Liam and Bee have recently moved and we all now live in the same little village; not quite the commune we always used to talk about but we do get to hang out every day. This podcast is an offshoot of our daily conversations, sometimes creatively inspiring, sometimes just having a good moan, but always fun.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam and Bee have recently moved and we all now live in the same little village; not quite the commune we always used to talk about but we do get to hang out every day. This podcast is an offshoot of our daily conversations, sometimes creatively inspiring, sometimes just having a good moan, but always fun.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week Bee, Laura, Liam and Pete start with a photographer who went public about a vicar stepping in front of the couple on the walk back down the aisle. We have all worked with vicars who are hard work, and we have all had that sinking moment of knowing a shot has gone.
Should you tell couples on the day when you have missed something, or hope they never ask? Our view is that it is frustrating but no shot is the whole wedding, and the best thing you can do is be lovely, work hard and let go of what is out of your control. Bee isn't so sure it is that easy, because it is the conversations we never hear that give her nightmares.
We also tackle the so-called wedding wind down. Is there any quiet at all when the travel, the tiredness and the editing pile keep building? And would giving couples a set delivery date, instead of an 8 to 12 week guideline, take some of the pressure off?
Also this week: Bee's Saltburn holiday amongst Netflix film crews, Liam being chased out of The Ned and finding two stand-in witnesses at Hackney Town Hall, Pete on a rooftop at the Balmoral in Edinburgh, a school production of Sister Act, a cat cafe, and Coda talks on psychology and micing up the couple all day.
Pete and Laura talk about letting Claude loose on a new photography site, while Bee builds one for Liam's driving lessons. Plus highs and lows, including a Saltburn sunrise, a new four-poster bed (and the mattress that nearly ruined it), a very quiet house and a long ceremony to edit entirely in French.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Have you ever missed a shot you were sure the couple would ask about, and did you tell them on the day? Let us know, and if you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe and leave us a review.
Timestamps
00:00 Cold Coffee and Holiday Mode
00:49 Saltburn and Netflix Cameras
04:08 Liam's Motorbike Course Mistake
05:59 Stealth Shooting at The Ned
12:55 Pete on a Roof in Edinburgh
16:01 Coda Trip and Loud Rooms
21:07 The Coda Speakers
24:44 Psychology, Pricing and Perspective
30:21 Micing Up the Couple All Day
34:29 A Cat Cafe in Birmingham
37:17 The Vicar in Front of the Couple
42:08 What Couples Say Behind Our Backs
46:21 Is There Any Wedding Wind Down?
53:28 Forced Time Off and Delivery Dates
58:22 Highs and Lows
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week Bee, Laura, Liam and Pete start with a photographer who went public about a vicar stepping in front of the couple on the walk back down the aisle. We have all worked with vicars who are hard work, and we have all had that sinking moment of knowing a shot has gone.
Should you tell couples on the day when you have missed something, or hope they never ask? Our view is that it is frustrating but no shot is the whole wedding, and the best thing you can do is be lovely, work hard and let go of what is out of your control. Bee isn't so sure it is that easy, because it is the conversations we never hear that give her nightmares.
We also tackle the so-called wedding wind down. Is there any quiet at all when the travel, the tiredness and the editing pile keep building? And would giving couples a set delivery date, instead of an 8 to 12 week guideline, take some of the pressure off?
Also this week: Bee's Saltburn holiday amongst Netflix film crews, Liam being chased out of The Ned and finding two stand-in witnesses at Hackney Town Hall, Pete on a rooftop at the Balmoral in Edinburgh, a school production of Sister Act, a cat cafe, and Coda talks on psychology and micing up the couple all day.
Pete and Laura talk about letting Claude loose on a new photography site, while Bee builds one for Liam's driving lessons. Plus highs and lows, including a Saltburn sunrise, a new four-poster bed (and the mattress that nearly ruined it), a very quiet house and a long ceremony to edit entirely in French.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Have you ever missed a shot you were sure the couple would ask about, and did you tell them on the day? Let us know, and if you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe and leave us a review.
Timestamps
00:00 Cold Coffee and Holiday Mode
00:49 Saltburn and Netflix Cameras
04:08 Liam's Motorbike Course Mistake
05:59 Stealth Shooting at The Ned
12:55 Pete on a Roof in Edinburgh
16:01 Coda Trip and Loud Rooms
21:07 The Coda Speakers
24:44 Psychology, Pricing and Perspective
30:21 Micing Up the Couple All Day
34:29 A Cat Cafe in Birmingham
37:17 The Vicar in Front of the Couple
42:08 What Couples Say Behind Our Backs
46:21 Is There Any Wedding Wind Down?
53:28 Forced Time Off and Delivery Dates
58:22 Highs and Lows
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week Pete, Laura and Bee dig into a wedding in the Scottish Borders where the couple wanted no posing, no portraits and no social media, and why it made Pete work harder (and enjoy the day more) than ever. It leads into a bigger debate: are flat lays and long shot lists something couples really want, or something they’ve seen online?
How much should we educate couples about what posed photos cost them in time on the day, and when does guidance become patronising? And why does so much “documentary” wedding content look exactly the same? Our fear is that couples are seeing so many aspirational images that they can become focused on re-creating these perfect images at the expense of living their own unique moments (and taking a risk these are missed).
We also tackle editing. With couples asking for suits to be refitted, bags removed and bows fixed in every frame, how much retouching is now expected, and where do you draw the line?
Also this week: Liam is off learning to be a motorbike instructor, the never-ending editing list, and the return of midweek weddings. We turn down enquiries for Silverstone weekend, shoot a wholesome christening, and hear about Liam’s first roll of film (and the frames he wasted finishing it) and flash floods in Spain.
Pete explains how Claude rebuilt our LUTs and presets, while Bee sticks with ChatGPT and its slightly underwhelming Monday briefings. Plus highs and lows, including autumn TV, table tennis ups and downs, and the best flask ever made.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Do you guide your couples on timings and posed shots, or let them lead? Let us know, and if you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe and leave us a review.
Timestamps
00:00 Coffee, Matcha and Where Is Liam?
02:28 The Never-Ending Editing List
05:56 The Rise of Midweek Weddings
07:12 Silverstone vs Wedding Enquiries
10:49 A Christening and a Portrait Shoot
12:51 A No-Fuss Wedding in the Scottish Borders
19:58 Flat Lays, Posing and the Flow of the Day
21:13 Should We Educate Couples on Timings?
22:21 Why Does Everything Look the Same?
25:30 Shot Lists and Moments That Don’t Happen
30:31 How Much Retouching Is Too Much?
32:13 Liam Shoots Film, Plus Spanish Flash Floods
37:15 Using Claude for LUTs and Presets
40:58 AI Briefings and Best Of Lists
44:21 Highs and Lows
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week Pete, Laura and Bee dig into a wedding in the Scottish Borders where the couple wanted no posing, no portraits and no social media, and why it made Pete work harder (and enjoy the day more) than ever. It leads into a bigger debate: are flat lays and long shot lists something couples really want, or something they’ve seen online?
How much should we educate couples about what posed photos cost them in time on the day, and when does guidance become patronising? And why does so much “documentary” wedding content look exactly the same? Our fear is that couples are seeing so many aspirational images that they can become focused on re-creating these perfect images at the expense of living their own unique moments (and taking a risk these are missed).
We also tackle editing. With couples asking for suits to be refitted, bags removed and bows fixed in every frame, how much retouching is now expected, and where do you draw the line?
Also this week: Liam is off learning to be a motorbike instructor, the never-ending editing list, and the return of midweek weddings. We turn down enquiries for Silverstone weekend, shoot a wholesome christening, and hear about Liam’s first roll of film (and the frames he wasted finishing it) and flash floods in Spain.
Pete explains how Claude rebuilt our LUTs and presets, while Bee sticks with ChatGPT and its slightly underwhelming Monday briefings. Plus highs and lows, including autumn TV, table tennis ups and downs, and the best flask ever made.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Do you guide your couples on timings and posed shots, or let them lead? Let us know, and if you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe and leave us a review.
Timestamps
00:00 Coffee, Matcha and Where Is Liam?
02:28 The Never-Ending Editing List
05:56 The Rise of Midweek Weddings
07:12 Silverstone vs Wedding Enquiries
10:49 A Christening and a Portrait Shoot
12:51 A No-Fuss Wedding in the Scottish Borders
19:58 Flat Lays, Posing and the Flow of the Day
21:13 Should We Educate Couples on Timings?
22:21 Why Does Everything Look the Same?
25:30 Shot Lists and Moments That Don’t Happen
30:31 How Much Retouching Is Too Much?
32:13 Liam Shoots Film, Plus Spanish Flash Floods
37:15 Using Claude for LUTs and Presets
40:58 AI Briefings and Best Of Lists
44:21 Highs and Lows
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week Pete, Laura, Liam and Bee dig into the backlash against a big industry list: accusations that it's pay to play, complaints that everyone on it shoots the same on-trend editorial style, and why the wedding industry seems to be splitting into bubbles that each crown their own favourites. Would we do any better if we made our own Top 50? (no, we'd never agree.)
That leads into a bigger conversation about being open-minded after 20 years in the industry. Why do suppliers keep telling couples what they won't want, especially when it comes to content creators? Is there such a thing as good light, or is it all taste? And are we allowed to call a photo unprofessional, or are we just turning into the grumpy old guard who once refused to do spot colour?
Also this week: Liam's trusty Canon 35mm dies mid-wedding and he upgrades to the RF 35mm VCM, we ask for your recommendations on where to get lenses repaired in the UK, Pete shoots two new Scottish castles, Bee and her mum stumble into a Blackpool bingo brunch, Laura's mum used to walk elephants on Blackpool beach, we discuss whether folding phones might finally bring landscape back, and the quiet winter looms as the wedding season winds down. Plus a robot cat litter tray, a last-minute booking bonded over fruit flies, and our highs and lows of the week.
Our Creative Commune is a relaxed catch-up between four wedding photographers and filmmakers, chatting all things photography, videography and the wedding industry, like friends over a coffee (or tonight, a glass of wine).
Where do you get your lenses fixed? Let us know!
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and Blackpool with Bee's mum
07:43 Photographer meetups and filming in Blackpool
10:31 Pete's two Scottish castle weddings
15:02 Liam's Herefordshire wedding
16:12 Liam's Canon 35mm dies and lens repair woes
21:43 The robot cat litter tray
23:53 Are "best wedding photographer" lists just ads?
30:28 Does every wedding photo look the same?
32:59 Is landscape coming back with folding phones?
35:55 Should we make our own Top 50?
38:47 The long quiet winter ahead
41:10 Stop telling couples what they want
44:41 Is there really such a thing as good light?
50:09 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week Pete, Laura, Liam and Bee dig into the backlash against a big industry list: accusations that it's pay to play, complaints that everyone on it shoots the same on-trend editorial style, and why the wedding industry seems to be splitting into bubbles that each crown their own favourites. Would we do any better if we made our own Top 50? (no, we'd never agree.)
That leads into a bigger conversation about being open-minded after 20 years in the industry. Why do suppliers keep telling couples what they won't want, especially when it comes to content creators? Is there such a thing as good light, or is it all taste? And are we allowed to call a photo unprofessional, or are we just turning into the grumpy old guard who once refused to do spot colour?
Also this week: Liam's trusty Canon 35mm dies mid-wedding and he upgrades to the RF 35mm VCM, we ask for your recommendations on where to get lenses repaired in the UK, Pete shoots two new Scottish castles, Bee and her mum stumble into a Blackpool bingo brunch, Laura's mum used to walk elephants on Blackpool beach, we discuss whether folding phones might finally bring landscape back, and the quiet winter looms as the wedding season winds down. Plus a robot cat litter tray, a last-minute booking bonded over fruit flies, and our highs and lows of the week.
Our Creative Commune is a relaxed catch-up between four wedding photographers and filmmakers, chatting all things photography, videography and the wedding industry, like friends over a coffee (or tonight, a glass of wine).
Where do you get your lenses fixed? Let us know!
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and Blackpool with Bee's mum
07:43 Photographer meetups and filming in Blackpool
10:31 Pete's two Scottish castle weddings
15:02 Liam's Herefordshire wedding
16:12 Liam's Canon 35mm dies and lens repair woes
21:43 The robot cat litter tray
23:53 Are "best wedding photographer" lists just ads?
30:28 Does every wedding photo look the same?
32:59 Is landscape coming back with folding phones?
35:55 Should we make our own Top 50?
38:47 The long quiet winter ahead
41:10 Stop telling couples what they want
44:41 Is there really such a thing as good light?
50:09 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We look into the claim that younger suppliers speak the same visual language as their couples, with the massive contradiction buried inside - the current wedding aesthetic is nostalgia for a time Gen Z never lived. We suspect they've mixed up age with cultural fluency. You can absolutely be twenty-five or fifty-five and be making exactly the same work.
Has age ever changed how we shoot or how we connect with a couple? Since starting at age 21, we've always just ended up bonding with the parents first. Maybe we're just old souls. There's also now this really annoying problem; we're proud of having shot weddings for over 20 years, but that also makes us sound sixty on our websites.
Before that we catch up after an accidental two month disappearance, compare backlogs (48 items on one to-do list, ten weddings deep), and run through a summer of travel including a wedding near Paris with a two hour ceremony, eight plus speeches, surprise fireworks and a boat trip that meant abandoning a full camera setup mid day. Laura shoots her first roll of Super 8 with a broken light meter and guesses the exposure all day long, we weigh up whether film only bookings are worth the risk, and we get into the TikTok row about couples writing wedding speeches with AI.
Plus tennis elbow, a dead boiler, no sleep, and Bee's spiky cucumbers.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome back after an accidental two month break
02:53 The run up to Christmas is the worst part of the year
03:23 48 items on the to-do list and ten weddings still to edit
06:01 Where everyone has been shooting this summer
07:12 The Paris wedding: two hour ceremony, a boat and surprise fireworks
11:03 Laura's first roll of Super 8 and a broken light meter
14:50 Are couples writing wedding speeches with AI?
16:24 Topic of the week: the "your photographer is too old for you" post
19:03 The nostalgia contradiction
22:00 Does saying you've shot weddings for 20 years make you sound old?
23:55 What experience actually gives you when things go wrong
27:00 Why generations are a lazy generalisation
28:58 Enquiries, bookings and how the diary is looking
31:47 Highs and lows
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We look into the claim that younger suppliers speak the same visual language as their couples, with the massive contradiction buried inside - the current wedding aesthetic is nostalgia for a time Gen Z never lived. We suspect they've mixed up age with cultural fluency. You can absolutely be twenty-five or fifty-five and be making exactly the same work.
Has age ever changed how we shoot or how we connect with a couple? Since starting at age 21, we've always just ended up bonding with the parents first. Maybe we're just old souls. There's also now this really annoying problem; we're proud of having shot weddings for over 20 years, but that also makes us sound sixty on our websites.
Before that we catch up after an accidental two month disappearance, compare backlogs (48 items on one to-do list, ten weddings deep), and run through a summer of travel including a wedding near Paris with a two hour ceremony, eight plus speeches, surprise fireworks and a boat trip that meant abandoning a full camera setup mid day. Laura shoots her first roll of Super 8 with a broken light meter and guesses the exposure all day long, we weigh up whether film only bookings are worth the risk, and we get into the TikTok row about couples writing wedding speeches with AI.
Plus tennis elbow, a dead boiler, no sleep, and Bee's spiky cucumbers.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome back after an accidental two month break
02:53 The run up to Christmas is the worst part of the year
03:23 48 items on the to-do list and ten weddings still to edit
06:01 Where everyone has been shooting this summer
07:12 The Paris wedding: two hour ceremony, a boat and surprise fireworks
11:03 Laura's first roll of Super 8 and a broken light meter
14:50 Are couples writing wedding speeches with AI?
16:24 Topic of the week: the "your photographer is too old for you" post
19:03 The nostalgia contradiction
22:00 Does saying you've shot weddings for 20 years make you sound old?
23:55 What experience actually gives you when things go wrong
27:00 Why generations are a lazy generalisation
28:58 Enquiries, bookings and how the diary is looking
31:47 Highs and lows
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week the Commune is back in the garden (briefly) to unpick why enquiries seem to vanish in peak season, why couples always book the second you go on holiday, and why raising your prices might be the easiest win you're avoiding.
Along the way: whether the European heat is quietly killing summer destination weddings, a genuine ding-dong about how much AI belongs in a premium wedding business, the death of the hashtag and where Instagram reach actually comes from now, and Pete's theory that a COVID relationship gap is behind the quiet patch (and why the floodgates are about to open again).
Plus the anxiety that never quite leaves this job, a missing bride with no phone signal, a Japanese wedding pint race, and the hotel Liam booked without realising everyone else would be naked.
Honest, unfiltered chat about wedding photography, videography and running a creative business, from four people who actually do it for a living. Grab a coffee and settle in.
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome and a rare sunny garden
01:43 Air con obsessives vs the camping tent
03:48 A 40 degree wedding in Spain
04:38 Is the heat killing summer destination weddings?
07:56 The hotel Liam didn't realise was a naturist resort
12:36 The missing bride at Iscoyd Park
16:08 Why every wedding still makes you anxious
20:14 A Japanese wedding, a pint race and language shame
22:39 A weekend off and a run of last minute bookings
25:42 Is the summer booking lull real or all in our heads?
28:29 We raised our prices and nobody blinked
29:00 Instagram burnout and the death of the hashtag
33:32 Why we gave up on TikTok
34:30 Using AI in your workflow without cheapening your brand
37:46 Pete's grading mistake and staying vigilant
42:26 The COVID relationship gap theory
44:40 An uncertain but magical industry
47:05 Scotland this weekend and a secret celebrity wedding
48:19 Highs and lows
59:40 Sausages, St Swithin and paying witches for sunshine
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week the Commune is back in the garden (briefly) to unpick why enquiries seem to vanish in peak season, why couples always book the second you go on holiday, and why raising your prices might be the easiest win you're avoiding.
Along the way: whether the European heat is quietly killing summer destination weddings, a genuine ding-dong about how much AI belongs in a premium wedding business, the death of the hashtag and where Instagram reach actually comes from now, and Pete's theory that a COVID relationship gap is behind the quiet patch (and why the floodgates are about to open again).
Plus the anxiety that never quite leaves this job, a missing bride with no phone signal, a Japanese wedding pint race, and the hotel Liam booked without realising everyone else would be naked.
Honest, unfiltered chat about wedding photography, videography and running a creative business, from four people who actually do it for a living. Grab a coffee and settle in.
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome and a rare sunny garden
01:43 Air con obsessives vs the camping tent
03:48 A 40 degree wedding in Spain
04:38 Is the heat killing summer destination weddings?
07:56 The hotel Liam didn't realise was a naturist resort
12:36 The missing bride at Iscoyd Park
16:08 Why every wedding still makes you anxious
20:14 A Japanese wedding, a pint race and language shame
22:39 A weekend off and a run of last minute bookings
25:42 Is the summer booking lull real or all in our heads?
28:29 We raised our prices and nobody blinked
29:00 Instagram burnout and the death of the hashtag
33:32 Why we gave up on TikTok
34:30 Using AI in your workflow without cheapening your brand
37:46 Pete's grading mistake and staying vigilant
42:26 The COVID relationship gap theory
44:40 An uncertain but magical industry
47:05 Scotland this weekend and a secret celebrity wedding
48:19 Highs and lows
59:40 Sausages, St Swithin and paying witches for sunshine
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>The team compares notes on surviving back-to-back weddings in a proper heatwave (electrolytes, hotel rooms with zero aircon and one particularly ill-advised propped-open door), talks through why a hired zoom lens didn't live up to a trusty 35mm prime, and shares stories from a stretch of weddings that took in a sweltering Jewish ceremony in a listed barn, a sunny Tuscan estate, and a very loud town hall ceremony that got soundtracked by the bar next door.
The main event this week is a proper debate sparked by a TikTok claiming the wedding industry is "cooked" because photographers charge extra to keep couples' images out of marketing. The team breaks down what UK GDPR actually says about using wedding photos commercially, why consent matters more than most people realise, and whether charging for privacy is ever fair, alongside genuine reasons couples ask for it and why you some photographers never post photos of children.
There's also a chat about guests becoming noticeably more camera aware, a surprising discovery about eyesight and viewfinders, and the usual round of highs and lows, including a recurring ankle injury that's becoming a running joke.
Timestamps:
00:00 Birthday celebrations and four years of the podcast
04:41 Coping with a heatwave on wedding days
10:23 Why a hired zoom lens didn't make the cut
13:53 A run of weddings: Harrow, Spain and an old friend's big day
17:04 Bee's new (old) film camera
18:08 The town hall ceremony that got gate crashed by the bar next door
20:26 Convertible Mini chaos in Spain
21:22 A hot wedding in Tuscany
23:56 Getting wedding disco lighting right
26:06 Long daylight and a long drive to a Scottish wedding
27:16 Life with an electric car on wedding trips
28:13 Should couples pay to keep their photos private?
36:58 Why couples ask for privacy, and the no-child-photos policy
38:12 Shooting couples who are more camera aware than ever
41:59 A surprising discovery about eyesight and viewfinders
43:50 When the ceremony staging makes your job harder
44:35 Highs and lows of the week
55:41 Reviews, questions and a possible bonus episode
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>The team compares notes on surviving back-to-back weddings in a proper heatwave (electrolytes, hotel rooms with zero aircon and one particularly ill-advised propped-open door), talks through why a hired zoom lens didn't live up to a trusty 35mm prime, and shares stories from a stretch of weddings that took in a sweltering Jewish ceremony in a listed barn, a sunny Tuscan estate, and a very loud town hall ceremony that got soundtracked by the bar next door.
The main event this week is a proper debate sparked by a TikTok claiming the wedding industry is "cooked" because photographers charge extra to keep couples' images out of marketing. The team breaks down what UK GDPR actually says about using wedding photos commercially, why consent matters more than most people realise, and whether charging for privacy is ever fair, alongside genuine reasons couples ask for it and why you some photographers never post photos of children.
There's also a chat about guests becoming noticeably more camera aware, a surprising discovery about eyesight and viewfinders, and the usual round of highs and lows, including a recurring ankle injury that's becoming a running joke.
Timestamps:
00:00 Birthday celebrations and four years of the podcast
04:41 Coping with a heatwave on wedding days
10:23 Why a hired zoom lens didn't make the cut
13:53 A run of weddings: Harrow, Spain and an old friend's big day
17:04 Bee's new (old) film camera
18:08 The town hall ceremony that got gate crashed by the bar next door
20:26 Convertible Mini chaos in Spain
21:22 A hot wedding in Tuscany
23:56 Getting wedding disco lighting right
26:06 Long daylight and a long drive to a Scottish wedding
27:16 Life with an electric car on wedding trips
28:13 Should couples pay to keep their photos private?
36:58 Why couples ask for privacy, and the no-child-photos policy
38:12 Shooting couples who are more camera aware than ever
41:59 A surprising discovery about eyesight and viewfinders
43:50 When the ceremony staging makes your job harder
44:35 Highs and lows of the week
55:41 Reviews, questions and a possible bonus episode
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>The conversation moves into the business side of things, with Bee and Liam unpacking a recent price increase that coincided with enquiries dropping off a cliff, and whether that's down to pricing, a fiddled Google Ads budget, or just a quiet patch. There's also a chat about website portfolios, ad spend, and Pete and Laura's attempt to make their photography site sound less negative without losing what makes it them.
On the gear side, Liam debates renting an expensive lens for a castle wedding in Spain, Pete and Laura talk through their new 85mm lens and a Lightroom preset fix using Claude AI, and the group ends up arguing about which AI chatbot has the best personality. Plus reunion highs, root canal lows, and a real-time cat-versus-bird incident that derails the recording entirely.
As always, it's highs, lows, and everything in between for wedding photographers and videographers trying to navigate the job, the business, and each other.
Timestamps:
00:00 Cold open: memory card chaos and a lost SD card
02:01 Pete's CAA drone audit and the flying currency requirement
05:51 Eyeing up a new drone after seeing one at a wedding
06:46 Liam's Scotland wedding at Dunglass Estate
07:55 The sock-on-the-smoke-alarm pub incident
09:49 Pete's rainy Watermouth Cove wedding in Devon
11:06 Handling bad weather and difficult outdoor ceremonies
12:42 The violinist who nearly walked out
13:54 The one-star review from a bride who wanted rain
16:00 Pete's wedding at Goodnestone Park, Kent
19:42 Working alongside an editorial photographer's 20+ group shots
22:14 Price increase versus a sudden drop in enquiries
25:34 Debating Google AdWords and Meta ad spend
29:22 How many photos should be in a portfolio
32:01 Upcoming trips: Pete to Tuscany, Liam's multi-country wedding run
35:28 Liam considering renting an expensive lens for Spain
38:55 New 85mm lens and adapting old Lightroom presets with Claude AI
42:00 Favourite AI chatbots and their personalities
43:11 Bee's 25-year school reunion
44:08 Root canal woes and charging for consultation Zooms
45:08 Hugo the cat brings in a bird mid-recording
45:59 Highs and lows: mountain bikes, finished films, and 2:30am starts
53:05 Wrap up
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>The conversation moves into the business side of things, with Bee and Liam unpacking a recent price increase that coincided with enquiries dropping off a cliff, and whether that's down to pricing, a fiddled Google Ads budget, or just a quiet patch. There's also a chat about website portfolios, ad spend, and Pete and Laura's attempt to make their photography site sound less negative without losing what makes it them.
On the gear side, Liam debates renting an expensive lens for a castle wedding in Spain, Pete and Laura talk through their new 85mm lens and a Lightroom preset fix using Claude AI, and the group ends up arguing about which AI chatbot has the best personality. Plus reunion highs, root canal lows, and a real-time cat-versus-bird incident that derails the recording entirely.
As always, it's highs, lows, and everything in between for wedding photographers and videographers trying to navigate the job, the business, and each other.
Timestamps:
00:00 Cold open: memory card chaos and a lost SD card
02:01 Pete's CAA drone audit and the flying currency requirement
05:51 Eyeing up a new drone after seeing one at a wedding
06:46 Liam's Scotland wedding at Dunglass Estate
07:55 The sock-on-the-smoke-alarm pub incident
09:49 Pete's rainy Watermouth Cove wedding in Devon
11:06 Handling bad weather and difficult outdoor ceremonies
12:42 The violinist who nearly walked out
13:54 The one-star review from a bride who wanted rain
16:00 Pete's wedding at Goodnestone Park, Kent
19:42 Working alongside an editorial photographer's 20+ group shots
22:14 Price increase versus a sudden drop in enquiries
25:34 Debating Google AdWords and Meta ad spend
29:22 How many photos should be in a portfolio
32:01 Upcoming trips: Pete to Tuscany, Liam's multi-country wedding run
35:28 Liam considering renting an expensive lens for Spain
38:55 New 85mm lens and adapting old Lightroom presets with Claude AI
42:00 Favourite AI chatbots and their personalities
43:11 Bee's 25-year school reunion
44:08 Root canal woes and charging for consultation Zooms
45:08 Hugo the cat brings in a bird mid-recording
45:59 Highs and lows: mountain bikes, finished films, and 2:30am starts
53:05 Wrap up
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam kicks things off with tales from the road - a 22-hour round trip to the Isle of Skye for a four-hour elopement, accommodation that shared a building with a funeral director, and a mid-ceremony nature emergency that he handled with more resourcefulness than dignity. There's also the heartwarming news that Bee's daughter Betty shot her very first wedding and, by all accounts, absolutely smashed it.
Pete and Laura relive their Paris trip - a 1920s indoor fairground, a ringmaster officiant, Britney-soundtracked backup dancers, and the "Inception bridge" - before the whole group spirals into debating whether they should all move to Scotland (Pete: no; midges: also no).
From there, things get deep: a recent opinion arguing that photographers and videographers should position themselves as "creative leads" on wedding days. The group picks that apart honestly - where the idea has merit, why it mostly doesn't work (for us), and what actually happens when the makeup artist is still doing BTS portraits while you're trying to shoot.
Pete raises something that's been coming up in consults lately: couples are booking "editorial" photographers thinking the word signals a natural, unposed approach - because "documentary" now sounds old-fashioned to them - when editorial often means the opposite. The terminology has become almost meaningless. It's the same problem that existed when everyone called themselves documentary photographers but still whisked couples away for two hours of portraits.
And then: a TikTok from a wedding-industry bride saying no vendor made her feel cared about. Do we? Should we be doing more between booking and the big day - automated check-ins, WhatsApp groups, gifts? Or does showing up fully and delivering exceptional work speak louder than any amount of pre-wedding communication?
Honest, warm, and occasionally extremely disgusting - this is a good one.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro & welcome back Liam 03:45 How long can you leave an inquiry unanswered?
04:10 Isle of Skye elopement - the drive, the cost, the hostel
07:00 The wilderness incident (you'll know when you get there)
09:25 Betty's first wedding shoot
12:30 Paris Musee des Arts Forains wedding - fairground, ringmaster, Britney
17:50 Filming vs. photography - why variety makes both better
18:35 Should we all move to Scotland?
20:00 Stefan sells up and goes full Viking
21:30 Should photographers be "creative leads" on wedding days?
27:00 The rise of content creators at weddings & its knock-on effects
30:00 Editorial vs. documentary - the language is broken
33:30 The wonky camera trend & the Adlington Flip
37:00 Do our couples feel cared for?
38:50 Automated check-ins, WhatsApp groups
42:00 The photographer who delivers nothing for months
44:00 Highs & lows of the past few weeks
46:30 A funeral & finding joy in hard days
48:00 What's coming up - Devon, Scotland, and Liam's eight-day gauntlet
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam kicks things off with tales from the road - a 22-hour round trip to the Isle of Skye for a four-hour elopement, accommodation that shared a building with a funeral director, and a mid-ceremony nature emergency that he handled with more resourcefulness than dignity. There's also the heartwarming news that Bee's daughter Betty shot her very first wedding and, by all accounts, absolutely smashed it.
Pete and Laura relive their Paris trip - a 1920s indoor fairground, a ringmaster officiant, Britney-soundtracked backup dancers, and the "Inception bridge" - before the whole group spirals into debating whether they should all move to Scotland (Pete: no; midges: also no).
From there, things get deep: a recent opinion arguing that photographers and videographers should position themselves as "creative leads" on wedding days. The group picks that apart honestly - where the idea has merit, why it mostly doesn't work (for us), and what actually happens when the makeup artist is still doing BTS portraits while you're trying to shoot.
Pete raises something that's been coming up in consults lately: couples are booking "editorial" photographers thinking the word signals a natural, unposed approach - because "documentary" now sounds old-fashioned to them - when editorial often means the opposite. The terminology has become almost meaningless. It's the same problem that existed when everyone called themselves documentary photographers but still whisked couples away for two hours of portraits.
And then: a TikTok from a wedding-industry bride saying no vendor made her feel cared about. Do we? Should we be doing more between booking and the big day - automated check-ins, WhatsApp groups, gifts? Or does showing up fully and delivering exceptional work speak louder than any amount of pre-wedding communication?
Honest, warm, and occasionally extremely disgusting - this is a good one.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro & welcome back Liam 03:45 How long can you leave an inquiry unanswered?
04:10 Isle of Skye elopement - the drive, the cost, the hostel
07:00 The wilderness incident (you'll know when you get there)
09:25 Betty's first wedding shoot
12:30 Paris Musee des Arts Forains wedding - fairground, ringmaster, Britney
17:50 Filming vs. photography - why variety makes both better
18:35 Should we all move to Scotland?
20:00 Stefan sells up and goes full Viking
21:30 Should photographers be "creative leads" on wedding days?
27:00 The rise of content creators at weddings & its knock-on effects
30:00 Editorial vs. documentary - the language is broken
33:30 The wonky camera trend & the Adlington Flip
37:00 Do our couples feel cared for?
38:50 Automated check-ins, WhatsApp groups
42:00 The photographer who delivers nothing for months
44:00 Highs & lows of the past few weeks
46:30 A funeral & finding joy in hard days
48:00 What's coming up - Devon, Scotland, and Liam's eight-day gauntlet
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week Pete, Laura, and Bee dig into what's really going on in the wedding photography and videography market right now: why some people seem to break through while everyone else is fighting for scraps, whether your website might actually be working against you, and the uncomfortable truth about pricing: most of us haven't raised our rates in nearly a decade, even as everything around us has got more expensive.
We also get into a debate that's been doing the rounds on photographer socials: where does your responsibility end for how your couples look in photos? Should you be straightening ties, smoothing dresses, and fixing every wrinkle - or is that just not the job? With AI making clients think any edit is a simple fix, is that expectation about to get a whole lot worse?
Plus: Bee's extraordinary doctor's appointment, Pete and Laura reflect on what it feels like to shoot a wedding together again, Bee & Liam's daughter Betty is about to second shoot her first wedding, and Liam is, once again, somewhere on a motorway.
Honest, unfiltered chat for wedding photographers who are trying to figure it all out alongside everyone else.
Timestamps
00:00 - Intro: post-yoga chaos and sweaty coats
03:00 - Saturday's wedding at Middleton Lodge - why it felt like the good old days
06:40 - The joy of switching between photo and video
09:00 - Upcoming schedule: Paris, half term weddings, and Scotland
09:59 - Liam's Isle of Skye elopement: 11.5 hours of driving, and the great mattress debate
11:19 - Betty's first wedding as second shooter
13:12 - Industry chat: the photographer getting 430 enquiries since January
17:00 - What's actually driving all those enquiries? Referrals, likability, and being flavour of the month
18:45 - Pricing: why haven't we all raised our rates since 2015?
22:14 - Should we be listing future year prices on our websites?
26:24 - More photographers, fewer weddings, less money - the market in 2025
31:26 - What Jade's four-page website tells us about friction and attention spans
33:57 - Who's responsible for how couples look in photos?
38:50 - AI retouching expectations: the bow on the dress that broke three pieces of software
43:50 - Highs and lows: no edits, Rivals, Betty's big debut, and a very confusing GP
Martin Chueng’s podcast with Jade Greenbrooke: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/430-enquiries-since-january-how-jade-built-a/id1685148348?i=1000767529953
Jade Greenbrooke’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jade.greenbrooke/
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week Pete, Laura, and Bee dig into what's really going on in the wedding photography and videography market right now: why some people seem to break through while everyone else is fighting for scraps, whether your website might actually be working against you, and the uncomfortable truth about pricing: most of us haven't raised our rates in nearly a decade, even as everything around us has got more expensive.
We also get into a debate that's been doing the rounds on photographer socials: where does your responsibility end for how your couples look in photos? Should you be straightening ties, smoothing dresses, and fixing every wrinkle - or is that just not the job? With AI making clients think any edit is a simple fix, is that expectation about to get a whole lot worse?
Plus: Bee's extraordinary doctor's appointment, Pete and Laura reflect on what it feels like to shoot a wedding together again, Bee & Liam's daughter Betty is about to second shoot her first wedding, and Liam is, once again, somewhere on a motorway.
Honest, unfiltered chat for wedding photographers who are trying to figure it all out alongside everyone else.
Timestamps
00:00 - Intro: post-yoga chaos and sweaty coats
03:00 - Saturday's wedding at Middleton Lodge - why it felt like the good old days
06:40 - The joy of switching between photo and video
09:00 - Upcoming schedule: Paris, half term weddings, and Scotland
09:59 - Liam's Isle of Skye elopement: 11.5 hours of driving, and the great mattress debate
11:19 - Betty's first wedding as second shooter
13:12 - Industry chat: the photographer getting 430 enquiries since January
17:00 - What's actually driving all those enquiries? Referrals, likability, and being flavour of the month
18:45 - Pricing: why haven't we all raised our rates since 2015?
22:14 - Should we be listing future year prices on our websites?
26:24 - More photographers, fewer weddings, less money - the market in 2025
31:26 - What Jade's four-page website tells us about friction and attention spans
33:57 - Who's responsible for how couples look in photos?
38:50 - AI retouching expectations: the bow on the dress that broke three pieces of software
43:50 - Highs and lows: no edits, Rivals, Betty's big debut, and a very confusing GP
Martin Chueng’s podcast with Jade Greenbrooke: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/430-enquiries-since-january-how-jade-built-a/id1685148348?i=1000767529953
Jade Greenbrooke’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jade.greenbrooke/
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Pete, Laura, and Bee (Liam is off conquering Scotland and London simultaneously) are talking about the real pressures hitting the wedding industry right now - and what, if anything, we can do about it. Bookings are shifting. Budgets are tighter. Midweek and shorter-coverage weddings are on the rise. And one person out there reckons full-time wedding photography might not even be viable anymore.
Then there's the ghosting. Bee's Instagram post on the subject got 30,000 views and 122 comments, almost entirely from suppliers saying same. So why is it happening - and is it actually couples being rude, or are we just making the booking process too hard? The Coda Podcast gets a mention, contact forms get a roasting, and Zoom calls are on trial.
They also untangle the word "editorial" - which apparently now means "natural and relaxed" to couples, despite meaning the opposite to everyone who actually shoots it. And when a content creator couple rocked up in a Lake Como wedding group claiming to be the only people capturing candid, in-between moments, the documentary photographers and videographers in the room had some thoughts.
Plus: Bee's Super 8 film comes back from the lab. Pete's British Gas bill arrives and it is not good news. Table tennis glory. And the completely startling realisation that this podcast is nearly four years old. Oh, and then we end with Pete being packed off to live on a narrowboat survivng on only Huel, and no cushions.
Timestamps
00:00 - Didn't record the first half, Pilates is evil, and Liam is everywhere at once
01:50 - Work lethargy: the post-holiday slump is real
04:07 - The Mandela Effect: both Pete and Bee have vivid memories of uploading galleries that never happened
08:05 - The state of the wedding industry: midweek bookings, shorter coverage, tighter budgets
13:25 - Is full-time wedding photography still viable?
14:06 - Bee's viral ghosting post: 30,000 views and 122 comments
20:50 - Is the booking process the problem? Zooms, forms, and friction
22:15 - The Coda Podcast: what videographers discovered when they became the clients
28:05 - Rethinking how we communicate with enquiring couples
30:03 - "Editorial": what couples think it means vs what it actually means
33:28 - The content creator controversy: who's capturing the in-between moments?
38:35 - Highs and lows: Bee's Super 8 film and Lawson Film School
43:05 - Pete's £1,400 British Gas nightmare
47:25 - Laura's TV high and general tiredness low
49:04 - The podcast is nearly four years old
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Pete, Laura, and Bee (Liam is off conquering Scotland and London simultaneously) are talking about the real pressures hitting the wedding industry right now - and what, if anything, we can do about it. Bookings are shifting. Budgets are tighter. Midweek and shorter-coverage weddings are on the rise. And one person out there reckons full-time wedding photography might not even be viable anymore.
Then there's the ghosting. Bee's Instagram post on the subject got 30,000 views and 122 comments, almost entirely from suppliers saying same. So why is it happening - and is it actually couples being rude, or are we just making the booking process too hard? The Coda Podcast gets a mention, contact forms get a roasting, and Zoom calls are on trial.
They also untangle the word "editorial" - which apparently now means "natural and relaxed" to couples, despite meaning the opposite to everyone who actually shoots it. And when a content creator couple rocked up in a Lake Como wedding group claiming to be the only people capturing candid, in-between moments, the documentary photographers and videographers in the room had some thoughts.
Plus: Bee's Super 8 film comes back from the lab. Pete's British Gas bill arrives and it is not good news. Table tennis glory. And the completely startling realisation that this podcast is nearly four years old. Oh, and then we end with Pete being packed off to live on a narrowboat survivng on only Huel, and no cushions.
Timestamps
00:00 - Didn't record the first half, Pilates is evil, and Liam is everywhere at once
01:50 - Work lethargy: the post-holiday slump is real
04:07 - The Mandela Effect: both Pete and Bee have vivid memories of uploading galleries that never happened
08:05 - The state of the wedding industry: midweek bookings, shorter coverage, tighter budgets
13:25 - Is full-time wedding photography still viable?
14:06 - Bee's viral ghosting post: 30,000 views and 122 comments
20:50 - Is the booking process the problem? Zooms, forms, and friction
22:15 - The Coda Podcast: what videographers discovered when they became the clients
28:05 - Rethinking how we communicate with enquiring couples
30:03 - "Editorial": what couples think it means vs what it actually means
33:28 - The content creator controversy: who's capturing the in-between moments?
38:35 - Highs and lows: Bee's Super 8 film and Lawson Film School
43:05 - Pete's £1,400 British Gas nightmare
47:25 - Laura's TV high and general tiredness low
49:04 - The podcast is nearly four years old
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week on Our Creative Commune, Pete, Laura, Liam, and Bee sit down in the sun to catch up on a wild few weeks of local weddings, destination showcases, and the ever-changing landscape of booking clients. Are we all suffering from Zoom fatigue? We debate whether it’s time to stop video consultations altogether and build a brand enigma instead.
We also share some wild on-the-job stories, including a dream local shoot at Rivington Barn, the chaos of tracking fire-breathers in Spain, and Liam’s incredibly awkward encounter with a "secret" second photographer hired by the mother of the bride. Plus, we dive into some massive business milestones - including the joy of finally paying off that dreaded COVID bounce-back loan!
Grab a coffee (or a matcha) and join us as we chat through our highs, our lows, Pete's foray into the EV world, the heartbreak of airport security ruining analog film, and a surprisingly mind-blowing fact about apples.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on your favourite podcast app - it really helps us grow the commune!
00:00 - Catching rays and the start of the busy season
03:20 - Zoom fatigue and changing client booking psychology
05:13 - A dream local photo & video shoot at Rivington Barn
11:10 - Bosh! Smashing out a one-week video edit turnaround
13:26 - Wedding horror story: Dealing with a secret second photographer
17:18 - A rapid road trip to France and scanning questionable family negatives
19:30 - Destination wedding showcase at Castell d'Empordà in Spain
23:22 - Photographing fire-breathers and a rogue drone incident
26:24 - Business strategy: Should we stop doing client Zooms entirely?
30:43 - Are jet fuel prices and logistics threatening destination weddings?
32:57 - Pete's new car: Buying an EV for wedding travel
37:22 - Pete's Highs: Disputing energy bills and paying off the bounce-back loan!
41:24 - Liam & Bee's High: Quality time in Spain and overcoming separation anxiety
44:43 - Liam's Low: Heartbreak as a driving instructor
46:55 - Bee's Low: Left-behind outfits and airport security ruining film
51:12 - Laura's High & Low: London museum trips and canceled Pilates classes
56:18 - Mind-blowing apple facts and wrapping up
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week on Our Creative Commune, Pete, Laura, Liam, and Bee sit down in the sun to catch up on a wild few weeks of local weddings, destination showcases, and the ever-changing landscape of booking clients. Are we all suffering from Zoom fatigue? We debate whether it’s time to stop video consultations altogether and build a brand enigma instead.
We also share some wild on-the-job stories, including a dream local shoot at Rivington Barn, the chaos of tracking fire-breathers in Spain, and Liam’s incredibly awkward encounter with a "secret" second photographer hired by the mother of the bride. Plus, we dive into some massive business milestones - including the joy of finally paying off that dreaded COVID bounce-back loan!
Grab a coffee (or a matcha) and join us as we chat through our highs, our lows, Pete's foray into the EV world, the heartbreak of airport security ruining analog film, and a surprisingly mind-blowing fact about apples.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on your favourite podcast app - it really helps us grow the commune!
00:00 - Catching rays and the start of the busy season
03:20 - Zoom fatigue and changing client booking psychology
05:13 - A dream local photo & video shoot at Rivington Barn
11:10 - Bosh! Smashing out a one-week video edit turnaround
13:26 - Wedding horror story: Dealing with a secret second photographer
17:18 - A rapid road trip to France and scanning questionable family negatives
19:30 - Destination wedding showcase at Castell d'Empordà in Spain
23:22 - Photographing fire-breathers and a rogue drone incident
26:24 - Business strategy: Should we stop doing client Zooms entirely?
30:43 - Are jet fuel prices and logistics threatening destination weddings?
32:57 - Pete's new car: Buying an EV for wedding travel
37:22 - Pete's Highs: Disputing energy bills and paying off the bounce-back loan!
