Marlow mum-turned-photographer earns global recognition after a year in business

A Marlow photographer who launched her business only a year ago has been shortlisted for an international prize.

Emma Challinor specialises in documentary family photography and is the only UK nominee in the Family Photographer Breakthrough Category at the Golden Lens Awards 2025.

The 45-year-old, who took up photography as a hobby six years ago, is thrilled with her nomination.

“I’d always played around with photography – I’d taught myself how to shoot in manual, and when I had my first son, he's six now, it became a real passion,” she told the Advertiser.

“I stopped my previous job when I had children, and I felt I really lost myself in the first two years.

“A lot of the normal things I enjoyed doing, I felt I couldn't do with a baby, so it became my way of finding myself when I became a mum.

“So now to build a business and be recognised is really overwhelming and makes me feel like I've managed to create something out of what was quite a difficult period at first.

“I didn't know how it would go, so to be recognised in this category feels really special.”

Emma started with personal projects and has taken on more business clients in the past year.

She said: “After becoming a parent, my interest in photography became a real passion.

“I realised that I wanted to capture all aspects of my sons’ childhood – not only the beautiful parts, but also the funny, silly, messy and chaotic.

“I discovered documentary photography and fell in love with capturing real life.”

Emma, who moved to the Maidenhead and Marlow area during the pandemic, doesn’t have a studio because she believes in capturing ‘normal family lives’.

She therefore meets clients at their own homes or in outdoor locations such as Marlow Common or Pinkneys Green.

“Quite a lot of clients phone me saying they thought family photo sessions weren't for them,” said Emma.

“They saw other people doing it, but they wouldn't feel comfortable.

“I suddenly realised there was still a gap in the market in this country for much more real, more candid family photography.

“I love capturing children – and families – being entirely themselves, whether that’s funny and silly, full of energy or quieter and more reflective.

“I started doing it as a favour. I realised other people were hungry for something I had found myself, so I started offering it as a business.”

Emma created a website last year and has been growing gradually to ensure ‘a good client experience’.

After being featured in Photo Vogue, winning Fearless Photography Awards and now being nominated for a Golden Lens Award, her work is earning increasing recognition.

“My sessions work really well for those who don’t like having their photograph taken, as in documentary sessions, there are no forced poses or fake smiles, just real moments,” she added.

“I think this genre of photography is a perfect antidote to the unrealistic images of perfection shown on social media and in AI-generated images,” she added.

“I want to prioritise the real and the imperfect.

“I'm not expecting to win because there are some amazing international photographers, but it was just amazing to be the only UK entry this year.

“With this award recognition, I'm hoping to extend my reach throughout the UK.”

Organised by the Inspiration Photographers Association, the Golden Lens Awards ceremony is billed as the ‘Oscars’ of wedding, portrait and family photography.

The voting system is determined by the number of Inspiration awards each entrant has earned throughout the year, votes from the association’s members and judges’ votes.

Emma is up for Family Photographer Revelation of the Year, and the winners will be announced during a gala on December 3.