The Willcox Collective

🌟 Is Being Neurodivergent a Superpower? Let’s Talk About It 🌟 I’ve been thinking a lot about this recently. Can being neurodivergent be a superpower? It’s such an interesting question, isn’t it? I love Rich and Rox from ADHD_love_ , and how they explore this idea—they’ve shown how the struggles and strengths of being neurodivergent can coexist. Did you know their entire online journey started with Rox’s impulsive decision to post a video about her tampon? That burst of creativity and energy led to something incredible! But here’s the thing: there’s this stereotype, especially with dyslexia, that we’re all inherently creative. And by “creative,” most people seem to mean things like photography, art, or design. But is that really what creativity is? Couldn’t it also mean seeing the world differently, solving problems in unique ways, or connecting dots others don’t even notice? I think it’s dangerous to generalise. Just because someone’s brain is wired differently doesn’t mean they’ll all experience it the same way. For some, neurodiversity can absolutely feel like a superpower they’ve learned to wield. But for others, it can feel like every single day is a struggle, and even for me some days are just write offs. It’s kind of like asking: would you rather be Batman—using grit and creativity to fight your battles—or Superman, born with powers but constantly carrying the weight of everyone’s expectations? 🦸‍♂️🦇 I’d love to know what you think. Let’s explore this together. And if this is a conversation you’re curious about, join us at the next The NeuroSpicy Entrepreneur Club event this January. Xander Willcox founder of @xw3dmakes will be sharing his story and his unique perspective on why the whole “superpowers” idea might not be all it’s cracked up to be. 💬 What do you think? Superpower or struggle—or maybe a mix of both? Let’s talk about it in the comments. 👇 ©️ADHD L

We're so proud to be a sponsor of The NeuroSpicy Entrepreneur Club! Our guest speaker Ian Anderson Grey is as excited as we are for our next event the "NeuroSpicy Success Story Session” on 17th September. So excited in fact, he sent us a little video of what you can expect to hear on the night! Ian is renowned for transforming unique challenges in his life into substantial impacts. From the initial obstacles faced to the triumphant achievements celebrated, Ian will offer an intimate look into the path to success, sharing valuable insights and experiences in his personal and professional journey. The event is a celebration dedicated to the tenacity and achievements of Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs. Secure your space today, come and celebrate the triumphs of being neurodiverse with the NSEC Community and @Ianandersongray Spaces are limited, so don't miss out 👇🏻! Tickets are now available, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-neurospicy-entrepreneur-club-neurospicy-success-stories-tickets-916336255407 Date: 17th September 2024 Time: 18:00 - 21:00 Location: Barclays Eagle Lab, 28 Chesterton Road, Cambridge, CB4 3AZ. Recommended Donation: £5.00 - Pay what you can rate available. #NeuroSpicySuccessStory #NSEC #NeurodivergentEntrepreneurs

Growing up in London, rollerblading was my go-to adventure, especially around the now Olympic Park in Hackney. But a childhood accident—speeding down a hill, falling, and hurting myself badly—left such a deep mark that I hung up my rollerblades, seemingly for good. Years passed, filled with fond memories yet overshadowed by that fear. Recently, though, I decided it was time to face that old ghost. I bought a new pair of rollerblades, not to chase professional aspirations but to rediscover the joy I once knew. Being neurodivergent often pushes me toward perfection in every pursuit, but this time, I was determined to just enjoy the ride, regardless of the outcome. Equipped with more caution and far more padding than my younger self, I ventured out. The initial awkwardness on the rollerblades was a stark reminder of how daunting starting over can be. Confidence shaky, skills rusty, every movement felt like a monumental task. Yet, inspired by a simple TikTok tutorial on the "duck walk," I pressed on, transitioning from grass to tarmac, embracing each wobbly stride. The real breakthrough came when I identified my deepest fear: falling. Acknowledging it, preparing for it, and then facing it head-on transformed my experience. From tentative steps on grass to a few unaided meters, the journey was exhilarating. This adventure was more than just about rollerblading; it was a powerful reminder of the importance of stepping out of our comfort zones. It's okay to try something and not be perfect. It’s okay to be 'rubbish' and celebrate the sheer effort of trying. As I plan to continue this journey, I’m reminded that sometimes, the simple act of trying, of moving forward despite the fear, is in itself a victory. Let’s not shy away from rekindling old passions or exploring new ones. What’s something you’ve thought of revisiting or starting anew? Let’s inspire each other to take those first wobbly steps! #GrowthMindset #Resilience #Learning #Rollerblading #N

