Why Pride, Visibility, and Community Matter as a Queer Photographer in Glasgow

Why Pride Month is important to me as a queer photographer

Being a queer photographer in Glasgow means more to me than just capturing beautiful images — it means creating space. Space for authenticity, for connection, for stories that deserve to be seen and celebrated. As Pride Month rolls around each year, I find myself reflecting on how much visibility and community have shaped both my identity and my work behind the camera.

Glasgow’s a city with grit and soul — full of people who wear their hearts on their sleeves and find joy in the everyday. It’s also a place where queerness lives proudly in all its colour, creativity and resilience. As a queer creative, I’ve found so much inspiration in that. Pride Month isn’t just a celebration; it’s a reminder that we exist, we matter, and we’re not going anywhere.

When I photograph queer love, chosen families, drag performances, or quiet moments of self-expression, I’m not just taking a picture — I’m making a statement. Visibility matters. Growing up, I didn’t see many images of queer people just existing freely and joyfully. Now, every time I document someone’s story, especially other LGBTQ+ folks, I think about how those images might reach someone who’s still finding their way — someone who needs to see that being yourself is not only okay, it’s beautiful.

Photography is my way of building community. Whether I’m shooting portraits, events, or weddings, I try to approach each session with a person-first mindset. For me, it’s about more than lighting and composition — it’s about trust. It’s about helping people feel safe enough to show up as their full selves and celebrating them for exactly who they are.

That’s why Pride Month is important. It’s not just rainbows and parades — though those are great too. It’s a chance to pause, to honour the activists who came before us, and to hold space for the work that’s still to be done. It’s a time to uplift each other and to be loud in our love, especially in a world where queer lives are still often marginalised or misunderstood.

So whether I’m taking a portrait in my studio space, or documenting an event in one of our queer safe spaces, I know that every image holds power. Power to affirm, to connect, and to keep telling our stories on our own terms.

Here’s to visibility. Here’s to community. And here’s to continuing to show up — through the lens, with love.