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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 Sep 30, 2022
EP128 Stay Positive: That ’No’ Might Just Be A ’Yes’ For A Later Date
Friday Sep 30, 2022
Friday Sep 30, 2022
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 'yes' but learning that there are grades of success when it comes to selling, helps me not worry about those who've said 'no'.
During this episode, I mention a piece of software we're now using to expedite our colour correction. It's called ImagenAI and it uses machine learning to learn how YOU like YOUR colours, and then applies them. It's very fast, it's very cool, it's incredibly accurate and it's cost-effective. And, no, I am not in any way being paid to say that - it's just that this podcast was always meant to be helpful to other photographers and this is one of those moments when software is part of that value.
It can be found at https://www.imagen-ai.com/
Enjoy this episode!
Cheers
P.
If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more articles and videos about this beautiful industry. You can also read a full transcript of this episode.
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.
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Podcast 0126 - How A Winery Won Us Over (and Lessons We Can Learn)
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
After a little bit of a break from recording over the summer, this episode is a quick update and reflects on the experiences we had while visiting the beautiful Tuscany area of Italy. As with so much in business, it's the experience that completely won us over (though the product was delicious too!)
Huge shout to the Buglioni Winery (and, in particular, to Lorenzo, who could not have made us feel more special! We'll be back!)
We have also been announced as ambassadors for three different top-flight companies (so these links are going to become familiar territory!)
- Graphistudio The best photographic albums in the world!
- Pixellu Smart Albums If you design albums, this is a lifesaver!
- Panasonic Eneloop Our whole studio has these rechargeable batteries powering it!
It is an honour to be associated with all of these products as we already use them all (because they're the best!) Wouldn't have it any other way for our clients!
If you're reading this before Tuesday 20th September, 2022, Sarah and I will be talking on the Graphistudio stand at 1pm - we're going to be talking about five key things while creating a very special personal project with Graphistudio. The lessons were personal they apply to any photographer wishing to make the most of their client opportunities. Come say hello!
Enjoy!
Cheers
P.
If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more 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.
Thursday Jul 07, 2022
EP125 You Set Up The Sale In The Shoot (Not The Saleroom)
Thursday Jul 07, 2022
Thursday Jul 07, 2022
In this week's episode, I am talking about how we set up the sale in the shoot - not in the salesroom; the salesroom is where we close the deal. I love this process, and it works, too: happy clients, great images and consistent (and high-value) sales. Perfect.
Also, this episode is kindly sponsored by Pioneer Eneloop Batteries. Once again, I am extolling the virtues of replacing all those single-use batteries with eco-friendly, long-life rechargeables. I did the same thing last year and enjoyed using the batteries (and charger) so much that I went out and bought a complete set of them. The Zoom recorder I used for this episode has Eneloop Pro batteries in it. Love them.
You can get them on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3utOdzg
Also, I get carried away and end up chatting about the new headphones I bought - brilliant things! Was always jealous of Sarah's AirPods Pro that I bought for her (https://amzn.to/3upRhMH), so as I headed off to work in Ibiza a few weeks ago, I bought some Sony equivalents. Life-changing. Seriously. Life-changing. Podcasts, Spotify, and even watching Netflix while I'm retouching, I love these things.
Again, these are available on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3AxhjRT
Enjoy!
Cheers
P.
If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more 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.
Saturday Jun 04, 2022
EP124 Our Job Is To Make Memories
Saturday Jun 04, 2022
Saturday Jun 04, 2022
Well, I'm back in the shed for this episode - love the acoustics in here. Also, the peace and quiet as no-one disturbs me.
This week's episode is inspired by an email we received from Bob and Sylvia (two of our lovely listeners) who described how they dragged out their wedding album and what they felt when going through it after fifty years of marriage.
Enjoy!
Cheers
P.
If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more 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.
Saturday Mar 26, 2022
EP120 Service Is King, No Matter The Market
Saturday Mar 26, 2022
Saturday Mar 26, 2022
So it's been a month since recording the last podcast. A busy month. A 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 friendliness in equal measure: a week of walking, enjoying the sights and laughing. Glorious.
During the week, I had a chance to experience customer service in all its glory (and otherwise) and I took the opportunity of paying attention to see if there is anything we could learn.
During this podcast, I mention some workshops we've introduced here at our studio. Details of these can be found here on our website.
Enjoy!
Cheers
P.
If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more 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.
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
EP119 Everyone Included: Interview With Author Helen May
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
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 life, her work, her new book and how photographers (like me) can learn and improve our approach both as company owners and as people who interact with people on a daily (or hourly!) basis.
Helen's new book Everyone Included is available on Amazon:
Diversity and inclusion (D&I) isn’t just an HR exercise – it can make a real difference to your team performance too.
By making everyone in your team feel like they belong, you’ll be able to boost motivation and productivity. Everyone Included helps you make inclusion, belonging and wellbeing central to your team. By helping everyone feel that they belong, your team will foster genuine inclusion and be ready to adapt and evolve in the future.
