I Photographed a World Book Day Event (and Ended Up on BBC News!)

Okay, so I got to photograph the Reading for Smiles Festival at MAC Birmingham, and honestly? It was great!!

If you’re not familiar with this event, it’s organised by the Black British Book Festival and it’s basically World Book Day live. Children dressed up as their favourite book characters, Sir Lenny Henry was there (yes, THE Sir Lenny Henry), and the whole place was just buzzing with this incredible creative energy. And here’s the wild part: the BBC showed up to film it, and later that night when I was watching the news, I literally spotted myself in the background. As a photographer, you’re usually behind the camera, not in front of it, so that was a pretty surreal moment!

But let me back up and tell you about the whole day…

Can I be totally honest with you for a second?

Sometimes in business, we get so caught up in the day to day hustle (the emails, the editing, the admin) that we forget why we started doing what we do in the first place.

And then a day comes along that reminds you. That reignites that spark. That makes you think, “YES. This is exactly why I became a photographer.”

For me, that day was photographing the Reading for Smiles Festival at MAC Birmingham.

Let me tell you all about it, because I think there are some powerful lessons here about showing up for the work that matters, saying yes to opportunities that align with your values, and the unexpected magic that happens when you do.

Why This Project

When I was approached to be the event photographer for the Reading for Smiles Festival (a children’s literary celebration organised by the Black British Book Festival), I didn’t even have to think about it. This was a definite yes.

Why? Because it ticked every single box for the kind of work I want to be known for:

- Working with organisations that make a real difference in the community

- Photographing events that celebrate diversity

- Capturing genuine joy and connection

- Creating images that organisers, families will treasure forever

As a Staffordshire based event photographer, I could have easily said, “Birmingham’s a bit of far,” or “I’m already booked,” but here’s what I’ve learnt: when an opportunity aligns with your values and your vision, you make it work.

And I’m so glad I did.

World Book Day Magic:

What I Witnessed

Picture this: It’s World Book Day, and the Midlands Arts Centre is absolutely buzzing with energy. Children are arriving in the most incredible costumes. Superheroes, storybook princesses, classic characters, and some wonderfully creative interpretations I’d never seen before.

But here’s what really got me: these children weren’t just dressed up. They were embodying their characters. They were confident, proud, and absolutely beaming with excitement.

And as I stood there with my camera, watching children, teachers, families stream through the doors, I had this moment of, “Okay, this is going to be special.”

Pro tip: When you’re photographing events, those first few minutes are crucial. I always arrive early to capture the arrival energy. It sets the tone for the entire day, and those candid, excited moments are pure gold.

A day full of interactive workshops

Throughout the day, I moved between different workshop spaces, and each one had its own energy and purpose.

Drawing Workshops: In the drawing sessions, young artists were bringing their favourite characters to life on paper. The concentration on their faces was absolutely adorable. Tongues poking out, eyebrows furrowed, completely absorbed in their creations.

When they finished and held up their artwork with that massive, proud smile? Those were the shots that made my heart sing.

Lesson here: Don’t just photograph the polished final moments. Capture the process, the concentration, the journey. That’s where the real story lives.

Storytelling Sessions:

The storytelling sessions were where I saw the true magic of books come alive. Children sat cross legged on the floor, completely mesmerised as animated storytellers transported them to different worlds.

You know that look? That wide eyed, mouth slightly open, completely absorbed in the story look? That’s what I was capturing, and it never, ever gets old.

These are the images that remind parents why events like this matter. These are the shots that organisers use to secure funding for next year’s festival. These images have purpose and impact.

Dance Activities:

And then we had the dance sessions. Complete opposite energy! Kids were bouncing, spinning, acting out their favourite story scenes with absolutely zero inhibition.

As a photographer, these dynamic moments are challenging but SO rewarding. You’re trying to freeze movement whilst capturing genuine emotion and joy. It requires technical skill, yes, but also anticipation and connection with your subjects.

