2025 - The Year I didn’t expect….

There are years that pass quietly… and then there are years that change you.

2025 was the latter - and for this year I am eternally grateful.

It’s hard to put into words just how unexpected, and how deeply meaningful this year has been. Not because everything was easy, but because so many moments felt like gentle (and sometimes loud) reminders that trusting the path, even when it feels uncertain, really can lead somewhere extraordinary. I look back now with a full heart, a sense of disbelief, and so much gratitude for how this year unfolded.

One of the biggest moments of the year was winning Landscape Photographer of the Year with the Guild of Photographers. Recognition like that still feels surreal - a reminder that the early mornings, long drives, quiet persistence, and belief really do matter. It felt like a full-circle moment. I chose to take a step back from competitions afterwards, to simply create and enjoy the process again… but maybe 2026 is the year I return.

Speaking at The Photography Show was another moment that truly stopped me in my tracks. Six talks over two days. Standing on that stage, sharing stories, experience, and passion with so many photographers was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating. A version of me from a few years ago wouldn’t have believed it was possible - and yet there I was, living it.

This year was also about connection and giving back. I started offering 1:1 mentoring, both online and in person, and it quickly became one of the most rewarding parts of my work. Watching people uncover their own magic, build confidence, and reconnect with their creativity reminded me why I fell in love with photography in the first place. The people I met through mentoring this year will stay with me for a long time.

Creating spaces for others became a recurring theme. Starting the Female Photographer photo walks and workshops felt deeply important. What began locally grew into something far bigger than I ever expected, evolving all the way to Madeira. From months of planning, knowing for my first workshop abroad it had to be this epic place…. to standing there, surrounded by incredible women, cameras in hand, I had a quiet moment of realisation: this was once just a dream. And now it was real.

Madeira became even more special when that workshop led to spending a week working alongside Visit Madeira too - my first time collaborating with a tourist board. It was a magical experience and one I’ll treasure deeply. From storytelling through landscapes, to working with a rental car company and creating a lifestyle shoot (what a place for it!), the whole trip felt like a milestone - professionally and personally.

Travel brought even more magic. I was invited to speak in Berlin alongside Lexar at IFA, a huge honour that pushed me well outside my comfort zone - in the best way. I spoke at the Amateur Photographer Festival of Outdoor Photography in London, and at a Fujifilm event, sharing my journey with brands and communities I deeply respect.

One of the most special invitations of the year was speaking at the Shambellie House Photography Convention in Scotland. A truly magical place for creatives, filled with warmth, inspiration, and friendships that formed effortlessly. From there, I went on to tour the south west coast of Scotland, discovering places I’d never seen before - moments of stillness and awe I’ll never forget.

I co-led a SheClicks workshop in Glencoe, and then again I went on to spend a month road-tripping around Scotland - from the Highlands to the North Coast. Wild, dramatic, humbling, and unforgettable. Scotland has a way of getting under your skin, and this journey felt like exactly where I was meant to be.

I even did something I’d avoided for a long time - I started a YouTube channel. For years, I told myself I wasn’t good enough, that my voice didn’t matter in that space. But something shifted this year, and I felt ready to try. Six months in, the channel reached 1,000 subscribers, which still blows my mind. To anyone who has supported, watched, commented, or shared - thank you. I genuinely couldn’t do this without you.

And woven through everything were the moments in between:
The summer spent photographing festivals and magical events, the endless road trips, the laughter, joy, and the memories made with friends along the way.

This year felt like living the life I once imagined quietly - a life built around creativity, connection, adventure, and purpose. A life that feels aligned, meaningful, and deeply mine.

I don’t know what 2026 will bring. But if 2025 taught me anything, it’s that sometimes the best chapters are the ones you never planned.

Here’s to staying open.
Here’s to dreaming bigger.
Here’s to whatever comes next.

✨ What will 2026 hold?

Well, I do know some of the things happening and those mainly centre around those female photographer workshop trips - we’ve got Iceland in February with SheClicks! I have Madeira in June - currently 2 places left, and India in November - currently 3 places left - and of course a revisit to the epic highlands of Scotland in autumn too, also with the wonderful SheClicks community.

Everything else - I’m open to travel, adventure and connection…. and whatever happens, thank you all for joining me on this wild ride!

A very happy and healthy 2026 to you all.

Emily x