41:24 - Liam & Bee's High: Quality time in Spain and overcoming separation anxiety
44:43 - Liam's Low: Heartbreak as a driving instructor
46:55 - Bee's Low: Left-behind outfits and airport security ruining film
51:12 - Laura's High & Low: London museum trips and canceled Pilates classes
56:18 - Mind-blowing apple facts and wrapping up
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Plus, we recap our recent destination wedding in Spain, talk through the painful realities of buying expensive new camera gear (hello, Canon R5 Mark II), and ask a question every creative eventually faces: at what age do we actually retire?
Where is the line between a successful wedding season and total burnout?
Finally, we wrap up with our weekly Highs and Lows, featuring wild podcast listener encounters, the isolation of solo parenting during wedding season, and why sleeping alone in a hotel room is the ultimate parent fantasy.
Oh, and If you see us in the wild, come say hello! Getting recognised on the street made Bee's day!
Timestamps
00:00 - Intro: Where is Liam? (The reality of creative burnout and extreme schedules)
04:30 - The danger of saying "yes" to everything and managing the VAT threshold
06:00 - Pivot to corporate: Why we still prefer the emotional connection of weddings
10:30 - Laura’s trip to the Wedding Videographer Podcast Summit in Glasgow
11:45 - The Super 8 revival and passing a 90s camcorder to a bridesmaid in Spain
16:45 - AI vs. Authenticity: Why "human-made" is the new luxury in the wedding industry
21:30 - Recapping our beautiful destination wedding in Spain
24:30 - Gear Talk: Pete’s broken drop-in filters and buying cheap grey market replacements
26:10 - Do we need the Canon R5 Mark II? (And the struggles of financing gear)
28:40 - Will we be shooting weddings at 68? Discussing the myth of creative retirement
34:25 - Divide and conquer: How Pete and Laura tackle a wedding day together
35:50 - Highs & Lows: Bee gets recognised by a podcast listener in the wild!
37:20 - Bee's new fine-line tattoos and her pottery wheel dilemmas
39:50 - The hidden loneliness and decision fatigue of solo parenting during wedding season
44:00 - Pete’s Highs & Lows: Booking weddings and the absolute nightmare of car shopping
49:30 - Laura’s Highs & Lows: The bliss of a solo hotel bed vs. the struggle of being away from home
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Plus, we recap our recent destination wedding in Spain, talk through the painful realities of buying expensive new camera gear (hello, Canon R5 Mark II), and ask a question every creative eventually faces: at what age do we actually retire?
Where is the line between a successful wedding season and total burnout?
Finally, we wrap up with our weekly Highs and Lows, featuring wild podcast listener encounters, the isolation of solo parenting during wedding season, and why sleeping alone in a hotel room is the ultimate parent fantasy.
Oh, and If you see us in the wild, come say hello! Getting recognised on the street made Bee's day!
Timestamps
00:00 - Intro: Where is Liam? (The reality of creative burnout and extreme schedules)
04:30 - The danger of saying "yes" to everything and managing the VAT threshold
06:00 - Pivot to corporate: Why we still prefer the emotional connection of weddings
10:30 - Laura’s trip to the Wedding Videographer Podcast Summit in Glasgow
11:45 - The Super 8 revival and passing a 90s camcorder to a bridesmaid in Spain
16:45 - AI vs. Authenticity: Why "human-made" is the new luxury in the wedding industry
21:30 - Recapping our beautiful destination wedding in Spain
24:30 - Gear Talk: Pete’s broken drop-in filters and buying cheap grey market replacements
26:10 - Do we need the Canon R5 Mark II? (And the struggles of financing gear)
28:40 - Will we be shooting weddings at 68? Discussing the myth of creative retirement
34:25 - Divide and conquer: How Pete and Laura tackle a wedding day together
35:50 - Highs & Lows: Bee gets recognised by a podcast listener in the wild!
37:20 - Bee's new fine-line tattoos and her pottery wheel dilemmas
39:50 - The hidden loneliness and decision fatigue of solo parenting during wedding season
44:00 - Pete’s Highs & Lows: Booking weddings and the absolute nightmare of car shopping
49:30 - Laura’s Highs & Lows: The bliss of a solo hotel bed vs. the struggle of being away from home
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We’re breaking down the psychology of "ghosting," debating whether giving too much free advice on a Zoom call is actually hurting your booking rate, and discussing the exact timeline of when you should be sending your follow-up emails.
We also take a hard, uncomfortable look at inflation. If you haven't significantly raised your prices in the last five years, you might actually be taking a massive pay cut without realizing it. We crunch the numbers on what a £2,000 wedding from 2010 should cost today.
Plus, we talk about the pains of getting shooed away by wardens while shooting in London, why Pete absolutely refuses to set up those cliché "groom by the window" prep photos, and Bee shares the surprising results of letting ChatGPT dictate our Instagram strategy for a month. Finally, we share our weekly highs and lows—including the tragic loss of a local village legend and the anxiety of developing a six-year-old roll of film.
00:00 - Intro, morning coffee, and Pete’s table tennis heartbreak
01:17 - The secret joy of cancelled Reformer Pilates classes
05:40 - Upcoming destination weddings: Scotland, Spain, Italy, and Vietnam
09:33 - Getting kicked off private land in London and National Trust rules
13:30 - We let ChatGPT run our Instagram (and it's actually working)
17:33 - Marketing vs. Art: Should you post what works or what excites you?
18:50 - The ghosting epidemic: Why do couples vanish after a great Zoom call?
22:50 - Zoom strategies: Pitching and advising vs. just chilling out
26:15 - How and when should you send the follow-up email?
32:00 - The inflation calculator: Are you secretly taking a pay cut every year?
36:40 - How the photography industry hustle has changed over the last decade
38:50 - Highs & Lows: Developing 6-year-old film and the horror of wet leggings
41:29 - RIP Hilda: Mourning our 94-year-old village window-waving legend
43:40 - Liam’s Isle of Skye elopement excitement
46:27 - Pete's return to blogging and the debate over staging groom prep photos
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We’re breaking down the psychology of "ghosting," debating whether giving too much free advice on a Zoom call is actually hurting your booking rate, and discussing the exact timeline of when you should be sending your follow-up emails.
We also take a hard, uncomfortable look at inflation. If you haven't significantly raised your prices in the last five years, you might actually be taking a massive pay cut without realizing it. We crunch the numbers on what a £2,000 wedding from 2010 should cost today.
Plus, we talk about the pains of getting shooed away by wardens while shooting in London, why Pete absolutely refuses to set up those cliché "groom by the window" prep photos, and Bee shares the surprising results of letting ChatGPT dictate our Instagram strategy for a month. Finally, we share our weekly highs and lows—including the tragic loss of a local village legend and the anxiety of developing a six-year-old roll of film.
00:00 - Intro, morning coffee, and Pete’s table tennis heartbreak
01:17 - The secret joy of cancelled Reformer Pilates classes
05:40 - Upcoming destination weddings: Scotland, Spain, Italy, and Vietnam
09:33 - Getting kicked off private land in London and National Trust rules
13:30 - We let ChatGPT run our Instagram (and it's actually working)
17:33 - Marketing vs. Art: Should you post what works or what excites you?
18:50 - The ghosting epidemic: Why do couples vanish after a great Zoom call?
22:50 - Zoom strategies: Pitching and advising vs. just chilling out
26:15 - How and when should you send the follow-up email?
32:00 - The inflation calculator: Are you secretly taking a pay cut every year?
36:40 - How the photography industry hustle has changed over the last decade
38:50 - Highs & Lows: Developing 6-year-old film and the horror of wet leggings
41:29 - RIP Hilda: Mourning our 94-year-old village window-waving legend
43:40 - Liam’s Isle of Skye elopement excitement
46:27 - Pete's return to blogging and the debate over staging groom prep photos
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam kicks things off by sharing his experience working alongside a dedicated content creator at a recent London wedding. Have content creators just become a normal part of the day, or is the hype starting to fade? We also dive deep into the latest Bridebook survey to find out what couples are actually looking for right now. Spoiler alert: they don't care about your social media following, and the "editorial" trend might not be as dominant as Instagram makes it seem.
We also tackle the frustrating reality of getting "ghosted" by couples after seemingly perfect Zoom meetings. Are we making it too hard for clients to book us? We discuss the power of WhatsApp, ditching 20-page PDF brochures, and streamlining your workflow to capture leads while they're hot.
Plus, Bee shares the wild ChatGPT strategy she’s using to completely retrain their confused Instagram algorithm, Pete questions if it's finally time to stop hoarding terabytes of old raw footage due to skyrocketing hard drive prices, and we wrap up with our weekly Highs and Lows—featuring magazine awards, film festival backlash, Reformer Pilates, and Pete's quest for table tennis glory.
Grab a coffee and join the commune!
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro, spring vibes, and Laura’s high-maintenance gardening
03:34 - Liam’s first London wedding back and working with a content creator
09:08 - Bee’s darkroom update & Pete/Laura’s Spice Kitchen commercial shoot
13:30 - Pete’s table tennis championship (Rocky montage pending)
15:25 - Bridebook 2024 Survey: What styles and traits do couples actually care about?
22:00 - The ghosting epidemic: Why are couples disappearing after great Zoom meetings?
28:00 - Streamlining your booking process and the power of WhatsApp
34:30 - How to retrain a broken Instagram algorithm (and Liam's weird "zooming" theory)
42:00 - Skyrocketing hard drive costs: Is it time to delete a decade of raw files?
47:20 - Highs & Lows: Professional Photo Magazine's Top 50 list & Reformer Pilates!
53:30 - Handling complaints and backlash from the wedding film festival
01:01:48 - Liam’s shiny new mountain bike and driving instructor woes
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam kicks things off by sharing his experience working alongside a dedicated content creator at a recent London wedding. Have content creators just become a normal part of the day, or is the hype starting to fade? We also dive deep into the latest Bridebook survey to find out what couples are actually looking for right now. Spoiler alert: they don't care about your social media following, and the "editorial" trend might not be as dominant as Instagram makes it seem.
We also tackle the frustrating reality of getting "ghosted" by couples after seemingly perfect Zoom meetings. Are we making it too hard for clients to book us? We discuss the power of WhatsApp, ditching 20-page PDF brochures, and streamlining your workflow to capture leads while they're hot.
Plus, Bee shares the wild ChatGPT strategy she’s using to completely retrain their confused Instagram algorithm, Pete questions if it's finally time to stop hoarding terabytes of old raw footage due to skyrocketing hard drive prices, and we wrap up with our weekly Highs and Lows—featuring magazine awards, film festival backlash, Reformer Pilates, and Pete's quest for table tennis glory.
Grab a coffee and join the commune!
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro, spring vibes, and Laura’s high-maintenance gardening
03:34 - Liam’s first London wedding back and working with a content creator
09:08 - Bee’s darkroom update & Pete/Laura’s Spice Kitchen commercial shoot
13:30 - Pete’s table tennis championship (Rocky montage pending)
15:25 - Bridebook 2024 Survey: What styles and traits do couples actually care about?
22:00 - The ghosting epidemic: Why are couples disappearing after great Zoom meetings?
28:00 - Streamlining your booking process and the power of WhatsApp
34:30 - How to retrain a broken Instagram algorithm (and Liam's weird "zooming" theory)
42:00 - Skyrocketing hard drive costs: Is it time to delete a decade of raw files?
47:20 - Highs & Lows: Professional Photo Magazine's Top 50 list & Reformer Pilates!
53:30 - Handling complaints and backlash from the wedding film festival
01:01:48 - Liam’s shiny new mountain bike and driving instructor woes
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Are these shorter, "smash and grab" days a refreshing change of pace, or do they rob us of the chance to truly connect with our couples? We also debate the modern relevance of bridal prep and detail shots - do brides really want a photo of their shoes on a tree, or are we just shooting out of fear of missing something?
We’re also pulling back the curtain on the very first British Wedding Film Festival! We debrief on the incredible highs of the glamorous night at the Manchester Art Gallery, the financial realities of hosting a major industry event from scratch, and the controversy of international filmmakers dominating the final shortlists. Plus, we talk through our plans and category changes for next year.
Finally, we share our weekly highs and lows, featuring the magic of Victorian tintype photography, the sheer terror of M6 traffic, the sting of buying four new car tires, and a painfully relatable vent about couples treating our Zoom consultations like interviews only to ghost us afterward.
00:00 - Morning Coffee & Shropshire Holiday Vibes
02:40 - Are Reduced Coverage Weddings the New Normal?
07:30 - The "Smash and Grab" Reality of Short Weddings
08:30 - Do Couples Actually Want Detail Shots Anymore?
14:50 - The Danger of Missing Crucial Props (The Pen Story)
16:35 - Shooting a Bar Mitzvah & Traffic Nightmares
20:10 - Our Worst "Late to a Wedding" Stories & Box Breathing
23:25 - Identity Crisis: Are We Still Calling Ourselves Photographers?
25:55 - The British Wedding Film Festival Debrief
33:00 - The Financial Reality of Hosting an Industry Event
35:00 - The Controversy of International & Destination Winners
42:20 - Highs & Lows: Victorian Tintype Photography in Shrewsbury
48:30 - Highs & Lows: £650 Tyres & Toddler Colds
50:10 - Why Are Couples Ghosting After Great Zoom Consultations?
52:45 - Dinner Debates & Wrapping Up
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Are these shorter, "smash and grab" days a refreshing change of pace, or do they rob us of the chance to truly connect with our couples? We also debate the modern relevance of bridal prep and detail shots - do brides really want a photo of their shoes on a tree, or are we just shooting out of fear of missing something?
We’re also pulling back the curtain on the very first British Wedding Film Festival! We debrief on the incredible highs of the glamorous night at the Manchester Art Gallery, the financial realities of hosting a major industry event from scratch, and the controversy of international filmmakers dominating the final shortlists. Plus, we talk through our plans and category changes for next year.
Finally, we share our weekly highs and lows, featuring the magic of Victorian tintype photography, the sheer terror of M6 traffic, the sting of buying four new car tires, and a painfully relatable vent about couples treating our Zoom consultations like interviews only to ghost us afterward.
00:00 - Morning Coffee & Shropshire Holiday Vibes
02:40 - Are Reduced Coverage Weddings the New Normal?
07:30 - The "Smash and Grab" Reality of Short Weddings
08:30 - Do Couples Actually Want Detail Shots Anymore?
14:50 - The Danger of Missing Crucial Props (The Pen Story)
16:35 - Shooting a Bar Mitzvah & Traffic Nightmares
20:10 - Our Worst "Late to a Wedding" Stories & Box Breathing
23:25 - Identity Crisis: Are We Still Calling Ourselves Photographers?
25:55 - The British Wedding Film Festival Debrief
33:00 - The Financial Reality of Hosting an Industry Event
35:00 - The Controversy of International & Destination Winners
42:20 - Highs & Lows: Victorian Tintype Photography in Shrewsbury
48:30 - Highs & Lows: £650 Tyres & Toddler Colds
50:10 - Why Are Couples Ghosting After Great Zoom Consultations?
52:45 - Dinner Debates & Wrapping Up
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We also dive into the nitty-gritty of award season. Having just finished a marathon judging session for the Wedding Film Festival and following the results of TWIA, we discuss what separates a good film from a great one, the subjectivity of art, and the fleeting high of winning a trophy.
Plus, we share our struggles with the "wintering" season, the art of dealing with online trolls, and why school sports still have a long way to go regarding gender equality. Grab a coffee and join us at the kitchen table.
00:00 – Intro: Coffee, sleep schedules, and morning chats.
01:00 – Behind the Scenes: Judging the Wedding Film Festival.
04:20 – The "Run and Gun" Trend: Cinematic vs. Messy.
05:43 – TWIA Awards: Winners, the Liverpool venue, and the post-win feeling.
12:15 – The Winter Slump: Struggling with creativity and slow editing.
14:05 – Unusual Jobs: Branding photography for dentists.
18:15 – The Big Debate: Is it time to quit Instagram?
21:00 – The Ethics of Content: Sharing private moments for public entertainment.
25:30 – The "Cringe" Factor: Why self-promotion feels inauthentic.
35:35 – Dealing with Trolls: Negative comments and blocking the haters.
40:00 – Highs & Lows: Developing film at home & iron deficiencies.
43:10 – Laura’s Obsession: Alex Honnold and climbing documentaries.
47:12 – Pete’s Rant: Coaching table tennis and sexism in school PE.
52:30 – Liam’s Low: A near-death experience in the driving instructor car.
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We also dive into the nitty-gritty of award season. Having just finished a marathon judging session for the Wedding Film Festival and following the results of TWIA, we discuss what separates a good film from a great one, the subjectivity of art, and the fleeting high of winning a trophy.
Plus, we share our struggles with the "wintering" season, the art of dealing with online trolls, and why school sports still have a long way to go regarding gender equality. Grab a coffee and join us at the kitchen table.
00:00 – Intro: Coffee, sleep schedules, and morning chats.
01:00 – Behind the Scenes: Judging the Wedding Film Festival.
04:20 – The "Run and Gun" Trend: Cinematic vs. Messy.
05:43 – TWIA Awards: Winners, the Liverpool venue, and the post-win feeling.
12:15 – The Winter Slump: Struggling with creativity and slow editing.
14:05 – Unusual Jobs: Branding photography for dentists.
18:15 – The Big Debate: Is it time to quit Instagram?
21:00 – The Ethics of Content: Sharing private moments for public entertainment.
25:30 – The "Cringe" Factor: Why self-promotion feels inauthentic.
35:35 – Dealing with Trolls: Negative comments and blocking the haters.
40:00 – Highs & Lows: Developing film at home & iron deficiencies.
43:10 – Laura’s Obsession: Alex Honnold and climbing documentaries.
47:12 – Pete’s Rant: Coaching table tennis and sexism in school PE.
52:30 – Liam’s Low: A near-death experience in the driving instructor car.
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In this episode, we dive deep into the current state of the wedding industry. After judging hundreds of films for the British Wedding Film Festival, we’ve noticed some polarizing trends - from AI-generated voiceovers to the resurgence of "home movie" Super 8 vibes. We also discuss the controversial return of the "Dutch tilt" in photography (thanks, Gen Z) and ask the question: are Content Creators actually taking over, or was it just a phase?
On the business side, we open up about a recent painful client cancellation and discuss the ethics of contracts and refunds when things go wrong. We also debate a recent award-winning image controversy - where do we draw the line between photography, digital art, and cheating?
Plus, we share some life updates, including Liam’s new career path, Bee’s Harry Potter-style darkroom, and why Laura is painting in her underwear.
Topics:
•2026 Trends: The rise of AI music and voiceovers in wedding films.
•Gear Nostalgia: Why everyone is buying old DSLRs and 35mm film cameras.
•Business Realities: Handling last-minute cancellations and protecting your income.
•Ethics: The controversy of using stock imagery and composites in photo awards.
•Life Updates: Darkrooms, driving instructors, and car breakdowns.
Whether you are a photographer, videographer, or just a creative trying to navigate the changing landscape, grab a coffee (or a wine) and join the commune.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro: Happy New Year 2026
01:05 - Judging film awards & the rise of AI Voiceovers
05:23 - Photography trends: The return of the "Wonky Horizon"
07:00 - The DSLR nostalgia trap 09:30 - Bee’s new cupboard darkroom & developing film
14:55 - Laura’s new painting hobby
21:50 - Liam’s now a Qualified Driving Instructor
29:40 - Have Content Creators actually taken over?
33:00 - Dealing with a major wedding cancellation
36:40 - The Awards Controversy: Stock images vs. Photography
43:00 - Will AI eventually eat itself?
47:00 - Highs & Lows: Client testimonials & car breakdown nightmares
57:30 - Bee’s health scare & 80s nostalgia
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In this episode, we dive deep into the current state of the wedding industry. After judging hundreds of films for the British Wedding Film Festival, we’ve noticed some polarizing trends - from AI-generated voiceovers to the resurgence of "home movie" Super 8 vibes. We also discuss the controversial return of the "Dutch tilt" in photography (thanks, Gen Z) and ask the question: are Content Creators actually taking over, or was it just a phase?
On the business side, we open up about a recent painful client cancellation and discuss the ethics of contracts and refunds when things go wrong. We also debate a recent award-winning image controversy - where do we draw the line between photography, digital art, and cheating?
Plus, we share some life updates, including Liam’s new career path, Bee’s Harry Potter-style darkroom, and why Laura is painting in her underwear.
Topics:
•2026 Trends: The rise of AI music and voiceovers in wedding films.
•Gear Nostalgia: Why everyone is buying old DSLRs and 35mm film cameras.
•Business Realities: Handling last-minute cancellations and protecting your income.
•Ethics: The controversy of using stock imagery and composites in photo awards.
•Life Updates: Darkrooms, driving instructors, and car breakdowns.
Whether you are a photographer, videographer, or just a creative trying to navigate the changing landscape, grab a coffee (or a wine) and join the commune.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro: Happy New Year 2026
01:05 - Judging film awards & the rise of AI Voiceovers
05:23 - Photography trends: The return of the "Wonky Horizon"
07:00 - The DSLR nostalgia trap 09:30 - Bee’s new cupboard darkroom & developing film
14:55 - Laura’s new painting hobby
21:50 - Liam’s now a Qualified Driving Instructor
29:40 - Have Content Creators actually taken over?
33:00 - Dealing with a major wedding cancellation
36:40 - The Awards Controversy: Stock images vs. Photography
43:00 - Will AI eventually eat itself?
47:00 - Highs & Lows: Client testimonials & car breakdown nightmares
57:30 - Bee’s health scare & 80s nostalgia
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>While the venue was five-star, the day wasn't without its hurdles. We discuss the reality of shooting in high-end establishments - from the stress of strict dress codes to dealing with "smothering" service that eats into your shooting time. We also have an honest conversation about a struggle many creatives face: how do you politely tell a venue coordinator to back off and let you do your job?
Also in this episode, we chat about the physical toll of wedding photography (what is "Photographer's Toe"?), the panic of surprise speeches for videographers, and a terrifying gear malfunction that saw a camera hit the floor in front of the guests. Plus, we catch up on life outside of weddings, including broken cars, table tennis coaching, and life as a driving instructor.
Grab a coffee and join the commune!
Key Topics & Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro: Where are the girls?
02:18 - The 9-hour travel nightmare and the £36 wine incident
05:25 - The Dress Code Debate: Suits vs. Trainers
07:59 - The reality of "Photographer's Toe" and physical comfort
12:14 - Videography stress: Dealing with surprise speeches
19:00 - The "Missing Groom Prep" panic
25:43 - Technical struggles: Banding issues in venue lighting
28:42 - When luxury service ruins your portrait time
31:00 - Learning to say "No" to pushy venue coordinators
44:05 - Pete’s car suspension disaster
47:50 - Gear Nightmare: Liam drops his camera (twice)
51:25 - Highs and Lows: Life as a driving instructor
57:00 - Pete becomes a qualified table tennis coach
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>While the venue was five-star, the day wasn't without its hurdles. We discuss the reality of shooting in high-end establishments - from the stress of strict dress codes to dealing with "smothering" service that eats into your shooting time. We also have an honest conversation about a struggle many creatives face: how do you politely tell a venue coordinator to back off and let you do your job?
Also in this episode, we chat about the physical toll of wedding photography (what is "Photographer's Toe"?), the panic of surprise speeches for videographers, and a terrifying gear malfunction that saw a camera hit the floor in front of the guests. Plus, we catch up on life outside of weddings, including broken cars, table tennis coaching, and life as a driving instructor.
Grab a coffee and join the commune!
Key Topics & Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro: Where are the girls?
02:18 - The 9-hour travel nightmare and the £36 wine incident
05:25 - The Dress Code Debate: Suits vs. Trainers
07:59 - The reality of "Photographer's Toe" and physical comfort
12:14 - Videography stress: Dealing with surprise speeches
19:00 - The "Missing Groom Prep" panic
25:43 - Technical struggles: Banding issues in venue lighting
28:42 - When luxury service ruins your portrait time
31:00 - Learning to say "No" to pushy venue coordinators
44:05 - Pete’s car suspension disaster
47:50 - Gear Nightmare: Liam drops his camera (twice)
51:25 - Highs and Lows: Life as a driving instructor
57:00 - Pete becomes a qualified table tennis coach
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We start off sharing some stories from the end of the wedding season, including Jeff's travel nightmare of losing all his kit right before a huge destination wedding and how he was forced to adapt.
Then, we get into the heart of the festival. We share the vision behind creating an awards ceremony dedicated solely to celebrating the incredible craft within our industry. We discuss why we felt it was so important to have categories that recognise specific skills like sound design, storytelling, and cinematography, and how we hope it will inspire a new wave of creativity.
Thinking of entering? We cover all the crucial details: the surprisingly hefty trophies you could win, the incredible panel of judges (including a James Bond sound designer and a Netflix producer!), the submission process, and what makes a film stand out. Plus, we give you all the info on the awards night itself—a chance for us all to get glammed up, connect, and feel inspired at the Manchester Art Gallery.
This is more than just an awards show; it's a celebration of our community and the art we create. Whether you're considering submitting a film or just want to join the party, this episode has all the inspiration and information you need.
Timestamps
00:00 - Intro & Welcome to the BWFF Team
00:55 - Catching Up: How Was the End of the Season?
01:03 - Jeff's Destination Wedding Nightmare: The Airline Lost All My Gear!
04:50 - The Creative Benefit of Being Forced to Adapt
08:31 - Joce's Adventure with an Anamorphic Lens in Morocco
11:23 - Introducing the British Wedding Film Festival
11:51 - The Reason We Started These Awards
13:10 - Celebrating Individual Skills
14:30 - Using the Awards as a Creative Motivator for the Season
16:17 - It’s Scary Entering Awards
17:45 - Let's Talk About the Trophies
18:21 - The Incredible Judging Panel
22:05 - How the Judging Process Will Work
23:20 - The Awards Night
24:25 - The Venue
25:04 - Submission Deadline: 1st December!
26:07 - The Categories & Submission Rules
28:14 - Best Cinematography & Best Sound Design
32:02 - Best Storytelling
32:31 - Best Cinematic Language: Using Match Cuts & Parallel Action
36:55 - Best Use of Music & Best Colour Grading
38:39 - Best Elopement: Telling a Story with Just Two People
39:36 - Film Length & Password Protection
44:41 - Jeff's Story: The OG of Cinematic Wedding Films
46:57 - Jeff's Thoughts on Shooting with Phones
52:39 - Joce's Story: From iPhone Clips to Full-Time Pro in 2 Years
58:46 - Highs & Lows of the Week
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Pete & Laura
Joce Boissin
https://www.lunedemielstudio.com/
Jeff Wood
https://www.jeffwoodvisuals.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We start off sharing some stories from the end of the wedding season, including Jeff's travel nightmare of losing all his kit right before a huge destination wedding and how he was forced to adapt.
Then, we get into the heart of the festival. We share the vision behind creating an awards ceremony dedicated solely to celebrating the incredible craft within our industry. We discuss why we felt it was so important to have categories that recognise specific skills like sound design, storytelling, and cinematography, and how we hope it will inspire a new wave of creativity.
Thinking of entering? We cover all the crucial details: the surprisingly hefty trophies you could win, the incredible panel of judges (including a James Bond sound designer and a Netflix producer!), the submission process, and what makes a film stand out. Plus, we give you all the info on the awards night itself—a chance for us all to get glammed up, connect, and feel inspired at the Manchester Art Gallery.
This is more than just an awards show; it's a celebration of our community and the art we create. Whether you're considering submitting a film or just want to join the party, this episode has all the inspiration and information you need.
Timestamps
00:00 - Intro & Welcome to the BWFF Team
00:55 - Catching Up: How Was the End of the Season?
01:03 - Jeff's Destination Wedding Nightmare: The Airline Lost All My Gear!
04:50 - The Creative Benefit of Being Forced to Adapt
08:31 - Joce's Adventure with an Anamorphic Lens in Morocco
11:23 - Introducing the British Wedding Film Festival
11:51 - The Reason We Started These Awards
13:10 - Celebrating Individual Skills
14:30 - Using the Awards as a Creative Motivator for the Season
16:17 - It’s Scary Entering Awards
17:45 - Let's Talk About the Trophies
18:21 - The Incredible Judging Panel
22:05 - How the Judging Process Will Work
23:20 - The Awards Night
24:25 - The Venue
25:04 - Submission Deadline: 1st December!
26:07 - The Categories & Submission Rules
28:14 - Best Cinematography & Best Sound Design
32:02 - Best Storytelling
32:31 - Best Cinematic Language: Using Match Cuts & Parallel Action
36:55 - Best Use of Music & Best Colour Grading
38:39 - Best Elopement: Telling a Story with Just Two People
39:36 - Film Length & Password Protection
44:41 - Jeff's Story: The OG of Cinematic Wedding Films
46:57 - Jeff's Thoughts on Shooting with Phones
52:39 - Joce's Story: From iPhone Clips to Full-Time Pro in 2 Years
58:46 - Highs & Lows of the Week
The British Wedding Film Festival
https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
Pete & Laura
Joce Boissin
https://www.lunedemielstudio.com/
Jeff Wood
https://www.jeffwoodvisuals.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We also get real about the struggles of social media after taking a week off Instagram punished our reach, sparking a conversation about whether the perfect grid still matters or if it's time to get more personal.
Alongside the business chat, we catch you up on our latest adventures, from shooting a wedding at the iconic Traitors castle (and revealing its secrets!) to road-tripping to Scotland and enjoying a half-term break on the beautiful Yorkshire coast. Join us for a candid chat about work, life, and the creative challenges we all face.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro & a chaotic start
01:03 - The joy of singing alone in the car
02:40 - Liam's wedding at Guardswell Farm in Scotland
05:45 - The secrets of shooting at the Traitors Castle
09:28 - Working with fellow photographer Ash Springle
10:55 - Remembering industry legends Ed Peers & Ross Harvey
13:04 - Half-term adventures, portrait shoots, and comparing forests
14:58 - An update on the team's upcoming film festival
18:20 - Making work trips into mini-holidays
20:18 - The pressures of a busy schedule and life admin
22:36 - A relaxing week on the North Yorkshire Coast and discovering Haworth
25:08 - The Instagram struggle: The punishment for taking a week off
26:49 - Does your feed need to show your face?
29:15 - Dealing with internet trolls and negative comments
32:57 - Hot Topic: Are photographers delivering too many images?
45:38 - Highs and Lows of the Week
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We also get real about the struggles of social media after taking a week off Instagram punished our reach, sparking a conversation about whether the perfect grid still matters or if it's time to get more personal.
Alongside the business chat, we catch you up on our latest adventures, from shooting a wedding at the iconic Traitors castle (and revealing its secrets!) to road-tripping to Scotland and enjoying a half-term break on the beautiful Yorkshire coast. Join us for a candid chat about work, life, and the creative challenges we all face.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro & a chaotic start
01:03 - The joy of singing alone in the car
02:40 - Liam's wedding at Guardswell Farm in Scotland
05:45 - The secrets of shooting at the Traitors Castle
09:28 - Working with fellow photographer Ash Springle
10:55 - Remembering industry legends Ed Peers & Ross Harvey
13:04 - Half-term adventures, portrait shoots, and comparing forests
14:58 - An update on the team's upcoming film festival
18:20 - Making work trips into mini-holidays
20:18 - The pressures of a busy schedule and life admin
22:36 - A relaxing week on the North Yorkshire Coast and discovering Haworth
25:08 - The Instagram struggle: The punishment for taking a week off
26:49 - Does your feed need to show your face?
29:15 - Dealing with internet trolls and negative comments
32:57 - Hot Topic: Are photographers delivering too many images?
45:38 - Highs and Lows of the Week
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week, Pete & Laura are recovering from the social hangover of the CODA conference and so we’re diving deep into the anxieties of networking as an introvert. We discuss the pressure to be "on" all the time, navigating imposter syndrome, and that cringe-worthy moment when you're introduced to one of the cool kids as the "King and Queen" of the UK market.
But it wasn't all anxiety at CODA. We were also massively inspired by many incredible stories. Plus the powerful 'smoke and mirrors' marketing strategy - the art of curating your portfolio to get the weddings you most want to shoot.
We debate a hot topic online: is flash photography becoming a nuisance at weddings? And we share a few thoughts on photographers getting a little too close for comfort during the ceremony.
Join us for these, and many other topics, as we chat about the last couple of weeks over a coffee.
Timestamps:
02:34 The social hangover from Coda Conference
04:21 Navigating events as an introvert: Are we 'cliquey'?
08:33 The pressure of being 'known' and imposter syndrome
10:28 Our key takeaway: The power of ambient audio
14:50 From Prison to a Creative Empire: The Fire & Ice Story
18:39 'Smoke and mirrors' marketing & defining our ideal client
22:27 Catching up: A pagan hand-fasting & a wedding at The Traitors castle
25:16 Is flash photography annoying for wedding guests?
34:15 When photographers get too close during the ceremony
41:37 Highs & Lows: Coda, family meals, and feeling overwhelmed
51:23 Rediscovering creativity by organising 15 years of photos
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week, Pete & Laura are recovering from the social hangover of the CODA conference and so we’re diving deep into the anxieties of networking as an introvert. We discuss the pressure to be "on" all the time, navigating imposter syndrome, and that cringe-worthy moment when you're introduced to one of the cool kids as the "King and Queen" of the UK market.
But it wasn't all anxiety at CODA. We were also massively inspired by many incredible stories. Plus the powerful 'smoke and mirrors' marketing strategy - the art of curating your portfolio to get the weddings you most want to shoot.
We debate a hot topic online: is flash photography becoming a nuisance at weddings? And we share a few thoughts on photographers getting a little too close for comfort during the ceremony.
Join us for these, and many other topics, as we chat about the last couple of weeks over a coffee.
Timestamps:
02:34 The social hangover from Coda Conference
04:21 Navigating events as an introvert: Are we 'cliquey'?
08:33 The pressure of being 'known' and imposter syndrome
10:28 Our key takeaway: The power of ambient audio
14:50 From Prison to a Creative Empire: The Fire & Ice Story
18:39 'Smoke and mirrors' marketing & defining our ideal client
22:27 Catching up: A pagan hand-fasting & a wedding at The Traitors castle
25:16 Is flash photography annoying for wedding guests?
34:15 When photographers get too close during the ceremony
41:37 Highs & Lows: Coda, family meals, and feeling overwhelmed
51:23 Rediscovering creativity by organising 15 years of photos
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This leads us into a passionate discussion about the current state of the wedding photography industry. Are we seeing a decline in the traditional craft of photography? We delve into the rise of the "snapshotty" and "editorial" styles, the importance of understanding good light, and whether the focus has shifted from capturing genuine moments to creating content for Instagram.
Plus, Liam gives us an update on his new life as a driving instructor, Pete shares his insights from the world of Reddit on what couples are really looking for, and we chat about the highs and lows of our week, from technical triumphs to creepy crawly encounters. Join us for a candid conversation about creativity, business, and the ever-evolving world of wedding photography.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro & Catching Up
02:13 Recapping Adam & Jade’s Stormy Welsh Wedding
07:36 Working With the Incredibly Talented Damian Brandon
12:38 Main Topic: Is the Art of Wedding Photography Being Lost?
14:51 The Death of Good Light: Why Are Photographers Ignoring the Basics?
20:12 Does Technical Quality Even Matter Anymore?
27:43 What Do Couples Actually Want? (Insights from Reddit)
30:43 The Changing Internet: SEO, Google, and Finding Clients Now
33:56 Liam's New Venture as a Driving Instructor
38:56 Building a New Website & The Logo Debate
42:12 Blogging vs. Full Galleries: What Should You Send to Clients?
45:32 The "Be Everywhere" Strategy for Modern Marketing
46:45 Highs & Lows of the Week (Including Hard Drive Sleeping Bags & Spiders!)
57:39 What's Coming Up Next?
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This leads us into a passionate discussion about the current state of the wedding photography industry. Are we seeing a decline in the traditional craft of photography? We delve into the rise of the "snapshotty" and "editorial" styles, the importance of understanding good light, and whether the focus has shifted from capturing genuine moments to creating content for Instagram.
Plus, Liam gives us an update on his new life as a driving instructor, Pete shares his insights from the world of Reddit on what couples are really looking for, and we chat about the highs and lows of our week, from technical triumphs to creepy crawly encounters. Join us for a candid conversation about creativity, business, and the ever-evolving world of wedding photography.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro & Catching Up
02:13 Recapping Adam & Jade’s Stormy Welsh Wedding
07:36 Working With the Incredibly Talented Damian Brandon
12:38 Main Topic: Is the Art of Wedding Photography Being Lost?
14:51 The Death of Good Light: Why Are Photographers Ignoring the Basics?
20:12 Does Technical Quality Even Matter Anymore?
27:43 What Do Couples Actually Want? (Insights from Reddit)
30:43 The Changing Internet: SEO, Google, and Finding Clients Now
33:56 Liam's New Venture as a Driving Instructor
38:56 Building a New Website & The Logo Debate
42:12 Blogging vs. Full Galleries: What Should You Send to Clients?
45:32 The "Be Everywhere" Strategy for Modern Marketing
46:45 Highs & Lows of the Week (Including Hard Drive Sleeping Bags & Spiders!)
57:39 What's Coming Up Next?
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We also dive into what we've been up to on the road, including Liam shooting a stunning wedding in Ostuni, Italy, and Pete's "life-changing" experience hiring a second shooter for the first time at a wedding in Anglesey. Plus, hear how Laura and Pete got inspired by music videos and started experimenting with flash-style, direct lighting for video and a 4:3 aspect ratio to create a raw, editorial feel.
Join us for an open conversation about navigating the ever-changing creative landscape, a surprisingly detailed chat about the limitations of expanding foam, and our usual highs and lows of the week—including one of us starting a brand new career!
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Welcome & Morning People vs. Night Owls
03:49 What We've Been Up To
03:53 Liam’s Shoots: London, Tunbridge Wells & A Wedding in Italy
05:29 Pete's "Life-Changing" Anglesey Wedding with a Second Shooter
08:21 Laura & Pete's Dorset Wedding & Manchester Shoots
08:57 Creative Development: Experimenting with Direct Lighting & 4:3 Ratio
17:24 DIY Chat: The Surprising Limits of Expanding Foam
18:21 Main Topic: The Great Content Creator Debate
19:32 Are Suppliers a Bigger Problem Than Couples?
22:29 The "Your Wedding is Not Content" Movement
30:25 How Videographers Can Adapt to the Trend
39:06 Final Thoughts on the Future
46:08 Highs and Lows of the Week
50:32 Liam's Big News: A Career Change
Get 30% off Lawson Film School (until October 2025) with code: BACKTOSCHOOL
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We also dive into what we've been up to on the road, including Liam shooting a stunning wedding in Ostuni, Italy, and Pete's "life-changing" experience hiring a second shooter for the first time at a wedding in Anglesey. Plus, hear how Laura and Pete got inspired by music videos and started experimenting with flash-style, direct lighting for video and a 4:3 aspect ratio to create a raw, editorial feel.
Join us for an open conversation about navigating the ever-changing creative landscape, a surprisingly detailed chat about the limitations of expanding foam, and our usual highs and lows of the week—including one of us starting a brand new career!
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Welcome & Morning People vs. Night Owls
03:49 What We've Been Up To
03:53 Liam’s Shoots: London, Tunbridge Wells & A Wedding in Italy
05:29 Pete's "Life-Changing" Anglesey Wedding with a Second Shooter
08:21 Laura & Pete's Dorset Wedding & Manchester Shoots
08:57 Creative Development: Experimenting with Direct Lighting & 4:3 Ratio
17:24 DIY Chat: The Surprising Limits of Expanding Foam
18:21 Main Topic: The Great Content Creator Debate
19:32 Are Suppliers a Bigger Problem Than Couples?
22:29 The "Your Wedding is Not Content" Movement
30:25 How Videographers Can Adapt to the Trend
39:06 Final Thoughts on the Future
46:08 Highs and Lows of the Week
50:32 Liam's Big News: A Career Change
Get 30% off Lawson Film School (until October 2025) with code: BACKTOSCHOOL
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>The team also dives into the great dishwasher debate (are your precious mugs and knives safe?), discusses the pros and cons of the new Canon C50 video camera, and shares their thoughts on recent industry shake-ups. Plus, they explore the unspoken rules of working with other suppliers and share personal highs and lows, featuring everything from a hit-and-run and a ghost named Jim to the joys of booking a wedding in Montenegro.
00:36 - Wedding season fatigue & back-to-school chaos.
02:23 - Liam's story: Photographing an elopement in a disused underground oil tank in Scotland.
10:28 - Pete & Laura's "painless" wedding shoot in Scotland.
13:31 - Shooting a wedding for a fellow photographer.
14:42 - The great debate: Should you put precious mugs and knives in the dishwasher?
18:00 - Liam's story: A vow renewal in Iceland and the challenges of shooting in tourist hotspots.
23:39 - Discussion on managing expectations at popular photo locations.
26:47 - Industry News: The new Canon C50 video camera.
30:44 - Industry News: The Easy-Flix gallery migration controversy.
34:36 - The pros and cons of culling software like Narrative and Photo Mechanic.
40:13 - How to handle working with difficult or rude suppliers on a wedding day.
46:52 - Liam's travel drama: Getting locked in a car park and a hit-and-run.
51:31 - Highs and Lows of the Week.
Get 30% off Lawson Film School (until October 2025) with code: BACKTOSCHOOL
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>The team also dives into the great dishwasher debate (are your precious mugs and knives safe?), discusses the pros and cons of the new Canon C50 video camera, and shares their thoughts on recent industry shake-ups. Plus, they explore the unspoken rules of working with other suppliers and share personal highs and lows, featuring everything from a hit-and-run and a ghost named Jim to the joys of booking a wedding in Montenegro.
00:36 - Wedding season fatigue & back-to-school chaos.
02:23 - Liam's story: Photographing an elopement in a disused underground oil tank in Scotland.
10:28 - Pete & Laura's "painless" wedding shoot in Scotland.
13:31 - Shooting a wedding for a fellow photographer.
14:42 - The great debate: Should you put precious mugs and knives in the dishwasher?
18:00 - Liam's story: A vow renewal in Iceland and the challenges of shooting in tourist hotspots.
23:39 - Discussion on managing expectations at popular photo locations.
26:47 - Industry News: The new Canon C50 video camera.
30:44 - Industry News: The Easy-Flix gallery migration controversy.
34:36 - The pros and cons of culling software like Narrative and Photo Mechanic.
40:13 - How to handle working with difficult or rude suppliers on a wedding day.
46:52 - Liam's travel drama: Getting locked in a car park and a hit-and-run.
51:31 - Highs and Lows of the Week.
Get 30% off Lawson Film School (until October 2025) with code: BACKTOSCHOOL
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam kicks things off with tales from a three-day wedding in Spain, complete with tuxedos in the ocean, an aggressive jellyfish, a competitive bucking bronco incident, and an unexpected visit from the local police. Meanwhile, Pete shares his less-than-glamorous story of surviving "Vomitus Maximus" after a beautiful wedding in the Scottish Highlands.
This leads to a candid discussion on the biggest challenges facing wedding creatives today: Is the rise of "editorial" photography making it harder to capture authentic moments? And why are clients increasingly choosing phone-based content creators over traditional videographers?
Finally, we get real about the big one: burnout. Deep in the thick of wedding season, we share our personal struggles and tangible advice on how to manage the pressure, rediscover your creative spark, and find the joy in your work again when you feel like you have nothing left to give. If you're feeling the strain, this is the chat you need to hear.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro & Catching Up
01:09 - Why We've Stopped Filming the Podcast
02:28 - Liam's Wild 3-Day Wedding in Spain (Tuxedos in the Sea, Jellyfish & a Bucking Bronco)
07:50 - Liam's Drone Incident & a Visit from the Police
09:37 - Pete & Laura's Scottish Wedding Adventure
11:19 - Pete's Unfortunate Bout of "Vomitus Maximus" (Food Poisoning)
14:37 - Getting Soaked by a Champagne Spray
15:44 - The Big Discussion: Is the "Editorial" Photography Trend Killing the Vibe?
