Our emerging photographer series aims to shed a light on up-and-coming talent. Photographers are offered a platform to share their work with a wider audience through the AP channels, with the scope of furthering their careers. We also get an insight into their inspirations, the camera gear used and future aspirations, as well as the journey taken into photography – which doesn’t have to be the most traditional route!
Success stories
Si Jubb and Ethan Parker, who won our Emerging Photographer of the Year award at this year’s AP Awards, recently spoke at our Festival of Photography: Documentary event. Previous emerging photographer award winners include Aliz Kovacs-Zoldi and Tariq Sadu. We’ll be sharing the work of photographers on our website and social media and even in the magazine. If you have recently started your photography journey or are a student / graduate, share your work with us at [email protected]
For this chapter, Corbyn Roberts-Jones speaks with Jessica Miller
When and why did you start taking photographs?
My first experience with photography began at an airshow my family took me to when I was a kid. I was fascinated by how my dad’s camera could freeze a split second—something loud, fast, and fleeting—into a still image we could look back on. I asked to borrow his camera and snapped some blurry shots of the Red Arrows streaking across the sky. It didn’t matter that the pictures were terrible blurs, what mattered was that moment sparked my curiosity and interest in photography as a way of documenting and preserving moments.
Which genre do you tend to work mostly in?
I’ve always been drawn to people – their expressions, their stories – and this curiosity naturally comes through in my personal work. I would say I tend to gravitate towards portraiture, using it to connect with and better understand the people I work with.
What draws you towards your favoured genre?
I’ve always been interested in understanding what makes each person individual, what’s behind their expressions and the way they carry themselves. I aim to capture not just a persona’s likeness, but the essence of who they are in that particular moment.
Tell us a little bit more about your photographic training?
I’ve been passionate about photography since I was young. This early fascination grew into something more over time. I’ve been studying photography since my GCSEs, and it felt like a natural next step to pursue an undergraduate course at Bath Spa University. There, I met some incredible people and found a community that shared my creative interests. The program offered a fantastic blend of support and independence, with access to expert technicians and professional photographers who helped us refine our skills and prepare for the challenges of the industry. Throughout my time at university, I connected with artists whose work varied greatly from my own, broadening my understanding of different artistic approaches while helping me find my unique voice in photography.
Tell us about your project, ‘Stand To!’
This project marks my curiosity and efforts to embed myself in a military setting, in the hope of providing insight to others about life in the Armed Forces. Inspired by my Father, who has served in the British Army as long as I can remember, I sought to experience what being on an Army exercise is like and to try to understand what a soldier experiences on a day-to-day basis. During this project I have had the pleasure of working with 203 (Welsh) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, the 3rd Battalion of The Royal Welsh Infantry Regiment and others on joint exercises.
What has been your biggest photographic obstacle to date?
One of the biggest challenges I faced during my final project was gaining access to restricted areas. It required a lot of persistence and stepping far outside my comfort zone to network and build relationships with various people in The Army. Navigating those connections and gaining their trust was crucial to my project’s success, and it really pushed me to develop skills I hadn’t fully explored before—both in terms of communication and professionalism.
Who are your biggest influences?
One of my biggest influences is Tim Hetherington, whose work had a significant impact on my latest project. For those who aren’t familiar, Hetherington’s photography deeply explored the camaraderie and experiences of soldiers serving abroad. His ability to capture the human side of military life, sometimes in intense and emotional moments, resonated with me. During my project, I made it a priority to meet as many people as possible within the military community to better understand their experiences. My goal was to capture the soldiers’ daily life—everything from routine tasks to the quieter, more personal moments that often go unnoticed.
What equipment do you use?
My go to is a Nikon D780 with a variable focal length lens. This allows me to have the best chance of capturing a moment in the action – this was especially important during my project, ‘Stand To!’.
Occasionally I shoot 35mm film with my Pentax K1000 but admittedly not enough! Now I’m moving away from university deadlines, I would like to explore analogue photography more and invest some time into learning more about it.
What would be your dream equipment to work with?
In future, I’d love to try out medium format photography and hope to own a Mamiya RB67. I’ve always been fond of the medium format film look and would love to give it a shot with a personal project of mine.
What has the been the highlight of your photography career so far?
It would absolutely be the growth I’ve experience both as an individual and as a photographer over these last few years. I have been pushed so far out of my comfort zone and I’ve never felt better! I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some incredible people and I hope that this is just the beginning.
What are your hopes for your photography career in the future?
I hope to continue working on my personal projects alongside practicing freelance photography. I aim to create meaningful visual stories which will explore new subjects and styles. Ultimately, I’d love to work on larger-scale projects that challenge myself and provide me the opportunity to keep on learning!
Do you have a dream assignment?
Having loved music all my life, I’d love to embark on a music photography journey and have the opportunity to make portraiture for some of my favorite music artists.
I’d also like to continue my work with the Armed Forces and strengthen the networks that I’ve already built.
What piece of advice would you give to other aspiring photographers?
Above all else – be ambitious! If you’d have told me this is what I’d be doing all those years ago, I would’ve thought you were mad (and then continue to take blurry pictures on my dad’s D3300). I think the key to fulfilling your creative dreams is to not let anyone tell you otherwise, anything is possible.
Instagram: @corbyn.photo
More reading:
- Emerging photographer shining a light on the marginalised
- How I use photography to challenge the stigma of cancer
- Love cars? I think you should take a look at these awesome photos!
- How photography has helped me as a veteran
- The role of the photographer is not just to take photos
- How personal projects shape great photographers
- This Nikon gear is ideal for wildlife photography
- Accidental discovery leads to award winning photography
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