Saesha Ward

Having recently graduated in Photography, I continue to spend a lot of my spare time planning and directing shoots whereby I shoot on medium format colour film. I specialise in portraiture, often exploring youth culture and identity. Since university, I have been commissioned to shoot portraits for The Financial Times, independent magazines/organisations and clothing brands as well as continuing to undertake my own personal projects of family, friends and societal groups.

For my final major project as part of my BA (Hons) Photography degree, I shot a series of portraits of my closest friends back home in Manchester using 120mm colour film. Titled Mersey Paradise, the project was awarded the Guildhall Graduate Award and has been published online in Source Magazine and Trip Mag. The series has been printed in an A5 zine format which is available for purchase through my website. Recently, the portrait 'Matty' was shortlisted for the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize.

Commissioned for Trip Mag, I collaborated with photographer Dean Davies on an editorial shoot capturing London based fashion label Heresy's latest collection. Using 120mm colour film, I worked besides Dean, three young models and stylist Helen McGuckin at Studio Bee, Manchester.

The Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries at the University of Portsmouth presented me with 2017’s Guildhall Graduate Show Award, resulting in a four month exhibition of my series 'Mersey Paradise' at Portsmouth Guildhall.