A masters graduate with a criminology degree has turned her focus from the criminal justice system to photography after reassessing her career path.
Lauren McWilliams, 25 from Killingworth grew up with a childhood passion to work within the community to make a difference in society for vulnerable people. She worked hard on getting her dream job as a probation officer, gaining valuable experience as a Support Worker in hostels. After several months working alongside those with offending, mental health and substance misuse, experiencing traumatic events and feeling the intense pressure associated with the homeless and criminal justice system, Lauren began to have mental health challenges which eventually led to her leaving the job she had worked so hard to get.
“From being a teenager, I wanted to be a probation officer and my university qualifications were all based on my dream. When I finally accepted that this job wasn’t for me, I felt very embarrassed but knew I had to move onto something else before my mental health suffered further,” she said.
Lauren travelled to China as part of her gap year and bought a professional camera. Over the months she developed her skills and used her photography as a stress relieving outlet gaining more experience and ultimately the confidence to change her career.
Her new business, For You Photography received start up support from the Business Factory in North Shields supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the North Tyneside Business Forum highlighted her career on their radio show which aired on Radio Northumberland. The Forum has also helped her with networking opportunities and new contacts which have led to business for her.
“When you start out as a new business you think that you are alone but I have the support and backing of the forum with its 1400 members. My first commercial commission was to take photographs of the newly established Royal Quays Business Centre and since then, I’ve been contacted by several business owners who want to engage my services.”
Her love of working with the community has turned full circle as this summer, she is delivering a photography workshop with school children taking part in the #iwillproject.
The project, teaches young people new skills so they can put them to good use in the community to help charities and social enterprises. Lauren is placing an emphasis on mental health awareness particularly around social media and the way that teenagers use and interact with it.
“I’m using some of my photographs to act as discussion points relating to the
negative and positive feelings generated by the way we look at certain images,” she said.” I encourage the young people to think about their emotions and how to express them via the medium of photography.
“I’m still very interested in the work I once did but I now feel that I’ve found the perfect career that allows me to help others – Ironically, I’ve went from working with people in captivity to capturing people for posterity.”
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Editors Notes
For You Photography can deliver packages of Corporate, Commercial and Wedding Photography and you can find Lauren’s work at foryouphotographer.com
Media Contacts
Keith Newman Highlights PR
07814 397951