Priory Park Boxing Club, based in the heart of the Black Country, Great Britain, was where my professional photography journey truly began. I started working with the club back in 2020, and it became the first place where I took on regular client work. Throughout that summer, I photographed and filmed on a weekly basis, creating digital content that captured the energy, discipline, and community spirit of the gym.

Priory Park Boxing Club played a vital role in helping me become the photographer I am today. They were the first to believe in me, to trust my creative vision, and to give me consistent opportunities to grow. In many ways, I owe them an unpayable debt.

At times when I could’ve put the camera down for good, Priory Park kept me going—with new challenges, fresh assignments, and constant encouragement. Eventually, I used the gym as the subject of my final university projects, which turned out to be some of my most successful and personal work.

My close relationship with the boxers and coaches gave me a unique, behind-the-scenes perspective, one that shaped my approach to sports photography and storytelling. This club isn’t just part of my portfolio; it’s part of my foundation.

THE BEGINNING

Kelsey was a key subject in some of my earliest work. From promotional shoots where she sparred male boxers, to countless photos captured during my early days at Priory Park Boxing Club, she featured heavily in the foundation of my portfolio—long before her time with England Boxing or her incredible achievement of joining Team GB.

Originally, I was approached by head coach Paul Gough to create a short promotional video to celebrate Kelsey’s success in female boxing. But as her career quickly progressed, so did the vision for the project. It became clear that a simple promo wouldn’t do her story justice.

Her journey deserved more—a platform that could highlight not only her talent, but the broader power of women in boxing. What started as a short video evolved into a three-year-long documentary project, capturing a rich archive of photography, interviews, and training footage. The result was Behind the Gloves: a documentary dedicated to showcasing the resilience, skill, and spirit of female fighters through Kelsey’s incredible rise.

KELSEY

Filming the Behind the Gloves documentary always came with its challenges. We were constantly working around real-world obstacles; the gym was rarely quiet, with classes running all day and boxers constantly training. Catching the gym in a silent state felt like a blessing—something that almost never happened.

Kelsey was based in Sheffield during the week, Monday to Friday, training full-time. That left us with just two days to shoot footage—Saturday and Sunday. Saturdays were sparring days, so we used those to capture behind-the-scenes B-roll, working carefully around live sessions and gym activity.

Eventually, we narrowed down our cleanest filming window to just one hour on Sundays—a rare gap between classes and one-to-one training. That meant we had to be extremely precise and prepared. There was no room for error; we had to make every shot count.

Even with the pressure to get things done, I often reminded Kelsey to spend time with her family. She was away training all week, and her weekends were consumed by boxing. As much as I wanted to capture everything, I knew how important family was. And I didn’t want the documentary process to take away from that.

Filming the Behind the Gloves documentary spanned over three years, with countless hours spent inside Priory Park Boxing Club, capturing Kelsey Oakley’s training sessions. From group classes and sparring to strength and conditioning work, I was there every time she stepped into the gym, ready to document the journey.

What made this project so powerful was the one-to-one time I had with Kelsey throughout the process. It gave me the opportunity to understand who she is—not just as a boxer, but as a person.

Behind the gloves, beneath the tough exterior, was someone incredibly real. But at the same time, there was a fire burning—a fierce athlete identity that often felt like the truest version of her. Sometimes, Kelsey Oakley felt like the mask, and the fighter within was the real persona. She craved challenge, thrived in the ring, and carried an infectious energy through it all.

Learning about Kelsey’s motivations and background was compelling—why she chose to step into the ring, how she confidently sparred with male boxers, and the emotional reason behind her boxing journey: to honour the memory of her grandad.

These qualities—the strength, discipline, and determination—are what shaped her into the champion she is today. But with this film, we wanted to go back to the very start.

Back to when she first walked into Priory Park Boxing Club. This wasn’t an overnight success story. In fact, Kelsey didn’t even begin with boxing. But she started. And for so many people, that first step is the hardest part.

THE DOCUMENTARY

While this documentary was created to showcase Kelsey’s journey and the role of Priory Park Boxing Club, I always knew her story had the power to reach beyond those walls. Just like Kelsey has pushed boundaries within the sporting world, I wanted her story to be a beacon of hope—a reminder to anyone who feels like they’re not good enough or that something isn’t meant for them.

Kelsey proves that you can do it. No matter the challenge, even when the odds are stacked against you—if you commit fully, live and breathe what you love, and stay the course—you can make an impact. You can help change the status quo.

Boxing has long been a male-dominated sport, but thanks to athletes like Kelsey, that landscape is shifting. Without women like her pushing to redefine what’s possible in sport, the doors wouldn’t be as open as they are today. And even when these extraordinary individuals don’t win in the ring, they win for others. They win for the people finding their voice. The people afraid to start. The ones who thought it wasn’t possible.

These athletes fight not just in the ring, but for the ring—to make space, to make change, to make it normal.

That’s the true message of this documentary: you don’t need to fit a mould to box. You just need to be yourself. When you truly dedicate yourself, you can make waves, just like Kelsey. A girl from a less privileged area, raised in a close-knit community, who fought her way forward with heart and humility.

This is for those who come from nothing, but value everything. Because when they rise, they carry others with them.