Since launching my social media channels in 2012 (Facebook), 2013 (X, formerly Twitter) and 2019 (Instagram), I have mostly focused on sharing photos that explore Stoke Newington’s history. This approach has helped build an engaged and growing audience. However, I’ve recently made a change. After noticing that Instagram and Facebook promote short-form video (Reels) more heavily than still images, especially to people who don’t already follow my accounts, I’ve started creating and sharing short Reels. These clips are usually around 30 to 40 seconds long and allow my content to reach a broader audience. You can browse all the Reels I’ve created so far in this Google Drive folder.

Creating Reels has also brought new energy to my work. Combining archival material with contemporary video I record around Stoke Newington has been a fresh and rewarding process. It allows me to revisit and reinterpret familiar sources in ways that feel more dynamic and accessible. Whether highlighting a boundary marker at Newington Green or the location of a long-lost pub, Reels offer a new way to tell these stories.