Interview: Photofusion / Parallax, Brixton

Write Speak Recover founder Tim Foley exhibits at Photofusion, and talks to the Director Jenni Grainger, and Parallax Director Frank Okolo

After moving to Streatham Hill from the USA I was delighted to find Photofusion on my doorstep in Brixton. Offering me a place not only to develop and print film but to build community with regular member events and workshops. The combination of studio and gallery spaces along with well managed and equipped colour and black and white darkrooms is fantastic. Add in the fact that as you enter the space you are greeted by a  photographic supply store, Parallax, and this hub provides everything an analogue film photographer could need. I was delighted to have a piece from my Write Speak Recover project selected for the Salon/25 Members show running through Feb 21st. The opening night seemed the perfect opportunity to take my camera along and sit down with Jenni Grainger, Photofusion Director. And, of course, I popped in to see Frank at Parallax to grab a film and have a chat along the way.

Jenni - As a member myself I’d like to start by saying thank you for providing a space that is keeping photography alive. Why is the photographic art form important to you and the Photofusion team?
I know I wasn't the obvious choice for the next Director at Photofusion due to my background as a Theatre Producer, but my entire career to date has been the championing and propelling of others' creative vision and artistic expertise. And I see my job at Photofusion as no different, and I love it. I think the team would agree with me that Photography sits squarely in the middle of creativity, truth-telling, and community and allows people to frame their own realities, ask questions, and offer new ways of seeing - very much like theatre; and I'm passionate about keeping this thriving. It's so important to give individuals a voice, especially those whose stories are too often overlooked.

A photograph can hold memory, identity, and emotion in a single moment, while also opening up dialogue about wider social issues and that's why it's important to us.

As a team, we’re committed to photography not only as an art form, but as a tool for connection and social change; creating space for people to learn, experiment, and be seen.

How did Photofusion begin and how has your programming evolved over the years?
Photofusion began in Brixton as a direct response to the need for community-led photography and fair representation. Its roots go back to 1979, when an activist collective called the Photo Co-op formed in South London (initially Wandsworth) to document local issues and challenge how mainstream media portrayed (local) communities. Building on this work, Photofusion was officially established in 1990, evolving from a grassroots collective into a wider photography resource centre. From the start, it was created to support emerging photographers, provide access to affordable facilities, and champion voices that were often underrepresented in the photographic world.

Our programme has evolved from its early roots in community and activist photography (shaped by the legacy of the Photo Co-op) into a wider photography resource centre (the largest in London - all under 1 roof), supporting photographers at every stage. Since establishing in Brixton in 1990, we’ve expanded from skills-sharing and access to facilities into a much broader programme that now includes affordable studio and digital services, training and education, and a wider body of exhibitions and public events. Crucially we are now also supported by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation who recognise Photofusion as a huge contributor, and support organisation, to the visual arts scene in the UK. And in 2023 we officially became a Charity as we moved into our new building underneath Brixton Rec further supporting our core mission of making photography accessible, supporting excellence in the practice, and championing diverse, underrepresented voices.

Frank, over to you for a moment, stopping in the shop for a chat and to re-up on all my supplies is one of my favourite things about visiting Photofusion. Tell us a bit about yourself, Parallax and how you’re keeping analogue photography alive?
Four former work colleagues came together in 2017 to form the Parallax Photographic Cooperative. From the outset, our aim was to be fair, ethical & transparent in our values and business practices. We felt we could support the analogue community with a diverse product range sold at competitive prices.

How does the store work alongside Photofusion and how do you support each other?
From Parallax’s inception, Photofusion have been the most fantastic support. They order a lot of their materials from us and have provided a great shop/office space for Parallax to work from. The arrangement has enabled both our respective businesses to reach a wider audience.  The Photofusion members are some of our most valued customers and, In turn, many of our independent customers have used Photofusion based on our recommendation.

What are your best sellers in the store right now?
Our best selling lines can change from week to week. We’re currently selling a lot of Paterson darkroom equipment. We also noticed that we've been selling more and more books + zines in the run up to last Christmas.

Jenni, I love getting off the train in Brixton and moving through the swell of life to get to Photofusion. How special is the neighbourhood and location to your mission?
I also love getting off the bus in Brixton each morning. I have lived in South London ever since I came down to study at Goldsmith's in 2002 (so 23 yrs!) but I think Brixton offers me something new, and often unseen, every day. Brixton is also absolutely central to Photofusion’s mission, not just as a location, but as part of who we are. The organisation was born here, shaped by Brixton’s history of activism, creativity and community-led change, and that spirit still runs through everything we do. It’s a neighbourhood known for its cultural diversity, its bold voices, and its strong sense of identity and I feel is exactly the kind of place where photography matters, and is used: as a way to document, celebrate, challenge and connect.

Tell us about your member programs and why exhibitions like Salon/25 (featured here) are essential?
Our Membership is open to everyone and costs £85 per year, or £40 discounted (for students, state pension recipients, and unemployed or low-waged adults). Both options offer the same benefits, including discounts, free event access, early Photofusion updates, and entry to our Saturday Sessions; a supportive space where photographers come together to share and discuss their work. Members also have opportunities to exhibit their photography in our gallery through Members’ Only exhibitions, and Salon/25 is one of these!

