Framing Her Future: Charlotte’s Steps Toward a Photography Career
Charlotte, 19, lives with her mum, for whom she is a carer, and her brother. A passionate aspiring photographer, Charlotte spends her free time capturing images of her cats and experimenting with concert photography. While her love for photography was clear, she wasn’t sure how to turn it into a career.
When Charlotte joined the Training Ground programme in November, she felt uncertain about her future. She had ideas but no clear direction, and financial barriers made it difficult to pursue formal training. At first, she lacked confidence and wasn’t sure if the programme would help. But over six weekly sessions, everything began to change.
EFL in the Community’s Training Ground programme is currently available to those aged 16-24 living within the Greater London Authority area and is an employability programme designed to support those seeking employment or further training. The Training Ground programme offers small groups the chance to receive one to one mentoring, participate in group workshops on topics such as life skills and money management, undertake work experience or volunteering in a range of contexts, to develop employability skills, and to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
Through setting and achieving weekly goals, Charlotte’s confidence grew. She began to take real steps toward her dream. She launched a Facebook business page to showcase her work, joined online photography forums to connect with professionals, and started building a portfolio. Her dedication paid off when she received her first photo shoot request—capturing portraits of pets for a local resident who discovered her work online.
Charlotte is now preparing to volunteer as a photographer for the AFC Wimbledon Foundation, where she’ll take photos at events. This opportunity has expanded her portfolio to include sports photography, alongside her work with animals and concerts.
“When I first joined the Training Ground programme in November, I was unsure how to pursue a career in photography,” Charlotte shared. “Each week my confidence grew as I achieved new milestones. I launched a Facebook business page, joined photography forums, and even got my first photo shoot request. Now, I’m about to start volunteering at AFC Wimbledon Foundation. I can now add sports to my portfolio.”
To find out more about your nearest Training Ground programme, please contact your local Club using the list below.
