GET INVOLVED WITH TPUK
TELL US YOUR STORY
CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS
TPUK is community arts project which promotes visibility and empowerment for the trans community in the UK, and throughout 2025 we're collecting stories about trans joy!
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Getting involved means telling us about your experiences by filling in our participation form below. We'll ask you to provide us with some basic information about who you are and why you want to take part, followed by a broader section where you can tell us about your thoughts and experiences with trans joy.
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We're committed to using as many submissions as we possibly can in the project, but unfortunately we only have the capacity to develop a small number of them in to full features. For each round of submissions, we'll choose the four stories we like best, and those participants will be invited to have their portraits taken. If you're chosen for this, you'll become one of our featured stories for 2025, and the finished set of photos will also be sent to you to use however you like!
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The four chosen stories will feature in Issue 2 of our magazine, to be released in November 2025. We'll also be featuring as many of the other submissions as we can on our website, social media and Patreon feeds.
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Our aim is to create opportunities for trans people to shape our own narratives, both in images and in writing, and provide an empowering experience for everyone who takes part. Trans people so rarely get the opportunity to tell our own stories, and its about time that changed.​​
WHO CAN TAKE PART?
Participation is open to anyone in the UK who is trans or non-binary.​ Priority is given to those from marginalised or underrepresented backgrounds; 50% of our spaces are reserved for those from the Global Majority, and we also prioritise disabled folks and those over the age of 40.
Unfortunately there are currently a few parts of the UK that we are unable to physically get to for financial reasons. If you are based in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Cumbria, Northumbria, Durham or neighbouring counties it is unlikely that we'll be able to offer you a photoshoot at present. You are still welcome to submit your story if you would like just the text to be featured.
In the future we plan to create opportunities for photographers in different parts of the country, and hope to offer photoshoots in the areas we can't reach right now!​​
CURRENT THEME: TRANS JOY
Our theme for 2025 is Trans Joy!
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Being trans right now can be gruelling - with long NHS waiting lists for treatment, hostility from the media and politicians, along with ordinary, every-day troubles that we face, it can sometimes be difficult to remember just how much joy being trans can actually bring us.
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That's why joy is the theme for the next issue of our magazine! We're looking for stories of trans celebration, belonging and empowerment. You can write about anything you like, from your favourite item of clothing, to the supportive people in your life, to the revelatory feelings that often accompany self-discovery.​
We'll be holding two rounds of story submissions for this theme: one in January 2025 and another in June. Selected stories will be featured on our socials, website and in Issue 2 of our magazine.
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​We'll also be attending a number of trans pride festivals and celebrations throughout the year - photographing the marches, speaking to attendees, and writing articles about these events. Community is such a huge source of joy and celebration for many of us, and we plan to showcase it!
SUBMIT YOUR STORY
As of December 28th 2024, Submissions for our next round of stories are now open!
If you would like to take part, have a think about what trans joy means to you, and fill in our participation form below. The 4 stories that we love the most will be offered a free photoshoot as part of the project, and a full feature in our magazine.
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You can submit via our online form below (coming soon!) and the deadline for this round of submissions is January 27th. All photoshoots will take place during Spring 2025.
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​Before you apply to be involved, take a look through our FAQs below and read all the information carefully!​
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Does everyone who submits a story get to feature?We try our absolute best to feature as many stories as we can on our instagram feed, but unfortunately it isn't always possible to feature everyone. We can also only offer portrait sessions to a small number of people - we're currently looking for four people for Spring 2025, and another four in the autumn.
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How will I know if I've been selected for a photoshoot?We'll contact everyone to let you know whether you've been selected. For everyone who submits before our next submission deadline on January 27th, we'll aim to contact you by February 3rd.
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Where will the photoshoot take place?The vast majority of photoshoots will take place outdoors, and the choice of location is mostly down to you. If there is a location that features prominently in your story submission then we'll aim to use that. Alternatively, we might ask you if there's a space in your local area where you spend a lot of time, or that feels particularly special to you, and go from there. If you're feeling anxious or have any safety concerns about having your photos taken in public, please let us know and we can aim to find a quiet location/time.
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How long does the photoshoot take?Portrait sessions usually take around an hour and a half, though we'll spend the first half hour or so just chatting so we can get comfortable around each other.
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What will you do with the images?The images will feature in our magazine, website, social media channels and Patreon members' feed. We may also use them for press to promote the project, and may feature them in exhibitions in the future. We always aim to present the images in context - wherever possible, alongside the written submission provided by you. We won't publish any images that you're uncomfortable with.
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Do I get to see the images before they are used?Yes! We'll send you all the images before they are published anywhere, and ask you to have a look through them. That way, if there are any images that you're not comfortable with us using, you can let us know!
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Do I get to keep the images?Yes! We send you the full set of finished images from your photoshoot, as both a high resolution JPEG and a web-sized JPEG. You're then free to use them however you like!
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I was on the waiting list in 2022/2023; are you still going to feature me?Due to a project overhaul - along with limited capacity and budget - we've had to scrap our previous waiting list, so unfortunately not. You're very welcome to apply again whenever our next round of submissions is open though!
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I'm a photographer; can I volunteer for you?We are not currently recruiting for photographers. In the future we hope to create paid opportunities for photographers to get involved with the project, and develop a small team of TPUK photographers around the UK.
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Are there any other ways to get involved with TPUK?At present there are no other formal ways to get involved, though in the future we hope to create further opportunities, such as photography and writing workshops. We sometimes attend trans pride festivals or events, and will usually have a means of quick participation on the day. Keep an eye on our instagram feed to see if we have any of those coming up!
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I have another question, how do I get in touch with you?Drop us an email at transportraitsuk@gmail.com!