24:13 - The Rise of Content Creators vs. Traditional Videographers
27:20 - Main Topic: How to Beat Creative Burnout This Wedding Season
28:02 - Laura's Secret to Avoiding Burnout: Getting Ahead
34:05 - Letting Go of Perfectionism & The 80/20 Rule
39:24 - The Real Reason We Get Anxious Before a Wedding
46:18 - Our Top Tips for Burnout: Nature, Hobbies & Asking for Help
52:36 - Sparking Joy: Trying New Lenses & Techniques
57:47 - Highs and Lows of the Week
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam kicks things off with tales from a three-day wedding in Spain, complete with tuxedos in the ocean, an aggressive jellyfish, a competitive bucking bronco incident, and an unexpected visit from the local police. Meanwhile, Pete shares his less-than-glamorous story of surviving "Vomitus Maximus" after a beautiful wedding in the Scottish Highlands.
This leads to a candid discussion on the biggest challenges facing wedding creatives today: Is the rise of "editorial" photography making it harder to capture authentic moments? And why are clients increasingly choosing phone-based content creators over traditional videographers?
Finally, we get real about the big one: burnout. Deep in the thick of wedding season, we share our personal struggles and tangible advice on how to manage the pressure, rediscover your creative spark, and find the joy in your work again when you feel like you have nothing left to give. If you're feeling the strain, this is the chat you need to hear.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro & Catching Up
01:09 - Why We've Stopped Filming the Podcast
02:28 - Liam's Wild 3-Day Wedding in Spain (Tuxedos in the Sea, Jellyfish & a Bucking Bronco)
07:50 - Liam's Drone Incident & a Visit from the Police
09:37 - Pete & Laura's Scottish Wedding Adventure
11:19 - Pete's Unfortunate Bout of "Vomitus Maximus" (Food Poisoning)
14:37 - Getting Soaked by a Champagne Spray
15:44 - The Big Discussion: Is the "Editorial" Photography Trend Killing the Vibe?
24:13 - The Rise of Content Creators vs. Traditional Videographers
27:20 - Main Topic: How to Beat Creative Burnout This Wedding Season
28:02 - Laura's Secret to Avoiding Burnout: Getting Ahead
34:05 - Letting Go of Perfectionism & The 80/20 Rule
39:24 - The Real Reason We Get Anxious Before a Wedding
46:18 - Our Top Tips for Burnout: Nature, Hobbies & Asking for Help
52:36 - Sparking Joy: Trying New Lenses & Techniques
57:47 - Highs and Lows of the Week
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In this episode, we chat about our recent travels, from a stunning but stormy cruise through the Norwegian fjords to an epic 14-hour drive to the Isle of Skye for a single elopement. We then dive into some all-too-relatable industry frustrations, including the awkward dance of dealing with difficult wedding bands and a deep dive into the dos, don'ts, and disasters of hiring second shooters.
The conversation then takes a serious and personal turn as Liam shares the full, cautionary story of being scammed out of £4,500 by a fake marketing "expert." It’s an open and honest account of how easily it can happen and the emotional toll it takes, serving as a must-listen for any freelancer or small business owner. We wrap it all up by sharing the simple joys that have made our trip unforgettable, from barbecues to a magical night watching shooting stars.
00:00 - Intro
00:31 - A Postcard from a Field: The Feral Camping Holiday Begins
03:32 - The Pre-Holiday Work Grind
05:02 - Cruising and Seasickness in Norway
07:52 - A 14-Hour Drive for a 3-Hour Elopement
11:03 - The Importance of Taking a Break in Peak Season
12:55 - Industry Rant: When Wedding Bands Are "Cheeky F*cks"
18:23 - Industry Deep Dive: The Woes of a Bad Second Shooter
28:26 - The Full Story of a £4,500 Scam
43:50 - Highs & Lows of the Week
49:26 - Outro: Time for a Barbecue
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In this episode, we chat about our recent travels, from a stunning but stormy cruise through the Norwegian fjords to an epic 14-hour drive to the Isle of Skye for a single elopement. We then dive into some all-too-relatable industry frustrations, including the awkward dance of dealing with difficult wedding bands and a deep dive into the dos, don'ts, and disasters of hiring second shooters.
The conversation then takes a serious and personal turn as Liam shares the full, cautionary story of being scammed out of £4,500 by a fake marketing "expert." It’s an open and honest account of how easily it can happen and the emotional toll it takes, serving as a must-listen for any freelancer or small business owner. We wrap it all up by sharing the simple joys that have made our trip unforgettable, from barbecues to a magical night watching shooting stars.
00:00 - Intro
00:31 - A Postcard from a Field: The Feral Camping Holiday Begins
03:32 - The Pre-Holiday Work Grind
05:02 - Cruising and Seasickness in Norway
07:52 - A 14-Hour Drive for a 3-Hour Elopement
11:03 - The Importance of Taking a Break in Peak Season
12:55 - Industry Rant: When Wedding Bands Are "Cheeky F*cks"
18:23 - Industry Deep Dive: The Woes of a Bad Second Shooter
28:26 - The Full Story of a £4,500 Scam
43:50 - Highs & Lows of the Week
49:26 - Outro: Time for a Barbecue
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Join Pete, Laura, Liam, and Bee for a debrief on the delightful chaos of being a wedding creative. We recount our most stressful travel nightmares—from car breakdowns in rural France to nearly missing ceremonies by minutes. We also share stories from our latest weddings, including one on a boat and another where we experimented with a "video-first, photos-second" approach.
What's going on in the wedding industry this week? Wer deep dive into the recent drama surrounding a planner's critique of film photography. Is it an overpriced, "deranged" trend, or a beautiful art form? We break down the controversy, discuss the power of creative freedom, and explore why you should always "shoot what you want."
Plus, we share our highs and lows, featuring wholesome jam-making, a last-minute elopement to Skye, and a serious warning about an online scam that cost one of us thousands. Tune in for a packed episode full of laughs, rants, and a few hard-won lessons.
Timestamps:
00:35 The reality of post-wedding burnout.
03:45 Our most bonkers wedding travel stories (breakdowns in France, marathon drives across Europe).
08:50 The stress of nearly missing a wedding.
13:26 What we've been shooting: A pub, a boat, and a "no-photos" wedding.
24:04 THE BIG DEBATE: Is film photography an overpriced, "deranged" trend?
31:32 Our take: Why you should shoot what you want and embrace creative freedom.
38:51 Highs & Lows: Wholesome moments, elopements, and getting scammed out of £4,500.
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Join Pete, Laura, Liam, and Bee for a debrief on the delightful chaos of being a wedding creative. We recount our most stressful travel nightmares—from car breakdowns in rural France to nearly missing ceremonies by minutes. We also share stories from our latest weddings, including one on a boat and another where we experimented with a "video-first, photos-second" approach.
What's going on in the wedding industry this week? Wer deep dive into the recent drama surrounding a planner's critique of film photography. Is it an overpriced, "deranged" trend, or a beautiful art form? We break down the controversy, discuss the power of creative freedom, and explore why you should always "shoot what you want."
Plus, we share our highs and lows, featuring wholesome jam-making, a last-minute elopement to Skye, and a serious warning about an online scam that cost one of us thousands. Tune in for a packed episode full of laughs, rants, and a few hard-won lessons.
Timestamps:
00:35 The reality of post-wedding burnout.
03:45 Our most bonkers wedding travel stories (breakdowns in France, marathon drives across Europe).
08:50 The stress of nearly missing a wedding.
13:26 What we've been shooting: A pub, a boat, and a "no-photos" wedding.
24:04 THE BIG DEBATE: Is film photography an overpriced, "deranged" trend?
31:32 Our take: Why you should shoot what you want and embrace creative freedom.
38:51 Highs & Lows: Wholesome moments, elopements, and getting scammed out of £4,500.
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the intense mental and physical toll of being a wedding creative.
We dive deep into the chaos of a 500-guest, multi-day wedding and the logistical nightmare of shooting solo in a massive venue. It's a candid chat about the pre-wedding anxiety, the pressure we put on ourselves to constantly do more, and the art of "crying on the inside like a winner" while keeping a smile on for our clients.
We also explore:
If you’ve ever felt the burnout creeping in, this one’s for you.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Timestamps:
(00:44) - The Chaos of a 500-Guest Wedding
(04:55) - The Nightmare Logistics of a Huge Wedding Venue
(07:10) - "Crying on the Inside": The Real Mental Load of a Wedding Creative
(12:02) - Is Our Pre-Wedding Anxiety Getting Worse Over Time?
(13:51) - Photographer vs. Videographer: Who's In Charge on the Day?
(18.00) - Are We Asking too much of Ourselves?
(22:12) - A Rainy 8-Hour Elopement Shoot in Edinburgh
(26:45) - The "North-South Divide": Why is the Scottish Wedding Market Booming?
(31:12) - Weird Scottish Laws, Side Hustles & a Drone Business Reality Check
(38:39) - Our Highs & Lows of the Week
From navigating 100+ group shots to flying drones through fireworks at 11 pm, we share the stories that don't make it to the wedding album. If you're a creative feeling the strain, let us know your experiences in the comments below!
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #burnout #creativebusiness #photographytips
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the intense mental and physical toll of being a wedding creative.
We dive deep into the chaos of a 500-guest, multi-day wedding and the logistical nightmare of shooting solo in a massive venue. It's a candid chat about the pre-wedding anxiety, the pressure we put on ourselves to constantly do more, and the art of "crying on the inside like a winner" while keeping a smile on for our clients.
We also explore:
If you’ve ever felt the burnout creeping in, this one’s for you.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Timestamps:
(00:44) - The Chaos of a 500-Guest Wedding
(04:55) - The Nightmare Logistics of a Huge Wedding Venue
(07:10) - "Crying on the Inside": The Real Mental Load of a Wedding Creative
(12:02) - Is Our Pre-Wedding Anxiety Getting Worse Over Time?
(13:51) - Photographer vs. Videographer: Who's In Charge on the Day?
(18.00) - Are We Asking too much of Ourselves?
(22:12) - A Rainy 8-Hour Elopement Shoot in Edinburgh
(26:45) - The "North-South Divide": Why is the Scottish Wedding Market Booming?
(31:12) - Weird Scottish Laws, Side Hustles & a Drone Business Reality Check
(38:39) - Our Highs & Lows of the Week
From navigating 100+ group shots to flying drones through fireworks at 11 pm, we share the stories that don't make it to the wedding album. If you're a creative feeling the strain, let us know your experiences in the comments below!
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #burnout #creativebusiness #photographytips
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Then, we get into a huge industry debate: hybrid shooting. With so many photographers now offering video, we discuss the pros and cons, and the dilemma it creates for dedicated videographers who rely on photographer referrals. Is the industry in a price war, and who will pull the trigger first?
We also touch on the rise of wedding content creators, the truth about film photography, and a global survey that reveals just how much (or how little) photographers are charging in 2025.
Join Pete, Laura, Liam, and Bee for an episode packed with travel stories, industry insights, and our usual weekly highs and lows!
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro & Why Is Everyone So Tired?
03:58 - Where Has Liam Been? A Whirlwind Month Begins
05:19 - Wedding Story: Driving Down a Flight of Stairs in Spain
07:46 - The Travel Nightmare: From Spain to Austria via the Autobahn
09:12 - Wedding Story: Lederhosen & Beer Kegs in the Austrian Alps
10:50 - Technical Woes: When Your Cameras Overheat
13:23 - The New Side Hustle: Training to be a Driving Instructor
24:49 - Industry Talk: The Rise of Wedding Content Creators
29:10 - The Future of Filmmaking? (Stormzy Film & The "28 Days Later" Sequel)
33:35 - Is Hybrid Shooting the Future? The Big Debate
39:11 - The Photographer vs. Videographer Dilemma
42:40 - Is Film Photography Just a Gimmick?
45:15 - Why Are Wedding Photography Prices So Low in the UK?
56:00 - The Realities of Pricing and "Charging Your Worth"
1:06:00 - Highs and Lows of the Week
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #creativepodcast #hybridshooting #weddingindustry #photographybusinesscoach
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Then, we get into a huge industry debate: hybrid shooting. With so many photographers now offering video, we discuss the pros and cons, and the dilemma it creates for dedicated videographers who rely on photographer referrals. Is the industry in a price war, and who will pull the trigger first?
We also touch on the rise of wedding content creators, the truth about film photography, and a global survey that reveals just how much (or how little) photographers are charging in 2025.
Join Pete, Laura, Liam, and Bee for an episode packed with travel stories, industry insights, and our usual weekly highs and lows!
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro & Why Is Everyone So Tired?
03:58 - Where Has Liam Been? A Whirlwind Month Begins
05:19 - Wedding Story: Driving Down a Flight of Stairs in Spain
07:46 - The Travel Nightmare: From Spain to Austria via the Autobahn
09:12 - Wedding Story: Lederhosen & Beer Kegs in the Austrian Alps
10:50 - Technical Woes: When Your Cameras Overheat
13:23 - The New Side Hustle: Training to be a Driving Instructor
24:49 - Industry Talk: The Rise of Wedding Content Creators
29:10 - The Future of Filmmaking? (Stormzy Film & The "28 Days Later" Sequel)
33:35 - Is Hybrid Shooting the Future? The Big Debate
39:11 - The Photographer vs. Videographer Dilemma
42:40 - Is Film Photography Just a Gimmick?
45:15 - Why Are Wedding Photography Prices So Low in the UK?
56:00 - The Realities of Pricing and "Charging Your Worth"
1:06:00 - Highs and Lows of the Week
#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #creativepodcast #hybridshooting #weddingindustry #photographybusinesscoach
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>From his one-camera setup and "PVP" method, to his post-production process and business strategy, Lewis shares the secrets that have allowed him to offer photo and video packages to his couples. If you want to hear how to add an extra video service to your photography business, this is absolutely for you - or if you’re just curious about how it's possible like we were.
We also catch up on what we’ve been up to these past couple of weeks. Bee casually shares a story about a near-death experience involving a bathroom cabinet! New fear unlocked.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Lewis Fackrell's Website & Course: https://www.lewisfackrell.co.uk
Lewis's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lewis_fackrell_photography/
IN THIS EPISODE:
00:00 - Welcome & The Most Hectic Travel Schedule Ever
06:05 - Pete's Impromptu Hybrid Shooting Experience in Italy
13:05 - Introducing Our Guest: Lewis Fackrell
14:24 - How Lewis Balances a Full Calendar with a Young Family
23:10 - The "Why": What Made Lewis Start Hybrid Shooting?
26:30 - Lewis's Minimalist Gear Setup for Hybrid Work
29:49 - THE BIG QUESTION: How Do You Actually Shoot Hybrid?
31:05 - Handling "Pinch Points": The Reveal, Aisle Walk & Ceremony
41:30 - The First Kiss & The Confetti Shot: Photo or Video?
44:35 - Does the Quality of Photos or Video Get Compromised?
48:45 - The Ideal Number of Photos to Take at a Wedding
54:13 - The Post-Production Workflow for Photo & Video
1:01:42 - The Business of Hybrid: Pricing & Attracting Clients
1:05:36 - All About Lewis's Hybrid Photography Course
1:11:10 - Highs and Lows of the Week!
1:12:37 - Bee's Terrifying Near-Death Experience
1:17:52 - A Week of Wins & Booking a 2027 Wedding!
#weddingphotography #hybridshooter #weddingvideography #learnphotography #creativebusiness #podcast #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>From his one-camera setup and "PVP" method, to his post-production process and business strategy, Lewis shares the secrets that have allowed him to offer photo and video packages to his couples. If you want to hear how to add an extra video service to your photography business, this is absolutely for you - or if you’re just curious about how it's possible like we were.
We also catch up on what we’ve been up to these past couple of weeks. Bee casually shares a story about a near-death experience involving a bathroom cabinet! New fear unlocked.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Lewis Fackrell's Website & Course: https://www.lewisfackrell.co.uk
Lewis's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lewis_fackrell_photography/
IN THIS EPISODE:
00:00 - Welcome & The Most Hectic Travel Schedule Ever
06:05 - Pete's Impromptu Hybrid Shooting Experience in Italy
13:05 - Introducing Our Guest: Lewis Fackrell
14:24 - How Lewis Balances a Full Calendar with a Young Family
23:10 - The "Why": What Made Lewis Start Hybrid Shooting?
26:30 - Lewis's Minimalist Gear Setup for Hybrid Work
29:49 - THE BIG QUESTION: How Do You Actually Shoot Hybrid?
31:05 - Handling "Pinch Points": The Reveal, Aisle Walk & Ceremony
41:30 - The First Kiss & The Confetti Shot: Photo or Video?
44:35 - Does the Quality of Photos or Video Get Compromised?
48:45 - The Ideal Number of Photos to Take at a Wedding
54:13 - The Post-Production Workflow for Photo & Video
1:01:42 - The Business of Hybrid: Pricing & Attracting Clients
1:05:36 - All About Lewis's Hybrid Photography Course
1:11:10 - Highs and Lows of the Week!
1:12:37 - Bee's Terrifying Near-Death Experience
1:17:52 - A Week of Wins & Booking a 2027 Wedding!
#weddingphotography #hybridshooter #weddingvideography #learnphotography #creativebusiness #podcast #ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This leads to a huge announcement from Liam about a major career change after more than two decades in the industry.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
We also dive into:
If you're a wedding creative feeling the pressure, or just love a good, honest chat about the ups and downs of running a small business, this one's for you.
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Hungover Birthday Banter
04:14 - Our Recent Weddings: Oli Foxley's Tumble
07:31 - Destination Wedding Debrief: Pete in Lake Como
12:08 - Destination Wedding Debrief: Liam in Cyprus
20:37 - The Big Topic: Why Are Wedding Bookings Down?
25:14 - Liam's New Career
30:12 - Can AI Save Our Business?
36:37 - The Photographer Who Charged £300 For One Photo
49:50 - The Styled Shoot That Was a Real Wedding?!
57:46 - The Curse of Tripods: Photographers vs. Videographers
01:09:10 - Our Highs & Lows
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This leads to a huge announcement from Liam about a major career change after more than two decades in the industry.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
We also dive into:
If you're a wedding creative feeling the pressure, or just love a good, honest chat about the ups and downs of running a small business, this one's for you.
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Hungover Birthday Banter
04:14 - Our Recent Weddings: Oli Foxley's Tumble
07:31 - Destination Wedding Debrief: Pete in Lake Como
12:08 - Destination Wedding Debrief: Liam in Cyprus
20:37 - The Big Topic: Why Are Wedding Bookings Down?
25:14 - Liam's New Career
30:12 - Can AI Save Our Business?
36:37 - The Photographer Who Charged £300 For One Photo
49:50 - The Styled Shoot That Was a Real Wedding?!
57:46 - The Curse of Tripods: Photographers vs. Videographers
01:09:10 - Our Highs & Lows
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
We tackle the big debate: how are content creators impacting the wedding industry, and are they really taking work from pros? Plus, a crucial heads-up on the UK's "Making Tax Digital" changes that all freelancers need to know.
As always, we share our highs and lows, and issue an important alert about a "pervy caller" targeting photographers. Tune in for candid chat, essential industry insights, and a good few laughs!
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro & Makeshift Studio
02:01 Remembering Past Podcast Adventures Abroad
03:40 AI Feedback on Our Podcast (Spoiler: We're Keeping it Real)
05:20 What We've Been Up To: Wedding Recaps & Mishaps
05:26 Liam's "Tracy Island" Wedding & Food Poisoning Woes
09:02 Working While Sick: Styes, Vomit & The Show Must Go On!
15:01 Laura & Pete Shoot a Wedding Together (Photo & Video Dynamic)
17:52 TOPIC 1: Content Creators at Weddings - Impact & How to Cope
21:57 Strategy: Educating Clients or Communicating with Creators?
26:52 The "Educate Your Clients" Debate - Is It Our Place?
32:18 TOPIC 2: New UK/EU Travel Deal - Hope for Destination Weddings?
36:53 TOPIC 3: Making Tax Digital - Essential Info for Creatives
41:17 Our Dream (Unprofitable) Cafe Business Idea!
42:17 TOPIC 4: Gallery Delivery Times & Modern Client Expectations
46:03 The Power of the "Next Day" Social Media Preview
51:12 GEAR CHAT: New Fuji X-Half & DJI Mavic 4 Pro
53:33 COMMUNITY ALERT: "Pervy Caller" Targeting Photographers
55:30 Our Highs & Lows of the Week!
01:03:20 Outro & Upcoming Adventures
Keywords: Wedding Photography, Wedding Videography, Content Creators, Making Tax Digital, AI Feedback, Freelance Business, Podcast, UK Weddings, Working Whilst Ill, Pervy Caller Alert
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
We tackle the big debate: how are content creators impacting the wedding industry, and are they really taking work from pros? Plus, a crucial heads-up on the UK's "Making Tax Digital" changes that all freelancers need to know.
As always, we share our highs and lows, and issue an important alert about a "pervy caller" targeting photographers. Tune in for candid chat, essential industry insights, and a good few laughs!
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro & Makeshift Studio
02:01 Remembering Past Podcast Adventures Abroad
03:40 AI Feedback on Our Podcast (Spoiler: We're Keeping it Real)
05:20 What We've Been Up To: Wedding Recaps & Mishaps
05:26 Liam's "Tracy Island" Wedding & Food Poisoning Woes
09:02 Working While Sick: Styes, Vomit & The Show Must Go On!
15:01 Laura & Pete Shoot a Wedding Together (Photo & Video Dynamic)
17:52 TOPIC 1: Content Creators at Weddings - Impact & How to Cope
21:57 Strategy: Educating Clients or Communicating with Creators?
26:52 The "Educate Your Clients" Debate - Is It Our Place?
32:18 TOPIC 2: New UK/EU Travel Deal - Hope for Destination Weddings?
36:53 TOPIC 3: Making Tax Digital - Essential Info for Creatives
41:17 Our Dream (Unprofitable) Cafe Business Idea!
42:17 TOPIC 4: Gallery Delivery Times & Modern Client Expectations
46:03 The Power of the "Next Day" Social Media Preview
51:12 GEAR CHAT: New Fuji X-Half & DJI Mavic 4 Pro
53:33 COMMUNITY ALERT: "Pervy Caller" Targeting Photographers
55:30 Our Highs & Lows of the Week!
01:03:20 Outro & Upcoming Adventures
Keywords: Wedding Photography, Wedding Videography, Content Creators, Making Tax Digital, AI Feedback, Freelance Business, Podcast, UK Weddings, Working Whilst Ill, Pervy Caller Alert
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week, the pollen count is trying to take us OUT, Liam’s back from a surprisingly chilly Spanish wedding (his 21st there! Buckfast may have been mentioned), and snapping portraits of the lovely Martin Cheung. We swear everyone else has been doing some work too!
Things have gone a bit crazy – suddenly everyone wants to book us, pay us, and meet us! We’re navigating the 'OMG money!' vs ‘****, tax bill!' tightrope, and, of course, drooling over rumoured new cameras. Liam’s also attempting to bring back the 90s with film photography (spoiler: he forgot the film).
Then we get stuck into the proper meaty stuff: Is it cool for photographers to shoot a bit of video (or videographers to grab stills) when you're both on a job? What do you do when a supplier you recommended bails for a stag do THE NIGHT BEFORE?! And you absolutely HAVE to hear the story of the 'Scottish Retreat' – think Fyre Festival, but for photographers. Seriously, it’s a car crash.
As always, we’ve got our highs (awards night planning is looking lush!) and lows (Pete’s hay fever, Bee’s iron levels, Liam’s twitchy eye – it’s a medical marvel over here). Plus, we day-dream up our own hopefully-not-a-disaster creative retreat. So grab that coffee (or a Buckfast, no judgement) and join the commune!
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Hello & What's In Our Mugs?
00:32 - Hay Fever vs. Wedding Pros: The Struggle is Real
03:00 - Liam's Spanish Wedding No.21 (Minus the Sun, Plus the Buckfast)
06:25 - Liam Shoots Martin Cheung
07:02 - Are Shorter Weddings The New Thing?
09:00 - It's All Kicking Off! (Bookings, Cashflow & Mild Panic)
11:21 - New Gear Lust & Why Our Old Photos Are So "On Trend"
13:28 - Liam's Great Film Camera Experiment (Fail No.1)
15:35 - BTS Content: Phone Clamps, Meta Glasses, or Just Being a Dick?
18:09 - TOPIC: Hybrid Shooting - Are We All Secretly Filming/Snapping?
26:27 - Child Labour... Uh, I Mean, Content Creators in Training
28:31 - TOPIC: Recommending People - What If They Go On a Stag Do Instead?
37:10 - TOPIC: The Photography "Fyre Festival" - You Won't Believe This Scottish Retreat Story!
51:46 - Our Creative Commune Retreat? (Less Disaster, More Booze)
53:58 - Highs & Lows: Awards, Macerators, Table Tennis & Twitchy Eyes!
01:03:44 - More Highs & Lows: Running PBs, Posh Funerals & Dodgy Iron Levels
01:10:28 - Never Eat Only Haribo & Coffee. You've Been Warned.
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week, the pollen count is trying to take us OUT, Liam’s back from a surprisingly chilly Spanish wedding (his 21st there! Buckfast may have been mentioned), and snapping portraits of the lovely Martin Cheung. We swear everyone else has been doing some work too!
Things have gone a bit crazy – suddenly everyone wants to book us, pay us, and meet us! We’re navigating the 'OMG money!' vs ‘****, tax bill!' tightrope, and, of course, drooling over rumoured new cameras. Liam’s also attempting to bring back the 90s with film photography (spoiler: he forgot the film).
Then we get stuck into the proper meaty stuff: Is it cool for photographers to shoot a bit of video (or videographers to grab stills) when you're both on a job? What do you do when a supplier you recommended bails for a stag do THE NIGHT BEFORE?! And you absolutely HAVE to hear the story of the 'Scottish Retreat' – think Fyre Festival, but for photographers. Seriously, it’s a car crash.
As always, we’ve got our highs (awards night planning is looking lush!) and lows (Pete’s hay fever, Bee’s iron levels, Liam’s twitchy eye – it’s a medical marvel over here). Plus, we day-dream up our own hopefully-not-a-disaster creative retreat. So grab that coffee (or a Buckfast, no judgement) and join the commune!
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Hello & What's In Our Mugs?
00:32 - Hay Fever vs. Wedding Pros: The Struggle is Real
03:00 - Liam's Spanish Wedding No.21 (Minus the Sun, Plus the Buckfast)
06:25 - Liam Shoots Martin Cheung
07:02 - Are Shorter Weddings The New Thing?
09:00 - It's All Kicking Off! (Bookings, Cashflow & Mild Panic)
11:21 - New Gear Lust & Why Our Old Photos Are So "On Trend"
13:28 - Liam's Great Film Camera Experiment (Fail No.1)
15:35 - BTS Content: Phone Clamps, Meta Glasses, or Just Being a Dick?
18:09 - TOPIC: Hybrid Shooting - Are We All Secretly Filming/Snapping?
26:27 - Child Labour... Uh, I Mean, Content Creators in Training
28:31 - TOPIC: Recommending People - What If They Go On a Stag Do Instead?
37:10 - TOPIC: The Photography "Fyre Festival" - You Won't Believe This Scottish Retreat Story!
51:46 - Our Creative Commune Retreat? (Less Disaster, More Booze)
53:58 - Highs & Lows: Awards, Macerators, Table Tennis & Twitchy Eyes!
01:03:44 - More Highs & Lows: Running PBs, Posh Funerals & Dodgy Iron Levels
01:10:28 - Never Eat Only Haribo & Coffee. You've Been Warned.
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We contrast the analogue love with the rise of AI editing and culling tools – are they helpful or hindering authenticity? We also get real about the business side: handling unexpected cancellations, the ethics of contracts and refunds (including a tricky divorce scenario), and the changing landscape of referrals in industry groups. Hear about recent weddings in Scotland and the Lakes, dealing with tricky lighting, and our usual highs and lows. Grab a coffee and enjoy!
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Timestamps:
(0:00) Intro & DIY Madness: Liam's plumbing adventures, Pete & Laura's new carpet/desk saga.
(5:52) Wedding Season Begins!: Liam shoots a photographer's wedding in Scotland (The Byre at Inchyra), Pete films a local Lake District wedding. We chat portraits, marquees & avoiding downtime.
(17:23) Is 35mm Film Back?!: Exploring the trend, the appeal (nostalgia vs digital), the costs, the logistics, and whether we should offer it. Liam volunteers as tribute to try it in Spain!
(27:38) Camera Nerd Corner: Reminiscing about old film cameras (Contax 645, Mamiya) & finding undeveloped rolls!
(29:42) Film vs. AI: The contrast! Discussing AI culling fails and new AI retouching tools – helpful or harmful to authenticity?
(34:43) Business Real Talk: Handling a last-minute cancellation, contract ethics, deposit debates, and a tough scenario involving divorce & album refunds.
(46:09) Shooting Challenges: How would you handle a church ceremony lit entirely pink?!
(51:20) Referral Rant: Why are referrals drying up in big groups? The shift to WhatsApp cliques, and referral etiquette.
(59:58) Highs & Lows: Running obsessions, DIY triumphs, pre-wedding nerves, expensive flights & listener love!
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
We'd love it if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify – it really helps other creatives find us. You can also send us a message on Instagram with your thoughts on this week's topics.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We contrast the analogue love with the rise of AI editing and culling tools – are they helpful or hindering authenticity? We also get real about the business side: handling unexpected cancellations, the ethics of contracts and refunds (including a tricky divorce scenario), and the changing landscape of referrals in industry groups. Hear about recent weddings in Scotland and the Lakes, dealing with tricky lighting, and our usual highs and lows. Grab a coffee and enjoy!
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Timestamps:
(0:00) Intro & DIY Madness: Liam's plumbing adventures, Pete & Laura's new carpet/desk saga.
(5:52) Wedding Season Begins!: Liam shoots a photographer's wedding in Scotland (The Byre at Inchyra), Pete films a local Lake District wedding. We chat portraits, marquees & avoiding downtime.
(17:23) Is 35mm Film Back?!: Exploring the trend, the appeal (nostalgia vs digital), the costs, the logistics, and whether we should offer it. Liam volunteers as tribute to try it in Spain!
(27:38) Camera Nerd Corner: Reminiscing about old film cameras (Contax 645, Mamiya) & finding undeveloped rolls!
(29:42) Film vs. AI: The contrast! Discussing AI culling fails and new AI retouching tools – helpful or harmful to authenticity?
(34:43) Business Real Talk: Handling a last-minute cancellation, contract ethics, deposit debates, and a tough scenario involving divorce & album refunds.
(46:09) Shooting Challenges: How would you handle a church ceremony lit entirely pink?!
(51:20) Referral Rant: Why are referrals drying up in big groups? The shift to WhatsApp cliques, and referral etiquette.
(59:58) Highs & Lows: Running obsessions, DIY triumphs, pre-wedding nerves, expensive flights & listener love!
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
We'd love it if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify – it really helps other creatives find us. You can also send us a message on Instagram with your thoughts on this week's topics.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week, we’re re-introducing ourselves for new listeners before tackling the big issues: the frustrating rise of client ghosting and rejection, navigating the popular "editorial" photo trend (is it all it's cracked up to be?), and debating radical portfolio strategies to stand out.
We’re also sharing stories of demanding client inquiries, the tricky landscape of destination weddings post-Brexit, and indulge in some serious gear lust (hello, autofocus anamorphic lenses!). Plus, hear a little more about the British Wedding Film Festival awards launch, and catch up on our personal highs and lows, featuring fantasy book addictions, DIY disasters, and Hadrian's Wall adventures.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Keywords: Wedding Photography, Wedding Videography, Creative Business, Client Ghosting, Editorial Photography, Portfolio Strategy, Wedding Industry Trends, Destination Weddings, Canon R6, Anamorphic Lens, Fuji, Videography Awards, Small Business Challenges.
Timestamps:
* (01:46) Re-Introductions: Who are Pete, Laura, Liam & Bee?
* (08:34) Editing Styles: Shifting back to a lighter, airier look?
* (10:33) Portfolio Panic: Should we delete half our website to stand out?
* (11:52) The Ghosting Epidemic: Why are clients disappearing & how do we cope with rejection?
* (18:11) Editorial Wedding Trend: Debating the style and educating clients (Martha May article mention).
* (23:33) Finding Your Ideal Client: They still exist!
* (30:34) Gear Talk!: Anamorphic lens lust, RF primes, Canon R6 vs R6 MkII, Fuji dreams & Bee's unique photo project...
* (39:57) Nightmare Inquiries: Dealing with demanding clients and unreasonable requests.
* (47:24) Destination Wedding Dilemmas: Navigating the risks post-Brexit (especially Greece).
* (55:39) Industry News: Videography Summit buzz & Our NEW Videography Awards launch!
* (59:55) Highs & Lows: Hadrian's Wall hikes, fantasy book addictions, Peter Kay, DIY injuries, and more!
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
We'd love it if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify – it really helps other creatives find us. You can also send us a message on Instagram with your thoughts on this week's topics.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week, we’re re-introducing ourselves for new listeners before tackling the big issues: the frustrating rise of client ghosting and rejection, navigating the popular "editorial" photo trend (is it all it's cracked up to be?), and debating radical portfolio strategies to stand out.
We’re also sharing stories of demanding client inquiries, the tricky landscape of destination weddings post-Brexit, and indulge in some serious gear lust (hello, autofocus anamorphic lenses!). Plus, hear a little more about the British Wedding Film Festival awards launch, and catch up on our personal highs and lows, featuring fantasy book addictions, DIY disasters, and Hadrian's Wall adventures.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Keywords: Wedding Photography, Wedding Videography, Creative Business, Client Ghosting, Editorial Photography, Portfolio Strategy, Wedding Industry Trends, Destination Weddings, Canon R6, Anamorphic Lens, Fuji, Videography Awards, Small Business Challenges.
Timestamps:
* (01:46) Re-Introductions: Who are Pete, Laura, Liam & Bee?
* (08:34) Editing Styles: Shifting back to a lighter, airier look?
* (10:33) Portfolio Panic: Should we delete half our website to stand out?
* (11:52) The Ghosting Epidemic: Why are clients disappearing & how do we cope with rejection?
* (18:11) Editorial Wedding Trend: Debating the style and educating clients (Martha May article mention).
* (23:33) Finding Your Ideal Client: They still exist!
* (30:34) Gear Talk!: Anamorphic lens lust, RF primes, Canon R6 vs R6 MkII, Fuji dreams & Bee's unique photo project...
* (39:57) Nightmare Inquiries: Dealing with demanding clients and unreasonable requests.
* (47:24) Destination Wedding Dilemmas: Navigating the risks post-Brexit (especially Greece).
* (55:39) Industry News: Videography Summit buzz & Our NEW Videography Awards launch!
* (59:55) Highs & Lows: Hadrian's Wall hikes, fantasy book addictions, Peter Kay, DIY injuries, and more!
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
We'd love it if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify – it really helps other creatives find us. You can also send us a message on Instagram with your thoughts on this week's topics.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We also dive into takeaways from a recent videographer retreat:
Plus, we discuss that scary Italy visa story, get some clarity on using music legally on Instagram business accounts, and of course, share our personal highs and lows – featuring Bee's surprising AI astrocartography results, a wet legging incident, and Pete getting schooled by a kid at table tennis.
It's the usual mix of wedding industry chat, creative business insights, and friendly banter. Pull up a chair and join the commune!
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Keywords: Wedding Photography, Wedding Videography, Creative Business, AI, ChatGPT, TikTok, Social Media Marketing, Side Hustle, Property Photography, British Wedding Film Festival, Wedding Awards, UK Wedding Industry, Working Abroad, Instagram Music Rules.
Timestamps:
Liam's new property photography side hustle & the joys of re-learning Lightroom (03-15 - 08:32)
Takeaways from Roo Stain’s videographer retreat (08:34 - 11:25)
Using AI like ChatGPT for productivity (Arran Kenny's method) & Bee's astrocartography adventures (11:25 - 19:02)
The TikTok debate for wedding pros - is it essential? (19:03 - 26:55)
BIG NEWS: Launching the British Wedding Film Festival! (27:45 - 39:57)
Concerns and discussion around working abroad (Italy/US visa stories) (39:57 - 44:31)
Clarification on using music on Instagram Business accounts (Meta Sound Collection) (45:22 - 47:13)
Highs & Lows of the week (Anniversaries, TV series recommendations, embarrassing moments & more!) (47:14 - 1:00:28)
Links:
British Wedding Film Festival: https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
AI Tools: ChatGPT (https://chatgpt.com/), Claude (https://claude.ai/)
TV Recommendation: Adolescence (Netflix)
Book Recommendation: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
We'd love it if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify – it really helps other creatives find us. You can also send us a message on Instagram with your thoughts on this week's topics.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We also dive into takeaways from a recent videographer retreat:
Plus, we discuss that scary Italy visa story, get some clarity on using music legally on Instagram business accounts, and of course, share our personal highs and lows – featuring Bee's surprising AI astrocartography results, a wet legging incident, and Pete getting schooled by a kid at table tennis.
It's the usual mix of wedding industry chat, creative business insights, and friendly banter. Pull up a chair and join the commune!
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Keywords: Wedding Photography, Wedding Videography, Creative Business, AI, ChatGPT, TikTok, Social Media Marketing, Side Hustle, Property Photography, British Wedding Film Festival, Wedding Awards, UK Wedding Industry, Working Abroad, Instagram Music Rules.
Timestamps:
Liam's new property photography side hustle & the joys of re-learning Lightroom (03-15 - 08:32)
Takeaways from Roo Stain’s videographer retreat (08:34 - 11:25)
Using AI like ChatGPT for productivity (Arran Kenny's method) & Bee's astrocartography adventures (11:25 - 19:02)
The TikTok debate for wedding pros - is it essential? (19:03 - 26:55)
BIG NEWS: Launching the British Wedding Film Festival! (27:45 - 39:57)
Concerns and discussion around working abroad (Italy/US visa stories) (39:57 - 44:31)
Clarification on using music on Instagram Business accounts (Meta Sound Collection) (45:22 - 47:13)
Highs & Lows of the week (Anniversaries, TV series recommendations, embarrassing moments & more!) (47:14 - 1:00:28)
Links:
British Wedding Film Festival: https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/
AI Tools: ChatGPT (https://chatgpt.com/), Claude (https://claude.ai/)
TV Recommendation: Adolescence (Netflix)
Book Recommendation: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
We'd love it if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify – it really helps other creatives find us. You can also send us a message on Instagram with your thoughts on this week's topics.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam won't, because his photography would suffer. Bee loves video but resents how much keeps getting added to a photographer's job (advertising, accounts, content creation: where does it stop?), and Pete and Laura tried shooting both at bridal prep once and did a worse job of each. We note more enquiries asking for video at a lower price, and agree nobody should be criticised for choosing hybrid. We also talk about the toll of long haul destination weddings (once a year is enough), buying back National Insurance years before April, and trending music on Instagram, after stories of businesses being chased by record labels. We can't verify them, but it was never really allowed, so we talk about licensed music subscriptions (which also forced Pete to change this podcast's music).
Plus Liam's Thai wedding at an English style country manor in the jungle at nearly 40 degrees, jet lag that kills your appetite, plane armrest etiquette, why salmon is so expensive now, and Pete's new Italian espresso machine, which needs a name.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Liam's back from Thailand
02:04 A country manor in the jungle
04:05 One long haul wedding a year is enough
05:08 Jet lag
08:40 Back to back weddings in different countries
11:43 Shooting when you're exhausted
12:45 Plane etiquette
20:23 Table tennis at the club
23:26 National Insurance and pensions
29:28 Should photographers shoot video too?
35:03 Salmon prices
40:34 Trending music and copyright
49:47 Licensed music
54:54 The podcast's music licence
57:32 Highs and lows of the week
Check out the episode on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam won't, because his photography would suffer. Bee loves video but resents how much keeps getting added to a photographer's job (advertising, accounts, content creation: where does it stop?), and Pete and Laura tried shooting both at bridal prep once and did a worse job of each. We note more enquiries asking for video at a lower price, and agree nobody should be criticised for choosing hybrid. We also talk about the toll of long haul destination weddings (once a year is enough), buying back National Insurance years before April, and trending music on Instagram, after stories of businesses being chased by record labels. We can't verify them, but it was never really allowed, so we talk about licensed music subscriptions (which also forced Pete to change this podcast's music).
Plus Liam's Thai wedding at an English style country manor in the jungle at nearly 40 degrees, jet lag that kills your appetite, plane armrest etiquette, why salmon is so expensive now, and Pete's new Italian espresso machine, which needs a name.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Liam's back from Thailand
02:04 A country manor in the jungle
04:05 One long haul wedding a year is enough
05:08 Jet lag
08:40 Back to back weddings in different countries
11:43 Shooting when you're exhausted
12:45 Plane etiquette
20:23 Table tennis at the club
23:26 National Insurance and pensions
29:28 Should photographers shoot video too?
35:03 Salmon prices
40:34 Trending music and copyright
49:47 Licensed music
54:54 The podcast's music licence
57:32 Highs and lows of the week
Check out the episode on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam's back from a Brazilian destination wedding, and it was very different. Videographers and photographers work inches from the couple even during the ceremony, the venue steers couples to its own recommended team, the first look turned into a crowd of cameras and iPhones, and portraits got five minutes. Liam explains why he can't shoot like that (we're too polite). We also talk about judging a Latvian wedding competition where about 90 percent of the photos were vertical, whether Instagram has killed landscape photos (and why we miss blogs that showed a whole wedding), side hustles and exit plans after a Manchester photographers' meet-up, and twenty years since Pete and Laura's first wedding.
Plus a 4.30am sunrise shoot on the day Liam landed, 211 photos when Bee asked for 50, a sun on the equator that rises too fast for the orb of joy, Lawson Film School going online at thirteen and a half hours, and Pete's sixteen year old espresso machine tripping the fuses.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back from Rio
03:05 A sunrise shoot and a white party
05:45 211 photos when Bee asked for 50
07:46 The Brazilian way: inches from the couple
09:54 The first look crowd
11:26 Handing over group shots, and a Thai tea ceremony
14:38 Five minutes for portraits
17:50 Lawson Film School is online
21:27 Side hustles and exit plans
25:34 Twenty years since our first wedding
34:16 What does editorial mean this year?
36:49 Has Instagram killed landscape?
39:56 Judging a Latvian competition
43:33 Highs and lows of the week
Be sure to check out our Youtube channel if you'd like to see our faces: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam's back from a Brazilian destination wedding, and it was very different. Videographers and photographers work inches from the couple even during the ceremony, the venue steers couples to its own recommended team, the first look turned into a crowd of cameras and iPhones, and portraits got five minutes. Liam explains why he can't shoot like that (we're too polite). We also talk about judging a Latvian wedding competition where about 90 percent of the photos were vertical, whether Instagram has killed landscape photos (and why we miss blogs that showed a whole wedding), side hustles and exit plans after a Manchester photographers' meet-up, and twenty years since Pete and Laura's first wedding.
Plus a 4.30am sunrise shoot on the day Liam landed, 211 photos when Bee asked for 50, a sun on the equator that rises too fast for the orb of joy, Lawson Film School going online at thirteen and a half hours, and Pete's sixteen year old espresso machine tripping the fuses.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back from Rio
03:05 A sunrise shoot and a white party
05:45 211 photos when Bee asked for 50
07:46 The Brazilian way: inches from the couple
09:54 The first look crowd
11:26 Handing over group shots, and a Thai tea ceremony
14:38 Five minutes for portraits
17:50 Lawson Film School is online
21:27 Side hustles and exit plans
25:34 Twenty years since our first wedding
34:16 What does editorial mean this year?
36:49 Has Instagram killed landscape?
39:56 Judging a Latvian competition
43:33 Highs and lows of the week
Be sure to check out our Youtube channel if you'd like to see our faces: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we hang out with Kelly Clarke, a Manchester wedding and newborn photographer. When lockdown wiped out her weddings, she walked round an empty Manchester with her camera, turned the pictures into prints, then mugs and merchandise, and built a second business working from six in the morning until midnight. Now both run side by side, and her weddings have grown from five to ten to twenty six. That leads into a frank chat about whether wedding photography alone can sustain a living, why diversifying matters (Liam is doing some property photography and plans to teach motorcycling), paid Instagram and Facebook ads, newborn shoots, why Kelly won't take on staff, and her tax return holiday.
