ELLE: Meet The Agoraphobic Traveller Who Shoots The World From Her Sofa

Jacqui Kenny may have been diagnosed with agoraphobia in 2009, but that won't stop her from exploring the world. The photography enthusiast travels the streets of Morocco, Puerto Rico and Chile, all without leaving her flat.

ELLE meets the New Zealander at her home in Fitzrovia to hear more about her unique technique. Jacqui's chatty, friendly, welcoming as she explains that, thanks to Google Street View, she experiences exotic locales that she would struggle to visit in real life.

Along the way, she creates dreamy images, which have led to 100,000 Instagram followers, a ground-breaking project with Lexus and a wider conversation around mental health too. Here, she reveals her story...

Dealing with anxiety

I’ve lived with severe anxiety for over 20 years. I wasn't able to get the help I needed because I was afraid to be honest about my feelings. The turning point came when, as co-founder of my production company, the stress became too much. I was having panic attacks, I couldn’t leave the office, I stopped going to meetings. When the company eventually folded, I realised I'd lost all confidence. My whole world was closed off.

Finding a creative outlet

As well as therapy, I needed a passion project to distract me from negative thoughts and allow me to be honest about the challenges I faced. So I set up @streetview.portraits. I’d trawl Google Street View exploring faraway countries from the comfort of my sofa, taking screenshots of beautiful scenes, editing them and uploading to Instagram.

I love being transported to another place and finding extraordinary moments there. I would spend 18 hours a day on Street View, looking for natural yet surreal scenes that could be part of a film. There's a sense of joy in the ordinary, whether it's two people walking perfectly in sync or architecture lit up by the sun.

I love being transported to another place and finding extraordinary moments there.

As well as a creative outlet, the account became a great way of reaching people around the world. I’d talk openly about my agoraphobia and people would reply with their own stories or messages of understanding and advice. I realised I wasn’t alone and my fear of panic attacks eased.

Gaining confidence

My following started to build and the account was getting noticed. One day, Lexus got in touch and I couldn't believe it. They’d discovered my work and, as a premium brand that embraces new horizons, felt we were a good match.

They had an exciting proposition for me – to shoot the campaign for the new Lexus UX. As a natural worrier, I had my doubts. Would they be happy to steer away from the usual glossy car ads and take a chance on my vision? Could we create images in my Instagram style? It took a huge amount of trust, but I soon realised that yes, Lexus were giving me the freedom to do it my way.

Challenge accepted

I'm such a perfectionist so the first task was deciding how to direct a remote photo shoot without me being there. I started with a lot of prep, searching Google Street View to find the perfect backdrops for the Lexus UX. I came across the incredible volcanic landscape of Lanzarote with bright blue skies, remote towns, stark white buildings and vibrant doors. I knew it would be ideal for bringing the car to life while the slightly eerie, cinematic scenes fit my aesthetic perfectly.

Creating the perfect scene

In order to direct the shoot remotely, I needed to see what was happening live. A crew travelled to Lanzarote to shoot the Lexus UX while I stayed at home in London, excitedly watching the action through a 360 live feed. I chose people on the ground who know my style - my friend Jess acted as my eyes and voice, walking me through the town via FaceTime.

In Caleta de Caballo, a beautiful seaside town in Lanzarote, we spotted a house with a green garage door and two chairs outside. I asked to bring in the Lexus UX, a local guy walked past and stared at the car, a neighbour popped her head up from the balcony. It was the perfect scene.

The Lexus UX is also the ideal model for the shoot. It does, in itself, break with conventions to deliver something that is distinctive and dynamic. In comparison to the company's previous models, it's very responsive and, as the company tells me, is more fun to drive. The design is also super sleek so it feels both strong and stylish and the bold colours make for striking images.

Enjoying the moment

The final images of the Lexus UX are brave in so many ways. They capture the car and tell the story behind the images. It's so exhilarating to work with a company like Lexus that's prepared to push the boundaries. The project has also helped to expand my own personal horizons – it's proof that, despite my diagnosis, I don't need to be afraid to explore the unknown.

I hope the project opens up conversations about agoraphobia too. Now, seeing the results, I’m putting my worries to one side and allowing myself a moment to appreciate the experience. This really is an amazing journey.