The Mastering Portrait Photography Podcast

James Musselwhite is one of the most exciting portrait photographers working in the UK: with his iconic monochrome portraits of wrestlers, he has built a global fan base who prize his imagery. In this interview (in a noisy pub in southern England!) we chat about life, passion, encouragement and the state of the photography industry. And we laugh. Quite a lot.

England are playing in the FIFA World Cup today and so I am avoiding the tv and radio - I am not good around anything competitive (it really does bring out the worst in me!) However, with a lot of help from my mentor (we all should have one) entering print competitions is a worthwhile exercise in spite of what it brings out in me! This podcast talks about mentors and competitions and why they are both worthwhile!

It's a question we're often asked: "Do you need a studio to succeed [in portrait photography]?" I am not sure there is one, single, satisfactory answer to that question but, well, you know I have to try.  In this podcast I describe the setup we have here, the setup we used to have (a converted garage) and, prior to that, how I survived without a studio at all.  Do you need one? Have a listen and see if you agree with me.

This week's episode is mainly a Q&A in response to a young photographer. Oh, and I have a rant about service: the WAY you create pictures is just as important as the pictures you create! 

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We all have a bag of some sort: big, small, with wheels, with back-breaking straps, modest, flamboyant, chock full or half empty. We ALL have a bag. This is what's in mine from bodies to brushes, gizmos to gum. 

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Sometimes you have to make the best of the time you have and today, well, today I have spent the day on the road - just me, the satnav and my trusty Land Rover Defender.  This podcast (with a healthy dose of TD5 engine noise) talks about some of the things I've heard judges comment on when judging photography print competitions - either at Camera Clubs or International Competitions. So if competing is your thing, grab a notebook and see if any of the tips I offer might apply. And, even if you don't ever compete, the things I've heard apply nearly as much in general! Enjoy!

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Whether or not you like it, the modern portrait photographer is going to spend a not insignificant amount of time sitting in front of Lightroom and Photoshop. Setting up your workspace to make this as painless as possible is critical (or you're going to need the Aspirin!) Here I chat about some of the things I have done to make my edit workload as palatable as possible: it's all about the comfy chair!

I am frequently asked to advise on what would I buy if I started from scratch so, as I drink a last coffee (decaf of course!) before heading out to shoot a glorious, sunny wedding, I ponder on those initial purchases: what and why.  And it includes good shoes. Who knew?

Someone asked me about developing your own distinctive portrait photography style: if I'm honest, I was never certain I had one but, well, I guess I probably have these days. These are just a few musings on the steps to developing your own style, selecting images for marketing and why it's often best to plough your own furrow (to use an old idiom!)

Your photography production workflow is supremely important, though it is often an overlooked component. Thinking it through, however, will bring benefits in the long run. Being kind to yourself is even harder - I talk about why I recommend it!