My Journey with Theatre Peckham: Capturing Stories Through Photography

Working with Theatre Peckham as a photographer has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career so far. But how did it all begin? It started with a simple idea: to build my portfolio and gain hands-on experience as an event photographer. I decided to reach out to a few non-profit organizations, offering my services on a volunteer basis. One of those cold emails led me to Theatre Peckham.
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I received a reply from Andrea, the theatre’s manager, who invited me to meet and discuss my intentions. During our conversation, I explained that my goal was to hone my skills and expand my portfolio to advance my career. Andrea appreciated my honesty and enthusiasm, and she assured me I’d be considered for future opportunities.
A few weeks later, I got the call: they were hosting a Black Heritage Month event and wanted me to photograph it. Unfortunately, due to a mix-up, I was given the wrong start time. Despite arriving after the main event had wrapped up, I decided to make the best of the situation. I focused on capturing candid moments of people interacting, some posed portraits, and my favourite shot of the evening a dynamic group photo of actors and actresses, taken using an external flash.

When I sent the photos to Theatre Peckham’s marketing team, their feedback was overwhelmingly positive. They loved the images, even with the timing mishap. From there, more opportunities followed: dress rehearsals, live performances, parties, and public events.

One of my favourite experiences was photographing a dress rehearsal for Cleopatra’s Anthony. The production was visually stunning but also technically challenging due to low lighting and vivid colour shifts. My Sony A6600, while reliable, struggles in dim conditions, but I saw this as an opportunity rather than a limitation. By adjusting my angles and experimenting with levels, I was able to immerse myself in the story unfolding on stage and capture its essence in every shot.

Another highlight was The Power of Representation event, which I was invited to photograph while working on a project for The Camberwell Quarterly. This was a packed day, requiring me to cover two workshops, take headshots of guest speakers and attendees, and capture the panel discussion at the end. To top it off, some key figures from Netflix’s Supa Cell were present, including cast members like Michael Salami and the show’s director. The energy of the event and the significance of its message made it an unforgettable experience.
What I love most about photographing theatre productions is capturing the raw emotions—whether verbal, physical, or both—that tell a story. A single expression or movement can convey a world of meaning, and my goal is to immortalize those moments in my work. I want my photographs to resonate with viewers, allowing them to interpret the narrative through the emotions captured in the frame.

​It’s incredibly rewarding to see Theatre Peckham use my photos on their Instagram and website. It feels like a true acknowledgment of my work and provides a significant boost to my social media presence and portfolio.
Looking back, working with Theatre Peckham has been an amazing journey. I’m not sure where this path will take me—perhaps I’ll become an in-house photographer for them, or maybe it will lead to opportunities with event agencies. Regardless, I’m grateful for the experiences so far and excited to see where my photography journey takes me next.