps. After walking the grounds, I focus on the new seating area on the far side of the stadium. When Yvette arrives, she’s wearing a Tigers scarf with black and amber patterns. It fits perfectly with the surrounding rows of black and orange seats, the orange ones spelling out “Tigers.”
We talk about the stadium and her memories of bringing her family to matches over the past thirty years—where they preferred to sit, and how they would watch the game while keeping an eye on their young children. We spend twenty minutes or so taking the portrait and looking out over the pitch. Yvette’s enthusiasm for the club makes me think more deeply about the venue’s history and the strength of its ties to the local community.
After the session, a member of her team gives me a lift back to the old mill where the constituency office is based. It’s still a working mill, home to several other businesses. Before heading back I have lunch in the tearoom at the mill, enjoying a small glimpse into the everyday life of some of the constituents Yvette represents.
Wrapping up Nature 27/08/26
Fantastic news ‘Wrapping up Nature’ has been won 2nd prize in the IPA awards in the Nature / Other section. The series features items from the natural world, fruit, wood, vegetables, fish and flowers. Each item is tightly wrapped in single use plastic packaging which will long survive its bio degradable contents. This manmade, often unnecessary plastic wraps around each organic object causing damage and preventing it from reentering natures cycle.
The series begins with a pile of oranges which sits on an aptly named mandarin colour paper backdrop, the oranges are covered in black plastic netting stretched tightly trapping its contents, next to a fish in vacuum packed suffocating clear plastic, followed by a forest of Broccoli pieces individually wrapped in thick plastic, next to a sack of wood with bright orange weaved plastic entwined around it and finally a bunch of Pink Dianthus Caryopyllus flowers wrapped in cellophane leaning on another fittingly named Carnation pink paper backdrop.
Ruth Samuels for Sisters Seen 28/05/26
Sisters Seen is the latest F22 project featuring portraits of women and non binary photographers taken by women and non binary photographers. Sister Seen gives the F22 members an opportunity to connect with each other and see ourselves from different perspectives.
This is my portrait of Ruth taken in the Treehouse studio, on a boiling hot day.
Ruth Samuels is a documentary photographer, her recent series ‘The Beholder’ won the AOP emerging photographer award, was shortlisted and exhibited in the National Portrait gallery. Ruth’s portrait of Reverend DR Bishop Mallet the Bishop of Croydon was short listed for the Portrait of Britain.
Aidan Turner for the Irish Times 07/04/26
A bit of a tricky shoot to arrange as Aidan’s schedule was full rehearsing for Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National Theatre.
With all the equipment packed in a cab, I head for Putney Bridge to a studio, thats usually used for Yoga on a Tuesday lunchtime. I have three different setups and possibly a hour of Aidan’s time depending on how long the interview took. This is the only photoshoot my mother has ever asked to come along to, it turns out she was a big fan of Poldark a previous television series Aidan had starred in. Unfortunately I had to say no.
Aidan arrived and we got through all three setups easily, before his next scheduled interview. A couple of days later with the shoot all submitted to the Irish Times, I decided to look up the play and see if there were any last minute tickets available, by chance there were and I went along to a Matinee performance on Saturday afternoon. It felt strange going to the theatre alone, but I fully recommend it and in the interval had a great chat with the people next to me who turned out to be regular theatre goers and were amazed that I had managed to get a last minute ticket.
Natalie Fleet 01/02/26
Natalie Fleet is the Labour MP for Bolsover. Since being elected in 2024 Natalie has campaigned to change the Victims and Courts bill, the changes are to restrict convicted abusers of having any parental rights. This amendment was voted through in November 2025. Natalie continues to campaign for women affected by grooming and rape. This portrait was taken in Natalie’s Westminster office.