The Warrior Project
A personal and empowering portrait experience especially for people who suffer or have suffered from mental or physical illness or disability.
Suffering from chronic illness myself and being neurodiverse (Elhers Danlos Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, chronic migraine and ADHD), I love to capture portraits of people who have mental or physical illness or disability, whether visible or invisible, and share a bit about them, in the hopes that my portraits will help boost their confidence and raise awareness of their particular condition.
Here you can learn about the project itself, read individual stories, find out who I am and why I’m doing this and find out how to take part yourself!
To read each persons journey, just click their portrait to be taken to their personal story!
The Warrior Project: Published!!
Over the course of 2023 and into 2024, The Warrior Project and some of its participants were featured in Northern Life Magazine.
Their final feature was on me, on my own struggles with physical and mental illness and how my self-portrait project helped me finally develop some love and acceptance around my body.
Click the photo of my face on a magazine in Sainsburys (one of the most surreal moments in my life!) to read all about my journey!
Who is the Warrior Project for?
I am looking for amazing people to photograph for a one-of-a-kind empowering photography experience to celebrate your life and your story.
It's time to start a conversation about the beauty of survival, of physical and mental diversity, of personal strength. We need to change the way the world and media define it, and to encourage each other to embrace the freedom and confidence of being comfortable in your own skin, no matter what.
Help me show the world what resiliency, strength and determination look like!
Why I do The Warrior Project
Hi! I’m Donna!
I’m a 40-something Mum of 2 with a long and varied history of eating disorders, mental health issues and extremely low self esteem.
Back in November 2021 I did a very rare self portrait session, that (as usual) I was completely dreading. Having struggled with my weight and with an eating disorder for most of my adult life, self portraits are a hugely anxious and draining thing to do and I therefore very rarely do it. But something amazing happened. I LOVED MY PHOTOGRAPHS. I was so happy with them I cried, and immediately I was struck by the thought “This is how my clients feel!!” Everything I have gone through made me the person I am today. My serious mental health struggles as a young adult, my battle with bulimia into my 30s, my low self esteem due to childhood trauma, my struggles with chronic pain and disability in my 40s, all of it is ME.
That thought had a magical effect on me as both a person and as a photographer. My confidence increased 10-fold, and I became obsessed with the thought of making more and more people feeling the way I felt when I saw my own portraits. I even decided to take on a self portrait project for 2022 and take more photographs of myself, for me, for my husband and kids, for my clients!
My Warrior Project is my baby. Its for those who have struggled like I have, who have low self esteem due (in part) to their conditions, who work on themselves every day in various ways to try and live relatively normal lives despite their medical issues and in the face of medical adversity. I am lucky enough to have the talent to give people the opportunity to see themselves in a new light, help them help others who might be starting a similar journey of their own and bring awareness to their conditions. How cool is that??
If I can do it for myself, I can do it for you!!
I honestly can’t stress this enough. I don’t completely enjoy the process of shooting and editing my self portraits, not going to lie! But I’m so proud of the images I’ve created and the incredible effect its had on my self esteem and confidence. I’m amazed at how much my project has affected me in such a positive way. And I truly believe that I am a better photographer for knowing personally how a beautiful image of yourself can alter your perception of your body. If I can do it for me, I can DEFINITELY do it for you!!
This is just one of the many reasons why I am doing these sessions. I want to hear about the successes in your life. I want to hear about the difficulties that made you who you are today.
This is your chance to be seen and heard!
Every Warrior has a story and I cannot wait to hear yours!
The Details
Who can take part?
This portrait experience is open to all, with emphasis on Women, Trans and Non-binary people..
How much does it cost?
The Warrior Project has a session fee of £50 (usually £200)
Every participant receives one 8x10” mounted image as a thank you for their trust in me.
What does it include?
The session fee includes professional makeup from my incredible makeup artist, plus basic hair styling if needed.
It also includes access to my full studio wardrobe that is fully stocked with beautiful gown, outfits and accessories in all styles and sizes.
You will also receive a complimentary styling session a few weeks before your shoot so you can try on my wardrobe items or bring your own clothing ideas so we can put together the perfect shoot wardrobe to make your images even more spectacular!
It includes your shoot itself, where I will pose and direct you from top to toe, in at least 3 different sets/outfits. You can be photographed however you wish, from classic portraiture through to boudoir glam, fake blood horror through to ethereal fantasy vibes.
And finally, my favourite bit, it includes the reveal session, where you come back a couple of weeks after your shoot to see your images for the first time.
There you will have a chance to choose your absolute favourite image to choose as your thank you gift, and I also have beautiful products that will help your images be showcased in the most luxurious way if you choose to purchase more.
Products/images start at £80 and folio boxes start at £700 but further purchase is not essential, what you spend is completely up to you!
Are you a Warrior ready to share your story?
Do you want to raise awareness for your condition
and reconnect with yourself with some beautiful images?
Fill out the form below to get more information!
Meet The Warriors!
Click on their photo to be taken to their personal story!