Plus Kelly deadlifts 140kg, her destination wedding plans in Cyprus, watching our own first wedding film from ten years ago, and judging a Latvian wedding film competition in our living room.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome Kelly
01:01 Kelly's deadlift
05:05 A destination wedding in Cyprus
12:19 Kelly's lockdown business
17:25 Meta ads
18:55 Why Kelly won't hire staff
20:29 From five weddings to twenty six
23:02 Can wedding photography alone pay the bills?
24:35 Newborn photography
31:13 Diversifying
35:20 Kelly's SEO and Instagram
43:03 The tax return holiday
46:36 Watching our first film
52:43 Judging a Latvian film competition
56:47 Highs and lows
Be sure to check out our Youtube channel if you'd like to see our faces: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Check out Kelly's work: https://kellyclarke.co.uk/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we hang out with Kelly Clarke, a Manchester wedding and newborn photographer. When lockdown wiped out her weddings, she walked round an empty Manchester with her camera, turned the pictures into prints, then mugs and merchandise, and built a second business working from six in the morning until midnight. Now both run side by side, and her weddings have grown from five to ten to twenty six. That leads into a frank chat about whether wedding photography alone can sustain a living, why diversifying matters (Liam is doing some property photography and plans to teach motorcycling), paid Instagram and Facebook ads, newborn shoots, why Kelly won't take on staff, and her tax return holiday.
Plus Kelly deadlifts 140kg, her destination wedding plans in Cyprus, watching our own first wedding film from ten years ago, and judging a Latvian wedding film competition in our living room.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome Kelly
01:01 Kelly's deadlift
05:05 A destination wedding in Cyprus
12:19 Kelly's lockdown business
17:25 Meta ads
18:55 Why Kelly won't hire staff
20:29 From five weddings to twenty six
23:02 Can wedding photography alone pay the bills?
24:35 Newborn photography
31:13 Diversifying
35:20 Kelly's SEO and Instagram
43:03 The tax return holiday
46:36 Watching our first film
52:43 Judging a Latvian film competition
56:47 Highs and lows
Be sure to check out our Youtube channel if you'd like to see our faces: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Check out Kelly's work: https://kellyclarke.co.uk/
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Pete, Laura and Bee wonder whether anyone would notice if they stopped posting. (Pete and Laura post very little and still book through Instagram.) We also talk about Instagram changing the grid to 4:3, why a Dutch tilt always leans left, clients who want every image of them taken down (and the worry that AI could clone faces), and couples who never download their gallery and then ask for the files a decade later. Back it up, then look at it. Bee explains her six month galleries with a reminder a week before they close, and Pete gives a quick summary of DeepSeek and the stock market wobble.
Plus Pete can't sleep after a good night at table tennis and needs a dictaphone for his 2am Lawson Film School ideas, the course is now four or five times longer than the original live version, and Bee designs albums from another photographer's photos.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:35 A dictaphone for 2am ideas
04:40 Work catch-up
06:11 Filming Lawson Film School
11:17 New bookings
12:48 Instagram changes the grid
15:21 Do you need to be on social media?
18:30 Behind the scenes videos
21:32 Why is a Dutch tilt always to the left?
24:36 Clients who want their images taken down
27:40 Marketing without showing faces
28:41 Galleries aren't permanent
31:11 DeepSeek and the stock market
33:47 Highs and lows of the week
Be sure to check out our Youtube channel if you'd like to see our faces: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Pete, Laura and Bee wonder whether anyone would notice if they stopped posting. (Pete and Laura post very little and still book through Instagram.) We also talk about Instagram changing the grid to 4:3, why a Dutch tilt always leans left, clients who want every image of them taken down (and the worry that AI could clone faces), and couples who never download their gallery and then ask for the files a decade later. Back it up, then look at it. Bee explains her six month galleries with a reminder a week before they close, and Pete gives a quick summary of DeepSeek and the stock market wobble.
Plus Pete can't sleep after a good night at table tennis and needs a dictaphone for his 2am Lawson Film School ideas, the course is now four or five times longer than the original live version, and Bee designs albums from another photographer's photos.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:35 A dictaphone for 2am ideas
04:40 Work catch-up
06:11 Filming Lawson Film School
11:17 New bookings
12:48 Instagram changes the grid
15:21 Do you need to be on social media?
18:30 Behind the scenes videos
21:32 Why is a Dutch tilt always to the left?
24:36 Clients who want their images taken down
27:40 Marketing without showing faces
28:41 Galleries aren't permanent
31:11 DeepSeek and the stock market
33:47 Highs and lows of the week
Be sure to check out our Youtube channel if you'd like to see our faces: https://www.youtube.com/@OurCreativeCommune
Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We celebrate a hundred episodes with fizz, cake and, for the first time, cameras for YouTube. In the middle there's real news: an album company announcing it will sell albums directly to couples. The first reaction online was "they're taking our clients", but once we'd worked out how a referral option could work for busy photographers, we were broadly positive. We also talk about how to do a venue open day or wedding fair when you're not a natural salesperson (Liam's tip: talk about their first dance, not your packages), the January lull, Pete and Laura moving Lawson Film School online, and what a TikTok ban in America says about relying on one marketing channel.
Plus memories of our very awkward first episode, past couples wandering into an open day at exactly the right moment, Liam's teenage job driving a digger on a landfill site, the service station game, and Liam climbing Scafell Pike in deep snow with crampons.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Happy hundred!
01:03 Our first episode, fizz and cake
07:09 What time would you get up if you retired?
10:44 Work catch-up
12:44 Tax return week
17:22 Lawson Film School goes online
20:30 Bookings after Christmas
22:02 A venue open day in Devon
26:12 Wedding fairs when you're not a salesperson
28:20 A wedding show next to a steel band
31:53 An album company selling direct to couples
35:29 Why couples shouldn't design their own albums
40:04 A TikTok ban and relying on one channel
44:08 Liam's teenage jobs
47:12 Highs and lows of the week
This week we decided to film the episode, so be sure to check that out over on Youtube if you'd like to see our faces: https://youtu.be/v7R2g0HEaj8
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We celebrate a hundred episodes with fizz, cake and, for the first time, cameras for YouTube. In the middle there's real news: an album company announcing it will sell albums directly to couples. The first reaction online was "they're taking our clients", but once we'd worked out how a referral option could work for busy photographers, we were broadly positive. We also talk about how to do a venue open day or wedding fair when you're not a natural salesperson (Liam's tip: talk about their first dance, not your packages), the January lull, Pete and Laura moving Lawson Film School online, and what a TikTok ban in America says about relying on one marketing channel.
Plus memories of our very awkward first episode, past couples wandering into an open day at exactly the right moment, Liam's teenage job driving a digger on a landfill site, the service station game, and Liam climbing Scafell Pike in deep snow with crampons.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Happy hundred!
01:03 Our first episode, fizz and cake
07:09 What time would you get up if you retired?
10:44 Work catch-up
12:44 Tax return week
17:22 Lawson Film School goes online
20:30 Bookings after Christmas
22:02 A venue open day in Devon
26:12 Wedding fairs when you're not a salesperson
28:20 A wedding show next to a steel band
31:53 An album company selling direct to couples
35:29 Why couples shouldn't design their own albums
40:04 A TikTok ban and relying on one channel
44:08 Liam's teenage jobs
47:12 Highs and lows of the week
This week we decided to film the episode, so be sure to check that out over on Youtube if you'd like to see our faces: https://youtu.be/v7R2g0HEaj8
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our first episode of 2025, we talk winter weddings: short days, draughty rooms, poor lighting, and hands too cold to work the camera. The answer is setting expectations early (a few quick smash and grab portraits, not a photo shoot section), and Liam says video lights save winter weddings, especially at a pitch black cave venue. Bee introduces wintering (no resolutions until the spring solstice), which somehow turns into a business plan for a cheese B&B, then an Adlington deli, café, studio and table tennis club.
Plus 2025 as a year of nine, Liam versus his car tyres, a dog trainer's water bomb technique (it didn't work), a scam offer of 24,000 in cryptocurrency per underwater photo, Pete finishing Tomb Raider eleven years after starting it, and Bee's day out in Edinburgh.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 2025, the year of nine
02:32 Liam versus his car
06:04 A dog, turkey and a water bomb
08:36 A quiet Christmas
09:36 Panto and a party
15:10 Winter weddings are hard work
17:15 Cold hands and a snowy hill
18:16 Setting expectations for winter portraits
20:20 Video lights and a pitch black cave
21:23 Wintering until the spring solstice
24:26 A cheese B&B and an Adlington deli
29:33 Highs and lows of the week
38:38 A summer heavy calendar and Lawson Film School online
41:45 Bee's day in Edinburgh
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our first episode of 2025, we talk winter weddings: short days, draughty rooms, poor lighting, and hands too cold to work the camera. The answer is setting expectations early (a few quick smash and grab portraits, not a photo shoot section), and Liam says video lights save winter weddings, especially at a pitch black cave venue. Bee introduces wintering (no resolutions until the spring solstice), which somehow turns into a business plan for a cheese B&B, then an Adlington deli, café, studio and table tennis club.
Plus 2025 as a year of nine, Liam versus his car tyres, a dog trainer's water bomb technique (it didn't work), a scam offer of 24,000 in cryptocurrency per underwater photo, Pete finishing Tomb Raider eleven years after starting it, and Bee's day out in Edinburgh.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 2025, the year of nine
02:32 Liam versus his car
06:04 A dog, turkey and a water bomb
08:36 A quiet Christmas
09:36 Panto and a party
15:10 Winter weddings are hard work
17:15 Cold hands and a snowy hill
18:16 Setting expectations for winter portraits
20:20 Video lights and a pitch black cave
21:23 Wintering until the spring solstice
24:26 A cheese B&B and an Adlington deli
29:33 Highs and lows of the week
38:38 A summer heavy calendar and Lawson Film School online
41:45 Bee's day in Edinburgh
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our last episode of 2024, we look back at the year: a relentless first half, lots of travel, fewer weddings but no less effort, and a long quiet stretch before things picked up. Google is basically dead for Liam and Bee, Instagram (with a little paid help) is working for now, and Pete and Laura rely on referrals from planners, venues and past couples. We talk about not putting all your eggs in one basket, not wanting to be an anxious business owner every winter, and our hopes for 2025: slower living, more time outdoors, Lawson Film School online, and Camp Commune.
Plus nearly a hundred hours of podcast, remembering couples by their faces, a bride's dad handing Liam two beers as he came out of Lake Como with an underwater camera, a Rio wedding with a strict all white dress code, Bee's plan for a bread cupboard with an honesty box, and a brass band carol concert.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:01 Nearly 100 episodes
04:33 Bee's 43 weddings are done
08:08 Last weddings of the year
10:41 Remembering couples by their faces
12:16 Still fumbling through after a thousand weddings
13:53 Looking back on 2024
19:02 Next year's diary
20:35 Pete and Laura's year
24:13 Destination work, Como and Garda
29:56 Nine weddings in fifteen days, and Rio
32:36 SEO is dead: where bookings come from now
43:16 Resolutions for 2025
53:04 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our last episode of 2024, we look back at the year: a relentless first half, lots of travel, fewer weddings but no less effort, and a long quiet stretch before things picked up. Google is basically dead for Liam and Bee, Instagram (with a little paid help) is working for now, and Pete and Laura rely on referrals from planners, venues and past couples. We talk about not putting all your eggs in one basket, not wanting to be an anxious business owner every winter, and our hopes for 2025: slower living, more time outdoors, Lawson Film School online, and Camp Commune.
Plus nearly a hundred hours of podcast, remembering couples by their faces, a bride's dad handing Liam two beers as he came out of Lake Como with an underwater camera, a Rio wedding with a strict all white dress code, Bee's plan for a bread cupboard with an honesty box, and a brass band carol concert.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:01 Nearly 100 episodes
04:33 Bee's 43 weddings are done
08:08 Last weddings of the year
10:41 Remembering couples by their faces
12:16 Still fumbling through after a thousand weddings
13:53 Looking back on 2024
19:02 Next year's diary
20:35 Pete and Laura's year
24:13 Destination work, Como and Garda
29:56 Nine weddings in fifteen days, and Rio
32:36 SEO is dead: where bookings come from now
43:16 Resolutions for 2025
53:04 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>For Liam and Bee it did. After a long quiet spell that had them doubting their style, a modest paid boost on Instagram and a price rise brought daily enquiries back, with a big lean towards destination weddings next year. (Bee wonders whether the algorithm had been showing their work to other photographers instead of couples.) Liam also apologises for last week's rant about the moody editorial style: plenty of photographers we respect do it brilliantly, and we should never knock anyone's style. Then Liam's invitation to speak at a small workshop in Poland, with talks in an old wooden church near the Belarusian border, and the idea of a Camp Commune of our own.
Plus fake Christmas, now about sixteen years running, a farm wedding where Liam was served a sharing platter for one, filming a bride's mum who kept stepping out of shot, an elopement booked in an underground WWII oil tank, and Bee's forearm stand after eight years of yoga.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 New Year's Eve plans
02:00 Fake Christmas
05:07 No presents this year
08:41 A farm wedding and a sharing platter for one
11:18 A Scottish castle wedding
13:19 Telling people they don't need to move
16:57 Half of next year's weddings are overseas
21:31 An elopement in a WWII oil tank
23:02 Liam's apology
25:05 How paid Instagram turned things around
30:10 A videographer summit in Glasgow
32:43 Speaking at a workshop in Poland
36:20 Camp Commune?
38:53 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>For Liam and Bee it did. After a long quiet spell that had them doubting their style, a modest paid boost on Instagram and a price rise brought daily enquiries back, with a big lean towards destination weddings next year. (Bee wonders whether the algorithm had been showing their work to other photographers instead of couples.) Liam also apologises for last week's rant about the moody editorial style: plenty of photographers we respect do it brilliantly, and we should never knock anyone's style. Then Liam's invitation to speak at a small workshop in Poland, with talks in an old wooden church near the Belarusian border, and the idea of a Camp Commune of our own.
Plus fake Christmas, now about sixteen years running, a farm wedding where Liam was served a sharing platter for one, filming a bride's mum who kept stepping out of shot, an elopement booked in an underground WWII oil tank, and Bee's forearm stand after eight years of yoga.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 New Year's Eve plans
02:00 Fake Christmas
05:07 No presents this year
08:41 A farm wedding and a sharing platter for one
11:18 A Scottish castle wedding
13:19 Telling people they don't need to move
16:57 Half of next year's weddings are overseas
21:31 An elopement in a WWII oil tank
23:02 Liam's apology
25:05 How paid Instagram turned things around
30:10 A videographer summit in Glasgow
32:43 Speaking at a workshop in Poland
36:20 Camp Commune?
38:53 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A reel doing the rounds argues that storytelling is out and vibe is in. Pete expected to hate it, then decided it's just a new way of describing what we already do. Laura and Bee doubt Gen Z is as uniform as the reel claims, and Liam says stick in your own lane and shoot what you love. That sets being in it for the art against running a business: can you complain about bookings if you won't change how you talk about your work? Then direct flash. Pete used to hate it and now sees a place for it, Liam thinks it looks flat and amateur, and Bee is with Pete. Earlier, we talk about a win your wedding photography giveaway that brought two bookings from 125 entrants, and what high end weddings are like to shoot.
Plus portraits paid for in cake, a band video shoot at Victoria Baths in Manchester, and Nine Dots turning ten.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 A tired welcome
01:04 Dropping the lows
01:35 Paid in cake
06:11 A band video at Victoria Baths
14:23 A win your wedding giveaway
17:29 Mid-price weddings and the high end world
20:01 What high end weddings are like
21:33 Feeling like you're going backwards
26:42 Nine Dots turns ten
29:15 Story or vibe?
33:57 Stick to your lane, or change how you market it?
37:05 In it for the art or running a business?
40:09 Direct flash
44:43 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A reel doing the rounds argues that storytelling is out and vibe is in. Pete expected to hate it, then decided it's just a new way of describing what we already do. Laura and Bee doubt Gen Z is as uniform as the reel claims, and Liam says stick in your own lane and shoot what you love. That sets being in it for the art against running a business: can you complain about bookings if you won't change how you talk about your work? Then direct flash. Pete used to hate it and now sees a place for it, Liam thinks it looks flat and amateur, and Bee is with Pete. Earlier, we talk about a win your wedding photography giveaway that brought two bookings from 125 entrants, and what high end weddings are like to shoot.
Plus portraits paid for in cake, a band video shoot at Victoria Baths in Manchester, and Nine Dots turning ten.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 A tired welcome
01:04 Dropping the lows
01:35 Paid in cake
06:11 A band video at Victoria Baths
14:23 A win your wedding giveaway
17:29 Mid-price weddings and the high end world
20:01 What high end weddings are like
21:33 Feeling like you're going backwards
26:42 Nine Dots turns ten
29:15 Story or vibe?
33:57 Stick to your lane, or change how you market it?
37:05 In it for the art or running a business?
40:09 Direct flash
44:43 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We start with Coda, a one day videography conference in a Birmingham cinema, where Pete and Laura gave the opening talk and a film breakdown on the big screen. Next year's tickets sold out in 43 minutes, which tells you how much people want community. Then a practical block. Bee has switched AI editing tools and says the new one reproduces her style (but she still doesn't trust AI culling, which might mark a deliberately off centre crop as a mistake). We also cover Lightroom's generative fill limits and what couples might start to expect, Instagram's new fee for boosting posts from your phone, a reel with 126,000 views that brought no enquiries, dropping the paid verification tick, and Bee rebuilding their website in six days.
Plus Pete trying to get home from a wedding in Ireland during a storm (a ten pound lounge upgrade saved him), Liam's second shoot with three ten foot trains and fake sparklers that set the flowers alight, and a stranded night with a damaged wheel on a Scottish road.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:30 A wedding in Ireland and a storm
03:02 A rocky ferry home
09:12 Coda, in a cinema
12:46 Sold out in 43 minutes
15:21 Ten foot trains and a fire on the balcony
19:53 A Scottish castle wedding and a damaged wheel
24:04 Switching AI editing tools
26:04 Why AI culling still isn't there
34:00 Will couples edit out people themselves?
38:06 The fix it later habit
39:07 Instagram ads, carousels and reels
45:17 Dropping the paid tick
47:23 Rebuilding the website in six days
54:06 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We start with Coda, a one day videography conference in a Birmingham cinema, where Pete and Laura gave the opening talk and a film breakdown on the big screen. Next year's tickets sold out in 43 minutes, which tells you how much people want community. Then a practical block. Bee has switched AI editing tools and says the new one reproduces her style (but she still doesn't trust AI culling, which might mark a deliberately off centre crop as a mistake). We also cover Lightroom's generative fill limits and what couples might start to expect, Instagram's new fee for boosting posts from your phone, a reel with 126,000 views that brought no enquiries, dropping the paid verification tick, and Bee rebuilding their website in six days.
Plus Pete trying to get home from a wedding in Ireland during a storm (a ten pound lounge upgrade saved him), Liam's second shoot with three ten foot trains and fake sparklers that set the flowers alight, and a stranded night with a damaged wheel on a Scottish road.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:30 A wedding in Ireland and a storm
03:02 A rocky ferry home
09:12 Coda, in a cinema
12:46 Sold out in 43 minutes
15:21 Ten foot trains and a fire on the balcony
19:53 A Scottish castle wedding and a damaged wheel
24:04 Switching AI editing tools
26:04 Why AI culling still isn't there
34:00 Will couples edit out people themselves?
38:06 The fix it later habit
39:07 Instagram ads, carousels and reels
45:17 Dropping the paid tick
47:23 Rebuilding the website in six days
54:06 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A private members' club with a no sportswear rule and a black tie wedding in Scotland get us talking about what we wear ourselves: the switch from smart shoes to cloud-like trainers after COVID, photographer's toe, spare shirts and socks, Liam's untucked shirts and stretchy jeans (he promises to tuck in once), Laura's normal-looking stretch trousers, and Pete's chinos and tweed. Then two industry questions: venues that download your photos without a word of thanks (in an age where even a thumbs up feels passive aggressive), and how much say couples should have over what you post, from a reel removed after a break-up to couples asking for different music. Keeping the client happy comes first, but a no sharing request needs to come before the wedding.
Plus a Lego Christmas display in a grand London hotel, Liam second shooting for a friend for only the third time, a drone that spent days stuck in a tree, and a spider on Bee's face.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
04:34 A members' club wedding with a dress code
07:04 Are trainers smart enough?
08:37 Black tie in Scotland
09:39 Photographer's toe and the trainer revolution
11:10 Smelly trainers and spare socks
13:45 What we each wear
17:49 Layers, hand warmers and second shooting
22:28 A multi-day Scottish wedding and a drone in a tree
28:07 Venues that never say thank you
31:14 Ghosting culture and the thumbs up
35:19 How much say should couples have over your posts?
39:57 What if couples banned all sharing?
47:41 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A private members' club with a no sportswear rule and a black tie wedding in Scotland get us talking about what we wear ourselves: the switch from smart shoes to cloud-like trainers after COVID, photographer's toe, spare shirts and socks, Liam's untucked shirts and stretchy jeans (he promises to tuck in once), Laura's normal-looking stretch trousers, and Pete's chinos and tweed. Then two industry questions: venues that download your photos without a word of thanks (in an age where even a thumbs up feels passive aggressive), and how much say couples should have over what you post, from a reel removed after a break-up to couples asking for different music. Keeping the client happy comes first, but a no sharing request needs to come before the wedding.
Plus a Lego Christmas display in a grand London hotel, Liam second shooting for a friend for only the third time, a drone that spent days stuck in a tree, and a spider on Bee's face.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
04:34 A members' club wedding with a dress code
07:04 Are trainers smart enough?
08:37 Black tie in Scotland
09:39 Photographer's toe and the trainer revolution
11:10 Smelly trainers and spare socks
13:45 What we each wear
17:49 Layers, hand warmers and second shooting
22:28 A multi-day Scottish wedding and a drone in a tree
28:07 Venues that never say thank you
31:14 Ghosting culture and the thumbs up
35:19 How much say should couples have over your posts?
39:57 What if couples banned all sharing?
47:41 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Bee is changing her advertised turnaround from eight to ten weeks to up to twelve, messaging couples so they know where they are, and using an AI base edit that saves four or five hours a wedding. She's also letting go of chasing perfection, because everyone views their photos on a different screen anyway. Then: is a video team handing a couple photos from a compact camera the next day stepping on the photographer's toes? And a long chat about comparison: the pressure to go viral on Instagram and TikTok, why scrolling other photographers drains your creativity, missing the old wedding blogs, and why couples' happiness matters more than likes.
Plus a north Devon cove wedding with the kindest staff ever, a French chateau whose owner claims some very famous guests, live streaming a wedding for a grandmother (three views, all Pete), trimming the website down to pages people visit, and a bin man and some chocolate fingers.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Sitting outside with non-alcoholic beer
04:11 The kindest wedding staff ever
06:43 A French chateau and its famous guests
08:14 Generous American couples
11:18 Live streaming for a grandmother
14:52 Overdue edits and a longer turnaround
16:58 AI base edits and letting go of perfection
20:04 Showing couples where they are in the queue
21:36 Cutting the website back
26:47 Next day photos from the video team?
32:55 What works on TikTok and Instagram
36:00 Comparison and chasing trends
42:26 Do we still look at other photographers' work?
47:03 Posting for likes or making couples happy
51:46 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Bee is changing her advertised turnaround from eight to ten weeks to up to twelve, messaging couples so they know where they are, and using an AI base edit that saves four or five hours a wedding. She's also letting go of chasing perfection, because everyone views their photos on a different screen anyway. Then: is a video team handing a couple photos from a compact camera the next day stepping on the photographer's toes? And a long chat about comparison: the pressure to go viral on Instagram and TikTok, why scrolling other photographers drains your creativity, missing the old wedding blogs, and why couples' happiness matters more than likes.
Plus a north Devon cove wedding with the kindest staff ever, a French chateau whose owner claims some very famous guests, live streaming a wedding for a grandmother (three views, all Pete), trimming the website down to pages people visit, and a bin man and some chocolate fingers.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Sitting outside with non-alcoholic beer
04:11 The kindest wedding staff ever
06:43 A French chateau and its famous guests
08:14 Generous American couples
11:18 Live streaming for a grandmother
14:52 Overdue edits and a longer turnaround
16:58 AI base edits and letting go of perfection
20:04 Showing couples where they are in the queue
21:36 Cutting the website back
26:47 Next day photos from the video team?
32:55 What works on TikTok and Instagram
36:00 Comparison and chasing trends
42:26 Do we still look at other photographers' work?
47:03 Posting for likes or making couples happy
51:46 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Back after the summer, Laura's view is simple: kill editorial. Pete is more careful and thinks documentary will come back as couples tire of being posed, while Liam and Bee say trends never fully disappear and you should stay in your lane (and maybe stop everyone shooting the same half eaten cake with direct flash). Then how photographers and videographers work together on the day: talk before the ceremony, tell each other where it's fine to walk, and admit that both sides get in the way sometimes. We also talk about swapping flash for small panel lights on lively dance floors, and why a summer of camping beat an all inclusive holiday for a proper rest.
Plus Liam's summer of destination weddings, a live stream for a grandmother who couldn't travel, Liam swapping his big zoom for old primes, and a reminder that none of us are budget people.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back after the summer
03:10 Camping beat the all inclusive holiday
05:12 Liam's summer of destination weddings
07:46 The rising cost of destination work
11:21 Celebrating every booking
14:25 Holiday reading and TV
16:27 Far flung weddings and long drives
18:00 A live stream for a grandmother
19:33 Back to old prime lenses
21:06 Panel lights instead of flash
23:09 Documentary versus editorial
28:51 Everyone shooting the same trending shots
32:26 Photographers and videographers as a team
38:41 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Back after the summer, Laura's view is simple: kill editorial. Pete is more careful and thinks documentary will come back as couples tire of being posed, while Liam and Bee say trends never fully disappear and you should stay in your lane (and maybe stop everyone shooting the same half eaten cake with direct flash). Then how photographers and videographers work together on the day: talk before the ceremony, tell each other where it's fine to walk, and admit that both sides get in the way sometimes. We also talk about swapping flash for small panel lights on lively dance floors, and why a summer of camping beat an all inclusive holiday for a proper rest.
Plus Liam's summer of destination weddings, a live stream for a grandmother who couldn't travel, Liam swapping his big zoom for old primes, and a reminder that none of us are budget people.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back after the summer
03:10 Camping beat the all inclusive holiday
05:12 Liam's summer of destination weddings
07:46 The rising cost of destination work
11:21 Celebrating every booking
14:25 Holiday reading and TV
16:27 Far flung weddings and long drives
18:00 A live stream for a grandmother
19:33 Back to old prime lenses
21:06 Panel lights instead of flash
23:09 Documentary versus editorial
28:51 Everyone shooting the same trending shots
32:26 Photographers and videographers as a team
38:41 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week there's a row in the photographer groups. Someone advised that you could win local search by reporting competitors' Google Maps listings, which led to listings being disabled, then a pile-on, fake reviews and mock listings. We disagree a little on how far the anger should go (Bee thinks the pile-on went too far, Pete and Liam think losing your reputation is punishment enough, and Laura says take the high ground), and it widens into desperation in a crowded industry, trust, and community over competition. Then music: a videographer facing a copyright claim over trending audio, and Instagram taking down a properly licensed wedding reel within seconds (Laura's fix: use the same track on everything, to a creepy degree).
Plus Pete's Italian wedding at one 150 guest table, where his lens grip melted in the heat, a second videographer at Liam's Cotswolds wedding who worked on Horrid Henry, camping in the rain at Silverstone, and the start of our own camping plans.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and Italy in the heat
03:06 One long table and a melted lens
05:08 New camera bodies
07:10 Two weddings and a Horrid Henry claim to fame
10:45 Camping at Silverstone
15:57 Bee's priority edit
19:06 The Google Maps row
22:15 Disabled listings and a pile-on
26:22 Where's the line?
30:58 Our own listing duplicated
33:02 Trust and community over competition
37:12 Kindness, and will anyone apologise?
40:49 A copyright claim over trending audio
43:00 Instagram takes down a licensed reel
47:07 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week there's a row in the photographer groups. Someone advised that you could win local search by reporting competitors' Google Maps listings, which led to listings being disabled, then a pile-on, fake reviews and mock listings. We disagree a little on how far the anger should go (Bee thinks the pile-on went too far, Pete and Liam think losing your reputation is punishment enough, and Laura says take the high ground), and it widens into desperation in a crowded industry, trust, and community over competition. Then music: a videographer facing a copyright claim over trending audio, and Instagram taking down a properly licensed wedding reel within seconds (Laura's fix: use the same track on everything, to a creepy degree).
Plus Pete's Italian wedding at one 150 guest table, where his lens grip melted in the heat, a second videographer at Liam's Cotswolds wedding who worked on Horrid Henry, camping in the rain at Silverstone, and the start of our own camping plans.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and Italy in the heat
03:06 One long table and a melted lens
05:08 New camera bodies
07:10 Two weddings and a Horrid Henry claim to fame
10:45 Camping at Silverstone
15:57 Bee's priority edit
19:06 The Google Maps row
22:15 Disabled listings and a pile-on
26:22 Where's the line?
30:58 Our own listing duplicated
33:02 Trust and community over competition
37:12 Kindness, and will anyone apologise?
40:49 A copyright claim over trending audio
43:00 Instagram takes down a licensed reel
47:07 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>After a breezy half day local wedding in Yorkshire, Pete wonders whether that's the way forward. Liam isn't ready to become the local photographer, because he loves travel and destination weddings, but we agree travel costs have changed everything and booking season no longer runs from January to March. We also talk about couples who aren't happy with your editing style after the wedding (should you show your grey day weddings, or send full galleries?), whether people have stopped saying thank you since COVID, and Laura's prediction that retro camcorders are coming to weddings.
Before that, Liam goes back for a 400 guest Dutch party with a stage of famous singers (shot from the mosh pit), his flight home is cancelled and rerouted via Norwich, and there's a surprise baraat at a two day wedding near Bournemouth. Plus Liam hunts a leak by smashing a hole in his office ceiling. It was the shower sealant.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Cold July
04:35 A Dutch party from the mosh pit
05:05 A cancelled flight and a reroute via Norwich
07:15 An easy local wedding in Yorkshire
09:14 Should we cut prices and shoot locally?
11:18 A separate local price list?
14:56 Booking season isn't January to March anymore
15:27 Why destination bookings have dropped
17:30 A surprise baraat near Bournemouth
20:34 When a couple doesn't like your editing
27:40 Showing grey weather weddings in your portfolio
38:21 Have people stopped saying thank you?
41:55 Will camcorders come to weddings?
47:58 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>After a breezy half day local wedding in Yorkshire, Pete wonders whether that's the way forward. Liam isn't ready to become the local photographer, because he loves travel and destination weddings, but we agree travel costs have changed everything and booking season no longer runs from January to March. We also talk about couples who aren't happy with your editing style after the wedding (should you show your grey day weddings, or send full galleries?), whether people have stopped saying thank you since COVID, and Laura's prediction that retro camcorders are coming to weddings.
Before that, Liam goes back for a 400 guest Dutch party with a stage of famous singers (shot from the mosh pit), his flight home is cancelled and rerouted via Norwich, and there's a surprise baraat at a two day wedding near Bournemouth. Plus Liam hunts a leak by smashing a hole in his office ceiling. It was the shower sealant.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Cold July
04:35 A Dutch party from the mosh pit
05:05 A cancelled flight and a reroute via Norwich
07:15 An easy local wedding in Yorkshire
09:14 Should we cut prices and shoot locally?
11:18 A separate local price list?
14:56 Booking season isn't January to March anymore
15:27 Why destination bookings have dropped
17:30 A surprise baraat near Bournemouth
20:34 When a couple doesn't like your editing
27:40 Showing grey weather weddings in your portfolio
38:21 Have people stopped saying thank you?
41:55 Will camcorders come to weddings?
47:58 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam has just done a Dutch couple's wedding in Haarlem, a private plane to Cornwall for the party, a dawn sea dip, a wildflower hike, a five hour train and then a 12 hour wedding in London the next day. It leads to the question of when you say no, and whether you can ever ask for a rest on the day. Then previews: Bee's biggest ever was 160 images ("I want them to cry when they first see these"), and we agree you should do whatever suits you. What do you say when a couple asks for thousands more images on top of a big delivery? And a newspaper article about wedding photographers with a headline that has little to do with what's in it: long days, demanding clients, and a planner complaining about photographer prices.
Plus a wedding singer who turned out to be a Dutch Eurovision act, Pilates in the shower for bridal prep, a seal that was a dot on the horizon, and why Bee shouldn't get a periscope (or a stethoscope) for Silverstone.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:00 A Dutch wedding and a private plane to Cornwall
04:35 The singer was a Eurovision act
05:08 Sea dip, wildflower hike, lobster lunch
06:09 A five hour train and a 12 hour wedding
07:41 Pilates in the shower
10:16 Needing silence after back to back days
12:20 Can you ask for a break?
15:53 The seal on the horizon
16:25 How big should a preview be?
18:28 Two slideshows
22:34 A couple who wanted thousands more images
27:11 A clickbait article about wedding photographers
29:45 A planner on photographer prices
35:55 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam has just done a Dutch couple's wedding in Haarlem, a private plane to Cornwall for the party, a dawn sea dip, a wildflower hike, a five hour train and then a 12 hour wedding in London the next day. It leads to the question of when you say no, and whether you can ever ask for a rest on the day. Then previews: Bee's biggest ever was 160 images ("I want them to cry when they first see these"), and we agree you should do whatever suits you. What do you say when a couple asks for thousands more images on top of a big delivery? And a newspaper article about wedding photographers with a headline that has little to do with what's in it: long days, demanding clients, and a planner complaining about photographer prices.
Plus a wedding singer who turned out to be a Dutch Eurovision act, Pilates in the shower for bridal prep, a seal that was a dot on the horizon, and why Bee shouldn't get a periscope (or a stethoscope) for Silverstone.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:00 A Dutch wedding and a private plane to Cornwall
04:35 The singer was a Eurovision act
05:08 Sea dip, wildflower hike, lobster lunch
06:09 A five hour train and a 12 hour wedding
07:41 Pilates in the shower
10:16 Needing silence after back to back days
12:20 Can you ask for a break?
15:53 The seal on the horizon
16:25 How big should a preview be?
18:28 Two slideshows
22:34 A couple who wanted thousands more images
27:11 A clickbait article about wedding photographers
29:45 A planner on photographer prices
35:55 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Laura and Bee say couples judge you by how you look after your kit; Liam and Pete think a bit of wear proves you've been doing this a while. Then the pressure to deliver faster and smaller: posts say couples now expect pictures on the day because of content creators, and that galleries should be under 500 images. We don't think you should chase either, and the under 500 fashion goes with the posed editorial look. Will documentary come back? We think so, as couples tire of the same glamorous style, and hybrid is the sensible place to be. Plus Instagram's mixed portrait and landscape posts, and the important question: are photographers hotter than videographers?
Also: Liam's half Iranian, half Scottish wedding with knife dancing in kilts and a Highland Games, a Jewish wedding where the uplighters turned blue, Liam's idea for a stripped back website, and some 512MB compact flash cards.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:33 The tatty camera bag
05:08 Old memory cards
06:39 A simple website?
09:40 An Iranian and Scottish wedding
12:12 A Jewish wedding and blue uplighters
16:25 Thirty groups in twenty minutes
19:05 Photos on the day to compete with content creators
24:11 Instagram's mixed portrait and landscape posts
27:21 Should galleries be under 500 images?
29:53 Editorial style and short lived trends
32:28 Will documentary come back?
35:38 Are photographers hotter than videographers?
38:15 Highs and lows of the week
47:23 Pete's new small gimbal
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Laura and Bee say couples judge you by how you look after your kit; Liam and Pete think a bit of wear proves you've been doing this a while. Then the pressure to deliver faster and smaller: posts say couples now expect pictures on the day because of content creators, and that galleries should be under 500 images. We don't think you should chase either, and the under 500 fashion goes with the posed editorial look. Will documentary come back? We think so, as couples tire of the same glamorous style, and hybrid is the sensible place to be. Plus Instagram's mixed portrait and landscape posts, and the important question: are photographers hotter than videographers?
Also: Liam's half Iranian, half Scottish wedding with knife dancing in kilts and a Highland Games, a Jewish wedding where the uplighters turned blue, Liam's idea for a stripped back website, and some 512MB compact flash cards.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:33 The tatty camera bag
05:08 Old memory cards
06:39 A simple website?
09:40 An Iranian and Scottish wedding
12:12 A Jewish wedding and blue uplighters
16:25 Thirty groups in twenty minutes
19:05 Photos on the day to compete with content creators
24:11 Instagram's mixed portrait and landscape posts
27:21 Should galleries be under 500 images?
29:53 Editorial style and short lived trends
32:28 Will documentary come back?
35:38 Are photographers hotter than videographers?
38:15 Highs and lows of the week
47:23 Pete's new small gimbal
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Liam away, Pete, Laura and Bee admit the downside we rarely own up to: sometimes you're really bored. Pete walks the room looking for someone about to laugh, Laura films a bird, and Bee tells Liam to make an informal group shot anywhere with decent light (or just back up your cards in the car park). We also cover managing expectations when one photographer can't get both the bride walking in and the groom's face (sell the second shooter), Pinterest boards full of sunsets, how to make group shots feel natural, whether to offer a cheaper phone based content package, Instagram's new "made with AI" label, and Lightroom's new generative remove tool (Bee calls it life changing).
Plus pre-wedding nerves that vanish the moment you arrive, Pete's gimbal dying just before the walk down the aisle, a staff kitchen full of shortbread at a Scottish wedding, and a post that hit 92,000 views.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:30 Liam's away
03:02 Pre-wedding nerves and a Scottish wedding
06:34 The gimbal dies before the aisle
08:36 Too much footage
10:09 A cheaper content creator package?
14:50 Couples who don't want their wedding shared
20:35 Instagram's made with AI label
24:11 Lightroom's generative remove
25:44 The bride's walk and the groom's face
28:54 Pinterest boards and sunsets
32:01 What to do when nothing's happening
37:35 Natural group shots
42:07 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Liam away, Pete, Laura and Bee admit the downside we rarely own up to: sometimes you're really bored. Pete walks the room looking for someone about to laugh, Laura films a bird, and Bee tells Liam to make an informal group shot anywhere with decent light (or just back up your cards in the car park). We also cover managing expectations when one photographer can't get both the bride walking in and the groom's face (sell the second shooter), Pinterest boards full of sunsets, how to make group shots feel natural, whether to offer a cheaper phone based content package, Instagram's new "made with AI" label, and Lightroom's new generative remove tool (Bee calls it life changing).
Plus pre-wedding nerves that vanish the moment you arrive, Pete's gimbal dying just before the walk down the aisle, a staff kitchen full of shortbread at a Scottish wedding, and a post that hit 92,000 views.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:30 Liam's away
03:02 Pre-wedding nerves and a Scottish wedding
06:34 The gimbal dies before the aisle
08:36 Too much footage
10:09 A cheaper content creator package?
14:50 Couples who don't want their wedding shared
20:35 Instagram's made with AI label
24:11 Lightroom's generative remove
25:44 The bride's walk and the groom's face
28:54 Pinterest boards and sunsets
32:01 What to do when nothing's happening
37:35 Natural group shots
42:07 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>None of us would. Liam explains how he raises his tattoos up front with some couples, declines to cover them, and ends the day with parents telling him he's been an angel (and remembers the makeup artist who asked if he was in a triad). We also ask whether long wedding films are dead (a post says nobody watches more than 30 seconds; Pete gives features a couple more years, Laura and Bee think couples will always watch their own), whether you should ever airbrush or slim people (never, or very occasionally tuck in a corset ripple), and how many preview images to send. Bee sends around 120 as a slideshow, because she wants couples to feel the day again.
Plus Liam comes fifth in the dads' race and can't walk, a wedding in a library with a book printed in 1420, the Vicar of Dibley church, a ceremony with no photos allowed, a wedding budget that included cloud seeding for sunshine, and booking flights to Italy around a wedding.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 The dads' race
04:41 A library, the Vicar of Dibley church and a big Jewish wedding
10:45 Are long wedding films dead?
12:18 A Scottish wedding and a friendly vicar
13:21 A ceremony with no photos allowed
16:53 Plans for the weeks ahead
20:28 A fashion brand's editorial wedding campaign
24:02 Cloud seeding for a sunny wedding
26:36 Would you cover your tattoos?
29:09 Are you in a triad?
34:18 Should you airbrush people?
37:24 Do you need to shoot bridal prep?
41:11 How many previews should you send?
45:58 Highs and lows of the week
49:04 Booking a trip around an Italian wedding
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>None of us would. Liam explains how he raises his tattoos up front with some couples, declines to cover them, and ends the day with parents telling him he's been an angel (and remembers the makeup artist who asked if he was in a triad). We also ask whether long wedding films are dead (a post says nobody watches more than 30 seconds; Pete gives features a couple more years, Laura and Bee think couples will always watch their own), whether you should ever airbrush or slim people (never, or very occasionally tuck in a corset ripple), and how many preview images to send. Bee sends around 120 as a slideshow, because she wants couples to feel the day again.
Plus Liam comes fifth in the dads' race and can't walk, a wedding in a library with a book printed in 1420, the Vicar of Dibley church, a ceremony with no photos allowed, a wedding budget that included cloud seeding for sunshine, and booking flights to Italy around a wedding.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 The dads' race
04:41 A library, the Vicar of Dibley church and a big Jewish wedding
10:45 Are long wedding films dead?
12:18 A Scottish wedding and a friendly vicar
13:21 A ceremony with no photos allowed
16:53 Plans for the weeks ahead
20:28 A fashion brand's editorial wedding campaign
24:02 Cloud seeding for a sunny wedding
26:36 Would you cover your tattoos?
29:09 Are you in a triad?
34:18 Should you airbrush people?
37:24 Do you need to shoot bridal prep?
41:11 How many previews should you send?
45:58 Highs and lows of the week
49:04 Booking a trip around an Italian wedding
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A client from two years ago couldn't open a gallery that had been archived, and didn't have a computer. We land on a small optional fee and clear communication that backing up is the couple's job (Pete has since bought a USB stick). We also look at how bookings come in through the year (slow in May, then autumn and winter catch up fast, so don't panic before July).
Viral AI generated wedding photos are fooling couples, and does AI editing mean couples will expect their photos faster. Should we make them wait? Nobody has ever booked Liam and Bee's express one week turnaround.
Plus Pete has to put a microphone on a VERY famous guest at a Scottish wedding and is not cool about it, a wedding that felt truly transformative, Liam, Bee and Betty seeing the northern lights from a Welsh hillside, and Pete's backup drive dying.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:01 Business news
03:05 How bookings come in through the year
08:40 A Welsh hillside holiday let
14:17 A Scottish wedding with a famous guest
19:22 A transformative wedding
22:26 A tip for the church exit
25:28 The northern lights in Wales
28:31 AI generated wedding images
30:38 Will AI mean faster delivery?
32:45 Labelling AI images
38:20 Charging to keep galleries online
40:56 The couple who couldn't open their gallery
46:05 Backups and a dead drive
47:40 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A client from two years ago couldn't open a gallery that had been archived, and didn't have a computer. We land on a small optional fee and clear communication that backing up is the couple's job (Pete has since bought a USB stick). We also look at how bookings come in through the year (slow in May, then autumn and winter catch up fast, so don't panic before July).
Viral AI generated wedding photos are fooling couples, and does AI editing mean couples will expect their photos faster. Should we make them wait? Nobody has ever booked Liam and Bee's express one week turnaround.
Plus Pete has to put a microphone on a VERY famous guest at a Scottish wedding and is not cool about it, a wedding that felt truly transformative, Liam, Bee and Betty seeing the northern lights from a Welsh hillside, and Pete's backup drive dying.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:01 Business news
03:05 How bookings come in through the year
08:40 A Welsh hillside holiday let
14:17 A Scottish wedding with a famous guest
19:22 A transformative wedding
22:26 A tip for the church exit
25:28 The northern lights in Wales
28:31 AI generated wedding images
30:38 Will AI mean faster delivery?
