Pride Month: Photographer Emma Martin on queer joy, radical self-acceptance and unity

As part of this year’s Pride campaign, we worked with photographer and LCC BA Photography graduate Emma Martin to create a strong visual identity. Working in collaboration with the LGBTQ+ Staff Network and LCC Lecturer Adam Ramejkis, we hosted an LGBTQ+ zine making workshop for staff and students. As part of the event, Emma took Polaroid photographs of our LGBTQ+ community, highlighting the individuality of the community. You can follow Emma and their work on their website and Instagram.

You kindly joined us as the photographer for our 2023 Pride Campaign. When approaching this project, what does Pride mean to you?

To me, Pride means many things. On one hand, it is of course a celebration - a time for connection and joy amongst queer individuals, to foster environments where people of all genders and orientations feel safe and supported, to cherish our community, and to unapologetically flaunt the things many of us have been taught to hide.

On the other hand, it serves as a reminder of the history and struggles that have brought us to where we are today. It commemorates the efforts of countless individuals who fought for LGBTQ+ rights and serves as a call to action for continued progress.

By acknowledging the origins of Pride as a riot led by Black and brown trans women and sex workers, we honour their pivotal role in our collective liberation and recognize that our struggles are interconnected. This Pride, I’ll be thinking about how we can better support our trans youth in the UK, in memory of the tragic loss of Brianna Ghey earlier this year.

This year's Pride theme is 'Never March Alone'. Would you say this theme is something that you emphasise in your work?

‘Never Walk Alone’ is definitely a theme I see within my photographic work. In the last few years, most of my personal work has been social documentary photography, exploring underrepresented subcultures and communities. I work with communities in their spaces to document an under-exposed culture and performance of self, often with a view to challenge pervasive cultural norms and perspectives.

My most recent work focused on specific members of the LGBTQ+ community, photographing queer tattoo artists, but I think you can see ideas of ‘Never Walk Alone’ in my other projects too.

For example, my series photographing Whitby Goth Weekend in 2019: a celebration of gothic and related subcultures held bi-annually in North Yorkshire, where hundreds of goths take to the streets of Whitby and are surrounded by members of their community. At its core, my work is often about the power of community.

How did you approach the photography at the zine workshop event and how did you find the experience? Are there any images or moments that stick out?

I had so much fun at the event! The atmosphere felt so joyful and welcoming, and it was great to see everyone getting creative and excited for Pride month. When taking the Polaroids, I tried to prioritise the comfort of my subjects. I’d first explain to them the concept behind the campaign and photos, as well as a bit about how I’d be taking them, and then ask them to pick out whatever props they were drawn to or felt were reflective of their identity.

I think having the props really helped people get in the celebratory mood, made it all feel more playful, and helped people less confident in front of a camera feel more comfortable. We then discussed if they had any ideas for the images using their props, or ideas surrounding any physical features they use to express their identity: such as details in their outfits, tattoos they have, or gestures they use.

One of my favourite parts was seeing people really come out of their shells as the event went on, which I think is a great sign that the environment the event staff created was one of support and celebration. I think some of my favourites are the simpler images, where people were just getting really creative with the flags – there’s a real energy of pride, defiance, and radical self-acceptance to some of those images.

I also have to give a special shoutout to LCF lecturer Dr. Manrutt Wongkaew, whose outfit I could’ve spent all day photographing!

What do you hope to convey in your work in this campaign?

I think my main goal is for the images to represent queer joy, radical self- acceptance, and unity. All very big words! But I think across the whole collection of images we’ve managed to show that.

Do you have any exciting projects coming up, or are there any that you hope to work on?

I’m actually starting a new social documentary project at the end of this month! I’m spending the summer up in the Orkney Islands, exploring the social, historical, and natural landscapes of the islands through my practice. My maternal lineage traces back to Orkney for as far back as we know of, so it’s a place I feel really connected to.

As much as I love London, I’m excited to have a little break from the pace and the pressures it can bring and dedicate time out in Orkney to exploring my practice and my ancestry together. The work will study Orkney through its natural landscape, community, traditions, and folklore, and how they weave together to create a strong community and unique way of life. It’s a project I’ve wanted to do for years now, so I’m excited to finally take the leap and do it!