Beautifully Visible
Discovering Candid was like finding a diamond amongst stones. As someone with a hidden disability, I'm regularly met with doubtful looks and patronising remarks like 'but you don't look disabled' or 'can you give up your seat for this elderly lady?' It's an everyday challenge and for a year it’s been my mission to find a photography studio that can celebrate my hidden disability.
As an actor, I know too well that casting directors often seek disabled talent, but as the saying goes, "out of sight, out of mind”. This sentiment resonates deeply with the 80% of the 10 million people in the UK with invisible disabilities, does anyone know what we go through? Our struggle extends beyond physical limitations; we fight just to be recognized as disabled, to be acknowledged and, quite frankly, to be believed.
Today, though, I felt beautifully visible— in fact, it was more than that, I felt like a warrior. With Taylor Swift’s anthem, 'who’s afraid of little old me?', a fan giving my hair cinematic flair, and the confidence to truly own my appearance on camera, the sensation was unmatched.
I’ve always searched for a photo studio where I could take full artistic control—one that celebrates each beautiful flaw, uniqueness, and charm without the intrusive eye of a photographer. However lovely that photographer is, somethings are meant to be just you, and you. Candid is the only studio I know that ticks all the boxes.
To highlight my Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, I added golden tattoos to my KT tape matching the aesthetic of a book called Fourth Wing, about a girl with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome who becomes the most powerful dragon rider of her generation (soon to be an Amazon Prime series – fingers this headshot is getting put on a casting directors’ desk).
What is KT tape? For me, it’s a safeguard I must wear to prevent my shoulder from dislocating during any physical exertion—but this is an improvement! A year a go a simple reach for something on a high shelf caused dislocation.
Amongst other comorbidities, the fatigue from constant pain is my most debilitating challenge. I spent most of last summer housebound following my diagnosis with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and underwent a course of electromagnetic shockwave therapy to reset my muscles and nervous system. Now, I’m on a management plan that lets me hike in the Lake District, perform on stage, and even swim with sharks!
The effort I put into maintaining a semblance of normality is immense. My commitment to my body is akin to that of an Olympic Athlete, yet in fitness, I might only ever match the girl next door.
Nevertheless, Candid Studios made me feel exactly like an Olympic Athlete. Looking at those photos, I recognized her—the girl who gets up every morning and faces the pain, the fatigue, the dizziness, and the unpredictability of her condition.
I felt as confident as if I were in my living room on a good face day, dancing in front of the mirror. Candid’s gorgeous, accessible setup works for any style.
My only regret? Not booking for a longer shoot!
