1st Year In Business

One Year Behind The Lens : Drag, Pride and Community.

A year ago I decided to turn something I love doing into a business. This is where captured by Elizabeth came about. After years of attending drag shows I decided to take my love of photographing drag queens develop it into my business and I've loved doing it. At captured by Elizabeth my aim is to capture the artistry, energy and unapologetic self expression that makes a drag show and LGBTQ+ spaces so powerful. What started as a passion became much bigger.

Over the last year I've photographed packed out drag shows, pride events, backstage chaos, emotional moments and some of the most incredible and well known queens in the US and UK drag scene. I've had the opportunity to work and photograph amazing artists including Anetra, Aja, Paige Three, Tailor Maid Colby and Bones just to name a few. Every experience has reinforced exactly why I love what I do. Today marks my first year in business and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the journey so far, what I've learnt and where i'm heading next.

More than just photos

Drag photography isn't just about taking photos during a performance. It's about capturing the moments that only last seconds. From the look before the lights fit, the chaos backstage, the connection with the audience, confidence, venerability, sweat and glitter. I've always wanted my work to feel real. Not overly staged. Not lifeless. I want people to feel the atmosphere through my images. To hear the music, energy and remember what the night was like. Whether it's a perfectly times death drop, stage reveal or a quite backstage moment before the show. The images become part of the performer's story. Drag is more than entertainment its identity, expression, resilience, protest, joy and art all once. All those moments deserve to be documented properly.

What this year has taught me

• Trust is everything

Working within LGBTQ+ spaces means understanding that these environments are built on trust, respect and community. Being invited into those spaces with a camera is something I will never take for granted.

• Every performer brings something different

No two drag artists are the same. Some want high glam editorial images others want raw documentary styles moments full of movement and emotions. Learning how to adapt creatively to every performer has been one of the most rewarding part of this journey.

• Representation matters

Seeing diverse identities collaborated through photography is incredibly important. This year it's reinforced how powerful photography can be when people truly feel seen, confident and respected in front of the lens.

• Running a creative business is a challenge

Late nights. Dark venues. Fat based performances. Thousands of edits. Balancing creativity with business. There were definitely moments of self doubt along the way too from wondering if I was good enough or if I was doing justice to the people and space I was photographing. Growth comes from pushing through these moments and this year taught me more than I could've imagined.

Favourite moments from year one

There has been so many highlights from the year, some that stand out are:

• Seeing performs use my images for social media content.

• Working with some amazing local, UK and international queens.

• Capturing the backstage moment people don't usually see.

• Capturing the energy and emotions of pride events.

• Hearing performers say 'they are amazing images'

Those moments and more are the reason I do this.

Defining my style

Over the past year i've really developed my identity as a photographer. I'm drawn to dramatic lighting, movement, emotion, candid moments and images that feel alive. I love blending the intensity of live performance photography and storytelling. Whether I'm photographing drag artists, queer nightlife or LGBTQ+ events my goal is always the same. To create Imagery that feels authentic, powerful and unforgettable.

Looking ahead to year 2 and the future

Year one wad about building the foundations. Learning, experimenting. making connections and finding my place in the scene. Year two for me is about pushing things further. Bigger events, bigger ideas, more collaboration and stronger storytelling. Most Importantly, I want to continue creating work that celebrates queer artistry and documenting these spaces honestly and unapologetically.

To every performer, promoter, venue, organiser and queen who trusted me this year - THANKYOU !! Your artistry, energy and support made this possible. To everyone who's shared my work, booked me, shown up to an event and noticed me or just liked my work online it means more to me than you know.

This is only the beginning and I look forward to the future of captured by Elizabeth.