From now until 21^st February our gallery is hosting 86 pieces of Members' work, and it is an amazingly eclectic mix of the talent we have in our membership community. I am thrilled with the quality of work on display and the diverse narratives behind the images; from local community friendships, to addressing the climate crisis, to being a carer to elderly relatives - the stories behind the photographs are relevant, powerful, and visually impressive - which is why exhibitions like Salon/25 are essential. They showcase what the Photofusion community can do and provide an opportunity for members to exhibit their work professionally, gain visibility, build confidence and be part of something bigger. Shows like Salon/25 also don’t just celebrate photography; they keep the creative ecosystem alive, especially at a time when many of these vital spaces in London are under threat.

We want to recruit more members, now more than ever, because across the city we’re seeing darkrooms close, affordable printing services disappear, and fewer spaces available where artists can exhibit without huge costs or barriers. Our membership offers more affordable access to facilities, skills development, and a real creative home for people at every stage of their photographic practice.

I know you do a lot of outreach and youth programs, what have you been up to recently?
As part of our charitable remit, we run both time-limited funded outreach programmes (made possible through Trusts and Foundation support, fundraising and donations) and a year-round programme that is a cornerstone of our activity at Beehive Place: The Creators’ Studio. Supported by Arts Council England and also Trust and Foundation support, The Creators’ Studio is our free photographic training, mentoring and peer-support programme for young people aged 16–25 in South London. Participants develop photography skills, build confidence and creative voice, explore routes into employment and education in the creative industries, and learn practical business basics. They also receive free access to our full facilities, including our studios, darkrooms, scanning and printing; alongside ongoing mentoring and support. All run by our brilliant Youth Engagement Manager, D. Wiafe, who works Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays so is often unseen by members and customers as our young people take over the space largely when we're closed to the public! D has been at Photofusion about 5 years and is also Course Leader of the BA in Commercial Photography at LCC.  Recently our Creators' Studio Young People partnered with Cockayne Grants for the Arts, Mini Title, Capture One, The Central Film School and Imagine Studios to create Made From Home, an exhibition at Photofusion showcasing their work.  We've also just worked with local organisations The Baytree Centre and IRMO on a project called Healthy Relationships exploring Identify and Self through photography with young women (supported by the National Lottery's Community Fund), as well as running a 30 week programme across 2025 and 2026 called Changing Lives where we are providing 30 weeks of free training and skills development to young people living in Lambeth social housing (supported by Lambeth Council's Social Impact fund). We're busy, but we'd love funding to do more! D is Photofusion's Yough Engagement Manager,

I know you couldn’t do all of this without the rest of your wonderful team, and my experience with them has been terrific - always willing to answer questions and give guidance or just chat about life and art, tell us little more about them? 
Oh, our team is invaluable to Photofusion and all have expertise in different areas that collectively keeps us moving in the right direction. We decided to search for a new General Manager in 2025 and were so lucky to find Liz. With extensive experience across the arts, charity and mental health sectors, she brings a warm, friendly approach and a belief that no photographic question is out of bounds. Liz is also a photographic artist, specialising in cameraless photography; reflecting Photofusion’s strength as a team of practising photographers and specialists.

Steff Jamieson is Photofusion’s Education Manager, leading our Lambeth Adult Learning outreach course, developing our education programme and teaching photographic courses; most often in the darkroom, her specialty. A practicing artist with over a decade’s experience teaching analogue photography, Steff is well known by those who attend our courses for her patient, confidence-building approach. 

Richard, our Digital Production Manager, has been at Photofusion for over 20 years. His expertise in scanning, printing and mounting is second to none, and he takes the time with every customer to make sure the final results do their work justice. Nick Jones has also been with us over 20 years and is most often un-seen by the public! Nick is solely responsible for all the film processing at Photofusion, developing both colour and black and white films by hand, with the utmost care.

I really feel that our team, coupled with our facilities makes for an unbeatable, unique proposition for our members.

What’s next for Photofusion in 2026 and what help do you need from members and the community?
In 2026, Photofusion is focused on deepening our impact as a community photography centre and protecting what makes us special, while growing what we can offer to all levels of photographers. We’ll be expanding opportunities for young people through The Creators’ Studio (funding dependent), developing more photographic courses and skills programmes, and continuing to platform emerging and underrepresented voices through our exhibitions and public programme. We also want to strengthen Photofusion’s role as one of the few remaining affordable photography spaces in London, raising the profile of our darkrooms, studios, galleries, printing and professional support. But, alongside this ambition, we’re also being honest about the reality: this is a financially difficult time for the arts, and for charities like ours. Costs are rising, funding is increasingly competitive, and many creative spaces in London are closing, which makes Photofusion’s survival and sustainability more important than ever. To keep Photofusion here for the long term, we need our members and our community in Brixton (and wider) more than ever. We need people to join as members, renew, use our services, and encourage others to do the same. Membership income directly helps keep our facilities open and accessible. We also need people to come to exhibitions and events, spread the word, and champion Photofusion as a vital cultural space in Brixton. And for those who can, donations, partnerships and giving help ensure we can keep programmes like The Creators’ Studio free for young people, continue serving our local community, and remain a home for photographers in South London for many years to come.

I'd love to encourage everyone to sign up to our newsletter HERE, keep up to date with what we have coming up and, importantly, come and see us at 2 Beehive Place (just under the swimming pool in the Rec complex off Brixton Station Road!). The gallery is free to access Tuesday to Saturdays, 10am-6pm.

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