Its Nice That/Adobe

A couple of days ago, I was invited by It’s Nice That to give an online presentation and Q&A to Adobe about my work with Shine Camera Club, a community photography initiative I run for children in Mitcham and is very close to my heart.

When I received the invitation, I will admit I was nervous. I had never done a presentation like this before and I was worried not only about whether Adobe would be interested in a grassroots community project like Shine, but also about how I would come across. I have always been a little self-conscious about the way I speak and articulate myself and I feared it might fall flat in such a professional setting.

To my relief and joy, the team at Adobe embraced the project wholeheartedly. They loved the children’s photography, not only for its creativity but for the way it told authentic stories about their lives. The Q&A was engaging and thoughtful and I left feeling that the conversation had sparked something meaningful on both sides.

What touched me most were the kind messages I later received on LinkedIn from members of Adobe’s staff. They shared how inspired they felt by the children’s work and by the idea that creativity can thrive in any environment, if there is access to resources. Those words reminded me that access has the power to connect people, from a small community project in Mitcham to a global company like Adobe.

Shine began as a local initiative, but moments like this remind me that its impact can ripple far wider. I’m grateful to It’s Nice That for the invitation, to Adobe for their openness and to the young photographers who prove, time and time again, that creativity truly knows no boundaries.