Through Her Lens: Creating Opportunities for Girls Through Photography
A free photography training giving girls the opportunity to learn, create and tell their own stories through images.
By Samuel Yayra Banahene | Glowgh Multimedia
A camera can do more than capture a moment.
It can give someone a voice.
It can help a person see their surroundings differently, recognise beauty in ordinary places and tell stories that might otherwise go unnoticed.
That belief inspired me to organise a free photography training for girls, creating a space where they could learn the fundamentals of photography, explore their creativity and begin developing a skill that could open doors to future opportunities.
Creating a Space to Learn
The training was designed to make photography accessible.
For many young people, creative skills can feel out of reach because of the cost of equipment, training or access to experienced mentors.
I wanted to remove at least one of those barriers.
The girls were introduced to the fundamentals of photography — understanding light, composition, framing, camera settings and perspective.
But the training was not only about technical knowledge.
It was also about encouraging them to look.
To notice.
To ask questions.
And to understand that a photograph can communicate an idea, an emotion or an entire story.
Learning Through the Lens
Photography is best learned by doing.
So alongside the lessons, the girls had opportunities to practise what they were learning.
They experimented with different compositions, explored their surroundings and learned how small changes in perspective could completely change an image.
There were mistakes, discoveries and plenty of questions.
And that was part of the process.
Every photograph became an opportunity to learn something new.
More importantly, the girls began to understand that they did not have to wait for someone else to tell their stories.
They could tell those stories themselves.
More Than Photography
The goal was never simply to produce photographers.
It was to expose the girls to a creative skill that could become useful in many different ways.
Photography can lead to opportunities in media, journalism, communications, social media, content creation, events, advertising and documentary storytelling.
But beyond career opportunities, creative skills can also build confidence.
There is something powerful about learning a new skill, practising it and eventually producing something you are proud of.
For the girls, the camera became more than a piece of equipment.
It became a tool for exploration and expression.
Investing in Potential
Making the training free was intentional.
Talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not always reach everyone equally.
Sometimes, all someone needs is access — access to knowledge, equipment, encouragement and someone willing to say, “You can do this.”
That is why initiatives like this matter.
They may begin with a simple training session, but their impact can continue long after the lessons are over.
A girl who learns photography today may become a professional photographer tomorrow.
She may document her community.
She may tell stories about issues that matter to her.
She may build a creative business.
Or she may simply discover a passion that changes the way she sees herself and the world around her.
Passing the Camera Forward
As a creative professional, I believe that skills become more powerful when they are shared.
I have had people teach, guide and encourage me throughout my own creative journey. Offering that same opportunity to others is one way of passing that knowledge forward.
The free photography training for girls was therefore not just about cameras.
It was about access, confidence, creativity and possibility.
It was about creating a space where girls could learn something new and begin to see themselves as creators rather than simply consumers of visual content.
Every girl deserves the opportunity to discover what she can create.
And sometimes, all it takes is someone willing to place a camera in her hands and say:
“Now, tell your story.”
Trainer: Samuel Yayra Banahene
Organisation: Glowgh Multimedia
Training: Free Photography Training for Girls
Focus: Photography, Creativity & Visual Storytelling
Through Her Lens: Creating Opportunities for Girls Through Photography
