Representation Matters: A Look Inside My Work with We Are ILL
Stock photography & videography for healthcare that actually reflects real people
There are some projects you take on because they make sense. And then there are the ones you take on because they matter.
This was one of those.
When I partnered with We Are ILL, a patient advocacy organization focused on improving representation in healthcare, I knew this project would be different. Not just creatively—but personally too.
This wasn’t about creating content for the sake of content. It was about creating something that people could actually see themselves in.
The Goal: Representation That Feels Honest
The focus was clear: increase representation of Black women living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in healthcare marketing.
And if we’re being honest, that representation is often missing.
A lot of what we see in healthcare imagery feels generic, disconnected, or just… not real. And when people don’t see themselves reflected, it can affect how they connect to their care, their diagnosis, and even their confidence in the process.
So the goal wasn’t just “let’s take beautiful photos.”
It was: let’s create images that feel true.
My Role: Shaping the Vision
While I sat in my regular role as photographer, I also led the creative direction and project management, which honestly is where a lot of the heart of a project lives.
That looked like:
Mapping out the visual direction and tone
Thinking through what stories needed to be told
Collaborating with the videographer and creative team
Making sure everything felt cohesive from start to finish
Every decision came back to one thing: Does this feel like real life—or does it feel staged?
The Approach: Keep It Real
We made a very intentional decision early on—we weren’t going to over-style this.
No overly polished, clinical, “perfect” moments. Just real ones.
We captured things like:
Everyday life at home
Doctor’s visits and treatment moments
Quiet, slower moments that don’t always get highlighted
And just as important, we showed both:
Visible experiences (mobility aids, infusions, support systems)
Invisible ones (fatigue, brain fog, emotional weight)
Because MS doesn’t show up the same way for everyone. And the visuals needed to reflect that.
What We Created
By the end of this project, we built out a full library of images that can now be used across:
Healthcare marketing
Educational materials
Advocacy campaigns
Digital and print platforms
Doctor’s office visuals
And what I love most is that these aren’t just “stock photos.” They actually feel like people. Like stories. Like real moments.
Why This Matters (Beyond the Photos)
I do a lot of work in branding and visuals, and I love a beautiful aesthetic. But this project was a reminder that it goes deeper than that.
Visuals don’t just sit there looking pretty. They communicate something. They shape how people feel. They influence how people see themselves. They tell people, “you belong here”… or they don’t.
This project was about making sure more people feel like they do.
Bringing This Work to You
The most exciting part? This work doesn’t just live here.
A selection of the images we created through this project will now be available in my stock shop, making it easier for brands, organizations, and creatives to access visuals that feel more aligned, more intentional, and more representative of real life.
So if you’ve ever struggled to find imagery that:
actually reflects your audience
feels natural, not staged
aligns with a more elevated, human-centered brand
This is for you. You shouldn’t have to search endlessly to find images that feel right. And you definitely shouldn’t have to settle.
Explore the collection and start building visuals that feel more like your brand—and your community.
Final Thoughts
This work stretched me in the best way. Creatively, yes—but also in how I think about impact. Representation isn’t just a buzzword. It’s something you feel when it’s done right. And I’m really grateful to have been part of something that helps move that forward.
