I deliver photography tutoring and workshops that help young people build confidence, develop creative skills, and express themselves in powerful ways.
This isn’t just about taking pictures - it’s about unlocking potential.
“Burlington House Sixth Form has worked with Steve Wallington for two academic years now and each student who has worked with him has developed beyond our greatest expectations. Students want work placements that are not only of interest to them but also with people they connect to. This can sometimes prove a near impossible task, but Steve has an unteachable skill of being able to build genuine connections and generate student buy-in each and every time. I don’t want to speak for the students as I hope they will write their own testimonies of what working with Steve has taught them, but from observing them the transformation is nothing short of incredible. Steve has helped them develop as young people, which has seen students progress in other areas of their lives, for example employability skills and academic performance. Sometimes we are searching all avenues for a key to build student trust and unlock their potential. Each student we have sent Steve he has found that key and a beautiful journey begins through the medium of photography and creativity.
Steve is humble in his approach, but students see not only an elite creative but someone who cares about them and their journeys. Working with Steve has helped move us institutionally, and he has helped open other exciting doors for us. An incredible colleague and somebody that we want to continue working with long into the future. ”
Burlington school
Approach
The programme combined technical photography training with confidence-building and creative development. Sessions were tailored to each student, focusing on:
Improving practical and technical skills
Building self-confidence and engagement
Encouraging personal expression through photography
Introducing students to established photographers and industry contexts
Organising gallery visits and real-world creative experiences
Outcome
Students are predicted strong A Level results while also demonstrating clear progress in:
Confidence and self-belief
Creative thinking and independence
Wider academic engagement and employability skills
Impact
“The transformation is nothing short of incredible… each student begins a beautiful journey through the medium of photography and creativity.”
Steve Proctor Head of Burlington House Sixth Form
St Marys Ukranian school
St Mary’s Ukrainian School supports children and families displaced by the war in Ukraine, many of whom are navigating trauma, loss, and a disrupted sense of identity and belonging. As part of a Saturday enrichment programme, I was invited to deliver photography workshops for teenage students.
Approach
The workshops created a safe, creative environment where students could explore their thoughts and emotions through photography. The programme focused on:
Self-expression through image-making
Building confidence and identity
Supporting emotional wellbeing
Encouraging peer connection and collaboration
Developing communication in both Ukrainian and English
Outcome
Students engaged deeply with the process, using photography as a way to:
Express emotions beyond language
Rebuild confidence and self-identity
Connect with peers and shared experiences
Reduce feelings of isolation
Impact
“Steve’s photography workshops have been a way of escaping for the students and a way for the teenagers to express their feelings through something other than words – through the power of photography.”
LUDA Head Teacher, St Mary’s Ukrainian School
The workshops helped foster a stronger sense of safety, belonging, and community, giving students a meaningful creative outlet during a period of significant upheaval.
Avenues Youth Centre
The Avenues Youth Project provides a safe, creative space for young people aged 8–18, many from underserved communities. Its holiday programmes offer free access to activities that support personal development, confidence, and future opportunities.
As part of their summer programme, I was invited to design and deliver a week-long photography course for young people aged 11–16.
Approach
The programme introduced photography as both a creative skill and a tool for self-expression, combining practical learning with exploration and collaboration. The workshops focused on:
Developing core photography skills (composition, light, storytelling)
Encouraging creativity and experimentation
Building confidence through group work and shared ideas
Supporting young people to document their environment and experiences
Creating a positive, engaging structure during the summer holidays
Outcome
Participants engaged enthusiastically, many discovering photography for the first time. Over the course of the week, they:
Built confidence in using cameras and visual storytelling
Developed creative thinking and collaboration skills
Produced a body of work reflecting their perspectives and surroundings
Impact
The project provided a constructive, creative outlet within a supportive youth environment—helping young people build confidence, connect with peers, and engage in a meaningful activity outside of formal education.
“Watching our students grow over the course of the internship has been brilliant. Steve has a real gift for bringing out the best in young people - the maturity, the creativity, the drive - it all came on leaps and bounds. You could see their confidence building week by week, and a lot of that is down to the way Steve engaged with them. He never made anyone feel like just another face in the room.
He was enthusiastic every single session - the kind of enthusiasm that’s contagious - and he was always kind, patient, and flexible. Rather than pushing students towards his own agenda, he took the time to understand what each person was interested in and what made them tick, then shaped the experience around that. It made a real difference.
Honestly, we couldn’t recommend Steve more highly. If you’re looking for someone who will genuinely invest in young people and make a real impact, he’s your guy!
”