With a step-by-step plan to design and implement a diversity and inclusion plan that brings results:
- Where are you now? – Understand your team profile now by conducting a belonging Audit to identify how inclusive your team is.
- What do I do next? – Design a D&I plan, including a business case to win support, and identify key metrics to measure its effectiveness
- How do I keep going? – Ensure your programme continually improves and remains relevant by creating measurements and feedback loops Everyone Included is your comprehensive, step-by-step guide to creating a diversity and inclusion strategy that delivers results for your team.
As always, I asked my interviewee for a book recommendation for our little library and she recommended The Art Of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli - and can be found here on Amazon.
It was a very funny, very informative hour or so and well worth a listen. Of course, I would say that but have a listen and see what you think!
And if you're thinking that Helen and I hit it off immediately? Well, you'd be absolutely right!
Enjoy!
Cheers
P.
If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more 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.
Wednesday Dec 22, 2021
EP117 Interview With Grays Of Westminster
Wednesday Dec 22, 2021
Wednesday Dec 22, 2021
Well, this is the last episode of 2021. Unless I find a moment to drag myself away from the turkey, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes, cheese, Quality Street, sherry, wine, stuffing, more turkey, more cheese and maybe just a tad more sherry. Oh go on then, if I must, best make it a small one.
In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Grays Of Westminster - a legendary shop of all things Nikon. I am speaking with Becky and Kon from the shop who not only run rings around me with their knowledge of Nikon gear but are two of the nicest people you can imagine! It is a lovely interview, irrespective of the camera brand you use. Mostly we chat kit, customer service and the imminent Z9!
In the interview, I ask them both for the book recommendations.
Kon recommended Wonderland, by Annie Leibovitz:
‘Looking back at my work, I see that fashion has always been there,’ Annie Leibovitz observes in the preface to Wonderland. ‘Fashion plays a part in the scheme of everything, but photography always comes first for me. The photograph is the most important part. And photography is so big that it can encompass journalism, portraiture, reportage, family photographs, fashion ... My work for Vogue fueled the fire for a kind of photography that I might not otherwise have explored.’
Becky recommended The Real Deal, by Jo McNally
'Joe writes about everything from the crucial ability to know how to use (and make!) window light to the importance of creating long-term relationships built on trust; from lessons learned after a day in the field to the need to follow your imagination wherever it takes you; from the random and lucky moments that propel one s career to the wonders and pitfalls of today s camera technology. For every mention of f-stops and shutter speeds, there is equal discussion about the importance of access, the occasional moment of hubris, and the idea of becoming iconic. Before Joe was a celebrated and award-winning photographer, before he was a well-respected educator and author of multiple bestselling books, he was just Joe, hustling every day, from one assignment to the next, piecing together a portfolio, a skill set, a reputation, a career. He imagined a life and then took pictures of it. Here are a few frames.'
I'll be adding them to the library!
If you'd like to see some of their videos, they can be found on YouTube (or just search for 'Grays Of Westminster')
Have a wonderful Christmas, one and all and here's to a happy New Year!
Enjoy!
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.
If you'd like to use one of the other players out there, why not try Vurbl?
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
EP112 Interview With Julia Fensom, Sleep Consultant And Author
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1788164490/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_QMAF854F9DEE3JCQ8QVY
Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0141983760/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_1TYQTNRNTM1PX0JYZ81X
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1983378925/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_C8XC47XMX02A5NRK4VKA
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.
If you'd like to use one of the other players out there, why not try Vurbl?
Friday Jul 09, 2021
EP108 On Treating Each Client Like They're You're ONLY Client
Friday Jul 09, 2021
Friday Jul 09, 2021
Have you ever stood back and thought about how you feel when your suppliers forget that, while you may be one of the thousands of customers to them, they are the ONLY supplier to you? It has always irritated me that companies forget themselves and send out blanket messages that remind me that I am just one of their masses, yet another annoying customer - possibly the worst message you can possibly receive.
The asymmetry of that relationship between a client and a company is really at the heart of customer service: making sure that your clients feel truly unique is one of the keys to a successful business.
Enjoy!
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.
If you'd like to use one of the other players out there, why not try Vurbl?
Sunday Jun 06, 2021
EP106 On Taking Pride In Everything You Do
Sunday Jun 06, 2021
Sunday Jun 06, 2021
In this episode, sponsored by Panasonic eneloop Pro Rechargeable Batteries, I am pondering on the difference between being 'proud' and 'taking pride' in everything you do. A subtle but important distinction - particularly if you're British and have been brought up that pride always comes before a fall!
Some ideas about how to get around that familiar feeling of not wanting to brag about your images - tell the client how amazing they look instead! Much more comfortable for us Brits and has the added bonus of making the client feel great too!
Enjoy!
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.
If you'd like to use one of the other players out there, why not try Vurbl?