This interview is with Iesha Small – a documentary photographer who picked up a camera just a few years ago, in order to help navigate her way through a particularly difficult time in her life.

In her project, entitled Mindshackles, Iesha has been exploring mental health – in particular documenting the experiences of those suffering from depression.

In the interview we discuss the Mindshackles project and the impact it’s having, as well as Iesha’s more recent venture into multimedia production.

Iesha has achieved a lot in a very short space of time - despite working fulltime as a teacher, having a young family, and being self-taught in photography.

To those who might be struggling to initiate their first project, Iesha’s work and all she has achieved is proof that, despite significant time and energy constraints, it can be done and done well. The key thing is finding the right story for you to explore – one that you can work on despite other commitments, and one you are passionate about. These two things will hopefully ensure you overcome any barriers – real or perceived, and see it through to its conclusion.