Planet Hope
Videography and photography
A collaboration with Youth The Gap CIC, taking headshots and producing a video to reflect the ethos of four inspiring TEDxBrighton speakers.
A call to action
In 2025, TEDxBrighton partnered with Youth The Gap CIC to spotlight four dynamic youth activists whose work embodies the spirit of Planet Hope. Curated by changemaker Kaia Allen-Bevan, the founder of Youth The Gap, this series of TEDx talks wove together threads of anti-racism, activism, and radical empathy.
As part of this collaboration, I was commissioned to produce headshots and a talking heads video that would reflect the ethos of each speaker and serve as promotional material for their TEDxBrighton appearances. The result was a visual narrative that honoured their voices, their stories, and the spaces that shaped them.
A movement, not a moment
The headshots were crafted with natural light and candid framing, aiming to evoke strength and clarity. The accompanying video interwove clips of each speaker sharing their ethos, paired with ambient footage from their chosen locations, creating a cohesive visual narrative that amplified their message.
Styling for the shoot was provided by FORE, a London-based, community-centric brand whose values aligned beautifully with the project’s ethos. Their clothing added a layer of visual cohesion and cultural relevance, grounding the portraits in a sense of collective identity and care.
The final headshots and video cuts were used across the four activists’ promotional channels, helping to elevate the speakers’ visibility and deepen audience engagement.
Reflecting on this project, I’m reminded that hope is not a fleeting feeling - it’s a practice. Within the overarching theme ‘Planet Hope’, each activist highlighted that hope can only be driven by sustainable, meaningful and intersectional change. I’m proud to have played a part in documenting this moment of collective vision and action.
“Leoni is the leading example of adopting and embedding Allyship within her creative direction and co-creating a vision that encapsulates more than the project brief. It is rare to meet someone who has the perfect blend of collaboration, independence and tenacity, and we treasure her and her services deeply.”
Kaia, Founder & Director at YouthTheGapCIC
