Emily Endean
Name: Emily Endean
Camera: Fujifilm X-T5
Favourite type of photography: Landscapes & seascapes
Location: Bournemouth, England Website: www.emilyendeanphotography.co.uk
Instagram: @emily_endean_photography
How did you get into photography?
I loved photography as a child, capturing moments with my family through the lens of a small film camera. I still have some of those blurry photographs today! Things got a little more serious as an adult when I was gifted a DSLR for my birthday. Once I'd got to grips with it out in nature, capturing a beautiful sunrise - I was hooked! I haven't looked back since and now photography is literally a part of my everyday life!
Do you have any photographic qualifications or accolades?
I don’t have any qualifications and have been self-taught. I attended some workshops by a local landscape photographer once I realised I really enjoyed that genre of photography - it opened my eyes to seeing so much more in these familiar places! In terms of accolades, I've won various awards for my landscapes and seascapes and received recognition in the British Photography Awards, LPOTY, GPOTY and the Guild of Photographers. It's been a wild ride, and to receive recognition for my art has been pretty mind-blowing!
What's the first photograph you remember seeing or shooting?
The first one that got me hooked on photographing the sunrise was taken in around 2012 - I went out to Knowlton Church, which was about a 20-minute drive from my home. Arriving in the dark, I had no clue what to expect that morning. The sky went from a hint of colour, to full-blown reds, pinks and oranges.... That got me hooked, and from then on, there was rarely a morning I slept in!
What do you love about photography?
What I love most about photography is the incredible freedom it offers in expressing how I see the world. There's no right or wrong way to capture an image, it's all about personal interpretation and style. Photography allows me to communicate my unique perspective, whether through the play of light, composition, colour or location. I find it empowering that every person can approach the same scene in a completely different way, each telling their own story. The beauty of photography lies in its subjectivity, what resonates with one person may not with another, and that diversity in approach makes it endlessly fascinating. It's a medium that welcomes creativity and exploration, and I find that really exciting!
Listen to our Podcast with Emily Endean
What do you wish you'd learned about photography earlier?
One thing I wish I had learned earlier in my photography journey is not to listen to others when they told me to focus on just one genre. I was advised many times by others to specialise and pick a specific subject or genre to focus on, but that mindset ended up stifling my creativity. I felt boxed in, as if I couldn’t explore the full spectrum of what photography had to offer. Looking back, I now realise that the beauty of photography lies in its versatility, and there's no need to limit myself to one genre. Embracing the freedom to photograph whatever inspires me, whether it’s landscapes, details or the abstract shots, has been liberating. Now, I feel more creative and free to experiment without constraints, which has made my work even more exciting and personal, and there is always something to learn.
Where is your favourite place for photography?
The Ocean! Thats an easy one... No two moments are ever the same, whether it’s the way the light hits the water at sunrise or the way the waves crash against the shore, there’s always something new to capture. I find the ocean incredibly inspirational because of its vastness and unpredictability. Its contrasting moments when capturing the calm serenity of a quiet moment or the dynamic energy of a stormy sea. It never fails to spark my imagination!
Do you have a favourite photographic technique?
One of my favourite techniques is photographing the ripples of the ocean up close using my macro lens. The beauty of this technique is that it’s always a bit of a mystery; no matter how many times I try, I never know exactly what the shot will look like until I see it.
Can you briefly outline your approach to image processing?
My image processing is fairly simple, and I like to keep it that way, especially in Lightroom. I typically spend just a few minutes on each image, focusing on the key adjustments that bring out the vision I had when I captured the shot. Shooting in raw format is essential for me because it gives me the flexibility to make adjustments without compromising the image quality. I mainly focus on enhancing the details, adjusting exposure and fine-tuning the colours to better reflect what I saw in the moment. It's about staying true to the original feeling of the scene, whether it's brightening up shadows, sharpening certain areas, or adding a softness to the morning glow. My goal isn’t to drastically alter the image, but to refine it and make sure the final result matches the vision I had when I clicked the shutter. It’s a quick process, but it helps me bring out the essence of each shot.
What's your favourite lens?
I have so many! Can I choose Two? The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 60mm F2.4 R Macro in the water and the XF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR for the surf.
Read the SheClicks Guide to Lenses
Do you have a favourite accessory?
The Tiffen GlimmerGlass filter.
Have you found the perfect camera bag yet?
Yes, I love my Vanguard VEO R44!
Which photographers have influenced or inspired you, and how or why?
I find inspiration everywhere and anyone who is in their natural creative flow, regardless if their style is similar to mine or not. Some to mention are some of the greats Lee Millar, Margaret Bourke-White, Annie Leibowitz and current inspiration Rachel Talibart, Viktoria Haak, Shona Perkins... my list could go on! The reason being their vision of the way they see the world is so hugely inspiring and uniquely their own!
Please recommend 2 or 3 female photographers to follow on Instagram.
Viktoria Haack @viktoriahaack, Shona Perkins @my_beautiful_scotland
Is there a camera, lens or accessory that you don't have yet but you'd like to buy at some point?
I'd love to get myself a medium format set up at some point, maybe the Fujifilm GFX100II if money was no object!
Is there a genre of photography that you love but that you haven't tried yet?
I love street photography - I have tried it, but I’m terrible at it as it’s so far out of my comfort zone. So that’s my challenge, to try the genre more!
What's your proudest photographic moment?
My first solo exhibition at the Russell Cotes Gallery in Bournemouth was a big moment for me. I got to curate and hang the pieces myself and have an opening night with friends and family - it was absolutely amazing and I felt so proud of my achievements!
And of course, I'm immensely proud to have been a Fujifilm X-Photographer (ambassador).
Overcoming my fear of public speaking has been an incredible journey, and photography played a powerful role in that transformation. Through my work with Fujifilm and opportunities like speaking at The Photography Show, I discovered a new sense of confidence by sharing not just images, but the stories behind them. Standing in front of an audience once felt daunting, but being able to talk about something I’m truly passionate about, my art, shifted that fear into excitement. I still get nervous, but it’s more nervous excitement than fear now!
If you could have one superpower that could help you with photography, what would it be?
My superpower could be an innate connection with light, being able to manipulate and control it to create any mood or atmosphere I desire. Giving me great light, or stormy clouds, or rainbows at the click of my fingers!
Your favourite baked goods are?
I can't resist a good vegan sausage roll from my local coffee shop!
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a coffee addict, always chasing that perfect cup to kickstart my day, and I love writing almost as much as I love photography. Both are outlets for expressing myself, and they feed my creative spirit in different but complementary ways. Photography, in particular, feels like my life's true purpose. It’s so much more than just a job or a hobby, it’s how I connect with the world and capture the moments that speak to me.
I’m also completely obsessed with being outside. Nature fuels my soul, and living in my van has been a game-changer. It forces me to be immersed in the great outdoors, whether I'm chasing the perfect sunrise, photographing the ocean, or simply soaking in the beauty of the landscape. Every day is an opportunity to explore and capture the world in a way that’s deeply personal to me.
Photography, for me, isn’t just about snapping pictures, it’s about capturing stories, emotions, and the raw beauty of the world around us. It's the way I share my perspective, and it’s become my way of life. Whether through the quiet moments in nature or the fast-moving waves of the ocean, each shot tells a story that only I can capture. That’s what keeps me inspired and driven every day.