32:45 Labelling AI images
38:20 Charging to keep galleries online
40:56 The couple who couldn't open their gallery
46:05 Backups and a dead drive
47:40 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Pete invoiced a London couple for an extra hour, while Liam has stayed well over his time at three of his last six weddings. Our fix: one line in the pre-wedding email saying overruns are billed by the hour, so nobody has an awkward conversation on the day. We also talk about the exhaustion and crash after a busy wedding, and Liam's coping trick of becoming the most sociable person in the room.
Bee reads out a newspaper's list of wedding trends for the cool bride of 2024: off-season dates, a bag instead of a bouquet, outfit changes, rave caves, VR and, apparently, videographers being out and content creators in. Plus rumoured paid Instagram tiers.
Also: Bee is back, Pete has a table tennis injury, we wonder whether we'd be covered if we couldn't work, a Star Wars bowling alley wedding is reached by a vintage bus full of diesel fumes, a bride wants a portrait walk with her bridesmaids more than with her groom, and Laura gets a new toy camera.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Bee's back
02:05 Pete's table tennis injury
06:43 What if you can't work?
09:16 Too much work
10:49 Invoicing for an extra hour
11:54 Putting overruns in the pre-wedding email
15:29 A bowling alley wedding and a diesel bus
18:02 A portrait walk with six bridesmaids
19:03 Being sociable, and the crash afterwards
24:41 A tiny town hall wedding
28:18 The 2024 trends list
32:22 Videographers are out, content creators are in?
34:54 Bows, feasts and rave caves
41:33 Paid Instagram tiers
46:07 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Pete invoiced a London couple for an extra hour, while Liam has stayed well over his time at three of his last six weddings. Our fix: one line in the pre-wedding email saying overruns are billed by the hour, so nobody has an awkward conversation on the day. We also talk about the exhaustion and crash after a busy wedding, and Liam's coping trick of becoming the most sociable person in the room.
Bee reads out a newspaper's list of wedding trends for the cool bride of 2024: off-season dates, a bag instead of a bouquet, outfit changes, rave caves, VR and, apparently, videographers being out and content creators in. Plus rumoured paid Instagram tiers.
Also: Bee is back, Pete has a table tennis injury, we wonder whether we'd be covered if we couldn't work, a Star Wars bowling alley wedding is reached by a vintage bus full of diesel fumes, a bride wants a portrait walk with her bridesmaids more than with her groom, and Laura gets a new toy camera.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Bee's back
02:05 Pete's table tennis injury
06:43 What if you can't work?
09:16 Too much work
10:49 Invoicing for an extra hour
11:54 Putting overruns in the pre-wedding email
15:29 A bowling alley wedding and a diesel bus
18:02 A portrait walk with six bridesmaids
19:03 Being sociable, and the crash afterwards
24:41 A tiny town hall wedding
28:18 The 2024 trends list
32:22 Videographers are out, content creators are in?
34:54 Bows, feasts and rave caves
41:33 Paid Instagram tiers
46:07 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam finds his calls running longer, but Pete and Laura defend them as the best way to relax a couple and catch timeline problems (like a plan that left half an hour of drinks reception after a bus transfer). Set limits on when you're available, and get a decent webcam. Then a listener asks how to survive four weddings in a row: don't book four, drink water, change your shoes and socks, and look like you're having a great time. Liam reports his rankings falling after Google's core update, and we answer a bride worried about her dress getting dirty (Laura: imagine dragging a duvet around all day. Liam suggests a hover dress).
Plus Liam versus the washing machine, a joyful Surrey wedding with two brides where there was "magic everywhere", Pete and Laura in ball gowns up a ladder for their own family shoot, and where we want to be in ten years.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:03 How does the washing machine work?
10:05 A wedding with magic everywhere
13:06 Local weddings versus five hours away
15:38 Where do we want to be in ten years?
18:43 Our own family shoot, in ball gowns
23:28 Are Zoom calls taking over your evenings?
28:07 Spotting timeline problems on a call
30:39 Setting limits and a good webcam
32:11 How to survive four weddings in a row
40:56 Google's core update
47:41 A bride worried about her dress getting dirty
52:20 TikTok and personality led social media
1:01:00 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam finds his calls running longer, but Pete and Laura defend them as the best way to relax a couple and catch timeline problems (like a plan that left half an hour of drinks reception after a bus transfer). Set limits on when you're available, and get a decent webcam. Then a listener asks how to survive four weddings in a row: don't book four, drink water, change your shoes and socks, and look like you're having a great time. Liam reports his rankings falling after Google's core update, and we answer a bride worried about her dress getting dirty (Laura: imagine dragging a duvet around all day. Liam suggests a hover dress).
Plus Liam versus the washing machine, a joyful Surrey wedding with two brides where there was "magic everywhere", Pete and Laura in ball gowns up a ladder for their own family shoot, and where we want to be in ten years.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:03 How does the washing machine work?
10:05 A wedding with magic everywhere
13:06 Local weddings versus five hours away
15:38 Where do we want to be in ten years?
18:43 Our own family shoot, in ball gowns
23:28 Are Zoom calls taking over your evenings?
28:07 Spotting timeline problems on a call
30:39 Setting limits and a good webcam
32:11 How to survive four weddings in a row
40:56 Google's core update
47:41 A bride worried about her dress getting dirty
52:20 TikTok and personality led social media
1:01:00 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Pete, Laura and Liam debrief a two day Indian wedding in Devon that Liam and Pete shot together: a Haldi in a back garden, a Sangeet full of family performances, a baraat, then an Indian ceremony and an English one the next day. Liam stayed past his hours without billing (Laura suggests a business head might offer to invoice), Pete explains why filming a ceremony where guests wander freely needs three shooters and a drone (so never promise it), and they talk about three first looks in one day. Then a listener question: do you need planners to book higher budget weddings? Most of our planner weddings came from couples who found us first, and big budget couples are no different from anyone else.
Plus an AI written song about the four of us that ends on "a healing balm", Liam's hay fever emergency in the middle of the baraat, 850GB of footage, 30,000 photos, and Coda selling out in 72 hours.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 An AI song about us
01:34 Back from a three day Indian wedding in Devon
02:04 The Haldi
04:35 Staying past your hours
09:38 The Sangeet
13:10 850GB and the fear you missed it
15:11 Three first looks
18:45 The baraat and a hay fever emergency
21:22 Filming a ceremony where guests wander
25:59 Day two: the English ceremony
36:43 30,000 photos and the dance floor
39:48 Do you need planners for higher budgets?
51:03 Coda sells out
54:06 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Pete, Laura and Liam debrief a two day Indian wedding in Devon that Liam and Pete shot together: a Haldi in a back garden, a Sangeet full of family performances, a baraat, then an Indian ceremony and an English one the next day. Liam stayed past his hours without billing (Laura suggests a business head might offer to invoice), Pete explains why filming a ceremony where guests wander freely needs three shooters and a drone (so never promise it), and they talk about three first looks in one day. Then a listener question: do you need planners to book higher budget weddings? Most of our planner weddings came from couples who found us first, and big budget couples are no different from anyone else.
Plus an AI written song about the four of us that ends on "a healing balm", Liam's hay fever emergency in the middle of the baraat, 850GB of footage, 30,000 photos, and Coda selling out in 72 hours.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 An AI song about us
01:34 Back from a three day Indian wedding in Devon
02:04 The Haldi
04:35 Staying past your hours
09:38 The Sangeet
13:10 850GB and the fear you missed it
15:11 Three first looks
18:45 The baraat and a hay fever emergency
21:22 Filming a ceremony where guests wander
25:59 Day two: the English ceremony
36:43 30,000 photos and the dance floor
39:48 Do you need planners for higher budgets?
51:03 Coda sells out
54:06 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Pete and Laura are speaking at Coda, a new videography conference in Birmingham, while Liam explains why he turned down a big three day conference in France: days away from home, a huge amount of prep, and the worry of giving people something they hadn't heard before. Then two posts from Threads. Do photographers under five foot five need a step stool? (We think you can step back and shoot differently, and we lost three stepladders at churches before switching to drones and windows.) And does switching Instagram back to a personal account help your reach? Nobody seems to know what the algorithm does.
Plus electric cars versus the miles wedding work puts on, Pete and Liam's two day Indian wedding in Devon, a Zoom call with a bride and her planner, and Liam's scalp, which turns out to be an accordion of skin.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:30 Sleeping habits
05:33 Liam's wrinkly head
11:08 What everyone did this week
13:44 Electric cars and long wedding drives
15:14 Dealership upsells
17:48 Slow booking forms and an editing pile
19:19 Speaking at Coda in Birmingham
21:49 Why Liam turned down a conference in France
29:26 Do short photographers need a step stool?
35:03 Stepladders, drones and shooting from above
37:08 Does a personal Instagram account help reach?
39:48 New lenses and colour profiles
41:20 A Cotswolds wedding and an Indian wedding in Devon
47:34 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Pete and Laura are speaking at Coda, a new videography conference in Birmingham, while Liam explains why he turned down a big three day conference in France: days away from home, a huge amount of prep, and the worry of giving people something they hadn't heard before. Then two posts from Threads. Do photographers under five foot five need a step stool? (We think you can step back and shoot differently, and we lost three stepladders at churches before switching to drones and windows.) And does switching Instagram back to a personal account help your reach? Nobody seems to know what the algorithm does.
Plus electric cars versus the miles wedding work puts on, Pete and Liam's two day Indian wedding in Devon, a Zoom call with a bride and her planner, and Liam's scalp, which turns out to be an accordion of skin.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:30 Sleeping habits
05:33 Liam's wrinkly head
11:08 What everyone did this week
13:44 Electric cars and long wedding drives
15:14 Dealership upsells
17:48 Slow booking forms and an editing pile
19:19 Speaking at Coda in Birmingham
21:49 Why Liam turned down a conference in France
29:26 Do short photographers need a step stool?
35:03 Stepladders, drones and shooting from above
37:08 Does a personal Instagram account help reach?
39:48 New lenses and colour profiles
41:20 A Cotswolds wedding and an Indian wedding in Devon
47:34 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We wouldn't, and this week we explain why. It isn't really a recommendation if it's paid for, it would push prices up for couples, it would make the venue's own marketing look the same, and the money would go much further on Google Ads. We'd also be wary of any clause that hands a venue rights to your photographs. Then couples who ask for their wedding to be kept private (the worst version is being told after the work is done), and a quarter of the way through the year, what marketing is working: Instagram's own advice, TikTok, a Pinterest audit, and keeping a finger in all the pies.
Plus Bee and Liam's Easter road trip round the North Coast 500 and Skye, and Liam's Spanish wedding where the hire car was too big for the medieval streets, the hotel was booked for the wrong year, and the car scraped a pillar in an underground garage at 3am. He should have got the Punto.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back after Easter
00:30 The North Coast 500 and Skye
04:38 A six hour wedding near Toledo
05:40 A huge hire car and the wrong year's hotel booking
10:13 A quiet Easter and couples who go quiet
12:20 A venue that wants a percentage
14:26 What a recommendation should mean
18:02 Who owns the photographs?
19:09 Why it hurts the venue's own marketing
22:46 Couples who want their wedding kept private
29:59 What marketing is working this year?
30:56 Instagram's advice, hashtags and Threads
33:01 TikTok and Pinterest
35:40 A live 100th episode?
37:00 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We wouldn't, and this week we explain why. It isn't really a recommendation if it's paid for, it would push prices up for couples, it would make the venue's own marketing look the same, and the money would go much further on Google Ads. We'd also be wary of any clause that hands a venue rights to your photographs. Then couples who ask for their wedding to be kept private (the worst version is being told after the work is done), and a quarter of the way through the year, what marketing is working: Instagram's own advice, TikTok, a Pinterest audit, and keeping a finger in all the pies.
Plus Bee and Liam's Easter road trip round the North Coast 500 and Skye, and Liam's Spanish wedding where the hire car was too big for the medieval streets, the hotel was booked for the wrong year, and the car scraped a pillar in an underground garage at 3am. He should have got the Punto.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back after Easter
00:30 The North Coast 500 and Skye
04:38 A six hour wedding near Toledo
05:40 A huge hire car and the wrong year's hotel booking
10:13 A quiet Easter and couples who go quiet
12:20 A venue that wants a percentage
14:26 What a recommendation should mean
18:02 Who owns the photographs?
19:09 Why it hurts the venue's own marketing
22:46 Couples who want their wedding kept private
29:59 What marketing is working this year?
30:56 Instagram's advice, hashtags and Threads
33:01 TikTok and Pinterest
35:40 A live 100th episode?
37:00 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A thread in an industry group asks the question, and nearly all of us say no. The flexibility, the creativity and the pride of earning every penny yourself outweigh pensions and paid holidays, even if the job is unpredictable and we're not sure what our transferable skills would be. (Bee lasted a month in a marketing job, and you can't watch Real Housewives at work.) Towards the end, filmmaker Jeff Wood drops in unannounced. He's tracked down a content creator to find out how she works (deliberately casual, more like a friend than a professional, delivered the next day), and now he wants to shoot a whole wedding on a phone.
Plus Liam books a hotel near a London wedding that turns out to be in Oxford (chase that questionnaire), engagement shoots that turn into micro weddings and a party in Rio, an after party in a cave at Middleton Lodge, and an older guest who wanted to know if Liam earned enough.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:36 The London wedding that was in Oxford
06:44 An engagement shoot that led to Rio
09:16 An anniversary shoot at Tower Bridge
11:21 A road trip round Scotland coming up
14:23 A cave after party at Middleton Lodge
19:30 Would you swap for a nine to five?
22:01 Bee's month in a marketing job
23:32 Pride, routine and creativity
28:38 Do guests think we're doing alright?
30:10 Hours worked, and the verdict
33:12 Highs and lows of the week
40:53 Jeff Wood drops in
42:29 How content creators work
45:03 Shooting a wedding on a phone
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A thread in an industry group asks the question, and nearly all of us say no. The flexibility, the creativity and the pride of earning every penny yourself outweigh pensions and paid holidays, even if the job is unpredictable and we're not sure what our transferable skills would be. (Bee lasted a month in a marketing job, and you can't watch Real Housewives at work.) Towards the end, filmmaker Jeff Wood drops in unannounced. He's tracked down a content creator to find out how she works (deliberately casual, more like a friend than a professional, delivered the next day), and now he wants to shoot a whole wedding on a phone.
Plus Liam books a hotel near a London wedding that turns out to be in Oxford (chase that questionnaire), engagement shoots that turn into micro weddings and a party in Rio, an after party in a cave at Middleton Lodge, and an older guest who wanted to know if Liam earned enough.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:36 The London wedding that was in Oxford
06:44 An engagement shoot that led to Rio
09:16 An anniversary shoot at Tower Bridge
11:21 A road trip round Scotland coming up
14:23 A cave after party at Middleton Lodge
19:30 Would you swap for a nine to five?
22:01 Bee's month in a marketing job
23:32 Pride, routine and creativity
28:38 Do guests think we're doing alright?
30:10 Hours worked, and the verdict
33:12 Highs and lows of the week
40:53 Jeff Wood drops in
42:29 How content creators work
45:03 Shooting a wedding on a phone
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Pete and Laura said no once, then shot the wedding at full price anyway, and the posts that tagged them brought in exactly zero enquiries. Our view: it rarely works unless the person is genuinely famous and the work suits your brand, and free weddings come with pressure. Imagine spending the same on Google Ads for a few days instead. Then a venue bans smoke bombs, flares and confetti (fine on the smoke bombs, but a confetti ban is miserable), and a bride wants to pay her balance after the wedding. We'd shoot it but not edit until it's paid, and a friendly phone call beats an officious email.
Before that, Liam's back from Iceland after a Golden Circle tour with the wedding party, fermented shark (an ammonia hit, chased with Icelandic vodka), a waterfall wedding in weather that changes every two minutes, and an ultra-Orthodox wedding in London the week before. Plus eighteen Easter eggs won at school bingo.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:03 A 13 hour wedding in London
04:11 Eighteen Easter eggs at bingo
06:12 Iceland: the Golden Circle with the wedding party
07:44 Fermented shark
10:20 A wedding by a waterfall
20:07 Should you discount for an influencer?
23:12 What happened when we did the wedding
27:18 Who really sees these posts?
28:21 Celebrity weddings versus influencer weddings
31:26 Free weddings come with pressure
32:26 A venue bans confetti and smoke bombs
39:39 Paying the balance after the wedding
45:13 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Pete and Laura said no once, then shot the wedding at full price anyway, and the posts that tagged them brought in exactly zero enquiries. Our view: it rarely works unless the person is genuinely famous and the work suits your brand, and free weddings come with pressure. Imagine spending the same on Google Ads for a few days instead. Then a venue bans smoke bombs, flares and confetti (fine on the smoke bombs, but a confetti ban is miserable), and a bride wants to pay her balance after the wedding. We'd shoot it but not edit until it's paid, and a friendly phone call beats an officious email.
Before that, Liam's back from Iceland after a Golden Circle tour with the wedding party, fermented shark (an ammonia hit, chased with Icelandic vodka), a waterfall wedding in weather that changes every two minutes, and an ultra-Orthodox wedding in London the week before. Plus eighteen Easter eggs won at school bingo.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:03 A 13 hour wedding in London
04:11 Eighteen Easter eggs at bingo
06:12 Iceland: the Golden Circle with the wedding party
07:44 Fermented shark
10:20 A wedding by a waterfall
20:07 Should you discount for an influencer?
23:12 What happened when we did the wedding
27:18 Who really sees these posts?
28:21 Celebrity weddings versus influencer weddings
31:26 Free weddings come with pressure
32:26 A venue bans confetti and smoke bombs
39:39 Paying the balance after the wedding
45:13 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>The couple never spoke to us, but were told we were the top choice, then booked a content creator instead. Bee's view: alongside, not instead of, because a wedding film is something you show your grandchildren. Do we all need to offer quick social content now? Then a venue drops its recommended supplier list and pushes just two photographers with a discount for couples. Is paying a venue worth it? Who does it lock out? And what's the risk of relying on one venue? The second half is about self-care in a busy season: gratitude lists, daytime baths, cross stitch, walks, a hobby that isn't on a screen, scheduling days off, and caring slightly less.
Plus Pete's camera bag anxiety dream, Bee's 1,500 image edit, a rude reply to a gallery request (this is not X Factor), a new networking hub for photographers and videographers, and the moment we realised we're old: a really nice jar of chickpeas.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Liam's not here
02:31 Wedding anxiety dreams
05:36 The edit backlog
12:46 Losing a wedding to a content creator
14:18 Do we all need to be content creators?
17:27 We'd love a content creator on the podcast
18:30 A venue that only recommends two photographers
21:35 Relying on one venue
24:36 Have you shot my venue? And a rude gallery reply
26:40 Self-care in a busy season
28:40 Fresh air, routines and gratitude lists
31:12 Baths, cross stitch, walks and hobbies
34:15 Scheduling days off
37:20 A networking hub
40:21 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>The couple never spoke to us, but were told we were the top choice, then booked a content creator instead. Bee's view: alongside, not instead of, because a wedding film is something you show your grandchildren. Do we all need to offer quick social content now? Then a venue drops its recommended supplier list and pushes just two photographers with a discount for couples. Is paying a venue worth it? Who does it lock out? And what's the risk of relying on one venue? The second half is about self-care in a busy season: gratitude lists, daytime baths, cross stitch, walks, a hobby that isn't on a screen, scheduling days off, and caring slightly less.
Plus Pete's camera bag anxiety dream, Bee's 1,500 image edit, a rude reply to a gallery request (this is not X Factor), a new networking hub for photographers and videographers, and the moment we realised we're old: a really nice jar of chickpeas.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Liam's not here
02:31 Wedding anxiety dreams
05:36 The edit backlog
12:46 Losing a wedding to a content creator
14:18 Do we all need to be content creators?
17:27 We'd love a content creator on the podcast
18:30 A venue that only recommends two photographers
21:35 Relying on one venue
24:36 Have you shot my venue? And a rude gallery reply
26:40 Self-care in a busy season
28:40 Fresh air, routines and gratitude lists
31:12 Baths, cross stitch, walks and hobbies
34:15 Scheduling days off
37:20 A networking hub
40:21 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>None of us has worked alongside one yet, and we're mostly relaxed about it. Couples want something to post on the day, which is fair, so we talk about AI culling a quick preview set for the night, strapping a phone or GoPro on, and whether anyone would pay for one week delivery (Liam and Bee offer it, and nobody has ever taken it). We also cover Liam and Bee moving around 90 website pages before their theme support ends, Liam's Google rankings slipping since an algorithm change while sites with hardly any backlinks jump to page one, and a webinar on expertise, experience, authority and trust. Plus the eternal question: should photographers eat the canapés?
Also: a two hour evangelical ceremony in London (nobody saved Liam a donut), a bride whose name kept setting off Laura's smart speaker while she edited, Liam's plan to get from a 300 guest wedding in London to a tour bus in Reykjavik, and Liam trying to sell his underwater housing live on air.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 An afternoon recording and a postponed dinner party
01:32 A two hour evangelical ceremony
03:34 Should photographers eat canapes?
05:07 Moving a 90 page website
09:15 Google rankings slipping
12:51 Is SEO dead?
14:51 The budget and the VAT threshold
18:30 A bride's name and a smart speaker
20:33 From London to a tour bus in Reykjavik
22:04 A new camera and an underwater housing for sale
26:08 An anamorphic lens at weddings
28:11 What do we think of content creators?
30:14 AI culling and instant previews
37:53 Speed, Gen Z and one week delivery
40:58 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>None of us has worked alongside one yet, and we're mostly relaxed about it. Couples want something to post on the day, which is fair, so we talk about AI culling a quick preview set for the night, strapping a phone or GoPro on, and whether anyone would pay for one week delivery (Liam and Bee offer it, and nobody has ever taken it). We also cover Liam and Bee moving around 90 website pages before their theme support ends, Liam's Google rankings slipping since an algorithm change while sites with hardly any backlinks jump to page one, and a webinar on expertise, experience, authority and trust. Plus the eternal question: should photographers eat the canapés?
Also: a two hour evangelical ceremony in London (nobody saved Liam a donut), a bride whose name kept setting off Laura's smart speaker while she edited, Liam's plan to get from a 300 guest wedding in London to a tour bus in Reykjavik, and Liam trying to sell his underwater housing live on air.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 An afternoon recording and a postponed dinner party
01:32 A two hour evangelical ceremony
03:34 Should photographers eat canapes?
05:07 Moving a 90 page website
09:15 Google rankings slipping
12:51 Is SEO dead?
14:51 The budget and the VAT threshold
18:30 A bride's name and a smart speaker
20:33 From London to a tour bus in Reykjavik
22:04 A new camera and an underwater housing for sale
26:08 An anamorphic lens at weddings
28:11 What do we think of content creators?
30:14 AI culling and instant previews
37:53 Speed, Gen Z and one week delivery
40:58 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A listener asks whether the editorial luxury look (blur, direct flash, walking portraits) comes from photographers copying each other, planners, or couples, and whether ignoring trends makes you look dated. We point to celebrity weddings, think most trends are driven by demand, and land on: dabble, sprinkle, but don't flood your website, and shoot what you love. We also predict next year's comeback trends (spot colour, sepia and Dutch angles), and Liam hears why a couple chose another photographer: every photo emanated joy. Then second shooter etiquette after the wedding: sharing images, tagging, posting before the lead, business cards and reviews, and why it all needs agreeing up front.
Plus Liam drives six hours for a London portrait shoot with a couple marrying in Trinidad and Tobago (tip: always ask a portrait couple where they're getting married), and a wedding car that took everyone on a scenic route, leaving the group shots on tiny hotel balconies.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Bee's back
09:45 Bookings rolling in again
11:16 A London shoot for a Trinidad and Tobago wedding
14:21 A late wedding car and group shots on balconies
17:27 Where do trends come from?
18:29 What does editorial even look like?
23:05 Is it fine to follow a trend?
24:38 Dabble, don't flood your website
26:08 Every photo emanated joy
27:39 Direct flash for dancing and details
32:18 Next year's trends: spot colour and sepia
39:02 Second shooter etiquette
44:07 Reviews and posting before the lead
47:44 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A listener asks whether the editorial luxury look (blur, direct flash, walking portraits) comes from photographers copying each other, planners, or couples, and whether ignoring trends makes you look dated. We point to celebrity weddings, think most trends are driven by demand, and land on: dabble, sprinkle, but don't flood your website, and shoot what you love. We also predict next year's comeback trends (spot colour, sepia and Dutch angles), and Liam hears why a couple chose another photographer: every photo emanated joy. Then second shooter etiquette after the wedding: sharing images, tagging, posting before the lead, business cards and reviews, and why it all needs agreeing up front.
Plus Liam drives six hours for a London portrait shoot with a couple marrying in Trinidad and Tobago (tip: always ask a portrait couple where they're getting married), and a wedding car that took everyone on a scenic route, leaving the group shots on tiny hotel balconies.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Bee's back
09:45 Bookings rolling in again
11:16 A London shoot for a Trinidad and Tobago wedding
14:21 A late wedding car and group shots on balconies
17:27 Where do trends come from?
18:29 What does editorial even look like?
23:05 Is it fine to follow a trend?
24:38 Dabble, don't flood your website
26:08 Every photo emanated joy
27:39 Direct flash for dancing and details
32:18 Next year's trends: spot colour and sepia
39:02 Second shooter etiquette
44:07 Reviews and posting before the lead
47:44 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>It's just Pete and Laura this week. A radio phone-in about clergy being rude to wedding photographers gets us talking. Most vicars and priests are lovely, but Pete tells the story of the vicar who allowed him four photos and then told him off over the microphone mid-ceremony (on his 30th birthday). We've come round to feeling less responsible for winning people over: if the church ceremony matters to a couple, they need to check the photography rules first. We also wonder whether some vicar horror stories are an urban myth, since the same one keeps turning up almost word for word. Then the dates you book off: Silverstone, birthdays, school holidays, and a regret about missing friends' weddings in our first ten years because we were working.
Plus finishing the Lawson Film School workshops, a technical answer about one or two videographers that Laura calls a TED talk, Pete's first photography crush in years, and Pete falling over in a table tennis match and refusing the forfeit.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:32 Formula One season and Drive to Survive
04:34 Lawson Film School workshops
08:09 A TED talk on one or two videographers
10:42 A new photography crush
17:58 The radio phone-in about difficult vicars
21:38 Negotiating a spot in church
23:40 The vicar on Pete's 30th birthday
30:49 Feeling less responsible over time
34:57 Are vicar horror stories an urban myth?
38:30 Should you refuse church weddings?
46:20 Which dates do you book off?
55:38 Missing friends' weddings
1:04:17 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>It's just Pete and Laura this week. A radio phone-in about clergy being rude to wedding photographers gets us talking. Most vicars and priests are lovely, but Pete tells the story of the vicar who allowed him four photos and then told him off over the microphone mid-ceremony (on his 30th birthday). We've come round to feeling less responsible for winning people over: if the church ceremony matters to a couple, they need to check the photography rules first. We also wonder whether some vicar horror stories are an urban myth, since the same one keeps turning up almost word for word. Then the dates you book off: Silverstone, birthdays, school holidays, and a regret about missing friends' weddings in our first ten years because we were working.
Plus finishing the Lawson Film School workshops, a technical answer about one or two videographers that Laura calls a TED talk, Pete's first photography crush in years, and Pete falling over in a table tennis match and refusing the forfeit.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:32 Formula One season and Drive to Survive
04:34 Lawson Film School workshops
08:09 A TED talk on one or two videographers
10:42 A new photography crush
17:58 The radio phone-in about difficult vicars
21:38 Negotiating a spot in church
23:40 The vicar on Pete's 30th birthday
30:49 Feeling less responsible over time
34:57 Are vicar horror stories an urban myth?
38:30 Should you refuse church weddings?
46:20 Which dates do you book off?
55:38 Missing friends' weddings
1:04:17 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Recording on a half term break in Shropshire, we admit we have this conversation every year and never do it. Instead we've picked up a run of micro weddings for February and March, and we think a quiet month price is fine as long as the package changes too. We also talk about fixed hours versus all day coverage, couples who ask whether you've shot their venue before (nobody asks the caterers if they've cooked in that kitchen), and requests to see full galleries. Then we read a 2024 wedding photography trends list: blur, disposable cameras, drones, film, direct flash, under the veil. Nearly all of it is retro, so why is everything nostalgic? And what does fully booked mean, now that so many photographers want fewer weddings?
Plus ghostly noises in the holiday house, a new EU travel authorisation for destination weddings, and Liam's mooing game: guess the region from the cow's accent.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Half term in Shropshire
04:05 Ghosts in the holiday house
06:37 Bookings while on holiday
07:08 Should you offer a winter discount?
08:41 Micro weddings instead
10:12 Is discounting fair?
12:13 All day coverage or fixed hours?
15:52 Have you shot our venue before?
17:55 Requests to see full galleries
22:00 New EU travel rules for destination weddings
24:01 The 2024 trends list
29:05 Film photography, then and now
33:09 Direct flash, and why everything's nostalgic
38:49 What does fully booked mean?
46:37 The mooing game
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Recording on a half term break in Shropshire, we admit we have this conversation every year and never do it. Instead we've picked up a run of micro weddings for February and March, and we think a quiet month price is fine as long as the package changes too. We also talk about fixed hours versus all day coverage, couples who ask whether you've shot their venue before (nobody asks the caterers if they've cooked in that kitchen), and requests to see full galleries. Then we read a 2024 wedding photography trends list: blur, disposable cameras, drones, film, direct flash, under the veil. Nearly all of it is retro, so why is everything nostalgic? And what does fully booked mean, now that so many photographers want fewer weddings?
Plus ghostly noises in the holiday house, a new EU travel authorisation for destination weddings, and Liam's mooing game: guess the region from the cow's accent.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Half term in Shropshire
04:05 Ghosts in the holiday house
06:37 Bookings while on holiday
07:08 Should you offer a winter discount?
08:41 Micro weddings instead
10:12 Is discounting fair?
12:13 All day coverage or fixed hours?
15:52 Have you shot our venue before?
17:55 Requests to see full galleries
22:00 New EU travel rules for destination weddings
24:01 The 2024 trends list
29:05 Film photography, then and now
33:09 Direct flash, and why everything's nostalgic
38:49 What does fully booked mean?
46:37 The mooing game
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Back after three weeks off, we look at the state of the market: January bookings, the people posting their enquiry and booking numbers, and why comparing yourself to the extremes is a weird distraction. If your diary is thin, do you cut prices or spend on ads? We hear about someone who booked sixty weddings over two years with Facebook ads, a short subtitled clip of a bride's dad that brought in instant enquiries, and why TikTok and Instagram are turning into search engines. Then being dropped from a venue's recommended supplier list, and why self-employed people take rejection so personally (if you sacked a window cleaner, they'd take it personally too).
Also featured - Liam's styled shoot in a Scottish country house with a piper and a falcon, Bee's night in a haunted chapel, listeners at our workshop who couldn't work out who was who, and a very large sausage in Bishop's Castle.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Happy new year, in February
03:02 A styled shoot with a piper and a falcon
06:38 A night in a haunted chapel
09:42 Who's who at the workshop
11:14 How the workshop went
14:50 An ask us anything episode?
23:31 The hardest person in the wedding industry
28:06 Nearly caught up on editing
31:50 The February panic
33:21 Don't compare yourself with the extremes
35:26 Cut prices or advertise?
38:06 Short clips that bring enquiries
42:13 Dropped from a venue's recommended list
45:49 Why we take rejection personally
49:22 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Back after three weeks off, we look at the state of the market: January bookings, the people posting their enquiry and booking numbers, and why comparing yourself to the extremes is a weird distraction. If your diary is thin, do you cut prices or spend on ads? We hear about someone who booked sixty weddings over two years with Facebook ads, a short subtitled clip of a bride's dad that brought in instant enquiries, and why TikTok and Instagram are turning into search engines. Then being dropped from a venue's recommended supplier list, and why self-employed people take rejection so personally (if you sacked a window cleaner, they'd take it personally too).
Also featured - Liam's styled shoot in a Scottish country house with a piper and a falcon, Bee's night in a haunted chapel, listeners at our workshop who couldn't work out who was who, and a very large sausage in Bishop's Castle.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Happy new year, in February
03:02 A styled shoot with a piper and a falcon
06:38 A night in a haunted chapel
09:42 Who's who at the workshop
11:14 How the workshop went
14:50 An ask us anything episode?
23:31 The hardest person in the wedding industry
28:06 Nearly caught up on editing
31:50 The February panic
33:21 Don't compare yourself with the extremes
35:26 Cut prices or advertise?
38:06 Short clips that bring enquiries
42:13 Dropped from a venue's recommended list
45:49 Why we take rejection personally
49:22 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Bee spotted the question in a Facebook group, and we agree you stand behind your choice. You can't judge a second shooter from their online portfolio until you've seen their raw files, and plenty of couples assume a second shooter does half the day when the lead does nearly all of it. (Maybe call them an assistant? Laura suggests "the work experience kid".) We also talk about what goes in a preview (Pete sends 80 photos, Bee would never send 200), Bee blogging forty old weddings before Liam can do it with three photos of a flower, and a destination planner whose weddings run to six figures but who says she's not in the luxury bracket.
Liam arrives late from the gym (he's so busy), gets a new Instagram for motorbikes and landscapes, and loses a battle with a shed dehumidifier.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Where's Liam? He's so busy
02:04 Infrared blankets and acupressure mats
03:37 Previews and slideshows
05:10 Blogging forty old weddings
13:23 Liam arrives
17:29 A chat with a destination planner
21:36 Can a couple veto your second shooter?
23:37 When couples do ask
25:41 A second shooter isn't fifty fifty
27:50 Standing behind your second shooter
34:24 Website hosting headaches
36:57 A new Instagram for bikes and landscapes
41:59 The shed dehumidifier saga
43:29 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Bee spotted the question in a Facebook group, and we agree you stand behind your choice. You can't judge a second shooter from their online portfolio until you've seen their raw files, and plenty of couples assume a second shooter does half the day when the lead does nearly all of it. (Maybe call them an assistant? Laura suggests "the work experience kid".) We also talk about what goes in a preview (Pete sends 80 photos, Bee would never send 200), Bee blogging forty old weddings before Liam can do it with three photos of a flower, and a destination planner whose weddings run to six figures but who says she's not in the luxury bracket.
Liam arrives late from the gym (he's so busy), gets a new Instagram for motorbikes and landscapes, and loses a battle with a shed dehumidifier.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Where's Liam? He's so busy
02:04 Infrared blankets and acupressure mats
03:37 Previews and slideshows
05:10 Blogging forty old weddings
13:23 Liam arrives
17:29 A chat with a destination planner
21:36 Can a couple veto your second shooter?
23:37 When couples do ask
25:41 A second shooter isn't fifty fifty
27:50 Standing behind your second shooter
34:24 Website hosting headaches
36:57 A new Instagram for bikes and landscapes
41:59 The shed dehumidifier saga
43:29 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our first episode of 2024, we talk about working when you're not at your best. How ill is too ill to shoot? It used to be you would turn up to a wedding half dead. Broken ankles weren't a good enough excuse. Now Liam and Laura say things have changed since COVID, and now it's more acceptable to hand it off to a friend when you're ill or injured. We also cover taking bookings between Christmas and New Year, turning down back to back weddings at opposite ends of the country, the "showtime face" that doesn't always work, and a photographer who shot a wedding from a wheelchair. Then goals for the year: a few more bookings, a website rebuild, and an inflation calculator that shows how much less a 2019 price is worth now.
Plus Pete's New Year's Eve wedding where photos weren't allowed in the church (he caught the first kiss from the back row anyway), a last minute videographer floodlighting the walk from church, noise reduction at ISO 12,800, and Liam keeping Father Christmas alive with tinsel footprints.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Happy New Year
03:06 Twixmas shoots and a New Year's Eve wedding
07:08 No photos allowed in the church
11:44 A floodlit walk from church
14:18 A black marquee reception
15:51 Culling dark weddings and noise reduction
17:57 Should you work between Christmas and New Year?
20:59 Back to back weddings in different parts of the country
23:33 The showtime face
27:06 Covering weddings for friends
30:11 Being ill at a wedding
39:59 Work goals for 2024
44:35 Tracking bookings and inflation
50:09 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our first episode of 2024, we talk about working when you're not at your best. How ill is too ill to shoot? It used to be you would turn up to a wedding half dead. Broken ankles weren't a good enough excuse. Now Liam and Laura say things have changed since COVID, and now it's more acceptable to hand it off to a friend when you're ill or injured. We also cover taking bookings between Christmas and New Year, turning down back to back weddings at opposite ends of the country, the "showtime face" that doesn't always work, and a photographer who shot a wedding from a wheelchair. Then goals for the year: a few more bookings, a website rebuild, and an inflation calculator that shows how much less a 2019 price is worth now.
Plus Pete's New Year's Eve wedding where photos weren't allowed in the church (he caught the first kiss from the back row anyway), a last minute videographer floodlighting the walk from church, noise reduction at ISO 12,800, and Liam keeping Father Christmas alive with tinsel footprints.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Happy New Year
03:06 Twixmas shoots and a New Year's Eve wedding
07:08 No photos allowed in the church
11:44 A floodlit walk from church
14:18 A black marquee reception
15:51 Culling dark weddings and noise reduction
17:57 Should you work between Christmas and New Year?
20:59 Back to back weddings in different parts of the country
23:33 The showtime face
27:06 Covering weddings for friends
30:11 Being ill at a wedding
39:59 Work goals for 2024
44:35 Tracking bookings and inflation
50:09 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our end of year round up, we agree it was the most uncertain year of our careers: no patterns, a long slow patch from March to September, then a rush. We talk about why holidays matter (our Jamaica trip around a wedding was one of the highlights), why working 50 or 60 hours gets less done than 30 or 40, how many weddings feels right, keeping a mix of photo and video, and our goals for 2024: more adventures, better balance, destination weddings, and maybe a camper van.
Before that, Bee is back from a yoga and surf retreat in Sri Lanka (she managed about thirty seconds standing on the board) that she says was like group therapy, and Liam and Bee recorded a two and a half hour interview for another podcast.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Bee's back from Sri Lanka
05:03 Learning to surf
06:04 A retreat that felt like group therapy
13:09 Two and a half hours on another podcast
16:10 Bookings this week
21:22 Our 2023 review
22:57 Working less and getting more done
24:59 The most uncertain year
26:29 How many weddings is right?
31:32 Highlights of the year
36:37 The hard parts of the year
38:40 Goals for 2024
48:01 Destination weddings for 2024
50:03 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our end of year round up, we agree it was the most uncertain year of our careers: no patterns, a long slow patch from March to September, then a rush. We talk about why holidays matter (our Jamaica trip around a wedding was one of the highlights), why working 50 or 60 hours gets less done than 30 or 40, how many weddings feels right, keeping a mix of photo and video, and our goals for 2024: more adventures, better balance, destination weddings, and maybe a camper van.
Before that, Bee is back from a yoga and surf retreat in Sri Lanka (she managed about thirty seconds standing on the board) that she says was like group therapy, and Liam and Bee recorded a two and a half hour interview for another podcast.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Bee's back from Sri Lanka
05:03 Learning to surf
06:04 A retreat that felt like group therapy
13:09 Two and a half hours on another podcast
16:10 Bookings this week
21:22 Our 2023 review
22:57 Working less and getting more done
24:59 The most uncertain year
26:29 How many weddings is right?
31:32 Highlights of the year
36:37 The hard parts of the year
38:40 Goals for 2024
48:01 Destination weddings for 2024
50:03 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Laura and Bee away, Pete and Liam talk reviews. As one old industry book put it, wedding photography is basically retail, and sooner or later you'll get a crank. Their advice: if you miss something or make a mistake, tell the couple on the day and say sorry, because that's mostly what people want to hear. Use your pre-wedding questionnaire to ask about must-have shots and important people who aren't obvious (Pete learned this from a groom's sister he nearly missed). And if a stray one star review does land, bury it under genuine five star ones. They also compare next year's bookings, agree that cutting prices isn't the answer to the cost of living squeeze, and explain why one big directory ranks above everyone in search.
Then a kit geek-out: EF lenses on an adapter versus going all in on RF, why mirrorless is a lifesaver at dark winter weddings, the cheap plastic 50mm, and well-worn holsters. Plus a father who complained about shallow depth of field in a dark winter barn, how to get the groom's reaction as the bride walks in, and Liam solo parenting while Bee's in Sri Lanka.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Liam's solo parenting week
09:07 Next year's bookings
10:42 Why cutting prices isn't the answer
15:17 How reviews and directories dominate search
21:58 How a bad review feels
25:36 Be upfront and say sorry
29:11 Tell the couple on the day
33:21 Getting the groom's reaction
36:00 The pre-wedding questionnaire
41:38 A complaint about depth of field
46:42 Burying a bad review
47:15 EF or RF lenses?
51:26 Mirrorless for dark winter weddings
1:03:11 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Laura and Bee away, Pete and Liam talk reviews. As one old industry book put it, wedding photography is basically retail, and sooner or later you'll get a crank. Their advice: if you miss something or make a mistake, tell the couple on the day and say sorry, because that's mostly what people want to hear. Use your pre-wedding questionnaire to ask about must-have shots and important people who aren't obvious (Pete learned this from a groom's sister he nearly missed). And if a stray one star review does land, bury it under genuine five star ones. They also compare next year's bookings, agree that cutting prices isn't the answer to the cost of living squeeze, and explain why one big directory ranks above everyone in search.
Then a kit geek-out: EF lenses on an adapter versus going all in on RF, why mirrorless is a lifesaver at dark winter weddings, the cheap plastic 50mm, and well-worn holsters. Plus a father who complained about shallow depth of field in a dark winter barn, how to get the groom's reaction as the bride walks in, and Liam solo parenting while Bee's in Sri Lanka.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Liam's solo parenting week
09:07 Next year's bookings
10:42 Why cutting prices isn't the answer
15:17 How reviews and directories dominate search
21:58 How a bad review feels
25:36 Be upfront and say sorry
29:11 Tell the couple on the day
33:21 Getting the groom's reaction
36:00 The pre-wedding questionnaire
41:38 A complaint about depth of field
46:42 Burying a bad review
47:15 EF or RF lenses?
51:26 Mirrorless for dark winter weddings
1:03:11 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Our answer: don't justify, and definitely don't run anyone else down. Ask which work speaks to them, suggest a Zoom so they can see who they connect with, and stay positive, because sounding defensive makes you seem less of a luxury. (Laura's version: book the one that sparks joy.) Then a less cheerful one. If something happened to you tomorrow, would your couples still get their photos and films? Who has the passwords, the tax logins, the files? And with Gen Z couples arriving and Instagram engagement falling, is it time for TikTok? Liam shares his five minute reel routine.
Plus Pete's science lesson on white tea, Liam winterising his motorbike with a spray NASA apparently uses, Bee's 117 open browser tabs, and Pete's wedding where both cameras silently stopped recording during the speeches (it was fine).
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Hamstrings and flexibility
05:07 Matcha rules and white tea science
10:16 A last minute wedding in freezing weather
12:51 Motorbikes, hobbies and 117 browser tabs
16:28 True crime and old video games
20:31 How do you justify being more expensive?
22:04 Don't justify, ask what speaks to them
25:09 Suggest a Zoom
26:09 Where do you want to sit in the market?
28:13 What happens to your clients if you die?
34:46 Gen Z couples and falling Instagram engagement
39:52 Liam's five minute reel routine
41:28 End of season fatigue
46:35 Highs and lows of the week
57:17 Both cameras stopped during a speech
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Our answer: don't justify, and definitely don't run anyone else down. Ask which work speaks to them, suggest a Zoom so they can see who they connect with, and stay positive, because sounding defensive makes you seem less of a luxury. (Laura's version: book the one that sparks joy.) Then a less cheerful one. If something happened to you tomorrow, would your couples still get their photos and films? Who has the passwords, the tax logins, the files? And with Gen Z couples arriving and Instagram engagement falling, is it time for TikTok? Liam shares his five minute reel routine.
Plus Pete's science lesson on white tea, Liam winterising his motorbike with a spray NASA apparently uses, Bee's 117 open browser tabs, and Pete's wedding where both cameras silently stopped recording during the speeches (it was fine).