Day in our CEO's Life - a trip to GOOGLE HQ vlog! 🫢🎉🎉 This time last week we organised a trip to Google London HQ to go see my friends Christopher Patnoe and Hans Zimmerman at Google's Accessibility Discovery Centre. It was great to get Alice Reeves and Mark Blake co-founders of Joyfully Different to join us, as well as Xander from XW3D Makes s and we also had Emily Plater representing The NeuroSpicy Entrepreneur. This collaborative space Google has created is a space where their engineers, researchers, product teams and partners can build new kinds of accessible technologies to remove more of the barriers that people with disabilities face every day. What's amazing, is anyone can book a visit. Learn more here: https://blog.google/around-the-globe/google-europe/united-kingdom/the-accessibility-discovery-centre-is-open-for-collaboration/ We had the honour to join Tyler Shores and the University of Cambridge ThinkLab team on a visit earlier in the year after working together as part of the hackathon in December 2024. Our biggest takeaway from this visit was learning about an app called 'Live Transcribe'. Live Transcribe was made in collaboration with Gallaudet University, the premier Deaf and hard-of-hearing university in the US. Transcribes in real-time in over 80 languages and dialects. Can you imagine the applications this app has for events?! It's bringing accessibility to all and I'm very excited to try it at our next NSEC event. It was such a fun day and great to spend time in person with some brilliant humans. In 2025 we'll be doing another trip to see what neurodivergent accessibility features they've included, so do sign up for NSEC's mailing list to be alerted on upcoming events!

🔄 People Don't Just Buy Services, They Buy Transformation! 🔄 When it comes to photography and video for your business, it’s not just about pretty pictures—it’s about telling your brand’s story in a whole new way. 📸 Visual Impact: High-quality photos and videos capture what makes your business unique, making your brand unforgettable. 🌟 Professionalism: Give your brand a boost with stunning visuals that showcase your products, services, and team in the best light. 🚀 Engagement: Eye-catching content grabs attention and keeps your audience interested, leading to more interaction and loyalty. 💼 Credibility: Professional visuals help build trust and credibility, showing that you care about quality and your brand. ✨ Transformation: Watch your business grow as our photography and video services change how your audience sees you. Ready to take your brand to the next level? Comment YES and we'll be in touch!

📢Our founder Jemima has had a glow-up and The Collective is now entering a new evolution of our brand! 📢 Check out the video where Jemima timelapses having a lot of hair, to not much and my reaction to this. She's been doing a lot of reflecting on what The Collective stands for and how I can embody this, so on the outside I felt like I needed a change. So in true colab fashion, Jemima went to London and got her hair cut off and some new images done! It's pretty hypocritical for us to tell you all how important new images are when Jemima's have been out of date for years! Massive thanks to Not Another Salon in Brick Lane for their amazing service and for making us feel super at home. They're a No Judgment Policy hair salon. This means we acknowledge your anxiety, support your Neurodiversity and celebrate every inch of our LGBTQA+ community. No matter your age, race, mental health, ability or beliefs. Jemima also got to take her hair home with me 🤣🤣🤣 So if you know any charities we can donate her hair too, let us know as it's sat in a bag waiting to give some unsuspecting person a surprise! The great news is that I worked with my amazing Collective Member Sarah Wills Photography and there are some stunning, creative and different images on the way. Well, you'd not expect anything less from us, right? We'd love to know what you think.

