Does the idea of getting $5,000 in cash and a box full of top quality photo gear to complete a passion project you’ve always wanted to do sound crazy? Yeah, I thought so, too. But then it happened to me!
About a year ago, I decided to apply for the grant. “What do I really have to lose?” I said to myself. Sony Alpha Female is providing a platform for photographers and videographers to share stories and inspire the world with their creativity, passion, and drive. “That could be me,” I tentatively thought. So I put together a solid proposal and a fun video introducing myself, and pressed “submit” on my grant application. The process of applying was super easy and quick. I was shocked when I got the call that I had won the grant! A box of amazing Sony gear landed on my doorstep and I launched full steam ahead into my 30-day project.
Spoiler alert: Winning the grant was a total game-changer for me. I pushed myself outside my comfort zone, challenged myself, and ultimately grew more in those 30 days than I had in years of client work. I love the amazing new gear which now never leaves my hands, I love the 5 grand I received to make my vision come to life, and I love the work I created as a result. But more than all that, the greatest gift was the belief in me and what I had to say as an artist. It’s so much more than a grant, it’s a portal to catapult into the artist you want to become.
So how can you win a grant for yourself? I’m here to tell you about the whole process from start to finish, provide some tips and bits of advice I learned along the way, and of course share the results of my project. I hope you’ll see that if I can do it, you can too!
Here’s me talking about my project and how it all came to be:
First, I had to get out of my own way.
When I first learned about the Sony Alpha Female+ grant it seemed like this elite, unattainable thing. I looked at the women who had been chosen before and they were all so talented and at the top of their respective fields. I didn’t think I had a chance of joining their ranks.
One of the things I struggle with the most as an artist is confidence. I have consistently let the fear of failure hold me back. I recently made a vow to myself to get out of my own way. After all, you can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy the ticket. This is what first allowed me enough courage to hit submit on my applications to Click Pro Elite, the Voice image competition, and to teach at Click Away.
Seeing what I could accomplish when I just gave myself the chance to succeed has convinced me that holding myself back is far scarier than rejection. So, I took an idea that I had held within the pages of one of my many idea notebooks for about a decade and I sat down to apply.
Next, I put together the application.
While I already had my concept in mind, it was important to sit down and think it through before applying. How would I complete it in 30 days? What would it look like stylistically? What would the individual pieces of the series look like? And most importantly, how could I convey all of these things to someone who cannot see inside of my brain? Which is honestly for the best, because it’s weird in there!
While writing out the details, I tried my best to help whomever would be reading it to be able to visualize the end product themselves. I started by first telling them why I thought this project needed to be made — what made it meaningful to me but also what I felt would make it meaningful to others. I then described those visuals and finished by telling them the logistics of how I would complete the project in the given time frame.
There are a few great features of the Sony Alpha Female+ grant program that I have to tell you about! First of all, the application process is quick and easy. Plus, you can apply every month! Each application is considered for all the remaining monthly grants until the last grant is awarded in April 2022. Sony clearly worked hard to remove barriers to entry by making the application process so streamlined. And by being able to apply every month you can pitch so many of your amazing ideas!
Here’s my application video:
When applying, you’ll see that you need to upload a 1-minute long video (or shorter) telling them about you and your work. The text box will allow you to tell them about your project, but the video is your chance to tell them about who you are as an artist. I first tried recording a video of me just talking to the camera, but upon asking for feedback, my friends all told me that it didn’t feel like me. I agreed. It lacked what makes me, well, me. I tried again making another version that was more playful, colorful and creative. It felt more “me” and I knew that for better or worse I was truly showing them who I was.
I had heard through the grapevine that it was important to keep it to 60 seconds and no more so I had to trim it up a bit. I’m not sure if this is just a rumor, but just to be safe I recommend sticking to those limits to show them you can follow rules.
This is the video I created and shared with Sony when applying for the Sony Alpha Female+ grant.
Here’s my advice for anyone considering applying for the Sony Alpha Female+ grant:
- First, make sure you’ve got an idea. It should be something that you feel passionate about. Passion is infectious and it’s what will move others to want to listen. The idea should be something you think others would relate to or benefit from. Is it shining a light on an issue? Is it inspiring others through a story? It should also be something you can feasibly create in 30 days.
- Think out the logistics before applying. Consider how you would make it happen if you were to get the call today that you got the grant. What would you need? How would you put it all together? How many pieces would there be and what would they look like?
- Make sure your video is truly you. Show them your personality and what makes you unique as an artist. Keep it to a minute or less.
- When writing your proposal make sure to concisely tell them about your project. Tell them the idea, the meaning behind it, what it would look like as an end product, and how you would make it come to life in the given timeline.
- Just do it. Submit the proposal already! But seriously, you have nothing to lose and only everything to gain. You have something amazing to say that we all want to hear. But we can’t hear it if you aren’t willing to believe in yourself enough to try and give yourself a chance!
