Young photographers help us to refresh our image
The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families has teamed up with a group of eight budding photographers from Wac Arts in Hampstead to develop a set of images reflecting young people’s lives.
They got together for a four-day photography workshop led by award-winning photographer Sandro Sodano from Poached Creative. The aim was to develop the group’s camera skills and create new imaging to support the Centre’s re-brand.
During the workshops the young people were taught about the equipment and learnt composition skills from compiling moodboards to considering depth and lighting. Each young person was provided with a camera and were supported in setting up and taking shots both within Wac Art’s centre in the Old Town Hall and on Hampstead Heath. During a feedback session on the final day the group reflected on the stories they had captured as part of their shoot.
The photography produced reflects real experience, based around themes of resilience, choice, emotional wellbeing and self-expression. This aligns itself with a wider movement that wants imagery around mental health to be more representative, connecting with the many young people and families affected, including those supported by the Centre.
Under the rebrand, the Centre’s name has changed to the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families. The Centre’s vision a world where children and families are supported effectivelyto build on their strengths and toachieve their goals in life.
The images from this workshop will be used to tell that story across the website, social media channels and in external materials.
A spokesperson from the Centre said: “Children, young people and families are at the heart of everything we do and we wanted our new branding to reflect this. The young people who took part were inspirational and the images give a fantastic representation of their interpretation of emotional wellbeing.”
Chris, a member of Wac arts and participant in the workshop said: "My choice to join this project was an act of resilience but also believing in creating something inspirational that I feel that I can work outside my comfort zone. As a disabled person I hope I can be an example to other people who would want to build up their creativity and feel better about themselves, each other, the project and their community."