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Hamstrings and flexibility
05:07 Matcha rules and white tea science
10:16 A last minute wedding in freezing weather
12:51 Motorbikes, hobbies and 117 browser tabs
16:28 True crime and old video games
20:31 How do you justify being more expensive?
22:04 Don't justify, ask what speaks to them
25:09 Suggest a Zoom
26:09 Where do you want to sit in the market?
28:13 What happens to your clients if you die?
34:46 Gen Z couples and falling Instagram engagement
39:52 Liam's five minute reel routine
41:28 End of season fatigue
46:35 Highs and lows of the week
57:17 Both cameras stopped during a speech
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week Bee reads out the posts doing the rounds in the industry groups. Does sharing your edit queue (names and order) make you look behind, or is it just honest? Most of us like it, and you'll notice nobody posts one when they're behind. Are some videographers lazy and just riding on the photographer's portraits? We explain why filming is quieter and more observational than photography, and why the finished film is what you're paid for. Then deposits and payment schedules, how to show your prices (PDF, hidden page or in the email), and why your emails are landing in spam. Pete explains SPF, DKIM and DMARC, and we find someone has been sending emails pretending to be us.
Plus surviving a loud industry night out with five minute catch-ups, couples who never reply to their gallery, and the best group shot Pete ever took, from a church balcony.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Lost voices after an industry night out
03:03 How to survive a networking night
05:04 A four hour wedding at Holmes Mill
13:14 Should you share your edit queue?
17:23 Why we like edit queues
20:31 Are some videographers lazy?
23:03 Working alongside the photographer during portraits
26:06 Quiet filming versus directing
28:38 Changing gallery platforms
34:12 How much deposit?
36:18 How to present your prices
37:19 Why your emails go to spam
42:27 Couples who don't reply to their gallery
48:05 Group shots from a church balcony
51:45 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week Bee reads out the posts doing the rounds in the industry groups. Does sharing your edit queue (names and order) make you look behind, or is it just honest? Most of us like it, and you'll notice nobody posts one when they're behind. Are some videographers lazy and just riding on the photographer's portraits? We explain why filming is quieter and more observational than photography, and why the finished film is what you're paid for. Then deposits and payment schedules, how to show your prices (PDF, hidden page or in the email), and why your emails are landing in spam. Pete explains SPF, DKIM and DMARC, and we find someone has been sending emails pretending to be us.
Plus surviving a loud industry night out with five minute catch-ups, couples who never reply to their gallery, and the best group shot Pete ever took, from a church balcony.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Lost voices after an industry night out
03:03 How to survive a networking night
05:04 A four hour wedding at Holmes Mill
13:14 Should you share your edit queue?
17:23 Why we like edit queues
20:31 Are some videographers lazy?
23:03 Working alongside the photographer during portraits
26:06 Quiet filming versus directing
28:38 Changing gallery platforms
34:12 How much deposit?
36:18 How to present your prices
37:19 Why your emails go to spam
42:27 Couples who don't reply to their gallery
48:05 Group shots from a church balcony
51:45 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam walks through the hardest light of his 21 years. Video lights would spoil the atmosphere, on-camera flash had nowhere to bounce, and off-camera flash would go off like a bomb, so he shot five hours at 1/60 and ISO 12,800 to 25,000. What would the rest of us have done? (Direct flash like a disposable camera, or a bit of everything.) We also talk about what we do after a wedding, Pete's own disaster at a rainy marquee wedding, and the money side: spreading payments in instalments, deposits for destination weddings that need flights booked early, and why Bee and Laura dropped card payments after adding up the fees.
Plus fake Christmas in the Yorkshire Dales, cheap vintage lenses, toy film cameras and a nineties Olympus, and a stack of lenses for "macro landscapes".
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
04:35 Liam's hardest wedding
05:42 The darkest room he's ever seen
06:43 Why video lights and flash wouldn't work
08:44 Five hours at ISO 25,000
10:15 What would we have done?
17:29 Pete's rainy marquee disaster
19:00 Fast primes and mirrorless
22:41 What do you do after a wedding?
27:47 Payment instalments
29:48 Deposits for destination weddings
31:18 Card payments and fees
34:00 Vintage lenses and toy cameras
40:05 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam walks through the hardest light of his 21 years. Video lights would spoil the atmosphere, on-camera flash had nowhere to bounce, and off-camera flash would go off like a bomb, so he shot five hours at 1/60 and ISO 12,800 to 25,000. What would the rest of us have done? (Direct flash like a disposable camera, or a bit of everything.) We also talk about what we do after a wedding, Pete's own disaster at a rainy marquee wedding, and the money side: spreading payments in instalments, deposits for destination weddings that need flights booked early, and why Bee and Laura dropped card payments after adding up the fees.
Plus fake Christmas in the Yorkshire Dales, cheap vintage lenses, toy film cameras and a nineties Olympus, and a stack of lenses for "macro landscapes".
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
04:35 Liam's hardest wedding
05:42 The darkest room he's ever seen
06:43 Why video lights and flash wouldn't work
08:44 Five hours at ISO 25,000
10:15 What would we have done?
17:29 Pete's rainy marquee disaster
19:00 Fast primes and mirrorless
22:41 What do you do after a wedding?
27:47 Payment instalments
29:48 Deposits for destination weddings
31:18 Card payments and fees
34:00 Vintage lenses and toy cameras
40:05 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Laura thinks replying without the price is "so weird", and we all agree nobody has the patience for long emails anymore. We also talk about a regional awards night and a "best of" list that seems to be partly paid for (any list or award is only ever a few people's opinion, so call it "our favourites"), whether traditions like the confetti exit are turning into photo ops (fine, if the couple are enjoying it), and why Pete, Laura and Bee stopped sending welcome gifts to newly booked couples.
Plus a Tuesday wedding in Scotland and a 3am drive home that leaves Pete and Laura unsure what day it is, a new anamorphic lens, Pete's drone flying hours, ideas for Oscars-style video awards, and fake Christmas.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 What day is it?
02:36 Crying with laughter on the drive home
05:36 A new anamorphic lens
08:40 Kit lust and a 360 camera
11:45 Logging drone flying hours
14:46 The regional awards night
16:25 A best of list that's partly paid for
18:27 Every list and award is just opinion
24:05 Oscars-style categories for video awards
26:38 When should you tell couples your price?
29:41 A brochure link plus a personal touch
31:13 Is confetti just a photo op now?
36:21 Welcome gifts for new couples
40:27 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Laura thinks replying without the price is "so weird", and we all agree nobody has the patience for long emails anymore. We also talk about a regional awards night and a "best of" list that seems to be partly paid for (any list or award is only ever a few people's opinion, so call it "our favourites"), whether traditions like the confetti exit are turning into photo ops (fine, if the couple are enjoying it), and why Pete, Laura and Bee stopped sending welcome gifts to newly booked couples.
Plus a Tuesday wedding in Scotland and a 3am drive home that leaves Pete and Laura unsure what day it is, a new anamorphic lens, Pete's drone flying hours, ideas for Oscars-style video awards, and fake Christmas.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 What day is it?
02:36 Crying with laughter on the drive home
05:36 A new anamorphic lens
08:40 Kit lust and a 360 camera
11:45 Logging drone flying hours
14:46 The regional awards night
16:25 A best of list that's partly paid for
18:27 Every list and award is just opinion
24:05 Oscars-style categories for video awards
26:38 When should you tell couples your price?
29:41 A brochure link plus a personal touch
31:13 Is confetti just a photo op now?
36:21 Welcome gifts for new couples
40:27 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Back after a few weeks off, we compare where we are with next year's bookings, and what we'd do before the November to January engagement rush: tidy your website and keep it updated, add micro wedding options, show joy rather than one look, and reply fast, because leaving an 8pm enquiry until the morning can now lose it. Liam and Bee explain what turned their quiet patch around (a quiet month brochure, being more open to a conversation, and a gentle nudge for enquiries that go quiet). We also look at a "top 20 photographers" list where every picture looks the same. What about the normal people?
Plus Liam hides in a tree for half an hour to photograph a proposal on Primrose Hill (the bride's first question: why is there a photographer in the tree?), a Riviera villa from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Liam's first elopement in the Cotswolds rain with two delighted Texans, and Pete's Scottish wedding during a red weather warning.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back after a few weeks off
05:41 A Scottish wedding in a red weather warning
08:45 A Riviera villa and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
11:15 Standing up for yourself at a wedding
15:22 Venues that don't feed suppliers
16:54 A misty Welsh mountain wedding
19:56 Liam's first elopement, in the rain
21:32 Hiding in a tree for a proposal
25:41 How many weddings are booked for next year?
28:46 Getting ready for engagement season
30:20 Reply to enquiries quickly
33:52 A top 20 list where everything looks the same
41:01 Highs and lows of the week
48:11 What turned Liam and Bee's bookings around
51:46 Enquiries lost to spam and ghosting
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Back after a few weeks off, we compare where we are with next year's bookings, and what we'd do before the November to January engagement rush: tidy your website and keep it updated, add micro wedding options, show joy rather than one look, and reply fast, because leaving an 8pm enquiry until the morning can now lose it. Liam and Bee explain what turned their quiet patch around (a quiet month brochure, being more open to a conversation, and a gentle nudge for enquiries that go quiet). We also look at a "top 20 photographers" list where every picture looks the same. What about the normal people?
Plus Liam hides in a tree for half an hour to photograph a proposal on Primrose Hill (the bride's first question: why is there a photographer in the tree?), a Riviera villa from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Liam's first elopement in the Cotswolds rain with two delighted Texans, and Pete's Scottish wedding during a red weather warning.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back after a few weeks off
05:41 A Scottish wedding in a red weather warning
08:45 A Riviera villa and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
11:15 Standing up for yourself at a wedding
15:22 Venues that don't feed suppliers
16:54 A misty Welsh mountain wedding
19:56 Liam's first elopement, in the rain
21:32 Hiding in a tree for a proposal
25:41 How many weddings are booked for next year?
28:46 Getting ready for engagement season
30:20 Reply to enquiries quickly
33:52 A top 20 list where everything looks the same
41:01 Highs and lows of the week
48:11 What turned Liam and Bee's bookings around
51:46 Enquiries lost to spam and ghosting
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We argue about how hard to push on the day (offer a quick second take in the good light, or sell the shaded spot more dramatically) and agree group shots matter more than people think, because couples pick them for albums far more than prep. Then aphantasia. Bee can't picture anything in her mind while Liam sees every raindrop, so what does that mean for creative photography? And a warning for suppliers: be careful of advertising directories offering a free trial that turns into a big bill, and firms sending fake enquiries. (We once paid to be in a hotel brochure, hoping for twenty weddings a year. It didn't go well.)
Plus Liam's student camping trip that ended with mysterious lights on Formby beach and a night in a stranger's mansion, Pete's outdoor ceremony saved by a hidden mic, Liam planning his first proposal shoot (camera hidden in his coat), and a hearing test that's a good reason to wear earplugs.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:01 A windy shoot at Formby Beach
02:33 Mysterious lights and a stranger's mansion
05:37 A ceremony saved by a hidden mic
06:37 The couple who insisted on bad light
11:17 How hard should you push?
12:17 Why group shots matter more than you think
17:18 Aphantasia: can you picture things in your head?
20:21 Does aphantasia affect creativity?
25:25 Be careful of free trial directories
27:29 Fake enquiries
29:03 Our hotel brochure mistake
30:35 Judging awards, and choosing your best ten
36:12 Liam's first proposal shoot
41:15 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We argue about how hard to push on the day (offer a quick second take in the good light, or sell the shaded spot more dramatically) and agree group shots matter more than people think, because couples pick them for albums far more than prep. Then aphantasia. Bee can't picture anything in her mind while Liam sees every raindrop, so what does that mean for creative photography? And a warning for suppliers: be careful of advertising directories offering a free trial that turns into a big bill, and firms sending fake enquiries. (We once paid to be in a hotel brochure, hoping for twenty weddings a year. It didn't go well.)
Plus Liam's student camping trip that ended with mysterious lights on Formby beach and a night in a stranger's mansion, Pete's outdoor ceremony saved by a hidden mic, Liam planning his first proposal shoot (camera hidden in his coat), and a hearing test that's a good reason to wear earplugs.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:01 A windy shoot at Formby Beach
02:33 Mysterious lights and a stranger's mansion
05:37 A ceremony saved by a hidden mic
06:37 The couple who insisted on bad light
11:17 How hard should you push?
12:17 Why group shots matter more than you think
17:18 Aphantasia: can you picture things in your head?
20:21 Does aphantasia affect creativity?
25:25 Be careful of free trial directories
27:29 Fake enquiries
29:03 Our hotel brochure mistake
30:35 Judging awards, and choosing your best ten
36:12 Liam's first proposal shoot
41:15 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A big wedding blog has started calling styled shoots micro weddings on Instagram, and we're not fans. A real wedding isn't controlled, so couples end up disappointed by their real galleries, and it's unfair on the photographers shooting the real thing. We also ask whether a blog feature brings in any enquiries anymore (it used to bring ten the next day, now it's tumbleweed), why influencers asking for free wedding films get a hard no, and whether a couple on an hourly package can object to you taking a break. There is no magical two hour break. Pete's is about 45 minutes, in between drone shots and courses.
Plus a wedding coordinator who brought Liam's couple a pint of Guinness mid portraits, Liam waking up to the smell of cottage pie in a pod hotel next to a pie factory, and the father of the bride Liam spent all morning calling Jim (his name was Les).
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro, wine, and everyone's tired
02:04 A wedding where the groom read a letter and cried
03:36 A coordinator who brought Guinness to the portraits
06:08 Waking up next to a pie factory
11:16 Website platform worries and a winter rebuild
14:25 Styled shoots sold as micro weddings
17:29 Paying for blog features, and do they still work?
19:59 Influencers asking for free wedding films
22:03 Can you take a break on an hourly package?
25:38 Continuous coverage
28:14 Overruns and the delayed first dance
29:48 Is prep coverage worth it?
31:21 The father of the bride called Jim (who was Les)
37:02 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A big wedding blog has started calling styled shoots micro weddings on Instagram, and we're not fans. A real wedding isn't controlled, so couples end up disappointed by their real galleries, and it's unfair on the photographers shooting the real thing. We also ask whether a blog feature brings in any enquiries anymore (it used to bring ten the next day, now it's tumbleweed), why influencers asking for free wedding films get a hard no, and whether a couple on an hourly package can object to you taking a break. There is no magical two hour break. Pete's is about 45 minutes, in between drone shots and courses.
Plus a wedding coordinator who brought Liam's couple a pint of Guinness mid portraits, Liam waking up to the smell of cottage pie in a pod hotel next to a pie factory, and the father of the bride Liam spent all morning calling Jim (his name was Les).
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro, wine, and everyone's tired
02:04 A wedding where the groom read a letter and cried
03:36 A coordinator who brought Guinness to the portraits
06:08 Waking up next to a pie factory
11:16 Website platform worries and a winter rebuild
14:25 Styled shoots sold as micro weddings
17:29 Paying for blog features, and do they still work?
19:59 Influencers asking for free wedding films
22:03 Can you take a break on an hourly package?
25:38 Continuous coverage
28:14 Overruns and the delayed first dance
29:48 Is prep coverage worth it?
31:21 The father of the bride called Jim (who was Les)
37:02 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>That's what happened to a lot of photographers this month, Liam and Bee included, when a popular WordPress theme for wedding photographers announced it would stop being supported within a year. With around 100 pages built on it, Liam explains the SEO risk, we talk through what to move to (WordPress, Squarespace, keeping your booking forms working), and Bee decides to use it as an excuse for a redesign. Then a debate: is culling during the wedding breakfast genius, or a hard no? (Liam would rather have a little stroll and a pint.) And how to cull so every bride looks her best.
Before that, Liam's Greek wedding: jellyfish like giant fried eggs, a church ceremony where everyone stands round the altar, Spud Gate (the DJs ate his dinner during the speeches), and a 3am pool party that started when the bride bombed in. Plus Bee opens the door in the dark and sees a floating face.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Up early for the Grand Prix
05:34 A Thursday wedding in St Andrews
09:42 Forty hours awake and fried egg jellyfish
11:44 A Greek church ceremony
12:46 Spud Gate
14:19 A 3am pool party
16:26 Bookings starting to move
18:30 A website platform shuts down
24:45 What to move to
29:22 Using it as a reason to redesign
30:54 Culling during the wedding breakfast
34:28 Culling for flattering photos
39:42 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>That's what happened to a lot of photographers this month, Liam and Bee included, when a popular WordPress theme for wedding photographers announced it would stop being supported within a year. With around 100 pages built on it, Liam explains the SEO risk, we talk through what to move to (WordPress, Squarespace, keeping your booking forms working), and Bee decides to use it as an excuse for a redesign. Then a debate: is culling during the wedding breakfast genius, or a hard no? (Liam would rather have a little stroll and a pint.) And how to cull so every bride looks her best.
Before that, Liam's Greek wedding: jellyfish like giant fried eggs, a church ceremony where everyone stands round the altar, Spud Gate (the DJs ate his dinner during the speeches), and a 3am pool party that started when the bride bombed in. Plus Bee opens the door in the dark and sees a floating face.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Up early for the Grand Prix
05:34 A Thursday wedding in St Andrews
09:42 Forty hours awake and fried egg jellyfish
11:44 A Greek church ceremony
12:46 Spud Gate
14:19 A 3am pool party
16:26 Bookings starting to move
18:30 A website platform shuts down
24:45 What to move to
29:22 Using it as a reason to redesign
30:54 Culling during the wedding breakfast
34:28 Culling for flattering photos
39:42 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Tell the couple on the day, not weeks later, and if you can, ask them to do it again. Pete once plugged a lead into the wrong side during a bride's speech, told her straight away, and she happily read it again in another room. Liam once missed all the speeches after being told they'd be after the meal (the couple didn't mind). Then, how much should you share with venues and other suppliers? A curated selection, not the full gallery, ideally with the couple's blessing, and we talk about what to say when a venue wants your pictures but won't put you on its recommended list. And when couples try to haggle, our rule is only to discount if something comes out of the package.
Plus airport security confiscations, Liam's last destination wedding of the year in a Greek mountain village with no addresses, the napkin trick for a quiet dance floor, and how to get natural shots at a quiet drinks reception.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back to school routines
02:34 Airport security stories
05:39 A Greek mountain village wedding
10:13 What if you miss the first kiss?
12:46 Tell them on the day
14:16 Asking for a second kiss
15:16 Liam misses all the speeches
20:22 Can guests see the back of your camera?
21:53 Quiet drinks receptions
24:28 The napkin trick for a quiet dance floor
26:30 Sharing galleries with suppliers
30:38 Venues that want pictures but won't recommend you
31:39 When couples haggle on price
39:53 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Tell the couple on the day, not weeks later, and if you can, ask them to do it again. Pete once plugged a lead into the wrong side during a bride's speech, told her straight away, and she happily read it again in another room. Liam once missed all the speeches after being told they'd be after the meal (the couple didn't mind). Then, how much should you share with venues and other suppliers? A curated selection, not the full gallery, ideally with the couple's blessing, and we talk about what to say when a venue wants your pictures but won't put you on its recommended list. And when couples try to haggle, our rule is only to discount if something comes out of the package.
Plus airport security confiscations, Liam's last destination wedding of the year in a Greek mountain village with no addresses, the napkin trick for a quiet dance floor, and how to get natural shots at a quiet drinks reception.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back to school routines
02:34 Airport security stories
05:39 A Greek mountain village wedding
10:13 What if you miss the first kiss?
12:46 Tell them on the day
14:16 Asking for a second kiss
15:16 Liam misses all the speeches
20:22 Can guests see the back of your camera?
21:53 Quiet drinks receptions
24:28 The napkin trick for a quiet dance floor
26:30 Sharing galleries with suppliers
30:38 Venues that want pictures but won't recommend you
31:39 When couples haggle on price
39:53 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>It's a listener questions episode, with Liam away shooting in Rhodes. A listener who has filmed weddings on the side for five years asks if he can make the jump with two small children. Our answer: weekends are the cost, you can't plan for three weddings every month, start local, block out family dates and stick to them, and check the numbers. Then, how do you handle guests who grab you for ad hoc photos outside the formal groups, especially in bad light? (Move them to better light, always take the picture, and walk off for a moment if it snowballs.) We also ask whether stripped back or cinema lens video packages are worth it (high end clients just want it simple), whether previews are worth the time (absolutely, the first post gets the most love), and would you rather be time rich or cash rich?
Plus a Scottish couple who married in lockdown with ten guests and finally had the big one, a drone grounded by the Edinburgh Airport no fly zone, Pete's battle with the giant spiders in the shed ivy, and a call to Liam on a beach in Rhodes.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Liam's in Greece again
02:39 Time rich or cash rich?
06:16 Can AI do our emails?
07:18 A second wedding for a lockdown couple
09:31 A drone in the airport no fly zone
10:33 Package extras and stripped back options
14:14 Cinema lenses and audio specialists
17:47 Going full time with young children
22:24 Stay local and protect your time
27:29 Ad hoc group photos in bad light
34:40 Are previews worth it?
39:19 When will my gallery be ready?
44:23 Which website platform for a first site?
46:25 Highs and lows of the week
51:58 A call to Liam in Rhodes
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>It's a listener questions episode, with Liam away shooting in Rhodes. A listener who has filmed weddings on the side for five years asks if he can make the jump with two small children. Our answer: weekends are the cost, you can't plan for three weddings every month, start local, block out family dates and stick to them, and check the numbers. Then, how do you handle guests who grab you for ad hoc photos outside the formal groups, especially in bad light? (Move them to better light, always take the picture, and walk off for a moment if it snowballs.) We also ask whether stripped back or cinema lens video packages are worth it (high end clients just want it simple), whether previews are worth the time (absolutely, the first post gets the most love), and would you rather be time rich or cash rich?
Plus a Scottish couple who married in lockdown with ten guests and finally had the big one, a drone grounded by the Edinburgh Airport no fly zone, Pete's battle with the giant spiders in the shed ivy, and a call to Liam on a beach in Rhodes.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Liam's in Greece again
02:39 Time rich or cash rich?
06:16 Can AI do our emails?
07:18 A second wedding for a lockdown couple
09:31 A drone in the airport no fly zone
10:33 Package extras and stripped back options
14:14 Cinema lenses and audio specialists
17:47 Going full time with young children
22:24 Stay local and protect your time
27:29 Ad hoc group photos in bad light
34:40 Are previews worth it?
39:19 When will my gallery be ready?
44:23 Which website platform for a first site?
46:25 Highs and lows of the week
51:58 A call to Liam in Rhodes
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Back from the summer break, Pete describes a big Scottish wedding where he'd never spoken to the couple, no second shooter was booked, and the day ran at full pace: a drone entrance shot in the wind with the battery dying, five people to mic up, and speeches announced before he was ready. Then brides who are precious about their dresses (Laura: imagine dragging a white duvet round all day), why we all say pictures and not photos, whether vapes at weddings are a problem (Liam and Bee disagree), and whether you can shoot a whole wedding on a 28-70 (yes, as long as it isn't your only lens).
Liam rolls around in the surf in his boxer shorts with an underwater housing at a Devon cove wedding, the photographer flown in from America with 130,000 followers who turned out to be lovely, Liam's new Triumph arrives, and generative fill breaks after an update.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back after the break
02:30 An eleven day road trip
03:00 A cove wedding at Tunnels Beaches
04:32 Underwater in boxer shorts
11:46 A portrait shoot in Southport
13:19 A big wedding with no chat beforehand
15:22 A drone with a dying battery and five mics
18:28 Should you always talk to the couple first?
21:35 The photographer flown in from America
22:36 Brides precious about their dresses
26:12 Pictures or photos?
27:43 Vapes at weddings
35:19 Liam's new motorbike arrives
36:21 Can you shoot a wedding on a 28-70?
43:58 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Back from the summer break, Pete describes a big Scottish wedding where he'd never spoken to the couple, no second shooter was booked, and the day ran at full pace: a drone entrance shot in the wind with the battery dying, five people to mic up, and speeches announced before he was ready. Then brides who are precious about their dresses (Laura: imagine dragging a white duvet round all day), why we all say pictures and not photos, whether vapes at weddings are a problem (Liam and Bee disagree), and whether you can shoot a whole wedding on a 28-70 (yes, as long as it isn't your only lens).
Liam rolls around in the surf in his boxer shorts with an underwater housing at a Devon cove wedding, the photographer flown in from America with 130,000 followers who turned out to be lovely, Liam's new Triumph arrives, and generative fill breaks after an update.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back after the break
02:30 An eleven day road trip
03:00 A cove wedding at Tunnels Beaches
04:32 Underwater in boxer shorts
11:46 A portrait shoot in Southport
13:19 A big wedding with no chat beforehand
15:22 A drone with a dying battery and five mics
18:28 Should you always talk to the couple first?
21:35 The photographer flown in from America
22:36 Brides precious about their dresses
26:12 Pictures or photos?
27:43 Vapes at weddings
35:19 Liam's new motorbike arrives
36:21 Can you shoot a wedding on a 28-70?
43:58 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A guest tells Pete that 600 of the 800 photos from a wedding were of the bride and groom (though the couple loved them). Pete reckons around 20 percent is about right, Bee isn't sure that's even possible, and Liam says only photographing the couple rips the soul out of a wedding. We also talk about phones at weddings (guests filming in front of the fireworks camera, a mother of the groom filming the whole speech about her), inspiration photos from couples (mostly sunsets), short notice micro weddings, and a viral post that's a reminder your second shooter represents you, so choose carefully.
Before that, Liam's St Paul's Cathedral wedding falls apart on the timings (buses, traffic, a burning scooter, fifteen minutes of drinks reception left), so he grabs the mic and calls everyone out for the groups himself. And at a Scottish castle, the best men throw their microphones on the floor and the groom pulls on a South Park T-shirt mid speech.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and a dog fiasco
02:33 Liam's St Paul's Cathedral wedding
04:39 Grabbing the mic to call the groups
06:41 A castle wedding in Aberdeenshire
07:41 Microphones on the floor
11:14 Audio backups and phones in front of the fireworks
12:15 Phones at weddings
16:21 An AI reel with giant iPads
17:22 How bookings are going this year
18:22 What your second shooter represents
26:21 Inspiration photos from couples
29:28 Group shot lists and short notice micro weddings
32:33 How many photos should be of the couple?
38:11 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A guest tells Pete that 600 of the 800 photos from a wedding were of the bride and groom (though the couple loved them). Pete reckons around 20 percent is about right, Bee isn't sure that's even possible, and Liam says only photographing the couple rips the soul out of a wedding. We also talk about phones at weddings (guests filming in front of the fireworks camera, a mother of the groom filming the whole speech about her), inspiration photos from couples (mostly sunsets), short notice micro weddings, and a viral post that's a reminder your second shooter represents you, so choose carefully.
Before that, Liam's St Paul's Cathedral wedding falls apart on the timings (buses, traffic, a burning scooter, fifteen minutes of drinks reception left), so he grabs the mic and calls everyone out for the groups himself. And at a Scottish castle, the best men throw their microphones on the floor and the groom pulls on a South Park T-shirt mid speech.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and a dog fiasco
02:33 Liam's St Paul's Cathedral wedding
04:39 Grabbing the mic to call the groups
06:41 A castle wedding in Aberdeenshire
07:41 Microphones on the floor
11:14 Audio backups and phones in front of the fireworks
12:15 Phones at weddings
16:21 An AI reel with giant iPads
17:22 How bookings are going this year
18:22 What your second shooter represents
26:21 Inspiration photos from couples
29:28 Group shot lists and short notice micro weddings
32:33 How many photos should be of the couple?
38:11 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Laura away this week, Pete, Liam and Bee talk about privacy requests. It happens once or twice a year, image sharing is in the contract, and you can't really charge a privacy fee, because people have a right to privacy. Liam says he shoots for the couple and for his own portfolio; Bee says we're there entirely for the couple. Then Liam and Bee keep being asked if they do video too, so they ask Pete whether to team up with a videographer or train someone up. And after a Mac Mini scare and a Time Machine that hadn't backed up since February, Pete runs through how he backs up 350 to 450GB of video per wedding.
Plus Liam's five hour test ride on a Triumph over Saddleworth Moor (he has to get the bike), wet weather portraits and window light as your get out of jail card, a military wedding at St Paul's where Liam may only photograph the walk down the aisle, and a lovely voice note from a listener.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:39 Liam buys a motorbike
06:11 A Berkshire wedding and a ceremony led by friends
09:15 Rain all day on the Welsh border
11:52 Window light: your get out of jail card
14:58 Shorter booking lead times
17:06 Should Liam and Bee offer video?
20:10 Couples who don't want their wedding shared
22:15 Who are you shooting for?
24:18 Privacy fees and GDPR
28:28 A Mac Mini scare
30:35 How Pete backs up video
37:48 Why London is on the homepage
39:52 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Laura away this week, Pete, Liam and Bee talk about privacy requests. It happens once or twice a year, image sharing is in the contract, and you can't really charge a privacy fee, because people have a right to privacy. Liam says he shoots for the couple and for his own portfolio; Bee says we're there entirely for the couple. Then Liam and Bee keep being asked if they do video too, so they ask Pete whether to team up with a videographer or train someone up. And after a Mac Mini scare and a Time Machine that hadn't backed up since February, Pete runs through how he backs up 350 to 450GB of video per wedding.
Plus Liam's five hour test ride on a Triumph over Saddleworth Moor (he has to get the bike), wet weather portraits and window light as your get out of jail card, a military wedding at St Paul's where Liam may only photograph the walk down the aisle, and a lovely voice note from a listener.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:39 Liam buys a motorbike
06:11 A Berkshire wedding and a ceremony led by friends
09:15 Rain all day on the Welsh border
11:52 Window light: your get out of jail card
14:58 Shorter booking lead times
17:06 Should Liam and Bee offer video?
20:10 Couples who don't want their wedding shared
22:15 Who are you shooting for?
24:18 Privacy fees and GDPR
28:28 A Mac Mini scare
30:35 How Pete backs up video
37:48 Why London is on the homepage
39:52 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam messages Bee from a wedding: we are not reducing our prices. Part ego, part arithmetic, and a couple of new bookings soon after make it feel like the right call. Bee wonders whether going much higher would reach the couples the cost of living crisis isn't touching, though you can't leap there overnight. We also talk about venues as the best source of work, the ethics of retouching (a child's chicken pox is fine, removing a bridesmaid's tattoo or a guest's bald spot is feeding the monster), a mid season list of wedding trends (saxophonists, heart shaped sunglasses, pearls, blurry table details), and why rain is just part of a UK wedding.
Plus a wedding where the videographer was also the best man and the celebrant, Corfu, where Pete rolls his ankle and faints within an hour of arriving and the hillside catches fire on day two (it happens every year, apparently), and a Derbyshire wedding where the horse and carriage slid down the hill in the rain.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back from holiday
01:00 The videographer who was also best man and celebrant
02:02 What we'd tell couples about the day
06:37 Corfu: an ankle and a faint
10:12 The hillside on fire
12:43 Booking weddings from a sun lounger
14:17 We are not reducing our prices
15:49 Should you put prices up instead?
20:27 Venues as your best source of work
22:28 Back to the editing mountain
23:58 Retouching: spots, scars and tattoos
27:39 Mid season wedding trends
35:18 Shooting in the rain
39:53 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam messages Bee from a wedding: we are not reducing our prices. Part ego, part arithmetic, and a couple of new bookings soon after make it feel like the right call. Bee wonders whether going much higher would reach the couples the cost of living crisis isn't touching, though you can't leap there overnight. We also talk about venues as the best source of work, the ethics of retouching (a child's chicken pox is fine, removing a bridesmaid's tattoo or a guest's bald spot is feeding the monster), a mid season list of wedding trends (saxophonists, heart shaped sunglasses, pearls, blurry table details), and why rain is just part of a UK wedding.
Plus a wedding where the videographer was also the best man and the celebrant, Corfu, where Pete rolls his ankle and faints within an hour of arriving and the hillside catches fire on day two (it happens every year, apparently), and a Derbyshire wedding where the horse and carriage slid down the hill in the rain.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back from holiday
01:00 The videographer who was also best man and celebrant
02:02 What we'd tell couples about the day
06:37 Corfu: an ankle and a faint
10:12 The hillside on fire
12:43 Booking weddings from a sun lounger
14:17 We are not reducing our prices
15:49 Should you put prices up instead?
20:27 Venues as your best source of work
22:28 Back to the editing mountain
23:58 Retouching: spots, scars and tattoos
27:39 Mid season wedding trends
35:18 Shooting in the rain
39:53 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam and Bee have had lots of enquiries since their last big booking, but not many bookings. Most of the people who reply say it's the price, even with a starting price on the website. So do you drop your prices, ride it out until September, or hold your nerve? How much of it is ego? Does a higher price push you down a couple's shortlist, or does expensive look like quality (the 30 pound or the 250 pound perfume)? Then Instagram followers. Liam and Bee picked up thousands in a year, mostly other photographers, though overseas couples do find them for London engagement shoots. And should Pete and Laura offer joint photo and video packages? No, because it would knock down the whole house of cards built on photographers recommending them.
Plus a couple lying on Tower Bridge's glass floor surrounded by tourists, a bride who proposed from a wakeboard, Liam's Peckham workshop with Sam Hurd, and an AI posing app that sends poses to your phone mid shoot.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Driving home through the night
01:32 Photos on Tower Bridge's glass floor
02:33 Getting ready together or apart
05:10 Would Laura book a documentary photographer?
07:52 A proposal on a wakeboard
09:54 The Peckham workshop
10:55 An AI posing app
16:32 Beer and kombucha in the shed
18:05 A weekend off in Conwy
21:37 Is it price?
28:20 Dropping prices, ego and holding your nerve
33:55 Do Instagram followers matter?
40:33 Why we won't sell joint photo and video packages
44:05 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam and Bee have had lots of enquiries since their last big booking, but not many bookings. Most of the people who reply say it's the price, even with a starting price on the website. So do you drop your prices, ride it out until September, or hold your nerve? How much of it is ego? Does a higher price push you down a couple's shortlist, or does expensive look like quality (the 30 pound or the 250 pound perfume)? Then Instagram followers. Liam and Bee picked up thousands in a year, mostly other photographers, though overseas couples do find them for London engagement shoots. And should Pete and Laura offer joint photo and video packages? No, because it would knock down the whole house of cards built on photographers recommending them.
Plus a couple lying on Tower Bridge's glass floor surrounded by tourists, a bride who proposed from a wakeboard, Liam's Peckham workshop with Sam Hurd, and an AI posing app that sends poses to your phone mid shoot.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Driving home through the night
01:32 Photos on Tower Bridge's glass floor
02:33 Getting ready together or apart
05:10 Would Laura book a documentary photographer?
07:52 A proposal on a wakeboard
09:54 The Peckham workshop
10:55 An AI posing app
16:32 Beer and kombucha in the shed
18:05 A weekend off in Conwy
21:37 Is it price?
28:20 Dropping prices, ego and holding your nerve
33:55 Do Instagram followers matter?
40:33 Why we won't sell joint photo and video packages
44:05 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We don't all agree. Is half the fee fair, or does that ignore the tax, VAT, admin and marketing that got you the booking in the first place? We work through the maths, plus what second shooters get paid now. Then VAT: staying under the threshold or registering, what the flat rate scheme means for higher priced photographers, and whether to add it to new bookings. And when a real photo is disqualified from a contest for looking like AI, Liam asks why anyone would want fake wedding pictures of people who don't exist.
Before that, Liam catches the milk ceremony at a Sudanese wedding (he's ready for the ululating this time), fixes the toilet at a 700 year old haunted pub before the plumber arrives, and we spend a very long day at the British Grand Prix. Plus Laura turns 40, and should any of us bother with Threads?
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back after a break
01:33 Weddings since we last spoke
03:05 A Sudanese wedding and the milk ceremony
06:10 A day at Silverstone
09:14 Liam's verdict on F1
12:15 A haunted pub and a broken toilet
14:48 Laura's 40th
17:53 Should we join Threads?
21:25 How much to pay an associate
25:29 Second shooter rates
27:31 VAT: stay under or register?
33:38 Accountants and expenses
36:08 A real photo disqualified for looking like AI
39:13 Edit queues and the week ahead
42:22 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We don't all agree. Is half the fee fair, or does that ignore the tax, VAT, admin and marketing that got you the booking in the first place? We work through the maths, plus what second shooters get paid now. Then VAT: staying under the threshold or registering, what the flat rate scheme means for higher priced photographers, and whether to add it to new bookings. And when a real photo is disqualified from a contest for looking like AI, Liam asks why anyone would want fake wedding pictures of people who don't exist.
Before that, Liam catches the milk ceremony at a Sudanese wedding (he's ready for the ululating this time), fixes the toilet at a 700 year old haunted pub before the plumber arrives, and we spend a very long day at the British Grand Prix. Plus Laura turns 40, and should any of us bother with Threads?
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back after a break
01:33 Weddings since we last spoke
03:05 A Sudanese wedding and the milk ceremony
06:10 A day at Silverstone
09:14 Liam's verdict on F1
12:15 A haunted pub and a broken toilet
14:48 Laura's 40th
17:53 Should we join Threads?
21:25 How much to pay an associate
25:29 Second shooter rates
27:31 VAT: stay under or register?
33:38 Accountants and expenses
36:08 A real photo disqualified for looking like AI
39:13 Edit queues and the week ahead
42:22 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam says he can't stand blur for the sake of it, then explains exactly how to do it (slow shutter, low ISO, drag the flash), then admits he's shot some black and white paparazzi style frames for a London couple. We also take stock halfway through the year, talk about using generative fill to clear twenty five tourists out of a Big Ben engagement shoot (fifteen minutes a picture), and work through how to handle enquiries. Should the price go in the first email? How long should your reply be? Could couples just book online? Should Bee join the first Zoom calls? Plus how to deal with being turned down.
Also: Liam shoots a 14 hour wedding the day after landing from Jamaica, plans an iconic London shoot with no religious buildings in it, and a passport warning that nearly stopped someone getting to a wedding in Italy.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back in the drizzle
04:06 Straight from the airport to a 14 hour wedding
08:08 Removing tourists with generative fill
11:11 What generative fill can and can't do
12:12 Iconic London, but nothing religious
14:46 Blurry photos: love them or hate them?
19:20 How to do motion blur
21:22 Lighting the dance floor
24:27 Halfway through the year
32:05 Dealing with rejection, and Zoom calls
37:38 Should your price be in the first email?
42:42 Could couples book you online?
45:18 A passport warning
46:20 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam says he can't stand blur for the sake of it, then explains exactly how to do it (slow shutter, low ISO, drag the flash), then admits he's shot some black and white paparazzi style frames for a London couple. We also take stock halfway through the year, talk about using generative fill to clear twenty five tourists out of a Big Ben engagement shoot (fifteen minutes a picture), and work through how to handle enquiries. Should the price go in the first email? How long should your reply be? Could couples just book online? Should Bee join the first Zoom calls? Plus how to deal with being turned down.
Also: Liam shoots a 14 hour wedding the day after landing from Jamaica, plans an iconic London shoot with no religious buildings in it, and a passport warning that nearly stopped someone getting to a wedding in Italy.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back in the drizzle
04:06 Straight from the airport to a 14 hour wedding
08:08 Removing tourists with generative fill
11:11 What generative fill can and can't do
12:12 Iconic London, but nothing religious
14:46 Blurry photos: love them or hate them?
19:20 How to do motion blur
21:22 Lighting the dance floor
24:27 Halfway through the year
32:05 Dealing with rejection, and Zoom calls
37:38 Should your price be in the first email?
42:42 Could couples book you online?
45:18 A passport warning
46:20 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>For our 50th episode, almost exactly a year since we started, we're under a beach cabana in Jamaica in the dark, with one microphone, a hotel show blaring next door and a thunderstorm on the way. We've just shot a Canadian couple's wedding, so we talk about the heat: ground too hot to stand on, how the cameras coped (fine), drone batteries dying faster, drinking more water than you think, keeping fit so the adrenaline carries you, and linen versus shorts. We also wonder why North American guests make such good speeches and dance with no fear of embarrassment, and decide a destination wedding is just a normal wedding in different weather.
Plus adding sea to a beach portrait with generative fill, Pete trying to film underwater on an iPhone, a listener's tip about making the couple an Instagram collaborator (and the downside), and fifteen dollar crisps in the resort shop.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 A cabana in the dark
02:33 Fifty episodes
03:04 Not really a holiday: a wedding in Jamaica
04:07 Shooting in 40 degree heat
05:38 A long day with a gap in the middle
06:40 A sea shoot and generative fill
07:43 Filming underwater on a phone
09:45 Why North American guests party so well
13:26 Top tips for hot weather weddings
15:26 Shorts, trousers and linen
18:31 Destination weddings are normal weddings
20:02 Making couples Instagram collaborators
22:38 Highs and lows
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>For our 50th episode, almost exactly a year since we started, we're under a beach cabana in Jamaica in the dark, with one microphone, a hotel show blaring next door and a thunderstorm on the way. We've just shot a Canadian couple's wedding, so we talk about the heat: ground too hot to stand on, how the cameras coped (fine), drone batteries dying faster, drinking more water than you think, keeping fit so the adrenaline carries you, and linen versus shorts. We also wonder why North American guests make such good speeches and dance with no fear of embarrassment, and decide a destination wedding is just a normal wedding in different weather.
Plus adding sea to a beach portrait with generative fill, Pete trying to film underwater on an iPhone, a listener's tip about making the couple an Instagram collaborator (and the downside), and fifteen dollar crisps in the resort shop.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 A cabana in the dark
02:33 Fifty episodes
03:04 Not really a holiday: a wedding in Jamaica
04:07 Shooting in 40 degree heat
05:38 A long day with a gap in the middle
06:40 A sea shoot and generative fill
07:43 Filming underwater on a phone
09:45 Why North American guests party so well
13:26 Top tips for hot weather weddings
15:26 Shorts, trousers and linen
18:31 Destination weddings are normal weddings
20:02 Making couples Instagram collaborators
22:38 Highs and lows
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Recording from Jamaica with margaritas in hand, we pick up three threads from Facebook and Instagram. A photographer asked a member of the public to move at a famous spot and posted the exchange online. Our view: you can ask nicely, but nobody owes you the view, and posting them is out of order. Have you ever refused to work with another supplier again? We remember a few clumsy ones, from a video shooter posing the bridesmaids to a team who planted tripods in front of the top table, and decide it's mostly obliviousness, not malice, so be kind and know where you'll stand. And what else could you do for money when work goes quiet, which turns into what we'd want to be at 40.
Plus Liam comes second in the hotel's Bob Marley quiz knowing nothing about Bob Marley, his Ibiza wedding that turned into a speedboat party to Formentera, why photographers always look miserable in the background of first dance photos, and Pete's plan if Beyonce ever sings at a first dance.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome from Jamaica
02:36 Resort life
04:38 The Bob Marley quiz
05:08 Liam's Ibiza party
07:12 A hot, joyful garden wedding
09:44 Delivering films and the joy of feedback
12:49 Asking the public to move out of your shot
17:53 A bridesmaid following you around
18:53 Would you refuse to work with someone again?
21:35 Tripods in front of the top table
23:06 Being aware of others on the day
27:18 Band or guests in the first dance shot?
31:30 Other ways to earn when it's quiet
35:37 Liam's motorbike instructor plan
41:19 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Recording from Jamaica with margaritas in hand, we pick up three threads from Facebook and Instagram. A photographer asked a member of the public to move at a famous spot and posted the exchange online. Our view: you can ask nicely, but nobody owes you the view, and posting them is out of order. Have you ever refused to work with another supplier again? We remember a few clumsy ones, from a video shooter posing the bridesmaids to a team who planted tripods in front of the top table, and decide it's mostly obliviousness, not malice, so be kind and know where you'll stand. And what else could you do for money when work goes quiet, which turns into what we'd want to be at 40.
