A Heartfelt Thank You
I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported and encouraged me on this incredible journey of photographing disabled sports—something I’ve come to truly love.
At the start of 2024, I could never have imagined becoming a fully-fledged photographer at the Paralympics in Paris and returning with such remarkable images (a sentiment echoed by those who’ve seen my work).
Behind the scenes, many people have played a vital role in helping me along the way. While I can’t list everyone, I owe special thanks to my GP, hospital staff, and ambulance teams who supported me during my most challenging moments. Living with FND since collapsing in April 2022 has meant asking for help far more than I ever anticipated, but their unwavering care has been invaluable.
This year, I’ve been fortunate to have mentoring sessions through Lloyds Banking Group, Small Business Britain, and The Lilac Review. Networking opportunities at House of Lords events and gatherings have provided valuable insights into disability advocacy and fresh ideas for my business. These experiences inspired my ambitious 10-point plan for 2025.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has also been instrumental in connecting me with incredible individuals. Through their support—and the uplifting shoutouts from Small Business Britain and FSB during the Paralympics—I’ve gained momentum in my journey.
Reflecting on my progress, I’m proud to have launched my first magazine in July 2024, showcasing photography from disabled sports in 2023. That milestone reaffirmed my commitment to promoting disabled sports. By July, I was preparing for the Paralympics with a new goal: creating a magazine and calendar to commemorate the event. I’m thrilled to say I accomplished this, and copies are still available at www.thedisabilitysportsnetwork.com/shop.
Seeing the final magazine for the first time left me in awe—it was a surreal reminder of how far I’ve come. Using Nikon’s incredible Z8 camera (on loan, and paired with my trusted Z50), I captured breathtaking moments in archery and table tennis using new techniques. The perfect mix of lighting, positioning, and top-tier athletes helped produce results I’m truly proud of.
This journey has been extraordinary, and I’m excited to share it in greater detail through a book, set to launch in March 2025 at the FSB Boot Camp in Croydon.
To everyone who has been part of this story, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Together, we’ve shown the power of perseverance, creativity, and community.
So what is next in 2025?,
It involve a book, exhibition, The Deaf Tokyo Olympics (maybe), Authentic Images of Disabled People, American wheelchair football, Pickleball, Rock climbing, Background special effects (under wraps for now) and a lot more. So it looks like I have to pace myself and yes I will be employing some freelancers/PA for certain parts of this.
I will need to do some fundraising to sustain this, so if you are a company or person that who would like to help out grassroots level disabled sports events with me helping them with some great photography, you can get a tax write off, a write up for your newsletter, maybe some local and national publicity that you helped some sports thrive etc. Please get in touch with me to discuss details.
Thanks
Michael
The main website for stock images you can buy images
www.thedisabilitysportsnetwork.com
Also, click on the archive button (right-hand side of the front page for other disabled sports
www.instagram.com/thedisabilitysportsnetwork
