Community Spotlight, Press Photography Opportunities

UKBFTOG at F1: The Movie Premiere

Congratulations to our Members Deborah who ones our Press pass draw to photograph the Red Carpet Premiere of F1 The movie

ukbftog / Thursday 26th June 2025

UK Black Female Photographers at F1: The Movie Premiere at Leicester Square

Within a male dominated industry it’s of course easy to not see ourselves and one of the things we have really pushed over the years is giving our community members access and new opportunities, giving them experiences. One of our recent access opportunities was giving to one of our community member Deborah, she specialises in Portrait Photography

We asked her a couple questions about her experience and here is what she had to say:

 

What was the most daunting part about doing press photography, especially if was your first time?

The most daunting part about doing press photography for the first time was the pressure to capture decisive moments in real time and not being in the front row. I ended up behind a really tall photographer, which made it tough to get a clear shot. I had to constantly adjust, find any little gap, and stay on my toes on a ladder to get a clean shot. It was stressful, because the moments were happening so fast, and I didn’t want to miss anything. It definitely forced me to adapt quickly. But honestly, what made a difference was how kind all photographers around me were. At the beginning, I had a small stool, but someone kindly offered to swap it for his ladder. They often checked if everything was okay on my end. Sometimes, the photographer in front of me would shift slightly after taking their shot so I could get mine. It really made the whole experience feel much less intimidating.

I was nervous about missing something important. Everything moves fast on the red carpet, not a lot of time to think you just have to react and hope you have the right settings. It was challenging knowing that I had one shot to capture something important, especially since those photos could actually be seen by a lot of people.

What did this experience do for you? 

It really pushed me out of my comfort zone, in a good way. It helped me get more comfortable directing attention when needed, like waving for a look or a pose. It also showed me how to adapt quickly under pressure, there’s no room for hesitation. You’ve got just seconds to capture someone looking their best, while juggling lighting, angles, and a crowd of other photographers doing the same thing.
Overall, it made me feel more capable and energised about pursuing my photography business seriously. This experience gave me the confidence I needed to put myself out there again. It motivated me to relaunch and start promoting my photography business online. Which was something I’d been hesitating to do. Being in that environment, capturing real moments, and getting positive feedback reminded me why I love doing this and that I’m capable of handling it.
I’m so grateful to have experienced this! Thank you so much for the opportunity. It gave me the push I needed to grow both personally and professionally.

What kit did you use?

Panasonic Lumix S5 II with 70-200mm

 

What advise would you give someone who has never done press photography before?

– Don’t bring a small tool, bring a medium-sized one or even a ladder if needed.
– Take the time to set up your camera properly; everything happens quickly. It will save you time editing.
– You can direct cast and celebrity saying a quick “eyes here”, “in the middle”, their name… or a hand gesture can help get eye contact without shouting.
– If you have a quiet voice like I do, stand next to someone who can shout loud!
– If you’re in front, make sure to also get full outfit and portrait shots. – Have extra batteries, memory card in your pocket.
– Having an external flash is essential. – Don’t stop after one pose, keep shooting as they adjust or laugh.
– Be friendly with others, they can help you get better positioning and give you a heads-up when a big name is about to arrive.

Deborah you did an amazing job and happy we could give you this opportunity!

We can’t wait to do more things like this for more community members and so much more! If you would like to connect with us with more opportunities pop us over an email at [email protected]

If you are black female photographer and want to join the community, connect with Black female photographers in the UK and open yourself up for more opportunities like these click here and become an official member today.click here and become an official member today.