EP131 National Print Competition | Notes From The Judging

EP131 National Print Competition | Notes From The Judging A couple of weeks ago, we judged the British Institute Of Professional Photographers (BIPP) 2022 national print competition. I have always loved being a judge and now, in my role as Chair Of Qualifications And Awards for the BIPP, I couldn't be happier!  I get to see so many incredible images and sit with so many incredible photographers.  It's one of the best gigs imaginable. In the first half of the ...

EP130 Invest In Things That Benefit Your Client

EP130 Invest In Things That Benefit Your Client I recorded this podcast at 7am while sat in the studio, waiting for a new TV to be delivered.  Luckily it actually arrived when they said it would!  The TV is for our Client Reveal Room as we want our customers to have the best possible experience when they come back to see their pictures. But exactly how do you figure out where to spend your limited budget?  On things that benefit ...

EP129 – What Is Your Inner Energy Source?

EP129 - What Is Your Inner Energy Source? At the end of a long week, the exhaustion can creep up on you.  Fatigue is not an unusual feeling for a professional photographer.  But finding your source of energy, whether it's your work, your clients, your colleagues or just some time out with family, is crucial. For me?  Well, for me it's always been about people in one form or another! The details of the Photo Hubs Oxford workshop mentioned in ...

EP128 Stay Positive: That ’No’ Might Just Be A ’Yes’ For A Later Date

EP128 Stay Positive: That ’No’ Might Just Be A ’Yes’ For A Later Date I have honestly grown to love the sales process - from pitch to payment, it is something I never thought I'd get my head around but have surprised myself. One key aspect is understanding that a 'no' may not be all it seems.  In this episode, Sarah and I have stood out in the weather at Thame Food Festival, pitching to prospective clients.  Not everyone says ...

EP127 – Things Change (The Z9 Has Changed Them)

EP127 - Things Change (The Z9 Has Changed Them) Well, I admit it; I never thought I'd hear myself say it, but I am now shooting as much in Auto (well, Aperture-Priority anyway) as much as I am in Manual.  I have spent my entire life both shooting and teaching manual control of your camera, and here I am in a world of auto exposure.  Why?  Well, the Nikon Z9 has changed absolutely everything for me! Have a listen to ...

EP123 Interview With Street Photographer Ross Grieve

EP123 Interview With Street Photographer Ross Grieve This episode was recorded in a bar - possibly my favourite but, in contrast to our studio garden - not the quietest place to record audio.  But it makes me happy.  It was at this year’s incredible Societies of Photographers Convention in London where I spent the week judging and, well, generally feeling liberated from the previous two years of lockdown! The interview is with one of the nicest guys in the industry ...

EP122 Fireworks and Finding Freedom In The Studio

EP121 Portraits Are Portraits, Even If They're Corporate! It's late and I'm driving back from a beautiful spring wedding, shot in uncharacteristic April sunshine.  I am, to put it mildly, hot and tired.  in spite of this, I thought it would be an idea to record a quick podcast on my way home, so here it is - various musings on finding freedom in the studio and the joy of using the Z9  as a wedding photographer. Oh, and I ...

EP121 Portraits Are Portraits, Even If They’re Corporate!

EP121 Portraits Are Portraits, Even If They're Corporate! I think I may have mentioned this before, but I LOVE creating portraits.  The past couple of days have been all about headshots - part corporate, part creative branding.  Either way, these are just portraits. And that is something that I cannot stress enough: if you're a portrait photographer, creating cool, engaging headshots is no different to creating fine-art portraits - and you get to meet some incredibly interesting people along the ...

EP120 Service Is King, No Matter The Price

EP120 Service Is King, No Matter The Price So it's been a month since recording the last podcast.  A busy month. A very very busy month.  But during that time I did manage to get some time out with Sarah and our trusty spaniel, Rufus, and go for a walking holiday in South Wales. Wales is my home country so it is always a real joy to be back - there is something about the country, its ruggedness and its ...

EP119 Everyone Included: Interview With Author Helen May

If there is one skill I have, it’s recognising an opportunity when it bops me on the nose.  Today was one of those moments.  Helen May actually came to the studio to update her headshots but the minute we sat and talked about her work on diversity and inclusion, I knew she would be perfect to have on the podcast. Luckily both of our diaries had some time after her session and so we sat, chatted and laughed about her …