Genesis Trust’s motto is something that I felt was really powerful when I looked on their website: ‘Supporting homeless and vulnerable people in Bath on their journey from crisis to independence’. From my experience with the charity, they do exactly that. All of the volunteers and workers who I have come into contact with there work extremely hard to make sure that they stick by this and help vulnerable people using their services as much as possible.

Throughout my time at the charity, I have been able to talk to people from all backgrounds, of all ages and classes and have got to really know some of the people who attend the different projects. It has not only made me look at life a different way but it has also taught me a lot about my photography and the way in which I shoot. Whenever I photograph at the projects, I always have to ask the subjects to sign a permission form from the charity, which means that I have to talk to the people that I am photographing a lot before I take their photograph. I have found that this has slowed down my photographic practice but in such a way that makes me think about what I am photographing and for what purpose a lot more.

I have spoken about my work for the Genesis Trust a lot as I am proud about the work that they do and the fact that I am able to be a part of it, the running of it and have my photography shown to Bath. I was contacted by Vitalie, the communications coordinator recently, after photographing for the charity for the past two years, saying that my photographs were being used for their leaflets and posters which were being distributed all across Bath. I even went into Boston Tea Party on Alfred Street and saw a huge poster with one of my portraits on it as well as their information leaflets on the side with all of my photographs in it. It was at this point that I felt really proud of the photographs that I had taken as they were going to be seen by thousands of people. This made me especially proud because it was for such a good cause and the photographs were going to help to help others.

Vitalie sent me physical copies of the posters and leaflets where my work is featured so I am able to have copies of it for my portfolio and future references. There are also copies of all of these on their websites and across the internet to reach wider audiences about the organisation. Some of these can be seen below, featuring my photography:

After photographing for them for two years, they emailed me explaining how much they valued me as being part of their team and that they would want to create a more permanent position for me. They explained how they would be able to now pay me for each of the shoots that I did for them. Of course I jumped at the opportunity because this would mean that I would now be classed as a professional photographer. The fact that someone had that much faith in my abilities was overwhelming yet really nice to hear and especially because it was a charity who was doing this. I have been wanting to photograph for charities ever since I knew that I wanted to be a photographer so this felt like a positive step in the right direction. I am so excited for my future with them and to be able to continually work with them and their projects.