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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
Thursday Aug 01, 2019
Ep.57 Interview With Rob Panting, Communications Manager, OxLEP
Thursday Aug 01, 2019
Thursday Aug 01, 2019
Meet one of our clients. Rob Panting, Communications Officer for OxLEP (The Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership) has been a commissioning client of ours for nearly decade - starting at the Hearing Dogs charity in 2011 and then with Affinity Trust, Bucks Care and his current employer, OxLEP.
I thought it would be interesting to ask him what he values when selecting (and retaining) suppliers such as photographers. Of course, the answer to that question is a useful insight (and the answer is NOT the quality of the photography!)
It was a pleasure to chat with someone who I really love working with and whose organisation really does value and use photography well - if you look at their website you'll see what I mean. Rob came to our studio to chat along with Leona Weston who is their star apprentice and she also chats a little about why she chose an apprenticeship rather than college or university.
Plenty of stuff in this interview if you want to run a successful photography business.
As usual, I asked our guest to recommend a book for our virtual library and Rob recommended two. There's enthusiasm for you.
The first is Coming Back To Me - the autobiography of Marcus Trescothick. This is a true-life sporting memoir of one of the best batsman in the game who stunned the cricket world when he prematurely ended his own England career. Trescothick’s brave and soul-baring account of his mental frailties opens the way to a better understanding of the unique pressures experienced by modern-day professional sportsmen.
The second is not a book but a magazine: Sports Illustrated. You'll have to listen to the interview to understand Rob's passion for sports photography. While I can't give a link to be able to download the one book, you can subscribe to the magazine (if you fancy)_ here.
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 May 20, 2019
Ep.49 On The Way Home From The Gym...
Monday May 20, 2019
Monday May 20, 2019
This podcast really is about the importance of relationships - particularly those with your clients - how some of those can play out in your career.
I don't know if this podcast makes too much of an intellectual point other than it being a vehicle for me to be proud of our son, Jake. That's the nice thing about a podcast: I occasionally get a chance to wax lyrical about the people I love around me, whether family, friends or clients.
Still, it's only a short one so you can get through it in the time it takes to have a cup of tea, import the images from a couple of memory cards or play a few levels on Lemmings!
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 May 07, 2019
Ep.47 All Things Brand From Cars To Conversations
Tuesday May 07, 2019
Tuesday May 07, 2019
This podcast was triggered by us selling our trusty Land Rover Defender (though we are replacing it with a newer one) and pondering on why we chose such an esoteric car at the heart of our business. Well, of course, it's all part of the brand we decided to build. And so I thought I'd chat a bit about just that: brand.
It's so easy to think the brand is your logo, or website, or brochure design or, simply, your images but, of course, it's not quite so simple. Your brand is everything your clients experiences, and I do mean everything. And that includes my beloved Land Rover.
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
Sunday Apr 07, 2019
Ep.44 Interview: Scott Johnson, The Edge Photography
Sunday Apr 07, 2019
Sunday Apr 07, 2019
So it's been a week or three since recording a podcast primarily due to being out on location in Italy co-hosting The 2 Fellows workshop with David Stanbury (shameless plug: if you'd like details of the 2020 workshop then head over to the2fellows.co.uk where we'll be releasing details for next year.)
In this podcast, I get to chat (in a VERY loud restaurant) to the inimitable wedding photographer, Scott Johnson, about his work, his history and his business. Lots of great things in here - listen out for how selling files on USB nearly cost him his business (his words, not mine.)
Also listen out for a cacophony of culinary sound effects in the background!
Scott mentions a couple of books in the podcast:
Both these books are well worth a read - I'm ordering them for our studio library!
Enjoy!
If you did 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
Sunday Mar 10, 2019
Ep.43 Interview: Keith Roberts Paragon Pixels Founder
Sunday Mar 10, 2019
Sunday Mar 10, 2019
In this interview, I get to chat with Keith Roberts who had the masterstroke idea of matching top portrait photographers with the world's top cruise line.
He talks about his life prior to setting up Paragon Pixels with many funny stories along the way (listen out for how he managed to screw up a critical roll of film while working in medical photography, leaving him barricaded inside the hospital dark room!)
Keith is a remarkable guy on a number of levels - not least of which, is that he is a phenomenal photographer in his own right but has spent most of his life promoting the work of others (something that is all too rare!) It was his idea to match up some of the world's top portrait photographers with the world's top cruise line and, along with Phil, his brother, and Phil's wife, Lydia, he set up the company which now delivers beautiful images to discerning passengers around the globe.
And I am very lucky to BE one of those photographers!
Keith cites his favourite book as Steve McCurry's South Southeast. Enjoy!
If you did 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 Feb 25, 2019
Ep.41 Interview: Ellie Sanderson, Bridal Gown Boutique Owner
Monday Feb 25, 2019
Monday Feb 25, 2019
The great thing about having my own podcast is that I get to talk to lots of interesting people - not, necessarily, from within the photographic industry.
Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE my industry, but I think there is much to be learned from outside the industry too and, besides, the world is full of really cool people full stories, experiences and insight that just might (and I stress just might) be useful when it comes to running a photography business.
While this interview focusses on Ellie's hugely successful wedding gown boutiques, there are plenty of snippets that are useful from customer care, looking after employees, using data and, most importantly, some top tips when photographing wedding gowns.
Ellie's website is worth a look as it is beautifully designed. Much to be learned there too! It can be found at https://elliesanderson.co.uk/
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
Friday Feb 01, 2019
Ep.40 Idle Musings on Lists, Plans & Avoiding Disasters!
Friday Feb 01, 2019
Friday Feb 01, 2019
Just me in this one. Me, a microphone, a failed hard drive, a hacked website and some notes no lists and plans. It's been an interesting couple of days!
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 head over to iTunes 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
Enjoy!
Tuesday Jan 22, 2019
Ep.39 - Interview With David Calvert
Tuesday Jan 22, 2019
Tuesday Jan 22, 2019
In this episode, it is my great pleasure to interview renowned photographer David Calvert FMPA FBIPP who is not only a wonderful photographer, but a true gentleman in the industry as well!
The conversation talks about his passion for portraits, how he first became a photographer, his aversion to debt (he learned that the hard way) and how he came to photograph a family's pet dog that had already ceased to be. There are many useful nuggets in here - about anxiety, running a photography business and how getting qualified can help negate your insecurities.
During the interview he mentions a couple of photographers - notably David Bailey and Patrick Lichfield - and refer's to Lichfield's book The Most Beautiful Women which was published back in 1981. If you're curious, you can buy a secondhand copy of the book for just a few pounds on Amazon UK.
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 head over to iTunes 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
Enjoy!