Jess Phillips MP Portrait for the RPS 40% Project

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Capturing Portraits of Women Leading Change

Photographing Jess Phillips MP for the Royal Photographic Society’s 40% Project was one of those journeys that stays with you. It wasn’t photographed in Westminster or staged under studio lights; instead, we met in the heart of her Birmingham Yardley constituency at St Edburgha’s Church, a place significant to her family, where both her parents were christened. This setting, full of history and belonging, felt like the ideal place to document a woman who has built her political life on service, advocacy and an unwavering voice for those overlooked by the system.

The RPS 40% Project celebrates an extraordinary moment in British politics: 264 women elected to Parliament after the 2024 General Election, making up 40% of the House of Commons. It’s a landmark worth honouring, not with polished campaign portraits, but through the creative eyes of women photographers across the UK. As someone whose work is grounded in capturing strength, movement, and the human stories behind achievement, I was proud to contribute to this nationwide visual archive.

Why Portraits Matter More Than Ever

For me, portraiture shares a similar heartbeat to my sports photography. In sport, I look for the moments of truth, resilience, vulnerability and energy. Portraiture, especially of women in leadership, carries the same search for presence. You’re not just making a picture of a person; you’re creating space for who they are. Jess Phillips is known for her directness, her humour, and her fierce commitment to preventing violence against women and girls. Before entering Parliament, she worked on the frontline with Women’s Aid, supporting survivors and fighting for safer systems. That lived experience shapes every speech she gives. Each year, she reads aloud the names of women killed by male violence, a moment of remembrance and advocacy that cuts through the noise of politics. I approached our portrait session with that strength and sensitivity in mind. The church grounds were quiet, wrapped in morning light. Jess arrived with an openness that immediately shaped the tone of the images. There was no performative stiffness, no sense of being on display. Instead, I found someone grounded, reflective, and keenly aware of the legacy that projects like this can create for future generations of women.

Portraiture That Celebrates Real Presence

The act of photographing a woman in a place that carries her personal history is a privilege. You are not only documenting the person as they are today, but the lineage and journey that brought them here. Jess spoke about her parents, her Birmingham roots, and the importance of representing a community she knows intimately. It reinforced how leadership is not abstract, it’s lived, inherited, shaped by the streets, stories and families that surround us. What struck me most was how naturally the session aligned with my wider practice. Although my portfolio is often filled with dynamic, high-energy sports imagery, athletes pushing through impact, movement and grounded intensity. This portrait of Jess felt like another expression of women stepping into their full presence. Whether it’s a boxer waiting in the corner, a rugby player ready to take the hit, or an MP standing for her community, the essence is the same: women occupying space with purpose.

How Collaboration Amplifies Women’s Impact

Projects like the RPS 40% matter because visibility matters. Women in Parliament have fought for decades to reach this point. Representation is not simply about numbers; it’s about narrative. When women tell women’s stories, whether visually, politically, or creatively, something shifts. The picture becomes more truthful, more layered, more human. Throughout the session, I focussed on creating images that felt authentic. No forced expressions. No artifice. I wanted the portrait to carry the power of a woman who has built her career on advocating for those unheard. Jess Phillips is a campaigner, but she is also a person shaped by her community, her family, and her values. That balance, public strength and private rootedness became the story I wanted the portrait to hold.

Women, Leadership and the Power of Being Seen

One of the most inspiring aspects of the 40% Project is the collaboration at its heart: women photographers working with women MPs to build a historical record together. There is a shared understanding, a shared language, and a shared desire to uplift. Women doing things together changes the work. It changes the feeling. It changes the impact. This portrait is not just of Jess Phillips MP. It is part of a collective effort to celebrate women who lead, women who shape communities, women who hold space, and women who stand up, whether in politics, in sport, or in everyday life. It is about visibility, honour, and storytelling through a female lens. As the project continues to pair photographers with MPs across the country, I am proud that my contribution captures a woman whose advocacy aligns so closely with my values: authenticity, courage, and the importance of being seen on your own terms. This is why I photograph. This is why women’s stories matter. And this is why the 40% Project is such a vital milestone in the visual history of women’s leadership in the UK.