Special guest and media coverage

Now, let me tell you about one of the absolute highlights of the day: Sir Lenny Henry was there.

If you’re not familiar with his work, Sir Lenny has been a champion for literacy and diverse storytelling for years. He’s passionate about making sure every child sees themselves represented in books and media.

Watching him interact with the young readers was genuinely moving. You could see the impact in real time. The way their faces lit up, the way they leaned in to listen, the inspiration in their eyes.

And here’s what struck me: This is the power of representation. When children see someone who looks like them, who’s achieved incredible things, who’s telling them that their stories matter? That changes lives.

As I was photographing these interactions, I kept thinking about the ripple effect. These images would remind these children of this moment for years to come. And that responsibility? I don’t take it lightly.

My Unexpected BBC Moment (And What It Taught Me)

Here’s where things get interesting. You know an event is something special when the BBC shows up! It was brilliant to see the festival get the recognition it deserves.

That evening, I’m sitting at home, watching BBC News, just decompressing from a full day of shooting. And suddenly, there’s coverage of the Reading for Smiles Festival.

I lean forward, excited to see how they covered it, and then… wait, is that…? Yes. That’s me. There I am in the background, camera in hand, doing my thing.

Now, as photographers, we’re used to being behind the camera, not in front of it. So seeing myself in the BBC coverage was surreal, to say the least!

But here’s the lesson I took from this moment: Show up consistently for the work that matters, and opportunities you never expected will find you.

I didn’t photograph this event thinking, “Oh, maybe I’ll get featured on the news.” I did it because it aligned with my values and I wanted to serve this community well. The BBC coverage was a bonus.

Why Events Like This Matter (And Why I’m Sharing This With You)

The Reading for Smiles Festival isn’t just another World Book Day celebration. It’s creating something critically important: spaces where children can see themselves represented in literature, where they can discover authors and characters that reflect their own experiences, where they can fall in love with reading in an environment that celebrates who they are.

Being trusted to document this? That’s not just a photography job. That’s a responsibility and an honour.

These images will:

• Become treasured family memories

• Help the Black British Book Festival promote future events

• Serve as proof that representation matters and that events like this are making a real difference

And honestly? That’s the kind of work I want to be doing. That’s the kind of impact I want my business to have.

The Business Lesson I Want You to Take Away

If you’re a photographer (or really, if you’re any kind of creative entrepreneur), here’s what I want you to hear:

Not every project needs to be about the money.

Now, don’t get me wrong. We’re running businesses, and we need to be paid fairly for our work. But some opportunities are worth saying yes to because they:

• Align with your values

• Stretch your skills

• Connect you with your community

• Remind you why you started your business in the first place

• Lead to unexpected opportunities

The Reading for Smiles Festival was all of those things for me. And I’m confident that showing up for this event, serving this community well, and creating images that truly matter will lead to more aligned opportunities in the future.

That’s how you build a business that doesn’t just make money. It makes an impact.

All photos by ©Deborah, She Creates for Black British Book Festival.

Let’s Work Together: Event Photography That Tells Your Story

Days like this are exactly why I do what I do. Event photography is so much more than just showing up with a camera. It’s about understanding the story, capturing the emotion, and creating images that people will actually want to look at years from now.

If you’re organising any kind of event in Birmingham, Staffordshire, or anywhere in the UK whether it’s a children’s festival, a community celebration, a literary event, or really any gathering that brings people together. I’d genuinely love to chat about photographing it.

I especially love shooting:

• Events and festivals

• Educational workshops and programmes

• Community and cultural celebrations

• Charity events

• World Book Day events

Every event tells a story, and I’m all about making sure those stories are captured in a way that feels authentic, joyful, and totally you.

Planning something special in Staffordshire, Birmingham, or the Midlands? Let’s talk! I’d love to hear about your event and chat about how we can work together to create some incredible photos.

Get in touch today to check availability and start planning your session.

Work With Me