Then, I won!
I still vividly remember the day that I got the call that I had been chosen. I have a horrible memory so that just goes to show how important that moment was for me. I was equal parts ecstatic and in utter disbelief. Even though I had gotten up the courage to submit, I still didn’t think I had a chance of being chosen.
It had been months since I had first applied, but what is super unique about this grant program is that each grant application is considered for all remaining monthly grants. I had truly given up on the idea of being selected and then it happened. And it happened quickly! Suddenly a giant box of epic gear and awesome swag was on my doorstep. It was showtime! And that show was going live to the public in T-minus 30 days.
Sure, the money was integral in helping me to purchase the things to create the series. And the camera and lens have become my new BFF and haven’t left my hands since. But the greatest gift was the belief in me and what I had to say as an artist.
Yay, time to create!
The best way I can describe the process is a roller coaster. But thankfully I’m an amusement park junkie so I absolutely loved it. My idea originally was that each of the images would be of a different mother in their “homes” with their families. I planned to rent out perfectly styled Airbnbs and hire hair and makeup artists to help. Unfortunately, we had just entered yet another lockdown due to the pandemic so I had to shift gears. I switched the series to be of just my family and me in our home.
I had my heart set on it being in a 50s/60s aesthetic to showcase the timeless notion of mothers having to endure it all no matter their mental or physical health state. This required a lot of research and sourcing for me. Thankfully, I love styling so I really enjoyed the whole process (minus the massive shipping delays).
I started by creating mood boards for each of the images to figure out what to purchase. I scoured the internet and put items together to see what worked best.
Once I felt good about it all I used the grant to purchase all of the pieces such as wallpaper, vintage clothing, vintage décor, and props. I used the projected shipping dates to plan out the order in which I would shoot the images.
I made sure to leave a week at the end of the 30 days for editing and just in case anything went wrong. Once I got started it was a massive flurry of turning my house into a set home and trying to troubleshoot how I was going to bring this vision to life.
And then it was done…
I was in such a “get it done” state for 30 days that it was bizarre hitting “send” to turn it all in. It was like I hadn’t breathed in 30 days and this was the first moment that it all sank in. I was hit by so many emotions. Relief. Dread. Pride. Anxiety. I was so excited to get to create something for me, but yet I still feared they wouldn’t like it. That they would regret choosing me and be disappointed in the outcome. What if they pictured it being better in their minds? What if they post it and everyone else thinks it’s terrible?
I quieted those fears by telling myself that I did my best. For better or worse, I felt proud of what I had accomplished in that time. So proud and grateful to have been able to finally create this series – a series that I never would have created without this amazing grant. Proud that I hit submit and gave myself a chance. Proud that I made a giant tornado in my living room out of a Christmas tree and spider webs! I did things in that time frame that I had never done before. I pushed myself and grew more as an artist in those 30 days than I had in years of client work. I tapped into my truest voice as an artist and created for me. So, while I wanted people to like it, I was proud no matter what.
What being a Sony Alpha Female+ grant winner means to me
This grant was one of the greatest gifts I have ever received as an artist. And no, not because of the stuff you get. Sure, the money was integral in helping me to purchase the things to create the series. And the camera and lens have become my new BFF and haven’t left my hands since. But the greatest gift was the belief in me and what I had to say as an artist.
As I said before, I struggle A LOT with confidence. By them seeing something in my proposal and believing in me enough to give me the funds and gear, it gave me something even better. It gave me a belief in myself. While the doubt will always be there when your craft is your job, I left that project with a newfound confidence in my work and a new, wonderful community of incredible artists to inspire each other and cheer each other on through any doubt that may arise in the future.
I am forever grateful for this grant and program. It’s not often as an artist that someone believes in your voice so much that they will give you funds to make the work YOU want to make. It’s so much more than a grant, it’s a portal to catapult into the artist you want to become.
I tapped into my truest voice as an artist and created for me. While I wanted people to like it, I was proud no matter what.
Want to see an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at Tenley’s full project? Check out her extended video on Instagram (it’s totally entertaining and inspiring!). And, while you’re there, follow her @tenleyclarkcreative and check out the other Sony Alpha Female+ grant winners @sonyalphafemale.
Most of all, go to the for all the details and apply! The application process is quick and easy-peasy, plus each application is considered for all remaining month grants, until the last grant is awarded in April of 2022. And, if you apply in following months with new project ideas, you can use the same application video each time. How cool is that?! We believe in you and we can’t wait to see what you create.
More stories from talented female photographers:
How to take next-level creative self-portraits with authenticity and meaning
5 Reasons I fell in love with filmmaking
What’s in her camera bag: Jennifer Carr shares her go-to kit, plus a few surprises
This was wonderful and inspiring to watch! Congratulations!
Truly amazing and so inspiring! Tenley is so deserving in her win!
Tenley, this is so encouraging! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this and give a push to those of us thinking about this grant!