Our Impact
TPF in Review
2020 was The Photography Foundation’s first year, and what a year it was! In between navigating the many obstacles created by COVID-19, we managed to deliver our inaugural training programme and our first five trainees graduated in December. Since then we’ve grown far quicker than we expected with our third cohort of trainees graduating and our reach into the industry as a whole expanding all the time…
150+
Applications
To the Core Training Programme
60
Applicants
Shortlisted for the Training Programme
17
TPF Trainees
Selected, trained and graduated
17
Mentors
Recruited for the Trainees
Trainee Case Study
Sophie Parnell
6 months down the line and I can honestly say that I have actually achieved something in my life. Thank you to The Photography Foundation for supporting me on my worst days, pushing me to my limits and never doubting me even when I doubted myself – which I do a lot.
This programme has allowed me to actually understand who I am as a person as well as being able to achieve things I never thought I could. I am so grateful that I have been able to be a part of this opportunity as I am now able to do what I love best with the help of you all.
Completing the course in November 2021 has opened up so many opportunities and I am now half way through an intense creative advertising course with The BBC and have even got some job interviews coming up for apprenticeships with the BBC.
The holistic approach
We want to set our trainees up for success, and this means giving them the professional skills they need to achieve the career they want, as well as the technical skills they need to become great creatives. Through non- technical workshops, mentoring and individual projects, we take a holistic approach to development and growth to foster the self-confidence and business skills required to succeed in the creative industries.
From workshops on becoming a freelancer and finding an agent, to learning how to self-promote and create a portfolio, our trainees graduate with a whole lot more than technical training under their belt.
To smooth the transition from the world of learning to the world of work, we pair every trainee with a hand-picked mentor from the creative industries to support them throughout the programme and beyond.
At the end of the programme, trainees are tasked with creating a final group exhibition to showcase their work. This is an opportunity to celebrate their achievements and share their portfolio highlights with the wider creative community, taking their first step into the creative industry.
Trainee Case Study
Daniel Housley
Before The Photography Foundation I was doing Digital Marketing, everyone at my work place was lovely but I lacked excitement and didn’t care at all about the work I was doing as I didn’t enjoy it. Photography has always been a strong passion of mine ever since I was 13, however I had always been way too scared to step into it professionally as I had no idea where to even begin when it came to making it a career.
The fact that it is free was really important to me, coming from a low income background, it meant that I wouldn’t have to worry about my biggest trouble whilst being on the course.
Our Graduates & Alumni
Our graduates from the Core Training Programme
Since 2020, we have completed three training programmes, reaching 16 young Londoners who are now TPF Alumni & on the Storytellers books. Click on each person below to learn more about them, see some of their work and find out what they’re doing now!
Get in touch with us via Storytellers/ the professional opportunities form, if you have a brief, placement, or commission you’d like to hire our alumni for – we’d love to find out more and find you the perfect person for the job!
Our TPF Mission
The alleviation of poverty through education and the promotion of the art of photography.
We create pathways to professional photography careers for less advantaged young adults in London through education and work experience, valuing talent and motivation over who you know or where you come from. We use photography as a conduit for social change, community connections and positive social interactions. We promote the art of photography, bringing photography to a new, wider and more diverse audience.
Photography for Social Change
For many, a lack of financial resources, opportunities or industry connections mean that a career in photography is out of reach. We believe that talent and motivation should be more important than who you know or where you come from.
We use photography as a skill for life — an educational and developmental tool that’s also a positive way to build confidence and connections. We promote the art of photography, bringing it to a new, wider, and more diverse audience. We do this through our rolling 6-month training programme, TPF Talks & workshops.
How we achieve our TPF Mission
Core Training Programme
Our programme aims to create a supportive and inspiring environment where the trainees can master the basics of professional photography, develop a portfolio tailored to their career aspirations, and gain as much practical experience as they can. The goal? To support our trainees in every way as they begin to carve out their careers in the creative industries.
Targeted Workshops
We will develop and launch shorter workshops and training programmes, some of which will be targeted towards harder to reach/more vulnerable groups and young people under 18.
TPF Talks
TPF Talks is a platform for photographers to share their journey, some of their work & their tips for emerging creatives.
We use these events to amplify under- represented voices & professionals working in the industry to encourage the next generation of photographers and creatives to be part of the conversation, build their networks, and to offer role models who are within reach.
TPF Photography Grant
We have partnered with Limi London, a grant giving charity, to provide an annual photography grant for a social documentary project lasting up to 12 months. One grant of £2,500 will be awarded each year. The application is open to anyone who wishes to apply.
TPF Photography Competition
In partnership with Storytellers London we will be launching a photography competition. Which will be open to all (amateurs / professionals / young & old). This competition will not only offer an opportunity for people to display their work, it will also raise the profile of the Foundation and help us to reach more potential students and partners.
Storytellers London
Storytellers is a network of graduate and professional photographers in London who believe in the power of quality photography and visual storytelling.
As a social enterprise we donate all profits to our charity, The Photography Foundation We’re here to show that quality and social impact can go hand in hand.
Storytellers Agency
The Photography Foundation
Storytellers London - Our Creative Agency
Our Photography Business
Storytellers London is the money-making half of our social enterprise. It’s a professional creative agency who produce photography and visual content for brands, businesses and social impact organisations, and all profits are donated straight back to The Photography Foundation to help fund the training programme.
By having our own agency, our trainees that graduate from the training programme are given various opportunities through Storytellers. This means real life paid work experiences and job opportunities, which reduces one of the major barriers for young creatives getting into the industry.