Speak Now '19 - A London event about empowering female photographers

Last month I travelled up to London to this brand new event, armed with my Notebook, my oyster card, a lot of enthusiasm, a few nerves, and just my phone for photo taking.

The day for me was not about picture taking, and I wanted to be in the moment and soak up as much as possible, so the cameras did stay at home. Plus I am finally having fun again taking photos on my phone, using different apps and whatnot, and fun is important! Wooo!

'Speak Now '19' was an event organised by the brilliant Marianne Chua, so when I first heard about it I knew I had to go, and I was not dissapointed.

Thanks to a delayed train I along with a few other ladies rushed into Islington Metal Works, got signed in and went to find an available seat.

​Laura Babb had already started her talk on 'Presenting like a Boss' but I have to say what I caught was great. I've heard of Babbs before and heard a lot of praise about the SNAP Photography Festival, so there was a sence for me honestly of "Oh cool! It's that really great person I follow online, in real life, like, right over there!... sweet..." which sounds so silly to admit but I think we've all done that a couple of times haven't we? I felt that a few times that day anyway...

Emma Wilson gave an interesting talk about her experience working as a journalist at the BBC in the past, and about her videography training in the present. 

Lex Fleming brought her puppy along for the day, so I was instantly even happier! Also, how cool is this venue?...

Nadine Van Biljon gave a talk that consisted of 10 reasons to get yourself and your business out into the big wide world, her work is beautifully shot and it was so great to see a female photographer who was clearly empowered and wanting to empower others. 

Karen from SEO Photo Lab also gave us some tips and tricks for websites, thank you Karen.

We were enlightened about the magical and exiting world of business planning, thanks to Rowan Williams (aka Parrot & Pineapple Wedding Photography) - not an easy task in a room full of creative lasses, so thank you for that!

Diana Hagues opened up to us about her feelings about the world of self portraiture and the power that's in doing it, definitely food for thought!

I would be extremely surprised though if anyone didn't feel insanely inspired listening to Helen Sloan talk about her experience of being the Principal Stills Photographer for Game of Thrones! I am so appreciative that she was so open and honest with all of us about her job, as well as giving us a few great behind the scenes stories of her time working on the show, all accompanied by many laughs and a slideshow of a very small collection of her huge body of work on GOT. I feel like so many things hit home for me that day because of her talk, in the best possible ways, and I think her talk alone will help me so much in the future and I really truly thank her for that...

Thank you to all the fantastic and inspiring kick ass women who made that workshop possible. Also thank you to the other ladies who made me feel welcome even though I came to the event of my own. Woman empowering women? YAAAAS!

Holly
​xo.