Double Award-Winning Brand Photographer | From Survival To Success

I won two Silver Awards at the National Business Women's Awards 2025

I'm going to be honest, I'm still processing it so it doesn't feel real.

I won two Silver Awards at the National Business Women's Awards 2025; one for Best New Business and another for Business Woman of the Year (Micro-Business).

When they called my name, I was so in shock that all you can hear is "Oh my god! Oh my god!" on the video I was recording. As I walked up to the stage I could not tell you what song was blaring out because I was in a complete bubble of disbelief.

When they called my name out the second time, no words came out of my mouth because I was just stunned.

I sat down, stared down at my awards and I could not stop smilling. I was holding back tears.

This mean so much more to me than just the validation that I'm doing a good job with my business. It's symbolic of the journey I've taken to get this far.

Far-Fetched Dream

A few years ago, I couldn't have imagined running my own business, let alone winning awards! I never knew anyone growing up who owned their own business, and the arts wasn't seen as a viable career path if you wanted to earn a living.

By the time I was in my mid-twenties, I had a creative career under my belt and started to develop "start my own business" as a far-fetched dream that I would attempt later in life once I was "ready" and "knew enough".

My confidence was always something that held me back, but when I was taking pictures I felt expressive, creative, experienced and brave.

When I've been deep in depression I've journalled or written poetry.

When I've been anxious I've knitted or crochetted blankets.

When I've felt scared I've painted.

When I've not felt good enough I took photos.

Combine this with an incredible support system and shit loads of therapy, and slowly over time I managed to claw my way out of a pit and create a life that I enjoyed.

Then I was made redundant, and faced a choice. Do I get another "proper job" or do I take the risk? Do I finally use my skills to help others, because I know how much creativity has helped me?

From Survival To Success

On my 30th birthday in 2023, my business was born.

I knew I wanted to help others so I created niched down to female founders (and focus on combatting imposter syndrome in business), I hosted workshops for local start-ups and SMEs to demonstrate how they can lean into their values and build purpose-led brands, and created mental health focused photography walks to give people a way of channeling negative emotions into something creative.

I'm not going to lie, it was tough. My depression started to creep back in, but I loved what I was doing so I powered through when I should have taken care of myself first.

When you are constantly pushing yourself out of your comfort zone by learning new things, experiencing new situations, and putting new pressure on yourself, your brain can go into survival mode to keep you safe in unfamiliar and therefore "dangerous" territory.

Thanks to trauma, stress, mental ill-health, my brain could not tell the difference between a safe situation and a dangerous one. I resorted to old thought patterns and behaviours because these have helped me to cope in the past and they feel safe, even though they are unhealthy and harmful.

I shut down and I also gave up, both in my business and in my fight. I didn't even celebrate my business making it through the first year because I was so ill.

I like to say that stubborness is the reason I kept going, but really it's because the people around me showed up for me and made sure I was looked after. My depression was lying when it said they didn't care, because they showed me they did.

It must be lying about other things too:

My business IS helping others.

My work is IMPORTANT and needed.

I am GOOD at what I do.

My voice and vision DOES matter.

Why These Awards Matter To Me

These awards were so validating to me because they represent more than business success.

They're recognition that the path I've taken has value:

That the portraits I take of female founders is helping them feel brave enough to grow their businesses.

That the workshops I run are making a difference to the local community.

That the photography walks I organise are creating spaces where others might find the same solace I found in creativity.

I set out to build something meaningful, I never set out to win awards. The fact that this work has been recognised is incredibly soothing and proves that not up was the right decision.

Community Through Shared Experience

Although we are not our businesses, our businesses are born from us and our lived experiences. We insert our values into them, our hopes for the future, and our time.

Everyone I work with has a story to tell, and the more authentic and vulnerable we are about our journeys the more people we will inspire and connect with.

I love telling those stories because I understand what it's like to struggle and still show up for something that you care so deeply about.

Award-Winning Brand Photographer!

These awards have given me permission to pause and acknowledge how far I've come. Not just in business terms, but as a person whose stubborness knows no bounds.

To anyone reading this who's fighting their own battles while trying to build something meaningful – I see you. You are resilient. Your story matters. And sometimes the thing you build from the hardest parts of your life becomes exactly what the world needs.

Thank you to the National Business Women's Awards for this incredible recognition!

And thank you to everyone in my community who has supported me on this journey.

You've helped me more than you realise.

If you'd like to chat to me about my workshops, photography walks, or brand photography packages, pop me a message at hello@emmaanniecolton.com and we can arrange a coffee together!

Thank you for joining me!

Pin this blog for later: