BEYOND MY LENS
MY INTRODUCTION
Hi, I’m Fern, a 21-year-old commercial photography student based in Plymouth, England. I’m currently in my third year at Arts University Plymouth, where I specialise in editorial and commercial photography. My work is deeply rooted in themes of female empowerment and the impact of the female and male gaze, particularly how these perspectives shape the way women are represented in media and influenced by social pressures.
What you can expect from this blog
Behind-the-Scenes Content- A look at my shoots, from concept development to final execution.
The Female & Male Gaze in Media – Exploring how women are portrayed in advertising, social media, and editorial work.
The Pressures of Social Media – How commercial imagery impacts self-perception and beauty standards.
My Creative Process – Insights into how I develop ideas, direct shoots, and bring concepts to life.
As I work towards building my career in editorial and commercial photography, I want to use this blog to spark conversations, challenge norms, and share my experiences. Whether you're a fellow creative, a model, or just someone passionate about visual storytelling, I’d love to connect.
Let’s explore the power of photography together!
25/3/25
Toxic Social Media
The term "toxic social media" is commonly used across various platforms, but what does it mean? Several factors contribute to this concept.
First, there is the rapid spread of misinformation, which can circulate quickly on social media, leaving people confused about what or whom to trust. False information often garners more engagement than factual content, as it is designed to be sensational and emotionally charged. This can lead to harmful consequences, from public panic to the spread of conspiracy theories.
Another significant factor is the encouragement of negativity, particularly prevalent on apps like X and TikTok. Users can easily voice negative opinions and contribute to a culture of criticism, where online discourse often turns into personal attacks. This fosters the idea that it's "cool" to join in on the hate, and users may forget that there is a real person behind the screen. This further enables cyberbullying, as individuals say things online that they would never say face to face.
Additionally, social comparison plays a major role in toxic social media culture. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are filled with carefully curated images that create unrealistic beauty and lifestyle standards. The pressure to appear perfect can lead to low self-esteem, body dysmorphia, and anxiety, particularly among young users. The constant exposure to highly edited content makes it difficult to differentiate reality from illusion, reinforcing insecurities and self-doubt.
Social media addiction is another key issue. Platforms are intentionally designed for endless scrolling, making it easier than ever to keep consuming content. The term "brain rot" has emerged to describe the negative effects social media has on younger generations, who tend to communicate solely in slang and abbreviated phrases. Additionally, screen time has significantly increased among young children, and the more they scroll, the more likely they are to encounter or engage with negative content, including hate pages.
One current example of toxic social media is the Netflix series Adolescence. In the series, a teen boy named Jamie is accused of murdering a girl named Katie. Although they attend the same school, Jamie claims they are not friends. As the story unfolds, detectives try to uncover the reason behind Jamie's actions and discover that the hate he experienced primarily came from social media. Katie bullied Jamie online, making derogatory comments about his appearance and referring to him as an "incel" while using various emojis to convey her disdain in a youthful manner. It's shocking to hear such language coming from a 13-year-old.
As the series progresses, it becomes clear that Jamie has feelings for Katie despite her cruel comments, and he feels insecure about his appearance. When Katie rejects Jamie and calls him "desperate," he retaliates by killing Katie.
This tragic story highlights how anger and violence can stem from social media interactions. It serves as a powerful reminder of the real-world consequences of online toxicity. Schools should consider integrating discussions about toxic social media into their curriculums to help young people navigate the digital world responsibly. By fostering awareness and encouraging empathy, we can work toward making social media a safer, more positive space for all users.
Behind the Senes 29/3/25
To begin my exploration of the female gaze and its deeper implications, I collaborated with fellow student Zoe Brown on a studio shoot that aimed to be both empowering and visually expressive. Drawing inspiration from photographers Caspar Faassen and Petra Collins, both known for their celebration of feminine aesthetics, we set out to uplift our model while experimenting with a range of lighting and styling techniques to convey strength, softness, and authenticity.
For our use of LED lights, we selected red and orange hues because they performed best on camera. However, we recognise that deep red and orange can carry sexual connotations, which was not the message we aimed to convey in our shoot. While we did not use any explicit language or imagery, an immediate connection was establ
The Final outcomes
One of the elements I loved working with was fabric. The way it moved, folded, and caught the light added a beautiful texture to the images and subtly enhanced the feminine silhouette of the model. It brought a softness and fluidity to the shoot that felt both elegant and expressive, exactly the kind of energy I want to convey in this project.
Lighting played a huge role in creating the mood. I used a snoot positioned above the model, which produced a narrow, focused beam of light. This created a soft pool of illumination that gently washed over the figure and brought out the natural folds and detail in the fabric. The contrast between light and shadow gave the images depth and a sculptural quality that elevated the overall aesthetic.
This first shoot wasn’t just about getting technically strong images, it was about beginning to build a visual story that reflects the female experience through an honest and empowered lens. It’s only the start, but it’s already pushed me creatively and made me even more passionate about where this project is heading.
Undertsanding the Male Gaze in the digital age 4/4/25
The issue of the male gaze and the psychological pressure it places on women has never felt more relevant than it does today, especially in the age of social media. To fully grasp the challenges women face in reclaiming their image, it’s important to understand where this concept originates. The term “male gaze” was first introduced by feminist film theorist Laura Mulvey in her groundbreaking 1975 essay “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema.”
Mulvey argued that because men historically controlled the creation of films, photography, and other visual arts, women were often portrayed as objects of male desire. This power imbalance wasn’t just behind the camera, it was built into the content itself. Women were styled, positioned, and framed to please the heterosexual male viewer, while female audiences were expected to internalise these representations, accepting them as the norm.
As Mulvey famously wrote, “The imbalance of power between men and women in society was reflected in the imbalance of power between men and women on the screen.” Nearly 50 years later, that dynamic hasn’t disappeared; it has simply evolved, now playing out across platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
TikTok’s fast-paced, scroll-heavy design allows people to form instant opinions about a creator, often based solely on appearance. Comments are made in seconds, with little context or understanding of the person behind the screen. This environment feeds into a culture where women are judged not by the content they create, but by how well they align with conventional beauty ideals.
“Pretty privilege” plays a major role in what content performs well. Women who fit the male gaze, typically young, slim, symmetrical, and hyper-feminine, are far more likely to gain attention, likes, and virality. A prime example of this is TikTok creator Leah Halton, who won the 2024 TikTok Award for Best Video, with her clip reaching over 1.1 billion views. The video? Leah is simply lip syncing in her car. No message, no complex storytelling, just a beautiful woman performing in a way that fits neatly within male gaze expectations.This isn’t to say that Leah doesn’t deserve recognition or that beauty should be dismissed. But when content created by women that doesn’t fit into these narrow standards is ignored or even ridiculed, we need to ask ourselves, who is being valued, and why?
As a woman and a visual artist, I find it increasingly important to challenge these systems through my work. My campaign, #BeyondHerBody, exists as a response to this culture a place to represent women through the female gaze, where beauty isn’t defined by male validation but by authenticity, emotion, and truth. It's a reminder that women are more than what social media allows them to be.
We deserve platforms that celebrate diversity, honesty, and individuality, not just curated perfection.