Plus Liam comes second in the hotel's Bob Marley quiz knowing nothing about Bob Marley, his Ibiza wedding that turned into a speedboat party to Formentera, why photographers always look miserable in the background of first dance photos, and Pete's plan if Beyonce ever sings at a first dance.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome from Jamaica
02:36 Resort life
04:38 The Bob Marley quiz
05:08 Liam's Ibiza party
07:12 A hot, joyful garden wedding
09:44 Delivering films and the joy of feedback
12:49 Asking the public to move out of your shot
17:53 A bridesmaid following you around
18:53 Would you refuse to work with someone again?
21:35 Tripods in front of the top table
23:06 Being aware of others on the day
27:18 Band or guests in the first dance shot?
31:30 Other ways to earn when it's quiet
35:37 Liam's motorbike instructor plan
41:19 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Liam in Ibiza on a job that turned into a holiday, Pete, Laura and Bee answer a listener question about what the wedding film covers (Laura's rule: if she has to sit through the hymn, so do they), and Bee explains why she sends couples a 60 to 100 image preview within days: it keeps them happy for the eight to ten weeks the full gallery takes. We also talk about how long to stay on the dance floor, whether your presence is stopping the party getting going, and the engagement gap theory: fewer couples met and got engaged during lockdown, which might explain why enquiries are thin now.
Plus getting ready for Jamaica (Laura does Pete's packing), Bee's 40th birthday weekend and a new sleep tracker, Liam's unfortunate Instagram verification photo, and Pete's high of the week: a three course meal at a wedding.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Liam's in Ibiza
02:05 Getting ready for Jamaica
04:36 A wedding near London
07:42 How long should you stay on the dance floor?
11:14 Bee's 40th birthday weekend
12:17 A sleep tracker and a new routine
17:26 What does the wedding film cover?
22:03 Why Bee sends previews
25:38 Laura's quick video preview
32:12 The engagement gap theory
35:15 Why sound is half of video
37:16 The Instagram blue tick disaster
43:27 Highs and lows of the week
49:37 A three course meal at a wedding
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Liam in Ibiza on a job that turned into a holiday, Pete, Laura and Bee answer a listener question about what the wedding film covers (Laura's rule: if she has to sit through the hymn, so do they), and Bee explains why she sends couples a 60 to 100 image preview within days: it keeps them happy for the eight to ten weeks the full gallery takes. We also talk about how long to stay on the dance floor, whether your presence is stopping the party getting going, and the engagement gap theory: fewer couples met and got engaged during lockdown, which might explain why enquiries are thin now.
Plus getting ready for Jamaica (Laura does Pete's packing), Bee's 40th birthday weekend and a new sleep tracker, Liam's unfortunate Instagram verification photo, and Pete's high of the week: a three course meal at a wedding.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Liam's in Ibiza
02:05 Getting ready for Jamaica
04:36 A wedding near London
07:42 How long should you stay on the dance floor?
11:14 Bee's 40th birthday weekend
12:17 A sleep tracker and a new routine
17:26 What does the wedding film cover?
22:03 Why Bee sends previews
25:38 Laura's quick video preview
32:12 The engagement gap theory
35:15 Why sound is half of video
37:16 The Instagram blue tick disaster
43:27 Highs and lows of the week
49:37 A three course meal at a wedding
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>It happens to everyone eventually, and this week we talk about how to handle it. Stay calm, say you're sorry they're disappointed, stand by your work, ask if there's anything else you can do, and don't get drawn into arguing with a list of excuses. We also ask how much to direct versus document, and what to do when a Pinterest board only half matches the wedding you were given. Then a rant about overbearing coordinators and venue staff: standing in your shot during speeches, hovering by your tripods, and insisting "we always do a photo on this staircase" (in one case, down a stairwell into something like a dungeon).
Before that, a perfect Scottish wedding where every box was ticked, Laura spraying factor fifty on Pete's head at a spa wedding full of guests in robes, the start of Bee's birthday week, and a hunt for a London workshop studio.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Tired after a trip south
05:07 A perfect wedding in Edinburgh
07:41 Sun cream at a spa wedding
10:18 The editing backlog
11:48 When a couple is disappointed
15:21 Documentary or direct?
21:02 Taking it on the chin
23:36 Don't argue with the excuse list
24:07 Losing sleep before workshops
25:07 Finding a London workshop studio
31:16 Overbearing wedding coordinators
33:21 We always take the photo here
37:27 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>It happens to everyone eventually, and this week we talk about how to handle it. Stay calm, say you're sorry they're disappointed, stand by your work, ask if there's anything else you can do, and don't get drawn into arguing with a list of excuses. We also ask how much to direct versus document, and what to do when a Pinterest board only half matches the wedding you were given. Then a rant about overbearing coordinators and venue staff: standing in your shot during speeches, hovering by your tripods, and insisting "we always do a photo on this staircase" (in one case, down a stairwell into something like a dungeon).
Before that, a perfect Scottish wedding where every box was ticked, Laura spraying factor fifty on Pete's head at a spa wedding full of guests in robes, the start of Bee's birthday week, and a hunt for a London workshop studio.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Tired after a trip south
05:07 A perfect wedding in Edinburgh
07:41 Sun cream at a spa wedding
10:18 The editing backlog
11:48 When a couple is disappointed
15:21 Documentary or direct?
21:02 Taking it on the chin
23:36 Don't argue with the excuse list
24:07 Losing sleep before workshops
25:07 Finding a London workshop studio
31:16 Overbearing wedding coordinators
33:21 We always take the photo here
37:27 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A Facebook post suggests AI tools could mean cheaper wedding packages. Bee's not having it: you don't make a product cheaper just because your workflow got quicker, and people skills, composition and storytelling aren't going anywhere. Liam tried AI culling on a 16,000 image wedding (it got it down to 9,000), and we look at Photoshop's new generative fill. Then: do you stay past your hours when the day runs late and there's a surprise laser show? How do you survive the morning after a wedding? And should you charge extra for travel and food? Our view: it's fine, just tell couples up front or build it into the price, because it's the surprise bill that's the problem.
Plus a zoo wedding with no animals in sight, a monkey in South Africa that wanted the whole fruit bowl, and Bronze Age burial sites on Winter Hill.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 A Jamaica episode on the way
02:07 The editing peak
04:46 A walk on Winter Hill
05:47 A wedding with a laser show
07:17 Do you stay when the day runs late?
09:54 Lasers, fireworks and dancing: video versus photos
11:27 A zoo wedding with no animals
16:33 AI culling a 16,000 image wedding
19:37 How to survive the wedding hangover
24:50 Bookings, and standing out or following the market
30:02 Will AI make wedding work cheaper?
36:11 Photoshop's generative fill
38:19 Hotels and three course meals for suppliers?
42:24 Should you charge for travel?
45:25 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A Facebook post suggests AI tools could mean cheaper wedding packages. Bee's not having it: you don't make a product cheaper just because your workflow got quicker, and people skills, composition and storytelling aren't going anywhere. Liam tried AI culling on a 16,000 image wedding (it got it down to 9,000), and we look at Photoshop's new generative fill. Then: do you stay past your hours when the day runs late and there's a surprise laser show? How do you survive the morning after a wedding? And should you charge extra for travel and food? Our view: it's fine, just tell couples up front or build it into the price, because it's the surprise bill that's the problem.
Plus a zoo wedding with no animals in sight, a monkey in South Africa that wanted the whole fruit bowl, and Bronze Age burial sites on Winter Hill.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 A Jamaica episode on the way
02:07 The editing peak
04:46 A walk on Winter Hill
05:47 A wedding with a laser show
07:17 Do you stay when the day runs late?
09:54 Lasers, fireworks and dancing: video versus photos
11:27 A zoo wedding with no animals
16:33 AI culling a 16,000 image wedding
19:37 How to survive the wedding hangover
24:50 Bookings, and standing out or following the market
30:02 Will AI make wedding work cheaper?
36:11 Photoshop's generative fill
38:19 Hotels and three course meals for suppliers?
42:24 Should you charge for travel?
45:25 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Laura sticks to the brief. Pete would offer extra combinations when there's time. Bee reckons we're shooting for the whole family, not just the couple, and that it means putting our egos aside. (Laura fixed this one in Photoshop, using the bride's arm from another frame.) Then a listener asks what photographers and filmmakers eat at weddings: Huel, jazzy salads and a fridge in the boot, the classic packet sandwich and cheesy pasta, and camper van dreams. And a bride worries her wedding is too normal for a photographer's Instagram, which leads us to: most weddings are normal, and the best ones are just people laughing.
Plus Liam turns up 47 minutes late after his first lesson on a big motorbike, we work out whether we'd shoot a wedding in space (no), and choose between a drinks reception at the Savoy and a Holiday Inn on the A55.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Liam's 47 minutes late
05:06 Back to photo weddings
08:12 Two weddings and a rainbow
10:13 The bride with no picture with her mum
14:47 Shooting for the couple and their families
17:24 Fixing it in Photoshop
18:24 What do photographers eat at weddings?
19:29 Huel, salads and a fridge in the boot
22:34 Being fed at weddings
27:08 Camper van dreams
28:42 Would you shoot a wedding in space?
32:20 Is my wedding too normal for you?
36:29 Share every wedding
38:29 The Savoy or a Holiday Inn on the A55?
40:00 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Laura sticks to the brief. Pete would offer extra combinations when there's time. Bee reckons we're shooting for the whole family, not just the couple, and that it means putting our egos aside. (Laura fixed this one in Photoshop, using the bride's arm from another frame.) Then a listener asks what photographers and filmmakers eat at weddings: Huel, jazzy salads and a fridge in the boot, the classic packet sandwich and cheesy pasta, and camper van dreams. And a bride worries her wedding is too normal for a photographer's Instagram, which leads us to: most weddings are normal, and the best ones are just people laughing.
Plus Liam turns up 47 minutes late after his first lesson on a big motorbike, we work out whether we'd shoot a wedding in space (no), and choose between a drinks reception at the Savoy and a Holiday Inn on the A55.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Liam's 47 minutes late
05:06 Back to photo weddings
08:12 Two weddings and a rainbow
10:13 The bride with no picture with her mum
14:47 Shooting for the couple and their families
17:24 Fixing it in Photoshop
18:24 What do photographers eat at weddings?
19:29 Huel, salads and a fridge in the boot
22:34 Being fed at weddings
27:08 Camper van dreams
28:42 Would you shoot a wedding in space?
32:20 Is my wedding too normal for you?
36:29 Share every wedding
38:29 The Savoy or a Holiday Inn on the A55?
40:00 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We're all relaxed about a few reference images (usually a sunset, usually in California), but if the style is miles from yours, it's kinder to point them to someone who shoots that way. Laura admits she'd be a lot more dramatic about it if it were another videographer's film. Then the other side: how does it feel when people copy you? Liam minds an exact copy of a distinctive idea but likes being an influence, and the rest of us reckon nothing is truly original anyway. In the second half: the cost of advertising on wedding directories and why one of them seems to rank for everything, why photography prices have drifted down over ten years and whether AI could do the same to video, and how many bookings feels safe going into a new year.
Plus Liam's Apple Watch tells him the band is too loud, an Ibiza wedding that was cancelled without anyone telling the suppliers, why Pete went to Iceland, Pete finding out he's in a table tennis league by losing to an 82 year old, and Liam and Bee joining the village bowls club.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Earplugs for loud bands
03:35 A busy start to the season
05:08 The Ibiza wedding that was cancelled without telling anyone
07:43 The mental load of small requests
09:13 Feeling wanted at a wedding
17:58 A Northumberland wedding with a lovely video team
19:59 Why did Pete go to Iceland?
23:04 How workshop leaders pick their locations
24:05 When couples send other people's work
28:13 How it feels when people copy you
32:55 Liam's Peckham workshop
34:29 The cost of directory advertising
38:03 Why photography prices have fallen
42:08 How many bookings feels safe?
46:48 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We're all relaxed about a few reference images (usually a sunset, usually in California), but if the style is miles from yours, it's kinder to point them to someone who shoots that way. Laura admits she'd be a lot more dramatic about it if it were another videographer's film. Then the other side: how does it feel when people copy you? Liam minds an exact copy of a distinctive idea but likes being an influence, and the rest of us reckon nothing is truly original anyway. In the second half: the cost of advertising on wedding directories and why one of them seems to rank for everything, why photography prices have drifted down over ten years and whether AI could do the same to video, and how many bookings feels safe going into a new year.
Plus Liam's Apple Watch tells him the band is too loud, an Ibiza wedding that was cancelled without anyone telling the suppliers, why Pete went to Iceland, Pete finding out he's in a table tennis league by losing to an 82 year old, and Liam and Bee joining the village bowls club.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Earplugs for loud bands
03:35 A busy start to the season
05:08 The Ibiza wedding that was cancelled without telling anyone
07:43 The mental load of small requests
09:13 Feeling wanted at a wedding
17:58 A Northumberland wedding with a lovely video team
19:59 Why did Pete go to Iceland?
23:04 How workshop leaders pick their locations
24:05 When couples send other people's work
28:13 How it feels when people copy you
32:55 Liam's Peckham workshop
34:29 The cost of directory advertising
38:03 Why photography prices have fallen
42:08 How many bookings feels safe?
46:48 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam's method: take the couple for portraits first, and have two ushers gather everyone while you're away. Then the things not to do: one at a time, generic lists, couples drifting off centre, and the horseshoe that never straightens. In the second half we talk about choosing which weddings to take. Should you post previews from weddings that don't fit your brand? (Laura and Bee say the people matter more than the venue, and posting every wedding makes you make something good.) When is it right to say no? Pete says anxiety about a job is a fair reason, and we remember the groom who stood by the door and announced there would be no pictures of him. And what does a reported six figure, two day booking in America say about UK photographers panicking over a fifty quid price rise?
Plus Liam mistakes a TV actress in a hotel bistro for the singer from a wedding band, Pete shoots his first photo only wedding in a while in a rain shower, and an introduction to who does what, for anyone new.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome back after a brutal April
02:33 A five star London hotel, then a nap on a bench in Spain
05:35 Mistaking an actress for a wedding singer
08:07 Pete's first photo only wedding in a while
10:08 When should you do group photos?
12:13 Portraits first, and let the ushers gather everyone
14:48 What not to do with group shots
20:34 Eighteen people in a tiny palm court
21:36 Who we are and who does what
27:19 Should you preview weddings that don't fit your brand?
30:25 Does a posh venue mean a better client?
36:26 When should you say no to a wedding?
46:15 A six figure booking, and what it says about pricing
54:54 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam's method: take the couple for portraits first, and have two ushers gather everyone while you're away. Then the things not to do: one at a time, generic lists, couples drifting off centre, and the horseshoe that never straightens. In the second half we talk about choosing which weddings to take. Should you post previews from weddings that don't fit your brand? (Laura and Bee say the people matter more than the venue, and posting every wedding makes you make something good.) When is it right to say no? Pete says anxiety about a job is a fair reason, and we remember the groom who stood by the door and announced there would be no pictures of him. And what does a reported six figure, two day booking in America say about UK photographers panicking over a fifty quid price rise?
Plus Liam mistakes a TV actress in a hotel bistro for the singer from a wedding band, Pete shoots his first photo only wedding in a while in a rain shower, and an introduction to who does what, for anyone new.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome back after a brutal April
02:33 A five star London hotel, then a nap on a bench in Spain
05:35 Mistaking an actress for a wedding singer
08:07 Pete's first photo only wedding in a while
10:08 When should you do group photos?
12:13 Portraits first, and let the ushers gather everyone
14:48 What not to do with group shots
20:34 Eighteen people in a tiny palm court
21:36 Who we are and who does what
27:19 Should you preview weddings that don't fit your brand?
30:25 Does a posh venue mean a better client?
36:26 When should you say no to a wedding?
46:15 A six figure booking, and what it says about pricing
54:54 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A listener asks, and our answer is: you can do hybrid, but both suffer. Pete and Laura stopped doing it as a pair because couples expected the work of four people, and Liam says they're now losing bookings to husband and wife photo and video teams as budgets tighten. If you offer it, be really clear with couples about what they're getting. Then, what do you do with a deposit when a couple cancels a year out? All four of us lean towards giving it back, especially if you can rebook the date, because being fair beats waving the contract. And styled shoots: not whether to do them, but passing them off as real weddings, taking credit for set-ups, and the expectations they create (see Liam's burger advert theory).
Before that, Liam's wedding at the National Gallery, wandering the empty rooms past the Monets and Van Gogh's Sunflowers during dinner, and talking his way onto the roof above Trafalgar Square. Plus the best and worst meals we've been given at weddings, a commercial shoot for a candle company in a tiny Shropshire cottage, and an SEO win for one of Liam's workshop attendees.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Early morning chatter
03:36 Why two shooters is calmer
04:38 The best and worst wedding meals
08:14 Why supplier meals cause bad feeling
09:16 A night at the National Gallery
13:50 Onto the roof above Trafalgar Square
17:25 Can one person shoot photo and video?
20:34 Couples asking for both
23:43 Hybrid ideas, and our verdict
27:18 Should you return a deposit?
33:03 Passing styled shoots off as real weddings
37:05 Same faces and unrealistic expectations
39:40 A London workshop and a candle shoot
44:51 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A listener asks, and our answer is: you can do hybrid, but both suffer. Pete and Laura stopped doing it as a pair because couples expected the work of four people, and Liam says they're now losing bookings to husband and wife photo and video teams as budgets tighten. If you offer it, be really clear with couples about what they're getting. Then, what do you do with a deposit when a couple cancels a year out? All four of us lean towards giving it back, especially if you can rebook the date, because being fair beats waving the contract. And styled shoots: not whether to do them, but passing them off as real weddings, taking credit for set-ups, and the expectations they create (see Liam's burger advert theory).
Before that, Liam's wedding at the National Gallery, wandering the empty rooms past the Monets and Van Gogh's Sunflowers during dinner, and talking his way onto the roof above Trafalgar Square. Plus the best and worst meals we've been given at weddings, a commercial shoot for a candle company in a tiny Shropshire cottage, and an SEO win for one of Liam's workshop attendees.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Early morning chatter
03:36 Why two shooters is calmer
04:38 The best and worst wedding meals
08:14 Why supplier meals cause bad feeling
09:16 A night at the National Gallery
13:50 Onto the roof above Trafalgar Square
17:25 Can one person shoot photo and video?
20:34 Couples asking for both
23:43 Hybrid ideas, and our verdict
27:18 Should you return a deposit?
33:03 Passing styled shoots off as real weddings
37:05 Same faces and unrealistic expectations
39:40 A London workshop and a candle shoot
44:51 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam's answer is to reply kindly, point them towards some training, and only offer second shooting to people he's already worked with on a workshop, because you can't hand a stranger your brand and your couples' trust over email. Then the filmmakers' dilemma: should wedding films go vertical for Instagram and TikTok? Pete worries about composing for two shapes at once and losing the feature film feel, then talks himself round to a short vertical edit as an add-on, since couples watch everything on their phones anyway. We also pick apart a wedding directory's published "average prices", which we don't think help anyone, and talk about handling a complaint well (pick up the phone and apologise).
Plus Liam's motorbike theory revision (a toucan crossing is one two can cross), a coffee stain on a wedding dress in hurricane force winds in Spain, a wedding at the National Gallery with a roof terrace over Trafalgar Square, and what to do if you find a sheep stuck on its back.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 The last sunny day of the year
01:00 Liam's motorbike theory test
04:00 A postponed wedding in Spain
06:31 Hurricane winds and coffee on the dress
11:09 A wedding at the National Gallery
13:12 The mystery of the missing wetsuits
15:16 Handling a complaint
19:18 Why raw footage is risky to hand over
22:23 What to do about a sheep stuck on its back
23:24 Should beginners second shoot for you?
29:45 Those published average wedding prices
34:51 Should wedding films go vertical?
41:00 Instagram links, blue ticks and spam
42:00 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam's answer is to reply kindly, point them towards some training, and only offer second shooting to people he's already worked with on a workshop, because you can't hand a stranger your brand and your couples' trust over email. Then the filmmakers' dilemma: should wedding films go vertical for Instagram and TikTok? Pete worries about composing for two shapes at once and losing the feature film feel, then talks himself round to a short vertical edit as an add-on, since couples watch everything on their phones anyway. We also pick apart a wedding directory's published "average prices", which we don't think help anyone, and talk about handling a complaint well (pick up the phone and apologise).
Plus Liam's motorbike theory revision (a toucan crossing is one two can cross), a coffee stain on a wedding dress in hurricane force winds in Spain, a wedding at the National Gallery with a roof terrace over Trafalgar Square, and what to do if you find a sheep stuck on its back.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 The last sunny day of the year
01:00 Liam's motorbike theory test
04:00 A postponed wedding in Spain
06:31 Hurricane winds and coffee on the dress
11:09 A wedding at the National Gallery
13:12 The mystery of the missing wetsuits
15:16 Handling a complaint
19:18 Why raw footage is risky to hand over
22:23 What to do about a sheep stuck on its back
23:24 Should beginners second shoot for you?
29:45 Those published average wedding prices
34:51 Should wedding films go vertical?
41:00 Instagram links, blue ticks and spam
42:00 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A story doing the rounds this week, about unchecked raw footage sent to a couple, gets Pete, Laura and Bee talking. Stressed crews say things at weddings they'd never want played back, so check anything before it goes to a couple (and if you're listening back to eight hours of microphone audio, charge properly for it). And if a couple complains, pick up the phone and apologise. Then pre season nerves. Laura worries about an imaginary wedding full of faceless people until she talks to the couple, which is why we have a call with every couple a month before. Liam takes no notes and kept a paper diary until the pandemic, which terrifies us all. And with direct flash and "shot on iPhone" looks everywhere, are we turning into the old people shouting at everyone to get off our lawn?
Plus Liam texts from a windy wedding in Spain where a coffee ends up on the dress, Pete's watch claims two hours of table tennis burned 1,400 calories, and Albert gets a Yes Day.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro, and Liam's in Spain
03:36 Fitness trackers and table tennis calories
05:43 Recording on our last Saturday off
06:44 Grateful for a busy year, worried about the next
12:21 Should you ever send unchecked footage?
14:30 Things said in the heat of a wedding
16:38 Charging properly for raw footage
20:10 Check everything, and pick up the phone
21:42 How you behave on the day matters
25:18 Pre wedding nerves
27:54 Month before calls with couples
32:38 Are we the old guard now?
38:17 A full gallery versus the Instagram feed
40:21 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>A story doing the rounds this week, about unchecked raw footage sent to a couple, gets Pete, Laura and Bee talking. Stressed crews say things at weddings they'd never want played back, so check anything before it goes to a couple (and if you're listening back to eight hours of microphone audio, charge properly for it). And if a couple complains, pick up the phone and apologise. Then pre season nerves. Laura worries about an imaginary wedding full of faceless people until she talks to the couple, which is why we have a call with every couple a month before. Liam takes no notes and kept a paper diary until the pandemic, which terrifies us all. And with direct flash and "shot on iPhone" looks everywhere, are we turning into the old people shouting at everyone to get off our lawn?
Plus Liam texts from a windy wedding in Spain where a coffee ends up on the dress, Pete's watch claims two hours of table tennis burned 1,400 calories, and Albert gets a Yes Day.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro, and Liam's in Spain
03:36 Fitness trackers and table tennis calories
05:43 Recording on our last Saturday off
06:44 Grateful for a busy year, worried about the next
12:21 Should you ever send unchecked footage?
14:30 Things said in the heat of a wedding
16:38 Charging properly for raw footage
20:10 Check everything, and pick up the phone
21:42 How you behave on the day matters
25:18 Pre wedding nerves
27:54 Month before calls with couples
32:38 Are we the old guard now?
38:17 A full gallery versus the Instagram feed
40:21 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Liam away on motorbike training, Pete, Laura and Bee talk about a run of last minute enquiries from couples whose videographers had pulled out. Has COVID changed how easily suppliers cancel? We grew up in a culture where you turned up whatever happened (Laura says we'd have gone with Liam with an arm hanging off), so we talk about finding cover rather than just cancelling, recommending someone else, and the times when family really does have to come first.
Also this week: how to get any work done in the Easter holidays (our top tip: don't, stop fighting it), whether this is the best time of our lives, why Laura stops caring about an award a week after winning it, Pete's sudden urge to take over the local table tennis centre (Bee has already designed the logo), and the Bitcoin Pete sold far too early. Plus a Pilates class that turned out to be musical theatre at 6.30am, and a Lake District picnic with a Hercules flypast.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro, and Liam's off on a motorbike
02:03 Working with kids at home in the holidays
04:06 Ahead of schedule on the edits
06:07 Top tips for the school holidays
08:39 Is this the best time of our lives?
10:10 Goals, and forgetting awards
13:12 Pete wants to run a table tennis centre
15:47 A virtual second shooting workshop
18:18 Couples whose videographers cancelled
19:18 Why suppliers cancel more easily now
21:24 Finding cover versus just cancelling
24:01 Work to live
26:35 Spending more at Easter
29:38 The Bitcoin story
32:41 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Liam away on motorbike training, Pete, Laura and Bee talk about a run of last minute enquiries from couples whose videographers had pulled out. Has COVID changed how easily suppliers cancel? We grew up in a culture where you turned up whatever happened (Laura says we'd have gone with Liam with an arm hanging off), so we talk about finding cover rather than just cancelling, recommending someone else, and the times when family really does have to come first.
Also this week: how to get any work done in the Easter holidays (our top tip: don't, stop fighting it), whether this is the best time of our lives, why Laura stops caring about an award a week after winning it, Pete's sudden urge to take over the local table tennis centre (Bee has already designed the logo), and the Bitcoin Pete sold far too early. Plus a Pilates class that turned out to be musical theatre at 6.30am, and a Lake District picnic with a Hercules flypast.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro, and Liam's off on a motorbike
02:03 Working with kids at home in the holidays
04:06 Ahead of schedule on the edits
06:07 Top tips for the school holidays
08:39 Is this the best time of our lives?
10:10 Goals, and forgetting awards
13:12 Pete wants to run a table tennis centre
15:47 A virtual second shooting workshop
18:18 Couples whose videographers cancelled
19:18 Why suppliers cancel more easily now
21:24 Finding cover versus just cancelling
24:01 Work to live
26:35 Spending more at Easter
29:38 The Bitcoin story
32:41 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Our first guest in the room with us is Adam Wing, a Northwest wedding videographer, YouTube educator and host of the Think Wedding Business podcast. After his daughter was born, Adam chose to have his quietest year ever, and kept putting his price up until he got fewer yeses, without earning any less. He tells us how it all started with his uncle Howard, a wedding singer who paid him to edit GoPro clips, how terrified he was at his first wedding (he didn't speak to the couple until the end of the day), and why he thinks couples book him for the experience as much as the films. We also talk about filming a whole wedding with one camera and one lens, why groom prep often isn't worth it, early ceremony times, how video has gone from an afterthought to a priority, copycats ("no one can do me better than me"), the polished editorial trend, and making an online course from a teleprompter in lockdown.
Before Adam arrives, Liam and Bee report back from an anniversary weekend where a side of broccoli cost eight pounds, and the two families accidentally book the same holiday. Plus the photographer who brought a Nintendo Switch to a wedding and played Mario Kart with Adam during the meal.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:37 The farmhouse spa and the eight pound broccoli
06:10 Chasing sunsets at weddings
13:23 Our guest, Adam Wing
15:54 Choosing a quieter year
18:59 Price up until you get fewer yeses
24:36 Early ceremonies and groom prep
27:41 How it started: his uncle and a GoPro
33:21 Best Newcomer, and where enquiries come from
35:54 Style, and one lens all day
40:04 Making an online course in lockdown
50:27 Video's rise, copycats and editorial trends
55:32 Filming versus editing
59:35 Minimal kit and sharing the aisle
1:02:42 Highs and lows of the week
Adam's website: https://www.adamwingfilms.com/
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Our first guest in the room with us is Adam Wing, a Northwest wedding videographer, YouTube educator and host of the Think Wedding Business podcast. After his daughter was born, Adam chose to have his quietest year ever, and kept putting his price up until he got fewer yeses, without earning any less. He tells us how it all started with his uncle Howard, a wedding singer who paid him to edit GoPro clips, how terrified he was at his first wedding (he didn't speak to the couple until the end of the day), and why he thinks couples book him for the experience as much as the films. We also talk about filming a whole wedding with one camera and one lens, why groom prep often isn't worth it, early ceremony times, how video has gone from an afterthought to a priority, copycats ("no one can do me better than me"), the polished editorial trend, and making an online course from a teleprompter in lockdown.
Before Adam arrives, Liam and Bee report back from an anniversary weekend where a side of broccoli cost eight pounds, and the two families accidentally book the same holiday. Plus the photographer who brought a Nintendo Switch to a wedding and played Mario Kart with Adam during the meal.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:37 The farmhouse spa and the eight pound broccoli
06:10 Chasing sunsets at weddings
13:23 Our guest, Adam Wing
15:54 Choosing a quieter year
18:59 Price up until you get fewer yeses
24:36 Early ceremonies and groom prep
27:41 How it started: his uncle and a GoPro
33:21 Best Newcomer, and where enquiries come from
35:54 Style, and one lens all day
40:04 Making an online course in lockdown
50:27 Video's rise, copycats and editorial trends
55:32 Filming versus editing
59:35 Minimal kit and sharing the aisle
1:02:42 Highs and lows of the week
Adam's website: https://www.adamwingfilms.com/
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>It's a listener questions episode. The big one is how to gain traction when you're starting out. Our answer: make friends and join a small referral group, second shoot as much as you can, don't be ashamed of being cheap at the start, look after your first couples because referrals snowball, and go back to your craft rather than chasing the marketing noise. We also answer the best piece of kit we've ever owned (Liam's underwater housing, Pete's old 50mm 1.2, Laura's earplugs, Bee's MacBook), how to learn video, and how to edit mixed lighting. Laura's rule: turn the lights off and use the window. Bee shoots everything at one white balance and uses indoor and outdoor presets. And does anyone choose purple uplighters, or is it always the DJ? Also, pineapple on pizza.
Plus a Scottish castle wedding and the long drive home that Laura talked Pete out of, a surprise extra speech that sends Pete running between mics and cameras, and Liam's plans for a motorbike (he isn't telling his mum).
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 A Scottish castle wedding and a long drive home
07:08 Workflow guides and blogging a big Spanish wedding
09:44 New SEO pages for the Cotswolds and Thailand
10:44 Late night bike rides and motorbike plans
15:52 Best piece of kit you've ever owned
18:24 How do you learn video?
22:06 Running between mics for a surprise speech
25:15 Editing mixed lighting
27:21 Turn the lights off, and purple uplighters
32:01 Pineapple on pizza
34:03 How do you get noticed as a new photographer?
40:12 Whatever happened to big touring workshops?
46:20 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>It's a listener questions episode. The big one is how to gain traction when you're starting out. Our answer: make friends and join a small referral group, second shoot as much as you can, don't be ashamed of being cheap at the start, look after your first couples because referrals snowball, and go back to your craft rather than chasing the marketing noise. We also answer the best piece of kit we've ever owned (Liam's underwater housing, Pete's old 50mm 1.2, Laura's earplugs, Bee's MacBook), how to learn video, and how to edit mixed lighting. Laura's rule: turn the lights off and use the window. Bee shoots everything at one white balance and uses indoor and outdoor presets. And does anyone choose purple uplighters, or is it always the DJ? Also, pineapple on pizza.
Plus a Scottish castle wedding and the long drive home that Laura talked Pete out of, a surprise extra speech that sends Pete running between mics and cameras, and Liam's plans for a motorbike (he isn't telling his mum).
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 A Scottish castle wedding and a long drive home
07:08 Workflow guides and blogging a big Spanish wedding
09:44 New SEO pages for the Cotswolds and Thailand
10:44 Late night bike rides and motorbike plans
15:52 Best piece of kit you've ever owned
18:24 How do you learn video?
22:06 Running between mics for a surprise speech
25:15 Editing mixed lighting
27:21 Turn the lights off, and purple uplighters
32:01 Pineapple on pizza
34:03 How do you get noticed as a new photographer?
40:12 Whatever happened to big touring workshops?
46:20 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we catch up with Janina Brocklesby, a documentary wedding photographer from Lancashire and a Rangefinder Rising Star. She left an NHS dentistry job after a friend on holiday asked why she didn't do something she loved, bought a Nikon D750, and went full time in December 2019 (great timing). She talks about how awards have helped her business, the day the Rangefinder news arrived on the same day as a tough complaint, why she tells couples up front that at nearly five foot ten she can't be a ninja, working as a duo with her business partner, and shaking through her first talk on stage. Her advice for anyone starting out: go to the meetups. Community over competition, and what's the worst that can happen?
Before Janina joins, Bee's side plate moves on its own in a York chippy, Pete books an elopement in Scotland, and Liam takes his new electric mountain bike up Rivington Pike and falls off in the mud.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and a table tennis invitation
03:03 A ghost in a York chippy
04:37 Booking an elopement in Scotland
08:15 Liam falls off his electric mountain bike
13:28 Our guest, Janina Brocklesby
15:30 Awards as marketing, and Rangefinder
18:11 Good news and a tough complaint on the same day
24:26 From NHS dentistry to photography
28:27 What dentistry teaches you about anxious people
31:02 I can't be a ninja
32:34 Working as a duo
40:16 Loneliness and community
43:19 A pre wedding shoot gone wrong
58:51 Advice for newcomers: go to the meetups
1:05:02 Highs and lows of the week
Janina's website: https://reportage-studios.com
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we catch up with Janina Brocklesby, a documentary wedding photographer from Lancashire and a Rangefinder Rising Star. She left an NHS dentistry job after a friend on holiday asked why she didn't do something she loved, bought a Nikon D750, and went full time in December 2019 (great timing). She talks about how awards have helped her business, the day the Rangefinder news arrived on the same day as a tough complaint, why she tells couples up front that at nearly five foot ten she can't be a ninja, working as a duo with her business partner, and shaking through her first talk on stage. Her advice for anyone starting out: go to the meetups. Community over competition, and what's the worst that can happen?
Before Janina joins, Bee's side plate moves on its own in a York chippy, Pete books an elopement in Scotland, and Liam takes his new electric mountain bike up Rivington Pike and falls off in the mud.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and a table tennis invitation
03:03 A ghost in a York chippy
04:37 Booking an elopement in Scotland
08:15 Liam falls off his electric mountain bike
13:28 Our guest, Janina Brocklesby
15:30 Awards as marketing, and Rangefinder
18:11 Good news and a tough complaint on the same day
24:26 From NHS dentistry to photography
28:27 What dentistry teaches you about anxious people
31:02 I can't be a ninja
32:34 Working as a duo
40:16 Loneliness and community
43:19 A pre wedding shoot gone wrong
58:51 Advice for newcomers: go to the meetups
1:05:02 Highs and lows of the week
Janina's website: https://reportage-studios.com
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Bee away in York, Pete, Laura and Liam swap stories about the people who make our job harder, nearly always by accident. A guest tidies Pete's camera bag under a table during the speeches. Venues lock rooms behind you. Liam shoots a whole ceremony on one lens after his bag goes missing, and leaves his entire camera bag at a London bus stop (it was still there). The bride's dad hands back a stack of memory cards. Tripods get kicked, marquee floors wobble like the sea, bands pile speakers on your bags and eat the suppliers' food, bright video lights flatten the dancefloor, and coordinators call guests in early. Sometimes it's the couple: the sunset that was now or never. Our advice: ask the venue for two hours for the drinks reception, and learn to laugh about it.
Before that, Liam loses a booking days after it was agreed because the venue recommended someone else, and gets an enquiry for a Swiss engagement shoot with a horse. And we remember Laura being child locked into a wedding car by bridesmaids. Plus Liam's impulse buy: an electric mountain bike.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Bee's away
04:09 A Scottish elopement and a very specific idea of light
10:21 Losing a booking to a venue recommendation
11:23 A Swiss engagement shoot with a horse
18:09 Wedding saboteurs: the hidden camera bag
19:41 Locked rooms
24:51 A camera bag left at a bus stop
26:23 Memory cards from the bride's dad
30:24 Kicked tripods and wobbly marquee floors
33:02 Bands eating the suppliers' food
37:41 Coordinators calling guests in early
40:42 Bright video lights on the dancefloor
43:17 When the couple miss the sunset
47:20 Ask for two hours for the drinks reception
52:00 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Bee away in York, Pete, Laura and Liam swap stories about the people who make our job harder, nearly always by accident. A guest tidies Pete's camera bag under a table during the speeches. Venues lock rooms behind you. Liam shoots a whole ceremony on one lens after his bag goes missing, and leaves his entire camera bag at a London bus stop (it was still there). The bride's dad hands back a stack of memory cards. Tripods get kicked, marquee floors wobble like the sea, bands pile speakers on your bags and eat the suppliers' food, bright video lights flatten the dancefloor, and coordinators call guests in early. Sometimes it's the couple: the sunset that was now or never. Our advice: ask the venue for two hours for the drinks reception, and learn to laugh about it.
Before that, Liam loses a booking days after it was agreed because the venue recommended someone else, and gets an enquiry for a Swiss engagement shoot with a horse. And we remember Laura being child locked into a wedding car by bridesmaids. Plus Liam's impulse buy: an electric mountain bike.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Bee's away
04:09 A Scottish elopement and a very specific idea of light
10:21 Losing a booking to a venue recommendation
11:23 A Swiss engagement shoot with a horse
18:09 Wedding saboteurs: the hidden camera bag
19:41 Locked rooms
24:51 A camera bag left at a bus stop
26:23 Memory cards from the bride's dad
30:24 Kicked tripods and wobbly marquee floors
33:02 Bands eating the suppliers' food
37:41 Coordinators calling guests in early
40:42 Bright video lights on the dancefloor
43:17 When the couple miss the sunset
47:20 Ask for two hours for the drinks reception
52:00 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Pete and Laura have had about half the enquiries they had at the same point last year, and Liam and Bee are getting plenty of enquiries but fewer bookings. Our view: quiet spells are for doing the small marketing jobs, a few minutes every day, rather than waiting. We talk about small referral circles over big Facebook groups, how to earn a place on a venue's recommended list (show them pictures of their venue they haven't already seen a hundred times), being easy for planners to work with (stick to the timeline, don't be a diva about your food, tag them), Google Ads, and why reaching nearly 400,000 accounts on Instagram brings in about one bride a week.
Liam's SEO tip is that plenty of searches are image searches, so your alt text and captions matter, and Bee's Pinterest test got bonkers reach. And when Pete looked back, most of last year's bookings came in September, when they were too busy to notice.
Plus Liam keeps walking into Pete's ceremony shots, Liam's slightly mad video ideas (a GoPro in the bouquet, or on a bowl of soup), and the launch of our Patreon.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:02 Get out of the aisle, Liam
11:17 Are enquiries really down?
12:48 Lots of enquiries, fewer bookings
16:56 Small referral groups versus big Facebook groups
18:26 Ten minutes of marketing a day
20:30 Big Instagram reach, few enquiries
21:31 How to get on a venue's recommended list
24:05 Working well with planners
25:39 Google Ads and SEO
29:18 Image search and Pinterest
35:01 Why Facebook polls skew the mood
38:07 Liam's GoPro video ideas
42:21 Our Patreon
46:29 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Pete and Laura have had about half the enquiries they had at the same point last year, and Liam and Bee are getting plenty of enquiries but fewer bookings. Our view: quiet spells are for doing the small marketing jobs, a few minutes every day, rather than waiting. We talk about small referral circles over big Facebook groups, how to earn a place on a venue's recommended list (show them pictures of their venue they haven't already seen a hundred times), being easy for planners to work with (stick to the timeline, don't be a diva about your food, tag them), Google Ads, and why reaching nearly 400,000 accounts on Instagram brings in about one bride a week.
Liam's SEO tip is that plenty of searches are image searches, so your alt text and captions matter, and Bee's Pinterest test got bonkers reach. And when Pete looked back, most of last year's bookings came in September, when they were too busy to notice.
Plus Liam keeps walking into Pete's ceremony shots, Liam's slightly mad video ideas (a GoPro in the bouquet, or on a bowl of soup), and the launch of our Patreon.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:02 Get out of the aisle, Liam
11:17 Are enquiries really down?
12:48 Lots of enquiries, fewer bookings
16:56 Small referral groups versus big Facebook groups
18:26 Ten minutes of marketing a day
20:30 Big Instagram reach, few enquiries
21:31 How to get on a venue's recommended list
24:05 Working well with planners
25:39 Google Ads and SEO
29:18 Image search and Pinterest
35:01 Why Facebook polls skew the mood
38:07 Liam's GoPro video ideas
42:21 Our Patreon
46:29 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We start with a debate from a Facebook thread. We said yes to most of the handful of raw file requests we've had over the years, but we're now leaning towards putting a price in the brochure so it isn't sprung on anyone later. The videographers are firmer: raw footage is how the sausage is made, and someone can cut a bad film with your name on it (one couple did, then loved Laura's version of the very same footage).
Then our guest, Sam Hurd, a wedding photographer and educator from Baltimore with over 100,000 followers on Instagram. Sam talks about a market where couples are booking later and at shorter notice, how a Craigslist job at the National Press Club led to his first wedding, and the marketing experiment that got him around 400,000 views in four months: leaving photographer reviews, with his favourite images, on venues' Google listings. We also cover his prism and Ring of Fire tricks, being copied (and Rick Rubin's The Creative Act), testing AI editing apps, the Canon R3, and the differences between UK and US weddings, from speeches to sunshine. His practical tip: pack a second pair of comfy shoes for the reception.
Plus Liam gets moved on from Borough Market for having a proper camera.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and a Cairngorms wedding
04:35 Should you charge for raw files?
10:14 Raw video footage, and how the sausage is made
14:00 Our guest, Sam Hurd
17:58 Couples booking later
21:39 How Sam started
23:40 Google reviews as marketing
32:24 Underwater photography and going mirrorless
35:03 Prisms, Ring of Fire and repeating ideas
39:44 Being copied
42:22 Testing AI editing apps
45:32 UK and US weddings compared
57:30 The Canon R3, lenses and spare shoes
1:06:08 Top tip for newcomers
1:11:23 Highs and lows of the week
Sam's website: https://www.samhurdphotography.com/
The book he recommends: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Act-Way-Being/
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We start with a debate from a Facebook thread. We said yes to most of the handful of raw file requests we've had over the years, but we're now leaning towards putting a price in the brochure so it isn't sprung on anyone later. The videographers are firmer: raw footage is how the sausage is made, and someone can cut a bad film with your name on it (one couple did, then loved Laura's version of the very same footage).
Then our guest, Sam Hurd, a wedding photographer and educator from Baltimore with over 100,000 followers on Instagram. Sam talks about a market where couples are booking later and at shorter notice, how a Craigslist job at the National Press Club led to his first wedding, and the marketing experiment that got him around 400,000 views in four months: leaving photographer reviews, with his favourite images, on venues' Google listings. We also cover his prism and Ring of Fire tricks, being copied (and Rick Rubin's The Creative Act), testing AI editing apps, the Canon R3, and the differences between UK and US weddings, from speeches to sunshine. His practical tip: pack a second pair of comfy shoes for the reception.
Plus Liam gets moved on from Borough Market for having a proper camera.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and a Cairngorms wedding
04:35 Should you charge for raw files?
10:14 Raw video footage, and how the sausage is made
14:00 Our guest, Sam Hurd
17:58 Couples booking later
21:39 How Sam started
23:40 Google reviews as marketing
32:24 Underwater photography and going mirrorless
35:03 Prisms, Ring of Fire and repeating ideas
39:44 Being copied
42:22 Testing AI editing apps
45:32 UK and US weddings compared
57:30 The Canon R3, lenses and spare shoes
1:06:08 Top tip for newcomers
1:11:23 Highs and lows of the week
Sam's website: https://www.samhurdphotography.com/
The book he recommends: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Act-Way-Being/
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>That's what happened to Liam and Bee this week, so we talk it through. Should you ever have to justify an artist's fee? You wouldn't email a restaurant to ask why their pizza costs more than the place next door, and you can't walk into Chanel and ask why a bag costs what it does. We agree that haggling is usually a sign of the wrong client, that people underestimate how few weddings you can shoot in a year, and that the right couples book on your style. Where we disagree is whether experience justifies a higher price. Liam and Bee say yes, because of the problem solving and backup kit that come with it. Pete says he's never paid for experience beyond about three years, and that vision matters more.
