WOW! I can’t believe that it’s already over! (insert really sad face here!)
This show was something that I was looking forward to since way back in March this year, when I found out that I was going to be speaking across two stages.
The first talk was going to be all about living with chronic illness as a photographer and the second, all about portraits but unfortunately, due to Queen Elizabeth II passing and her state funeral being on the Monday 19th September, the show decided that out of respect, they would close their doors. This meant that one of my talks was cancelled (insert another sad face here!)
However, perhaps this was rather serendipitous, as my M.E symptoms have been worsening and I was already really nervous about sending myself into a really severe crash after the show. So now, I was only to give one talk, which so happened to be all about chronic illness, on the Behind The Lens stage.
I was nervous, but more so because I didn’t want to let any of the chronically ill community down. I wanted to make sure that the talk was supportive, not to inspire you to push you over the limits, but rather to work within your limits and be proud of yourself. If you can’t do it, then don’t. And don’t be ashamed by that. Rest isn’t a luxury for us with chronic illness, it is a necessity and that should always come first.
I was surprised that so many people showed up for my talk, as it was so niche, but I was blown away by the support I had but even more so by all of the wonderful messages I have received since. It made the whole experience so very worth it and I appreciate everyone who took the time to not only be there and be present but to take the time (when they could have been resting!) to send me a message.
I have had a lot of messages from those who couldn’t attend the show in person, whether my talk was filmed and unfortunately it wasn’t… however, because so many of you have asked, I will film this in due course and put it up on my YouTube channel, so that everyone has access to it! If you sign up on my website, you’ll be the first to know when it comes out!
More to follow from the Photography Show in the next blog post!