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Tales, techniques, tricks and tantrums from one of the UK’s top portrait photographers. Never just about photography but always about things that excite - or annoy - me as a full-time professional photographer, from histograms to history, from apertures to apathy, or motivation to megapixels. Essentially, anything and everything about the art, creativity and business of portrait photography. With some off-the-wall interviews thrown in for good measure!
Episodes
Friday Jan 01, 2021
EP91 Happy New Year? Let's Hope So!
Friday Jan 01, 2021
Friday Jan 01, 2021
I think I recorded the previous episode on a cold, crisp day. Well, the cold has remained, but instead of 'crisp' it is now grey, gloomy and damp (though quite how it is still damp when the temperature is hovering around freezing, I have no idea!)
We're closing 2020 and opening a whole new chapter, bright and clean, as yet unsullied by Covid, Brexit, politicians or social media. I doubt it'll stay that way but let's enjoy the moment, just like stepping out into fresh white snow: it is clean and white, with only your footsteps to be seen, though you know it'll soon be brown and yellow, slushy and melting away.
But right now? Clean, white, untouched and exciting.
You never know, maybe it will stay that way!
Cheers
P.
If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, where there are articles and videos about this beautiful industry.
PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think!
If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.
Monday Feb 03, 2020
Ep.69 Where Have All Our Teaspoons Gone?
Monday Feb 03, 2020
Monday Feb 03, 2020
Where have all our teaspoons gone? Seriously. They just seem to evaporate from the studio! Soon we'll be using the handle of a knife to stir the coffee around here!
But that's not really the topic of the podcast - in this podcast, a budding photographer from Glasgow emailed some questions and so I thought it would be a good way to both answer her curiosity AND have a topic for a podcast. Ah, a little efficiency around here is definitely a good thing.
Enjoy!
If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.
PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think!
If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk
Tuesday Jan 07, 2020
Ep.65 2020 Vision: Twelve Months In Training
Tuesday Jan 07, 2020
Tuesday Jan 07, 2020
Ah, and so here we are: 2020. We've careered through the holidays like a kid on a brand new scooter, bouncing down the road until we've crashed headlong into the New Year, and here we are, bruised and smiling, all ready to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and get back on for the ride ahead.
This year, this year, is all about development and learning. I LOVE this job - more than you can imagine - but by the end of 2019 I was utterly shattered. Now, don't get me wrong here, 2019 was the best year we've ever had in terms of clients, shoots and, ultimately, revenue, but it was a brutal 12 months and by the time we bounced into the festive season, I was feeling anything other than festive. Unless by 'festive' you mean sat useless in an armchair craving, of all things, sherry, a little junk TV and a sausage roll or two. Or four.
It had not been a year for taking time for personal development.
So we kick off this year while the paint is still wet and it's going to be a year of learning. I need to spend 2020 focussing (forgive the pun) on driving my creativity forward. I don't quite know where that will lead - or how I'll do it - but I am utterly determined to get out there and adding some new arrows to the quiver, tools to the toolbox, colours to the palette: basically, I need to get out there and learn some new stuff.
And I cannot wait to get started!
If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify.
PLEASE also leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think!
If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk
Monday Oct 28, 2019
Ep.61 Interview With Su Kaye, MPA Chair Of Judges
Monday Oct 28, 2019
Monday Oct 28, 2019
It's always a pleasure when I get to sit and chat with someone with such a wide and interesting view of photography as Su Kaye, MPA's Chair Of Judges. I've known Su for a few years and, as ever, she is intriguing, knowledgeable and engagingly honest about her life, career and what the future holds for her and the photography industry.
As always, I asked my interviewee to choose a book or two for our ever-expanding library and she chose the following brilliant editions:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1846149649/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_bx1TDbYEFFBMM Obama: An Intimate Portrait: The Historic Presidency in Photographs
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cyclops-Collection-Photographs-Albert-Watson/dp/0821223887 Cyclops: A Collection of Photographs by Albert Watson
I've used the Amazon links for these (as these offered the best value I could find) but they're available in various online booksellers.
Enjoy!
If you do enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify.
PLEASE also leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think!
If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk
Tuesday Sep 17, 2019
Ep.59 Constancy Or Invention: The Photographer’s Dilemma
Tuesday Sep 17, 2019
Tuesday Sep 17, 2019
Well, I'm back on the microphone! Had a bit of a break as the summer peak workload kicked in but once more, I am sitting in the cab of the Land Rover Defender, muttering musings into the microphone on the move. Haha, a little alliteration for you.
