I still remember the exact moment. Standing on the clifftops at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, camera in hand, heart racing as I watched gannets soaring along the cliff face. One landed beside its partner and they began that beautiful sky-pointing ritual — necks stretched, bills raised, wings slightly lifted in perfect synchronicity.
The intimacy. The precision. The connection. I was completely, utterly hooked.
What I didn’t know then was that this single moment wouldn’t just spark a passion for seabirds — it would eventually connect me to one of the most important communities in my life: Birds & The Belles.
Finding My Passion — And My People
Seabirds quickly became more than subjects to photograph. They became my therapy. Living with fibromyalgia and Crohn’s disease means navigating chronic pain and fatigue daily, and there are days when even getting out of bed feels like a challenge. But on the cliffs, surrounded by salt air and thousands of wings, something shifts.
I’m not defined by illness there. I’m simply a photographer.
Over the years, I travelled to incredible colonies across the UK — from the towering gannet city of Bass Rock to puffin-filled days on Lunga, braving Arctic tern dive-bombings on the Farne Islands, and chasing golden light at St Abbs Head. But no matter where I went, I always came back to Bempton. It’s home. It’s where it all began. And it’s also where Birds & The Belles helped my journey truly take flight.
The Power of Community
Joining Birds & The Belles was a turning point.
Wildlife photography can still feel like a male-dominated space. It’s easy to question whether you’re “good enough,” experienced enough, knowledgeable enough to step forward — especially when you’re managing health challenges alongside your passion.
The Belles changed that for me. This community of supportive, passionate women gave me something I didn’t even realise I was missing: confidence. Not surface-level encouragement, but deep, steady belief. The kind that makes you start believing in yourself too.
They gave me the confidence to pursue my dream of teaching seabird photography. They gave me the belief that I could actually achieve it.
Instead of downplaying my knowledge, I started owning it. Instead of thinking “Who am I to teach?”, I began thinking, “Why not me?”
From Community Member to Workshop Leader
One of the most pivotal steps in my journey was when Shell, the groups founder, asked me to run seabird photography workshops for Birds & The Belles members, which I did for free.
Those early sessions were equal parts exciting and terrifying. Standing on the cliffs, explaining how to recognise the subtle shuffle of a gannet preparing for takeoff. Talking through camera settings while also helping people read behaviour. Watching someone capture their first perfectly timed wing stretch and seeing their face light up.
It was absolute magic.
The Belles gave me the safe, encouraging space to gain real, practical experience leading workshops. I wasn’t just talking about teaching — I was actually doing it.
Through those sessions, I fine-tuned my teaching style. I refined my workshop content. I learned how to break down complex behavioural cues into simple, actionable steps. I discovered how much I genuinely love creating welcoming spaces where no question is too small and everyone feels comfortable learning at their own pace.
That experience was invaluable. It shaped everything about the workshops I now run professionally. And I can say wholeheartedly: none of that growth would have happened without this community believing in me first.
A Dream Realised
Fast forward to today, and I’m leading seabird photography workshops in association with RSPB Bempton Cliffs — the very place where I first fell in love with gannets.
That partnership represents years of learning, observing, practicing, and sharing. It represents resilience in the face of chronic illness. And it represents what can happen when women genuinely support other women.
The belief the Belles had in me became the foundation I built everything else on.
That momentum has led to something I still can’t quite believe is real: I’ve written my first book, Discover The Art of Seabird Photography. It brings together everything I’ve learned about behaviour, light, storytelling, and technical skills — all shaped by years on the cliffs and by teaching within the community. It’s available to order now, and honestly, I still have to pinch myself.
But here’s the truth: none of this — not the workshops, not the RSPB partnership, not the book — would have been possible without Birds & The Belles. Without Shell pushing me to take that first step. Without the Belles cheering me on every single time I doubted myself.
Why This Community Matters
Birds & The Belles isn’t just a birdwatching group. It’s a space where women are encouraged to take up space. To try. To fail safely. To grow. To lead.
It’s where:
- beginners feel genuinely welcome and experienced photographers feel valued.
- knowledge is shared generously and never gatekept.
- friendships form on windswept cliffs and muddy paths.
- confidence quietly builds until one day you realise you’re doing the thing you once thought was impossible.
If you’re a woman who loves birds — whether you’re picking up binoculars for the first time or you’ve been photographing wildlife for years — this is your invitation.
Join us. Step into a community that celebrates your curiosity, your ambition, and your voice. Surround yourself with women who will genuinely cheer you on, share their knowledge freely, and remind you that you absolutely belong here.
If Birds & The Belles taught me anything, it’s this: when women support women, incredible things happen.
And I’m living proof.
