The Wild Women Story

Red haired woman in a pink dress springs up onto one bare foot in front of a thundering waterfall

I have been working in photography since 2016, but only took the plunge to become a full time photographer in September 2022. Up until the start of that year, I had never been to a workshop or really connected with anyone else in the industry. 2022 was the year I took several leaps of faith, booking four workshops over the course of the year. I’m not sure where the confidence for that came from because most of that year was spent enduring sleepless nights and long tiring days looking after our youngest son. Despite the wild sleep deprivation, something in me knew that I needed to look after myself too. I took my first post-motherhood solo trip last November, to the wilds of Scotland, and for the first time in years I had the opportunity to really look inside and work out what I needed. That experience and the women I shared that trip with reignited my fire, my desire to create and most importantly, reminded me that I needed to surround myself with a supportive network in order to grow.

WHY WILD WOMEN

My journey to Glencoe was shared with Sophie, a wonderful photographer who has an infectious joy for life. We shared a car journey but it was so much more than that - we exchanged stories and worries, took joy in photographing each other in front of breathtaking views, but mostly we enjoyed feeling free in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands. We had given ourselves the permission, space and time to explore our creativity, and we just relished every second of the freedom we had given ourselves.

I remember taking this shot and knowing that I had captured something very special - not just the image itself, but a moment; a moment in time that I go back to when I question whether I should invest in myself or my business, or complicate home life and childcare by taking time away… this image will always remind me of the power of taking a deep breath, of putting myself first occasionally, and of saying ‘yes!’ when an opportunity presents itself.

Our little road trip to Glencoe was just the start. Over the course of the weekend, we enjoyed the most wonderful motherhood photography workshop led by the inimitable Beth Morris of The Motherhood Project. A few precious days away from the stresses and strains of everyday life to experiment with photography and learn from other creatives taught me so much, with Beth fostering the most incredibly supportive environment. I knew I wanted to be able to tap into that feeling more often. I knew I needed to be around other people more often, and from the posts I shared online and the comments and messages I received, I realised that there were so many others out there feeling the same. And so, Wild Women was born. And I haven’t looked back.

“Amy really fosters and encourages a real sense of connection and community. You can feel the passion and hard work that Amy puts into the Wild Women events and they are a perfect balance of structure and free creative space. Would highly recommend (and have!) to anyone starting out or well established in photography.”

Charlotte on Wild Women workshops

Creativity, community and co-working

Wild Women events are designed around the founding principles of creativity, community and co-working. I know first hand that my ambitions are bigger and my creativity is sparked when I work alongside other creative women, and Wild Women is all about creating opportunities for sharing ideas in safe, supportive spaces.

Workshops are primarily focussed on creativity and inspiring you to try new techniques or experiment with those ideas that have been bubbling away. Depending on the workshop/retreat timeline, there will be time for shooting or working alongside other attendees, a styled shoot element, and guest tutors on specialist areas such as studio lighting or how to brand your business.

Co-working events are nearly always completely free of charge and are much more informal. Drop in, bring your laptop and business questions, be prepared to share advice and enjoy a cuppa with like minded individuals who will help you too. We meet online too, so no excuses for not joining in!

Of course, all these events have a fourth, added bonus: content! From individualised portfolio images from workshops, to behind the scenes videos from co-working events, every Wild Women meet up offers plenty of opportunity to create content for your social media channels and website. And don’t worry, I have prompts for that, too!

“Thanks so much for organising Wild Wednesday! You’ve truly tapped into something special — a way for women to share their current photography wins and struggles in a collaborative space without judgement. We may not have been the same room, but I felt a true sense of camaraderie and loved connecting with other like-minded women in the field of photography”.

Sandra on Wild Women online co-working

How to get involved

The easiest way to get involved is to get yourself on the Wild Women mailing list! Weekly emails detailing co-working opportunities, offers from the Wild Women community, and of course, you hear first when workshop tickets are released!

sign me up!