A few weeks ago, I launched something close to my heart: Shoots for Grassroots: a project where 50% of every photoshoot booking goes directly to a nominated grassroots organisation in Sheffield.

For the first portrait session day, I partnered with Common Thread Sheffield, a community based organisation that aims to promote ethical fashion, creativity, and cooperation. They host regular clothes swap events in Sheffield where you can bring your preloved clothing, find new pieces for your wardrobe, or repair your clothes with one of their volunteer sewists. Their work is about more than just fashion, it’s about community care and sustainability.

To be completely honest, my first Shoots for Grassroots didn’t exactly go as I imagined. Only one family booked in…and it was the founder of Common Thread Sheffield. But here’s the thing: that one family made it worth it.

The day turned out to be beautifully sunny, so instead of staying indoors at Union St, our original shoot location, we decided to move outside to Pound Park, where colourful new murals have just been painted as part of Pounds Park Paint Jam. It was the perfect backdrop for a bright, playful shoot.

The family who booked actually reserved three slots, since they had nine people in total and wanted plenty of time for different family combinations, including a gorgeous photo of nan surrounded by all the grandkids. The teens were also super accommodating and we captured some genuinely joyful smiles of them.

And while I had hoped more families would join, together we still raised £45 for Common Thread Sheffield. That included a Pay it Forward donation as well. That £45 will go towards helping Common Thread continue their swaps and repairs, small acts that make a big difference in how our community thinks about clothes, waste, and creativity.

This experience reminded me that even when things don’t unfold as expected, there’s still value in showing up, trying something new, and connecting art with activism.

I’ll be continuing Shoots for Grassroots in the future, supporting other local groups doing incredible work here in Sheffield. You can sign up here to be notified of future ones. If you’d like to nominate an organisation or get involved, please reach out, I’d love to hear your ideas.