Thank you for letting me be myself

Receiving my Autism and ADHD diagnosis prompted me to reflect on the key supports in my life, one of them being the people in these images. Despite often feeling isolated (a frequent neurodivergent experience), I am fortunate enough to have an incredible network of friends and family. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today. Part love letter to my community, part reminder that we are often less alone than we think, this series celebrates friendship, neurodiversity, and reclaiming space. A central component to the work is the collages. Chosen in collaboration with friends and family, with their own thoughts and feelings written on their portraits to ensure their agency and personalities are felt. I used collage to create visual overwhelm, which speaks to the sensory overwhelm that I experience from my neurodivergence. This is an ongoing body of work, and is available as a 104pp photobook on my online shop. This book was shortlisted for the 2026 Australia & New Zealand Photobook Awards student category. The series received a Highly Commended in the 2025 Ballarat International Foto Biennale GradFoto, and was also chosen for the Develop exhibition at the Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh).