Our first big group shoot and we did it live to a transient audience at Duckie’s annual Pride party Gay Shame.
“Load Shooting by Holly Revell & the Boys” provided Narcissus and plenty of Crumpet to Duckie’s theme ‘Narcissus, Crumpet & Chippy’!
The project now has Arts Council funding and part of that is it becoming more public facing with wonderful partners such as Duckie offering us space to do stuff and share our work.
The idea was to show off the participants and the project - take up and hold space for an all trans, trans-masc and gender non-conforming gang and make beautiful images. We created tableaux which were sexy, fun and inviting for other ‘People Like Us’ who fed back about how great it was to have an area at the event that was for them!
People Like Us is all about visibility and creating new positive representations of trans, non-binary and gender-nonconforming people, sexing it up and showing off the multiplicities of queer masculine gender expression from AFAB perspectives. We are also having a laugh with masculinity, sending it up and being playful with it!
All 12 participants had their moment to shine while others from the project hyped them up and encouraged the audience to cheer them on, we created quite a spectacle, it was epic.
Participants had a great night, many meeting each other IRL for the first time which was such a special aspect to the shoot! The quotes below mean so much to me and make it all the more worthwhile!
“It was so good to have a corner for trans masc and butch hotness all night, it was a super affirming atmosphere and an ongoing pleasure for my eyes.” Ray
“These are such validating photos! It was such a fab night, absolutely honoured to be a part of it” Tay
“Being able to be in spaces for just trans people is such a new experience and I am so grateful to be alive at the time I am and have people like you making the spaces.” Quinnely
“Never have I ever been surrounded by so many trans mascs, butches and babes!
This was my first time doing a live photoshoot. we took the stage, grabbed chains, leaned against tyres and leaned into each other. trans masculine, gender non-conforming and gender liberated people of all expressions and experiences coming together in a hot sweaty mess. we didn't notice the cold but we did notice you watching. Damn there is so much power in being seen. I often talk about visibility as a privilege because these kinds of conversations are really about safety. but I do forget what it's like when we are safe. thank you to Holly, all the models, the icons and the hotties for making me feel safe and letting me be seen.” Sabah
BTS - first one is of me taken by Aaron Wright, it captures exactly how I felt - overwhelmed but completely in the zone, and that’s Sam’s bum - one of a number of supportive pals who spent the night with us. The second picture is one of Cairo’s selfies capturing the pure joy of being together - I love that.
Participants: Anna, Azara, Becca, Cairo, Felix, Jen, Justin, Leo, Quinnely, Ray, Sabah, Tammy & Tay.
Also credit to Marty Langthorne who did the beautiful lighting and thanks to lovely Nat who helped us set up and did a spot of spontaneous crowd management for us!