From street photography to portraiture Will Coxford has been developing his style alongside his work in the film industry, and even taken photos on a Hollywood film set! With big dreams of becoming a regular photographing on sets, he tells me more about how he started out in photography, the gear he loves and inspirations.
Our emerging photographer series aims to shed a light on up-and-coming talent. Photographers are offered a platform to share their work with a wider audience through the AP channels, with the scope of furthering their careers. We also get an insight into their inspirations, the camera gear used and future aspirations, as well as the journey taken into photography – which doesn’t have to be the most traditional route!
We’ll be sharing the work of photographers on our website and social media and even in the magazine. If you have recently started your photography journey or are a student / graduate, share your work with us at [email protected]
When and why did you start taking photographs?
I only really started to take photography more seriously during the actor’s and writer’s strikes that hit the film industry a couple of years ago. I was out of work for nearly a year so used photography as a way of keeping busy and dusting off cobwebs that gathered since finishing film school. I initially wanted to try and recreate a feeling that a space would give me and try to lock that into a frame.
My first photographic outing in this time period was to Great Yarmouth pleasure beach during off-season, trying to create melancholic / nostalgic shots of the theme park where you could feel the imposing presence of the rides and the emptiness of the space). That was a big detonating moment for me.
Which genre do you tend to work mostly in?
I guess portrait and street / architecture would be where my work tends to fall but I still wouldn’t say I’ve really ‘found my niche’, I’m very happy exploring or dipping into a range of genres if a certain idea comes to mind.
What draws you towards your favoured genre?
I think portraiture has the ability to relay so much range in emotion, culture, a fleeting look or moment, a well-crafted or accidentally beautiful aesthetic, and I think it’s the endless possibility of results that it can give which excite me both when behind the camera and as a spectator.
Tell us a little bit more about your photographic training?
I went to film school in Mexico City on a course that lasted about 4 years. Each term we would cover various aspects of photography and this is where I really got to grips with manipulating settings to try and achieve a range of results. The course was so practice heavy (but not neglecting the theory) and we were given a lot of opportunity to experiment.
Tell us more about your recent work?
Just late last year I had some portraits displayed in a show at the Mexican Ambassador’s Residence in London – I took some Day of the Dead inspired portraits with a dance group here in London and we were all chuffed with the results. This was the first time I ever had any photography on show and the response so positive (which is of course a huge relief as I still feel a bit sheepish saying to people “I’m a photographer” rather than just treating it as a hobby).
What has been your biggest photographic obstacle to date?
Keeping a fresh perspective and not just looking for the same type of image if I’m out practicing street photography would be a big one! I’m very conscious that I’m at an early stage of my journey and need to keep trying different styles and techniques and not just repeat similar images over again.
Who are your biggest influences?
Hard to pin down – there’s a wide spread that I’m constantly changing… Just to name a few people’s work that really lands with me at the moment.
- Victor Melillo in Rio.
- Josh Jackson is also doing great street work which more often than not lands with me.
- Victor Mendiola
- Robert Viglasky’s stills work is always very impressive.
- An obvious one buy Greg William’s work is also very cool
I often refer to cinematographers like (I know painfully obvious) Deakins, Chivo Lubezki, Jakob Ihre…
What equipment do you use?
I mainly use a Fujifilm X-T5 which I will more often than not keep paired with a 16-80mm lens for versatility. Although if I’m going into the studio, I tend to prefer a 35mm prime. I have recently been dabbling in 35mm film and have been lucky enough to practice on a Leica M6, borrowed from a friend (and rapidly falling in love with it!)
What would be your dream equipment to work with?
Not an overly wild one, but when I’m feeling brave enough to commit to a 35mm camera, I would love to get my hands on my own Leica M6.
What has been the highlight of your photography career so far?
Hands down getting to spend three days at the end of a film production on set with one of Hollywood’s best-known Producer/Directors and shooting some stills for a feature which is coming out later this year.
(For context — I work in film production offices, and on that particular project our on-set stills guy had to leave the project a few days before wrap and a few members of the team were aware of my interest in photography so let me in there for those final days.)
What are your hopes for your photography career in the future?
Small step: One day in a not too wildly distant future I would love to put on my own expo for a night or two which likely would go hand in hand with the next question (dream assignment).
Bigger step: one day to combine photography (which is just something I enjoy / play around with at the moment) and my work-film world and make that more of a regular thing shooting on set.
Do you have a dream assignment?
I’d love to spend an extended period / couple of weeks on the Pacific coast (you guessed it, in Mexico) in the smaller, less developed villages shooting documentary style photography with the families there, capture the rugged but beautiful landscapes and colorful life tucked away, hidden from the limelight of the more popular destinations.
What piece of advice would you give to other aspiring photographers?
Shoot anything you’re interested in. I don’t think you have to lock into one genre while you’re discovering your style. I think it’s a good practice to ask yourself “why am I shooting this particular frame / what’s the emotion or narrative?” when taking a shot and not just doing It because it “looks cool” (which of course sometimes is fine!).
Instagram: @will_onthestills
Success stories
At the 2026 AP Awards, Nick Teo was announced as our Emerging Talent winner for this documentary-fashion work. Previous emerging photographer award winners include Ethan Parker, Aliz Kovacs-Zoldi and Tariq Sadu. Si Jubb and Ethan Parker spoke at our Festival of Photography: Documentary event in 2025.
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Do you want to win some great prizes for your photography? Enter your photos in our International Amateur Photographer of the Year competition. Free entry for photographers aged 13-21.
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