Anyway, this episode's topic is the choice between constancy or invention: should we, as photographers, creatives, artists, strive for constancy - recognisable, familiar images - or push the boundaries of invention, looking for new images, new ideas, originality.
Of course, there is no easy answer to this; it is more of a discussion about personal preference and effective business choice, but it's an interesting topic nonetheless and one that was actually driven by conversations with my clients so I thought it might be of use.
Let me know your thoughts!
Enjoy!
If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify.
PLEASE also leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think!
If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk
Wednesday Aug 07, 2019
Ep.58 Interview With Melanie East, Newborn Photographer
Wednesday Aug 07, 2019
Wednesday Aug 07, 2019
In this interview, I get to spend a very happy hour in the company of Melanie East, an extraordinary Newborn Photographer and Trainer: Melanie is known around the world for her passion and creativity for newborn photography and is the author of the book The Art Of Newborn Photography. She is equally passionate about running a business which is key to the success of any social photographer!
We get to talk about how (and why) she became a newborn photographer; her views on safety; running a business; the love of the sales process and her taste in soft furnishings (which, it has to be said, is flawless.)
Her chosen book - which I initially struggle to spot under a huge pile of publications that permanently resides on her coffee table - is the Icons Of Photography by Peter Stepan which is a wonderfully worthy addition to our ever-expanding library. And you can get 2nd-hand copies for less than a fiver! Bargain.
Enjoy!
If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify.
PLEASE also leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think!
If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk
Monday Jul 15, 2019
Ep.55 Interview With Karen Massey, Photographer
Monday Jul 15, 2019
Monday Jul 15, 2019
"You soon start to learn a lot more about business"
In this interview, I get to talk to Karen Massey, wedding and portrait photographer. Karen is a successful photographer and business owner, having started out owning a beauticians and then transferring her business skills to setting up a photography studio. She talks about how she has always worked, how she had to 'soften her accent' (not something you could be asked by an employer to do in this day and age!) and her plans for her new venture: RISE PFP, a group for professional female photographers.
Plenty for everyone in this podcast from business insights to how she runs her weddings. Oh, and she's really lovely too!
Not only did Karen bring ideas for books for our little library, but she brought the actual books too!
- The first is A Coastal Reflection by Mary Shayler. This can be found here on Blurb books
- The second is the Aston Martin Centenary Collection Programme 1913-2013. One for all you petrol heads out there! As I suspected in the podcast, this isn't one that you can buy (though a few copies do appear to be on eBay.) A real one off for our library!
Both worthy additions to our library!
If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify.
PLEASE also leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think!
If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk
Tuesday Jul 09, 2019
Ep.54 Interview With Steve Gregory, Founder, Fitlife Gym
Tuesday Jul 09, 2019
Tuesday Jul 09, 2019
"To keep them coming, to keep them inspired, you have to give them an experience."
So true. In this episode I talk to Steve Gregory, founder and owner of the inspirational Fitlife Gym about his career as professional footballer (soccer player for my U.S. friends), his motiviation for fitness and how he deals with the highs and lows of running a business. A wonderfully frank interview that deals with the low points of suddenly running a successful business (yes, that is often how it can feel), having good mentors and finding ways to keep the business exciting and fast moving. This is one of those interviews where the parallels to the photography industry are all too apparent. Except for the fitness bit...
This episode's addition to our every-expanding library is Start With Why by Simon Sinek - a great book if you're building a new business!
If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify.
PLEASE also leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think!
If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk
Monday Jun 17, 2019
Ep.52 Interview With Tom Stogdon, Sculptor
Monday Jun 17, 2019
Monday Jun 17, 2019
One of the greatest pleasures of recording this podcast is that I get to talk to all sorts of people and, in this episode, it gave me the opportunity to chat with an incredible, internationally renowned sculptor, Tom Stogdon.
We talk about all things creative from leaving his job as a greengrocer (his love of arranging fruit and vegetables in many and various ways is still with him) to how you develop your own, unique style. And all of this with the sounds of chickens, cockerels and song birds in the background.
You can see his stunning work here.
Tom mentions Richard Serra - you can find a list of some of his books here. He also mentions the book Play With Your Food. One for you and the kids!
If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify.
PLEASE also leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think!
If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk