Camera Training

Empowering new storytellers.

I offer camera, shooting-director and video journalism training for anyone, at any level. I run courses for individuals or groups and I’m particularly interested in supporting women who want to learn, or gain confidence, to film. Why? Because women are fantastic storytellers and there aren’t enough of us!

"You gotta see it to be it."

I often hear women saying that filming is “too technical”, “too difficult”, “too male dominated”. Only the latter is true though. Did you know that BBC/Reuters Institute/Oxford University research found that only 5% of BBC camera crews are women. And it was not much better at Sky and ITN where the figure is 7%.

I’ve been shooting for the past 20 years and I never felt that gender was a barrier, in fact I have only seen it as a benefit and I want to help more women to shoot by offering affordable, practical, hands-on training. It doesn’t matter if you have never held a camera before and want to learn, or know quite a lot but don’t feel confident enough on a shoot to say “would you like me to get some GVs” or “shall I do second camera on that interview”.

My training style is nurturing and empowering and I’ve been described as having a ‘Ted Lasso’ attitude. Working together we can get your confidence up because I believe that just as important as knowing how to use a camera is giving you the self-belief to say “I will pick up that camera and I will shoot beautiful images.”

By following my 4 rules of ‘F.L.A.F’ (which I still use every time I film) I can assure you that you cannot go wrong and you will walk away thinking “I got this” instead of “oh my goodness this is just too technical for me and I shouldn’t even bother trying”.

To make it more affordable I offer in-person training in my home, which is not far from Bristol, because it means I don’t have to rent somewhere and I can use my own equipment. This keeps costs down and the training more financially accessible to everyone.

I can also travel to locations though or do the training online if requested. I can also help media organisations, corporate clients, police forces, businesses, charities and production companies.

I don‘t just help people to learn, I help people to build their confidence. Because I know that all too often, combatting self-doubt is half the battle.

Over a decade of media training

I have been designing and delivering short filmmaking, video journalism and filming training since 2014, as a freelance for BBC Media Action. I have also been a mentor for the Women in Journalism network since 2019.

Training & qualifications

I’m always taking advantage of Screenskills training courses (check them out, there are lots for free) and I have a PgDip in broadcast journalism, a BSc in Environmental Studies and a Masters degree in Media Practice for Development and Social Change. I’ve also taken short documentary filmmaking courses at the NFTS.