Another proud moment for our co-founder Jemima Willcox and The Willcox Collective at the "This is What a Lawyer Looks Like" launch event last week. It was brilliant to see the jeux de position of the portraits of Cambridgeshire Lawyers interspersed with the Museum of Cambridge’s exhibition. To hear comments from the attendees that, it is so important to create role models for the future, highlighting diversity in a traditionally "male, pale and stale" industry, was hugely impactful. The Willcox Collective's images hit the brief of being fun, expressive and different from what’s expected of a lawyer portrait👌. We had the pleasure of working with the amazing Scott Smith and very much hope to collaborate again soon! Thanks to the Museum of Cambridge and Annie Davis for recommending me to Scott Smith as a photographer to work with. We’ll share the images very soon, watch this space! #equalityanddiversity #thisiswhatalawyerlookslike #thewillcoxcollective #photography #museumofcambridge #collaborationandpartnership

We've been working on a project that speaks to our business values. What does a lawyer look like? Spoiler: probably not like the ones you’re used to seeing on TV. We were recently commissioned by @cambslawsoc to shoot portraits showcasing and celebrating the diversity of legal professionals in Cambridgeshire. Here's how the shoot went, I was assisted by our awesome Collective Member @m5films The final images will feature in a one-night-only “This is What a Lawyer Looks Like” exhibition and networking event at The Museum of Cambridge on Wednesday, 5th June at 6.00 pm. I'd love you to come to see but it's only for members of the Law Society! But don't worry - When the exhibition is over I'll share them with you all!

The team are taking some time out to enjoy the long Easter weekend so we'll be closed for the next few days. We'll be back in the office from 9 am on the 2nd of April.

Here are 4 ways you can work with The Willcox Collective: Photography ● Corporate Headshots (in our studio or on location) ● Brand Portraits ● Social Media Content ● Marketing Collateral ● PR Assets ● Product Photography ● Aerial Photography Videography ● Interviews ● Explainer Videos ● Drone Videos ● Event Coverage ● 360° Virtual tours ● Animation ● Timelapse Videos ● Video Production Brand Consultancy & Project Management ● Visual Content Strategy ● Expert Advice and Guidance ● Troubleshooting ● Marketing Planning ● Event Management ● Brand Marketing and Design ● Photography and Videography ● Content Distribution If you'd like to learn more go ahead and DM me :) 💙💛 💙💛💙💛💙💛 The Willcox Collective are adventurers on a quest to deliver authentic, personality-driven visual content for businesses like yours. Eye-catching, scroll-stopping, tongue-wagging, like-tapping, link-clicking, comment-leaving, crowd-pleasing content with feeling.

Something I've been sitting on I can now share 🥳 The work we did for University of Cambridge ThinkLab Future of Work Hackathon is now live. Over two days, ThinkLab collaborated with Google REWS (Real Estate and Workplaces Services) Team and BBC CAPE to explore accessibility, inclusion, and the future of work in the context of neurodiversity. There were keynote speeches featuring: Thomas Roulet, Dr Kiran Bhatti, Aurelia Deflandre, Gokul Krishnan Ph.D. and Christopher Patnoe. Also some brilliant breakout sessions, and team activities — all incredibly inspiring and with an accessibility-first approach. Our role was to capture the event on film. Three keynote speeches, nine interviews, multiple hours of B-roll, and one highlights package later, I think we nailed the brief. Let's dive in with the highlights video and we'll be sharing more of the videos over the coming weeks. A huge thanks to Tyler Shores, Reanna Brooks and everyone at ThinkLab for trusting us with the visual content and the opportunity for The Willcox Collective to start a brilliant partnership. If the innovative and creative minds in attendance at this Hackathon are anything to go by, the future of neurodiversity in the workplace looks positive. If you've got an event you'd like to capture working with a company that's wired differently, let me know.