Also this week: Pete's imposter syndrome at a videographers' get-together, Liam's Thai wedding with five videographers (one in a tuk tuk, one flying a drone), whether drones belong anywhere near a ceremony, and a couple who wanted underwater photos in a river in March. Plus Bee's perfect Travelodge, surrounded by supermarkets.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:33 A Hexham Travelodge surrounded by supermarkets
05:40 Do R5 and R6 Mark II files edit differently?
09:45 Imposter syndrome at a videographers' meetup
11:50 Pricing and high end weddings
12:51 Liam's Thai wedding with five videographers
14:24 Do drones belong at ceremonies?
18:30 The couple who asked us to justify our prices
20:04 Pizza, Chanel and artists' fees
22:11 Haggling and discounts
24:14 The right clients book on style
26:19 Does experience justify a higher price?
28:26 Odd requests: underwater in a river in March
40:53 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>That's what happened to Liam and Bee this week, so we talk it through. Should you ever have to justify an artist's fee? You wouldn't email a restaurant to ask why their pizza costs more than the place next door, and you can't walk into Chanel and ask why a bag costs what it does. We agree that haggling is usually a sign of the wrong client, that people underestimate how few weddings you can shoot in a year, and that the right couples book on your style. Where we disagree is whether experience justifies a higher price. Liam and Bee say yes, because of the problem solving and backup kit that come with it. Pete says he's never paid for experience beyond about three years, and that vision matters more.
Also this week: Pete's imposter syndrome at a videographers' get-together, Liam's Thai wedding with five videographers (one in a tuk tuk, one flying a drone), whether drones belong anywhere near a ceremony, and a couple who wanted underwater photos in a river in March. Plus Bee's perfect Travelodge, surrounded by supermarkets.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:33 A Hexham Travelodge surrounded by supermarkets
05:40 Do R5 and R6 Mark II files edit differently?
09:45 Imposter syndrome at a videographers' meetup
11:50 Pricing and high end weddings
12:51 Liam's Thai wedding with five videographers
14:24 Do drones belong at ceremonies?
18:30 The couple who asked us to justify our prices
20:04 Pizza, Chanel and artists' fees
22:11 Haggling and discounts
24:14 The right clients book on style
26:19 Does experience justify a higher price?
28:26 Odd requests: underwater in a river in March
40:53 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam and Bee had dozens of enquiries in January and only a handful turned into bookings, so we try to work out why. It's not price, and it's not style. Couples are slower to commit, they're shopping around more because there are more photographers than ever, and plenty simply ghost. Is a 5 to 10 percent conversion rate normal? Someone in a Facebook group says theirs is 2.5.
Also this week: Liam and Bee's first in person workshop in Manchester (by lunchtime they were on slide twelve of 197), and how much teaching takes out of you. Laura tries the new Canon R6 Mark II against the R5, the suppliers get rock hard cold chips at a wedding, and Liam's editorial pre wedding shoot is interrupted by a banner plane. Plus no spend February (Amazon doesn't count), a cupboard full of supplements, a robot vacuum called Guffy, Liam giving first aid to a roofer who fell off a house, and a listener who started shooting weddings at 55.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and no spend February
03:05 Health shakes and the supplements cupboard
06:12 Gadgets and a robot vacuum called Guffy
08:13 A wedding together at Mottram Hall
09:47 The Canon R6 Mark II versus the R5
11:53 Suppliers' meals and cold chips
13:55 Liam's 5k a day challenge
15:05 Liam and Bee's first workshop in Manchester
18:12 Why teaching wipes you out
29:31 Pete meets other videographers
31:03 Lots of enquiries, few bookings: why?
35:45 A pre wedding shoot and a banner plane
39:53 Never too late: starting at 55
41:23 Highs and lows of the week
The chocolate health drink: https://supernovaliving.com/
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Liam and Bee had dozens of enquiries in January and only a handful turned into bookings, so we try to work out why. It's not price, and it's not style. Couples are slower to commit, they're shopping around more because there are more photographers than ever, and plenty simply ghost. Is a 5 to 10 percent conversion rate normal? Someone in a Facebook group says theirs is 2.5.
Also this week: Liam and Bee's first in person workshop in Manchester (by lunchtime they were on slide twelve of 197), and how much teaching takes out of you. Laura tries the new Canon R6 Mark II against the R5, the suppliers get rock hard cold chips at a wedding, and Liam's editorial pre wedding shoot is interrupted by a banner plane. Plus no spend February (Amazon doesn't count), a cupboard full of supplements, a robot vacuum called Guffy, Liam giving first aid to a roofer who fell off a house, and a listener who started shooting weddings at 55.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and no spend February
03:05 Health shakes and the supplements cupboard
06:12 Gadgets and a robot vacuum called Guffy
08:13 A wedding together at Mottram Hall
09:47 The Canon R6 Mark II versus the R5
11:53 Suppliers' meals and cold chips
13:55 Liam's 5k a day challenge
15:05 Liam and Bee's first workshop in Manchester
18:12 Why teaching wipes you out
29:31 Pete meets other videographers
31:03 Lots of enquiries, few bookings: why?
35:45 A pre wedding shoot and a banner plane
39:53 Never too late: starting at 55
41:23 Highs and lows of the week
The chocolate health drink: https://supernovaliving.com/
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we catch up with Jonny MP, a documentary wedding photographer in Surrey (Mr Sunset to some), who spent eleven years in big brand marketing before going full time in 2015. He talks about the freedom of working for yourself, why most of his work comes from other suppliers recommending him, styled shoots versus real weddings on a cold, dark, rainy night, and why you should shoot the pictures that make you buzz, because they attract couples like you. Getting married himself taught him that the main photos matter most and you don't have to catch every guest, and seeing Laura on the morning was like having a friend there. Then AI editing and culling, Jonny's theory that one day cameras will film the whole day and AI will pick the moments, and why you should never promise a sunset.
His top tip: do one thing a day, for years. "We overestimate what we can do in a year and underestimate what we can do in five."
A heads up: Pete's recorder battery died partway through, so about ten minutes of Jonny's answers are missing. Pete explains at 31:47.
Before Jonny joins, we catch up on the first weddings of the year, and ask whether Instagram reach jumping from 14,000 to 94,000 in a month leads to a single extra booking.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Catch-up and the first weddings of the year
13:13 Instagram reach versus bookings
14:44 Blogging and ChatGPT
22:25 Jonny MP joins
29:09 From big brand marketing to photography
31:47 The missing ten minutes, and getting recommended
33:18 Styled shoots versus real weddings
35:21 Shooting for yourself, and how many weddings to take
38:25 Being a guest at his own wedding
44:06 A virtual team of photographer friends
52:44 Never promise a sunset
53:45 Ageing in the industry, editing and AI
1:02:02 Will AI pick the moments one day?
1:05:36 Top tip: one thing a day, for years
1:11:40 Highs and lows of the week
Jonny's website: https://jonnymp.com/
His latest workshop: https://jonnymp-develop.com/aspire-and-thrive/
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we catch up with Jonny MP, a documentary wedding photographer in Surrey (Mr Sunset to some), who spent eleven years in big brand marketing before going full time in 2015. He talks about the freedom of working for yourself, why most of his work comes from other suppliers recommending him, styled shoots versus real weddings on a cold, dark, rainy night, and why you should shoot the pictures that make you buzz, because they attract couples like you. Getting married himself taught him that the main photos matter most and you don't have to catch every guest, and seeing Laura on the morning was like having a friend there. Then AI editing and culling, Jonny's theory that one day cameras will film the whole day and AI will pick the moments, and why you should never promise a sunset.
His top tip: do one thing a day, for years. "We overestimate what we can do in a year and underestimate what we can do in five."
A heads up: Pete's recorder battery died partway through, so about ten minutes of Jonny's answers are missing. Pete explains at 31:47.
Before Jonny joins, we catch up on the first weddings of the year, and ask whether Instagram reach jumping from 14,000 to 94,000 in a month leads to a single extra booking.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Catch-up and the first weddings of the year
13:13 Instagram reach versus bookings
14:44 Blogging and ChatGPT
22:25 Jonny MP joins
29:09 From big brand marketing to photography
31:47 The missing ten minutes, and getting recommended
33:18 Styled shoots versus real weddings
35:21 Shooting for yourself, and how many weddings to take
38:25 Being a guest at his own wedding
44:06 A virtual team of photographer friends
52:44 Never promise a sunset
53:45 Ageing in the industry, editing and AI
1:02:02 Will AI pick the moments one day?
1:05:36 Top tip: one thing a day, for years
1:11:40 Highs and lows of the week
Jonny's website: https://jonnymp.com/
His latest workshop: https://jonnymp-develop.com/aspire-and-thrive/
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>When an anonymously judged photography award announced its winners and every one of them was a man, it started a lot of conversations, including this one. Why might fewer women enter awards in the first place: confidence, imposter syndrome, or years of male dominated trade shows? What's it like being a woman working at weddings and industry events, and having to plan how you get home safely? What can men do to help? Step in, call things out, back the lead photographer when she's a woman, and listen rather than assume. And is telling someone you're proud of them for walking into a room full of strangers supportive, or patronising? We don't land on a neat answer, but we agree it's a problem across the industry, and that listening is where it starts.
Before that, the lighter half. It's Liam's last day of being 43, so are we middle aged now? Liam and Bee plan their workshop (equipment, creative ideas and how to talk to people, for every part of the day), Bee's 40th birthday present turns out to be an 86 mile walk along Hadrian's Wall, and a student loan helpline asks Laura for her postcode from twenty years ago.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Running in the dark
01:34 Is this middle age?
02:39 Putting it out to the universe
05:45 Should Pete and Liam try yoga?
08:21 Planning Liam and Bee's workshop
11:11 Birthday plans and Hadrian's Wall
13:35 Tax returns and student loan security questions
23:18 The national awards night
28:58 An awards list with no women on it
31:03 Why do fewer women enter awards?
33:15 Feeling safe at events and weddings
34:17 What can men do?
38:00 All male line ups, and supportive or patronising?
43:42 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OurCreativeCommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>When an anonymously judged photography award announced its winners and every one of them was a man, it started a lot of conversations, including this one. Why might fewer women enter awards in the first place: confidence, imposter syndrome, or years of male dominated trade shows? What's it like being a woman working at weddings and industry events, and having to plan how you get home safely? What can men do to help? Step in, call things out, back the lead photographer when she's a woman, and listen rather than assume. And is telling someone you're proud of them for walking into a room full of strangers supportive, or patronising? We don't land on a neat answer, but we agree it's a problem across the industry, and that listening is where it starts.
Before that, the lighter half. It's Liam's last day of being 43, so are we middle aged now? Liam and Bee plan their workshop (equipment, creative ideas and how to talk to people, for every part of the day), Bee's 40th birthday present turns out to be an 86 mile walk along Hadrian's Wall, and a student loan helpline asks Laura for her postcode from twenty years ago.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Running in the dark
01:34 Is this middle age?
02:39 Putting it out to the universe
05:45 Should Pete and Liam try yoga?
08:21 Planning Liam and Bee's workshop
11:11 Birthday plans and Hadrian's Wall
13:35 Tax returns and student loan security questions
23:18 The national awards night
28:58 An awards list with no women on it
31:03 Why do fewer women enter awards?
33:15 Feeling safe at events and weddings
34:17 What can men do?
38:00 All male line ups, and supportive or patronising?
43:42 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OurCreativeCommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Our first guest is Emma Lawson (no relation), a Scottish wedding and elopement photographer who shot 59 weddings last year and also runs a planning business for couples coming from overseas. Her answer: hand over everything that isn't shooting and editing. Emma's virtual assistant team does her slideshows, blogs, album boxes and IT, and even turns couples' group shot lists into the quickest running order for the day. She also explains why she never chases enquiries, why she gives her photos away to other suppliers ("they become your mini marketing team"), how she makes reels in five minutes using trending audio, why she shoots in portrait (sorry, videographers), and why, if you're not local, you should leave Skye to the photographers who are. We came away with a to-do list.
Before Emma joins, Liam explains how to relax a self conscious groom (be a clown with a camera), we revisit the cheese etiquette row at Bee's mum's first Christmas, and Pete and Laura explain why they bought an R6 Mark II as a third camera.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and a hungover Liam
05:40 Relaxing a self conscious groom
12:28 Don't cut the nose off the cheese
14:32 Why we bought an R6 Mark II
21:45 Emma Lawson joins from Scotland
24:49 59 weddings, and capping it at 40
26:21 Hiring a virtual assistant
28:26 What the assistant team does
38:25 Replying to enquiries, and why she never chases
47:07 Why she doesn't shoot on Skye
54:14 Instagram: tag suppliers and use trending audio
59:55 Why she shoots in portrait
1:02:02 What's next for Emma
1:06:08 Highs and lows of the week
Emma's website: emmalawsonphotography.com
The amazing CRM she uses: https://sproutsocial.com/features/social-media-crm/
The VA: https://wiva.uk/services/
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OurCreativeCommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Our first guest is Emma Lawson (no relation), a Scottish wedding and elopement photographer who shot 59 weddings last year and also runs a planning business for couples coming from overseas. Her answer: hand over everything that isn't shooting and editing. Emma's virtual assistant team does her slideshows, blogs, album boxes and IT, and even turns couples' group shot lists into the quickest running order for the day. She also explains why she never chases enquiries, why she gives her photos away to other suppliers ("they become your mini marketing team"), how she makes reels in five minutes using trending audio, why she shoots in portrait (sorry, videographers), and why, if you're not local, you should leave Skye to the photographers who are. We came away with a to-do list.
Before Emma joins, Liam explains how to relax a self conscious groom (be a clown with a camera), we revisit the cheese etiquette row at Bee's mum's first Christmas, and Pete and Laura explain why they bought an R6 Mark II as a third camera.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and a hungover Liam
05:40 Relaxing a self conscious groom
12:28 Don't cut the nose off the cheese
14:32 Why we bought an R6 Mark II
21:45 Emma Lawson joins from Scotland
24:49 59 weddings, and capping it at 40
26:21 Hiring a virtual assistant
28:26 What the assistant team does
38:25 Replying to enquiries, and why she never chases
47:07 Why she doesn't shoot on Skye
54:14 Instagram: tag suppliers and use trending audio
59:55 Why she shoots in portrait
1:02:02 What's next for Emma
1:06:08 Highs and lows of the week
Emma's website: emmalawsonphotography.com
The amazing CRM she uses: https://sproutsocial.com/features/social-media-crm/
The VA: https://wiva.uk/services/
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OurCreativeCommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our first episode of 2023, we talk about wintering: easing back in with small, gentle jobs, getting the tax return done, taking time off while you can, and not believing the online boasting. Then kit. Liam's R6 shutter dies in the middle of a London shoot (he very nearly only took one body), we weigh up the savings on a grey import against losing your Canon warranty, and we share our wish lists, from the RF 35mm f1.2 to the R6 Mark II.
Before that, the Christmas catch-up: a Christmas Eve walk with torches and music, Liam's Christmas dinner at six o'clock with ten pans on the go, and Pete's New Year's Eve wedding in the Lakes for a couple of actors who weren't remotely fazed by a camera. And Liam and Bee's family trip to South Africa: safaris, a monkey that chased Bee, and New Year's Eve in a hyena enclosure during a power cut.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Happy New Year
01:01 Christmas walks and a very late Christmas dinner
09:38 South Africa: arriving in Johannesburg
11:43 Safari, and a night in the hyena enclosure
14:19 A monkey takes on Bee
15:21 A family shoot in Johannesburg
18:31 Pete's New Year's Eve wedding in the Lakes
21:33 Wintering until February
27:38 How booking season is going
30:11 Don't believe the online hype
30:41 Camera wish lists
32:44 Liam's shutter dies: always carry two bodies
36:15 Grey imports versus your Canon warranty
43:25 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our first episode of 2023, we talk about wintering: easing back in with small, gentle jobs, getting the tax return done, taking time off while you can, and not believing the online boasting. Then kit. Liam's R6 shutter dies in the middle of a London shoot (he very nearly only took one body), we weigh up the savings on a grey import against losing your Canon warranty, and we share our wish lists, from the RF 35mm f1.2 to the R6 Mark II.
Before that, the Christmas catch-up: a Christmas Eve walk with torches and music, Liam's Christmas dinner at six o'clock with ten pans on the go, and Pete's New Year's Eve wedding in the Lakes for a couple of actors who weren't remotely fazed by a camera. And Liam and Bee's family trip to South Africa: safaris, a monkey that chased Bee, and New Year's Eve in a hyena enclosure during a power cut.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Happy New Year
01:01 Christmas walks and a very late Christmas dinner
09:38 South Africa: arriving in Johannesburg
11:43 Safari, and a night in the hyena enclosure
14:19 A monkey takes on Bee
15:21 A family shoot in Johannesburg
18:31 Pete's New Year's Eve wedding in the Lakes
21:33 Wintering until February
27:38 How booking season is going
30:11 Don't believe the online hype
30:41 Camera wish lists
32:44 Liam's shutter dies: always carry two bodies
36:15 Grey imports versus your Canon warranty
43:25 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our last episode of 2022, recorded while it snowed in Adlington and nowhere else, we're all buried in edits before Christmas. Bee got through 3,000 photos in a week, and Laura is holding to a twelve week turnaround that slipped to eighteen last year. Then we look back. Bee has learned she can hand the culling over to Liam, which has got him shooting fewer frames, and we wonder why we feel we need a photo of every single guest laughing. We also try AI culling on a big wedding, and ask ChatGPT and Jasper to write things for us (Jasper's story about Maud the dog going missing was worryingly good). And our New Year resolutions: we got thin, we didn't get fit.
Plus Liam's fell run up Rivington Pike in the snow, a delivery driver ringing Laura in the bath about a TV that wasn't hers, Pete's 5k route to the brewery with a pint at the halfway point, and an elf on a zip wire.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Tired and nearly Christmas
03:40 Snow in Adlington
05:41 Editing hell before Christmas
09:21 Christmas mental load and a no presents rule
11:23 The wrong TV
12:53 What we're watching
14:53 Christmas Day plans and the brewery 5k
16:54 Liam's fell run up Rivington Pike
22:35 A dark winter wedding in London and 150 sparklers
27:16 New Year resolutions
30:20 Looking back on 2022
33:21 Enjoying a wedding doesn't mean it's good
35:22 Handing over the cull, and filler shots
38:26 AI culling, ChatGPT and Jasper
41:00 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our last episode of 2022, recorded while it snowed in Adlington and nowhere else, we're all buried in edits before Christmas. Bee got through 3,000 photos in a week, and Laura is holding to a twelve week turnaround that slipped to eighteen last year. Then we look back. Bee has learned she can hand the culling over to Liam, which has got him shooting fewer frames, and we wonder why we feel we need a photo of every single guest laughing. We also try AI culling on a big wedding, and ask ChatGPT and Jasper to write things for us (Jasper's story about Maud the dog going missing was worryingly good). And our New Year resolutions: we got thin, we didn't get fit.
Plus Liam's fell run up Rivington Pike in the snow, a delivery driver ringing Laura in the bath about a TV that wasn't hers, Pete's 5k route to the brewery with a pint at the halfway point, and an elf on a zip wire.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Tired and nearly Christmas
03:40 Snow in Adlington
05:41 Editing hell before Christmas
09:21 Christmas mental load and a no presents rule
11:23 The wrong TV
12:53 What we're watching
14:53 Christmas Day plans and the brewery 5k
16:54 Liam's fell run up Rivington Pike
22:35 A dark winter wedding in London and 150 sparklers
27:16 New Year resolutions
30:20 Looking back on 2022
33:21 Enjoying a wedding doesn't mean it's good
35:22 Handing over the cull, and filler shots
38:26 AI culling, ChatGPT and Jasper
41:00 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Laura and Bee at yoga, it's just Pete and Liam. Before the big question, they cover difficult ceremony light (a film crew would just hang a bed sheet over the window, but you can't), the one time Liam stopped a ceremony to ask people to step back, and why Liam is going off his big 28-70 f2 zoom in favour of a 35mm that doesn't make him feel like a target in London. Then next year. Both want to run more, because being fitter makes them better at weddings, see more of their friends and family, and stop date nights turning into business meetings about SEO. On the business side, Pete wants to put some love back into Lawson Photography, and Liam wants more creative documentary work and the old funky group shots.
Plus a cosy winter wedding near Dumfries, twisted trees on the heather that are basically bonsai, a Christmas market engagement shoot in Manchester, and Pete still not feeling like he knows what he's doing after twenty years.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Just the two of us
04:34 A winter wedding near Dumfries
05:34 Dinner with the photographer the night before
12:11 A Christmas market engagement shoot in Manchester
14:44 Twenty years in and still learning
15:45 Bad ceremony light
17:50 Should you ever stop a ceremony?
23:28 Big zoom or 35mm?
25:31 Primes, orbs and sharpness
27:32 What do we want to do better next year?
30:34 Running, and why fitness helps at weddings
34:21 More time for family and friends
40:03 Business goals for next year
43:09 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Laura and Bee at yoga, it's just Pete and Liam. Before the big question, they cover difficult ceremony light (a film crew would just hang a bed sheet over the window, but you can't), the one time Liam stopped a ceremony to ask people to step back, and why Liam is going off his big 28-70 f2 zoom in favour of a 35mm that doesn't make him feel like a target in London. Then next year. Both want to run more, because being fitter makes them better at weddings, see more of their friends and family, and stop date nights turning into business meetings about SEO. On the business side, Pete wants to put some love back into Lawson Photography, and Liam wants more creative documentary work and the old funky group shots.
Plus a cosy winter wedding near Dumfries, twisted trees on the heather that are basically bonsai, a Christmas market engagement shoot in Manchester, and Pete still not feeling like he knows what he's doing after twenty years.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Just the two of us
04:34 A winter wedding near Dumfries
05:34 Dinner with the photographer the night before
12:11 A Christmas market engagement shoot in Manchester
14:44 Twenty years in and still learning
15:45 Bad ceremony light
17:50 Should you ever stop a ceremony?
23:28 Big zoom or 35mm?
25:31 Primes, orbs and sharpness
27:32 What do we want to do better next year?
30:34 Running, and why fitness helps at weddings
34:21 More time for family and friends
40:03 Business goals for next year
43:09 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we talk about the end of year slump. Bee reads out the signs of burnout, and Pete reckons they describe every wedding photographer and videographer in December. Then the worry about next year. Does venting in industry groups help, or make it worse? Is the cost of living hitting demand, or do pricier couples just book later? Why do couples ghost, and does putting your prices on your website filter out the cold enquiries? (And what about the advert promising to take you from 500 dollars a wedding to 50,000?) Laura notices our own Instagram has stopped showing our faces. Our conclusions: feeling flat in December is normal, don't read too much into social media, mute rather than compare, message one or two people you trust, and get outside.
Plus the elf turns out to shop at the same cake shop as everyone else, Bee wants a bed sauna, Liam fancies becoming a driving instructor, and fake Christmas gets a hot tub.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Morning walk and tired legs
02:05 The elf's brownies
08:20 A bed sauna for Christmas
14:24 Liam the driving instructor?
16:59 Signs of burnout
18:33 Worrying about next year, and venting online
21:09 Do pricier couples book later?
22:47 Is the cost of living hitting bookings?
24:20 Why couples ghost
26:25 Should your prices be on your website?
30:04 Where have our faces gone?
35:07 Breaks, muting and comparison
38:43 Putting awards in perspective
43:17 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we talk about the end of year slump. Bee reads out the signs of burnout, and Pete reckons they describe every wedding photographer and videographer in December. Then the worry about next year. Does venting in industry groups help, or make it worse? Is the cost of living hitting demand, or do pricier couples just book later? Why do couples ghost, and does putting your prices on your website filter out the cold enquiries? (And what about the advert promising to take you from 500 dollars a wedding to 50,000?) Laura notices our own Instagram has stopped showing our faces. Our conclusions: feeling flat in December is normal, don't read too much into social media, mute rather than compare, message one or two people you trust, and get outside.
Plus the elf turns out to shop at the same cake shop as everyone else, Bee wants a bed sauna, Liam fancies becoming a driving instructor, and fake Christmas gets a hot tub.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Morning walk and tired legs
02:05 The elf's brownies
08:20 A bed sauna for Christmas
14:24 Liam the driving instructor?
16:59 Signs of burnout
18:33 Worrying about next year, and venting online
21:09 Do pricier couples book later?
22:47 Is the cost of living hitting bookings?
24:20 Why couples ghost
26:25 Should your prices be on your website?
30:04 Where have our faces gone?
35:07 Breaks, muting and comparison
38:43 Putting awards in perspective
43:17 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we go back through our old jobs. Pete worked at Starbucks as a shy teenager and came out of it able to talk to anyone (and with strong views on what a tall coffee is). Laura ran a salt dough ornament business at the age of twelve, and later taught dance. Bee worked in retail and at a TV production company. Liam's list is long: a paper round, farm work (including a wasp nest and a hedge cutter), factory temp jobs (he escaped one night shift through a toilet window), nightclub photo keyrings, school photos and a short spell as a paparazzo. What carries over to weddings? Customer facing jobs teach you patience with demanding people, bad jobs show you what you don't want, and if you smile at people, they smile back.
Before that, Laura edits three weddings in one week, we catch up with friends at an industry meetup in Manchester, Liam paints his nails, Betty nearly gives the turkey away at the French border, and we explain fake Christmas.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Fake Christmas tomorrow
01:31 Three weddings edited in one week
02:33 An industry meetup in Manchester
06:36 Smuggling a turkey into France
16:48 What did our old jobs teach us?
17:18 Bee's retail years
18:19 Pete's Starbucks years
24:23 Laura's salt dough business
27:24 Liam on the farm
29:25 Escaping a factory through the toilet window
31:57 Nightclub keyrings and dance teaching
35:05 Liam the paparazzo
40:10 What it all means for weddings
41:40 Highs and lows, and fake Christmas explained
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we go back through our old jobs. Pete worked at Starbucks as a shy teenager and came out of it able to talk to anyone (and with strong views on what a tall coffee is). Laura ran a salt dough ornament business at the age of twelve, and later taught dance. Bee worked in retail and at a TV production company. Liam's list is long: a paper round, farm work (including a wasp nest and a hedge cutter), factory temp jobs (he escaped one night shift through a toilet window), nightclub photo keyrings, school photos and a short spell as a paparazzo. What carries over to weddings? Customer facing jobs teach you patience with demanding people, bad jobs show you what you don't want, and if you smile at people, they smile back.
Before that, Laura edits three weddings in one week, we catch up with friends at an industry meetup in Manchester, Liam paints his nails, Betty nearly gives the turkey away at the French border, and we explain fake Christmas.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Fake Christmas tomorrow
01:31 Three weddings edited in one week
02:33 An industry meetup in Manchester
06:36 Smuggling a turkey into France
16:48 What did our old jobs teach us?
17:18 Bee's retail years
18:19 Pete's Starbucks years
24:23 Laura's salt dough business
27:24 Liam on the farm
29:25 Escaping a factory through the toilet window
31:57 Nightclub keyrings and dance teaching
35:05 Liam the paparazzo
40:10 What it all means for weddings
41:40 Highs and lows, and fake Christmas explained
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With around 40 percent of engagements said to happen over the festive period, we go through the jobs to do in the lull before the January rush. Liam leads on SEO: tidy your website, check your analytics, refresh weak pages and resubmit them in Search Console, and build clusters of linked articles around your key pages. Pete isn't a fan of SEO style blog posts (no heart, he says), but admits they matter if you rely on search. We also talk about keeping your blog current (it's the sixth most visited part of Liam and Bee's site), best of slideshows, Google reviews (Liam and Bee have four), selling more albums, and taking a proper rest.
Plus where the commune idea came from: a house and barn for sale near Bordeaux, and a plan we didn't have a spare million pounds for. Also fifty jars of mincemeat and a turkey heading to France, sneaking an engagement shoot past the Barbican wardens, and an Artex ceiling we never got round to painting.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Warming up at Pete and Laura's
01:30 The house in Bordeaux that started the commune
02:31 Fifty jars of mincemeat and an illegal turkey
06:38 Liam and Bee's February workshop
12:25 Protecting August in next year's diary
16:04 Are you booking season ready?
18:08 Cleaning up your website
20:09 Blogging old weddings
21:40 Best of slideshows
22:40 Helpful articles and topic clusters
26:20 Google reviews
29:25 Selling more albums
34:30 Rest and recharge
40:06 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With around 40 percent of engagements said to happen over the festive period, we go through the jobs to do in the lull before the January rush. Liam leads on SEO: tidy your website, check your analytics, refresh weak pages and resubmit them in Search Console, and build clusters of linked articles around your key pages. Pete isn't a fan of SEO style blog posts (no heart, he says), but admits they matter if you rely on search. We also talk about keeping your blog current (it's the sixth most visited part of Liam and Bee's site), best of slideshows, Google reviews (Liam and Bee have four), selling more albums, and taking a proper rest.
Plus where the commune idea came from: a house and barn for sale near Bordeaux, and a plan we didn't have a spare million pounds for. Also fifty jars of mincemeat and a turkey heading to France, sneaking an engagement shoot past the Barbican wardens, and an Artex ceiling we never got round to painting.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Warming up at Pete and Laura's
01:30 The house in Bordeaux that started the commune
02:31 Fifty jars of mincemeat and an illegal turkey
06:38 Liam and Bee's February workshop
12:25 Protecting August in next year's diary
16:04 Are you booking season ready?
18:08 Cleaning up your website
20:09 Blogging old weddings
21:40 Best of slideshows
22:40 Helpful articles and topic clusters
26:20 Google reviews
29:25 Selling more albums
34:30 Rest and recharge
40:06 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>After a regional awards night where the videographers all stood together, the way photographers used to, we get nostalgic for the old Northwest photographer lunches and nights out (boiling eggs in a kettle at 3am in Blackpool, mostly). Since COVID and kids, real life meetups have mostly disappeared, and we miss them. So how has the industry changed in ten years? We learned from blogs and Flash websites, and now it's YouTube and courses. There are far more very good photographers, newer photographers are braver with their prices, and you have to decide whether to chase trends, stay in your lane or go niche (Liam and Bee don't quite agree on that one). And if you're shy, the answer is simple: message someone and ask them for a coffee.
Before that, we accidentally join the annual Santa walk up Rivington Pike, Pete films a tiny ceremony in Bath and splits a tripod, and Liam's engagement couple arrive in London jet lagged and an hour late, having got engaged over breakfast that morning. Plus news of Liam and Bee's first in person workshop in nearly four years.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Sunday lunch and the Santa walk
03:04 A small wedding in Bath
05:36 Filming a tiny ceremony
08:39 Should you ask a couple to move mid ceremony?
15:48 A tube strike engagement shoot in London
19:25 The awards night
26:04 The old Northwest photographer lunches
31:09 Missing real life people
35:22 How the industry has changed in ten years
39:29 Prices, trends and staying current
43:34 Stay in your lane or go niche?
46:37 Shy? Just ask someone for a coffee
48:40 Our workshop news
50:42 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>After a regional awards night where the videographers all stood together, the way photographers used to, we get nostalgic for the old Northwest photographer lunches and nights out (boiling eggs in a kettle at 3am in Blackpool, mostly). Since COVID and kids, real life meetups have mostly disappeared, and we miss them. So how has the industry changed in ten years? We learned from blogs and Flash websites, and now it's YouTube and courses. There are far more very good photographers, newer photographers are braver with their prices, and you have to decide whether to chase trends, stay in your lane or go niche (Liam and Bee don't quite agree on that one). And if you're shy, the answer is simple: message someone and ask them for a coffee.
Before that, we accidentally join the annual Santa walk up Rivington Pike, Pete films a tiny ceremony in Bath and splits a tripod, and Liam's engagement couple arrive in London jet lagged and an hour late, having got engaged over breakfast that morning. Plus news of Liam and Bee's first in person workshop in nearly four years.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Sunday lunch and the Santa walk
03:04 A small wedding in Bath
05:36 Filming a tiny ceremony
08:39 Should you ask a couple to move mid ceremony?
15:48 A tube strike engagement shoot in London
19:25 The awards night
26:04 The old Northwest photographer lunches
31:09 Missing real life people
35:22 How the industry has changed in ten years
39:29 Prices, trends and staying current
43:34 Stay in your lane or go niche?
46:37 Shy? Just ask someone for a coffee
48:40 Our workshop news
50:42 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
liamandbee.com
lawsonfilms.co.uk
lawsonphotography.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>It's episode 20 and we're all back together after judging the Wedding Industry Awards, so we start with what entrants most need to work on: edit every image the same way, choose your ten with other photographers rather than your mum, leave out the detail shots and the blown out confetti, and remember that with films the edit matters more than the filming. Then two listener questions. What is good light? (Window light, soft on the skin, and shoot for skin tones rather than pretty orbs.) And how long does it take to get to work you're happy with? For Liam the turning point was a festival couple who asked for something weird. We finish by being honest about what we'd each still like to improve, and why you should trust what you're drawn to.
Plus free village fireworks with hot pot in the car park, driving home from Scotland in thick fog, Bee getting ID'd buying wine, and Laura on why she tries to take bad photos on her personal camera.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 It's episode 20!
04:05 Free village fireworks
06:09 Driving home from Scotland in fog
07:39 Should Liam and Bee offer video?
23:53 What judging taught us
25:24 What award entrants should fix
27:00 Judging films: the edit matters most
29:36 Listener question: what is good light?
37:15 Listener question: how long until you're happy with your work?
40:47 Standing out from similar photographers
48:36 What we'd each like to improve
54:16 Trust what you're drawn to
57:20 Personal cameras and the charm of bad photos
1:02:28 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>It's episode 20 and we're all back together after judging the Wedding Industry Awards, so we start with what entrants most need to work on: edit every image the same way, choose your ten with other photographers rather than your mum, leave out the detail shots and the blown out confetti, and remember that with films the edit matters more than the filming. Then two listener questions. What is good light? (Window light, soft on the skin, and shoot for skin tones rather than pretty orbs.) And how long does it take to get to work you're happy with? For Liam the turning point was a festival couple who asked for something weird. We finish by being honest about what we'd each still like to improve, and why you should trust what you're drawn to.
Plus free village fireworks with hot pot in the car park, driving home from Scotland in thick fog, Bee getting ID'd buying wine, and Laura on why she tries to take bad photos on her personal camera.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 It's episode 20!
04:05 Free village fireworks
06:09 Driving home from Scotland in fog
07:39 Should Liam and Bee offer video?
23:53 What judging taught us
25:24 What award entrants should fix
27:00 Judging films: the edit matters most
29:36 Listener question: what is good light?
37:15 Listener question: how long until you're happy with your work?
40:47 Standing out from similar photographers
48:36 What we'd each like to improve
54:16 Trust what you're drawn to
57:20 Personal cameras and the charm of bad photos
1:02:28 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Pete and Laura away on holiday, it's just Liam and Bee this week, in a cushion fort around the special microphone Pete left them. Liam catches up on a run of weddings: a three day Indian wedding in Spain where the haldi turned into water pistols, beer and ketchup and the groom arrived in a Ferrari, a bride who wanted to recreate a lake photo from Norway in Loch Lomond in October, and his first portraits in Glencoe, in the rain, with a stag called Fred. He also explains how he builds a simple landscape portrait around one strong focal point.
Then the business side. Instagram is moving to portrait grids, but most of Liam and Bee's enquiries come from search, venues and past couples (fifteen arrived in two days while Liam was up in Glencoe). And after nearly 30,000 frames from one wedding, can you trust AI to do the cull? Bee isn't convinced.
Plus TV recommendations, awards judging, and the hotel chambermaid who walked in at exactly the wrong moment.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Just the two of us, and a cushion fort
07:16 Liam's 17th wedding at the same Spanish venue
09:50 Underwater shots and a Loch Lomond recreation
13:28 A three day Indian wedding in Spain
16:39 A Ferrari and an hour of music before the ceremony
20:44 Why Scotland calms Liam down
22:14 What makes a strong landscape portrait
24:17 Portraits in Glencoe, in the rain
28:25 Fred the stag
31:57 Instagram's new portrait grid
35:01 Why Instagram isn't where our enquiries come from
39:09 Can you trust AI to cull a wedding?
43:18 Awards judging
46:24 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Pete and Laura away on holiday, it's just Liam and Bee this week, in a cushion fort around the special microphone Pete left them. Liam catches up on a run of weddings: a three day Indian wedding in Spain where the haldi turned into water pistols, beer and ketchup and the groom arrived in a Ferrari, a bride who wanted to recreate a lake photo from Norway in Loch Lomond in October, and his first portraits in Glencoe, in the rain, with a stag called Fred. He also explains how he builds a simple landscape portrait around one strong focal point.
Then the business side. Instagram is moving to portrait grids, but most of Liam and Bee's enquiries come from search, venues and past couples (fifteen arrived in two days while Liam was up in Glencoe). And after nearly 30,000 frames from one wedding, can you trust AI to do the cull? Bee isn't convinced.
Plus TV recommendations, awards judging, and the hotel chambermaid who walked in at exactly the wrong moment.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Just the two of us, and a cushion fort
07:16 Liam's 17th wedding at the same Spanish venue
09:50 Underwater shots and a Loch Lomond recreation
13:28 A three day Indian wedding in Spain
16:39 A Ferrari and an hour of music before the ceremony
20:44 Why Scotland calms Liam down
22:14 What makes a strong landscape portrait
24:17 Portraits in Glencoe, in the rain
28:25 Fred the stag
31:57 Instagram's new portrait grid
35:01 Why Instagram isn't where our enquiries come from
39:09 Can you trust AI to cull a wedding?
43:18 Awards judging
46:24 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>It's just Pete and Laura this week, across the kitchen table. Having finished judging, we talk about how tricky it is. Ten images rarely show who a photographer really is, films are long, and do you reward the personality or the craft? One judge's tip helped: ask yourself which filmmaker you'd want at your own child's wedding. We also talk about why choosing your own portfolio is so difficult, and why any judge's view is only ever an opinion.
Then the backlog: eleven films to edit, a twelve week limit Laura won't go past (she'd love it to be three), and why editing takes as long as it does. Laura explains why she's happiest taking portraits, because with video all she remembers is what she forgot to do. And with 42 weddings this year, the first year we haven't shot every one together, we look back at why we started making films in the first place.
Plus filming a ceremony from behind a giant flower arch, Laura setting her hair on fire on a tea light display, and second shooting a three day Indian wedding in Spain where the dancing started at one in the morning.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Just the two of us
04:33 Portraits in Halifax, and why Laura loves photography
06:04 A Cheshire wedding at Dorfold Hall
08:36 Filming a ceremony on your own
12:15 Candles, electric fences and other hazards
14:49 Second shooting an Indian wedding in Spain
19:27 Dancing from one in the morning
22:31 The editing backlog and the 12 week rule
26:14 Judging the awards: photos first
29:18 Who would you want at your child's wedding?
33:29 Why choosing your own portfolio is hard
35:04 Writing your entry answers
40:06 Highs and lows of the week
48:04 42 weddings this year
49:37 Quiet winters and why we started making films
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>It's just Pete and Laura this week, across the kitchen table. Having finished judging, we talk about how tricky it is. Ten images rarely show who a photographer really is, films are long, and do you reward the personality or the craft? One judge's tip helped: ask yourself which filmmaker you'd want at your own child's wedding. We also talk about why choosing your own portfolio is so difficult, and why any judge's view is only ever an opinion.
Then the backlog: eleven films to edit, a twelve week limit Laura won't go past (she'd love it to be three), and why editing takes as long as it does. Laura explains why she's happiest taking portraits, because with video all she remembers is what she forgot to do. And with 42 weddings this year, the first year we haven't shot every one together, we look back at why we started making films in the first place.
Plus filming a ceremony from behind a giant flower arch, Laura setting her hair on fire on a tea light display, and second shooting a three day Indian wedding in Spain where the dancing started at one in the morning.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Just the two of us
04:33 Portraits in Halifax, and why Laura loves photography
06:04 A Cheshire wedding at Dorfold Hall
08:36 Filming a ceremony on your own
12:15 Candles, electric fences and other hazards
14:49 Second shooting an Indian wedding in Spain
19:27 Dancing from one in the morning
22:31 The editing backlog and the 12 week rule
26:14 Judging the awards: photos first
29:18 Who would you want at your child's wedding?
33:29 Why choosing your own portfolio is hard
35:04 Writing your entry answers
40:06 Highs and lows of the week
48:04 42 weddings this year
49:37 Quiet winters and why we started making films
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With winter weddings coming, Liam explains why he's switching from flash to small video lights. Flash is restrictive, the sweet spot is awkward, ceilings are either too low or too high, and he misses moments. Modern cameras let you push the ISO and light just enough to keep the atmosphere. Pete and Laura already film with cheap round LED lights, and reckon guests mind a constant light less than flash because they never know when the picture's being taken. Then our winter wedding tips: get your lights up early, use fast lenses, ask for an earlier ceremony, learn to white balance wood panelling, and practise at home by turning all the lights off at ten at night and photographing your cat. That's what the wedding will look like.
Plus Pete and Laura's film workshop (always bring a backup projector), a crowd applauding Liam's engagement couple outside Buckingham Palace because they thought they'd just got married, and Liam's shirt buying problem.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:00 Pete and Laura's film workshop
10:13 A London engagement shoot and an audience at the Palace
15:15 An urban portrait shoot in Halifax
17:17 Liam's new video lights
20:51 Flash or video light: which do guests prefer?
21:51 Ditching flash on the dancefloor
24:00 Lighting ceremonies and group shots indoors
27:03 Do we like winter weddings?
30:39 Top tips for winter weddings
32:12 Camera settings for dark venues
34:42 White balancing wood panelling
40:21 Highs and lows of the week
Liam's fancy new Nanlite Forza 60b lights:
Pete's cheap Yongnuo video lights:
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With winter weddings coming, Liam explains why he's switching from flash to small video lights. Flash is restrictive, the sweet spot is awkward, ceilings are either too low or too high, and he misses moments. Modern cameras let you push the ISO and light just enough to keep the atmosphere. Pete and Laura already film with cheap round LED lights, and reckon guests mind a constant light less than flash because they never know when the picture's being taken. Then our winter wedding tips: get your lights up early, use fast lenses, ask for an earlier ceremony, learn to white balance wood panelling, and practise at home by turning all the lights off at ten at night and photographing your cat. That's what the wedding will look like.
Plus Pete and Laura's film workshop (always bring a backup projector), a crowd applauding Liam's engagement couple outside Buckingham Palace because they thought they'd just got married, and Liam's shirt buying problem.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:00 Pete and Laura's film workshop
10:13 A London engagement shoot and an audience at the Palace
15:15 An urban portrait shoot in Halifax
17:17 Liam's new video lights
20:51 Flash or video light: which do guests prefer?
21:51 Ditching flash on the dancefloor
24:00 Lighting ceremonies and group shots indoors
27:03 Do we like winter weddings?
30:39 Top tips for winter weddings
32:12 Camera settings for dark venues
34:42 White balancing wood panelling
40:21 Highs and lows of the week
Liam's fancy new Nanlite Forza 60b lights:
Pete's cheap Yongnuo video lights:
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we hand the microphones to the two youngest members of the commune and ask them what mummies and daddies do for a living, how much a wedding pays, what a wedding cake costs, and what jobs we should be doing instead.
Also this week: we're all back together, and we've all booked more weddings since putting our prices up (everyone put your prices up). Pete spends three hours teaching a food business to take better product photos on a phone, Bee explains how she culls a wedding, and the cat has a close call with a car (he's fine). Plus Liam versus the Wi-Fi washing machine, and a French B&B that serves coffee in breakfast bowls.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 All back together
01:02 Liam and the Wi-Fi washing machine
09:16 More bookings since the price rise
11:50 A French B&B and breakfast bowls
15:27 A four hour engagement shoot in London
17:29 Teaching a business phone photography
21:04 Over to the kids
22:04 What do mummies and daddies do?
24:08 How much does a wedding pay?
25:10 What jobs should we do instead?
29:15 Liam's week as a solo parent
34:32 Planning our film workshop
36:05 An Indian wedding and how Bee culls
39:06 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we hand the microphones to the two youngest members of the commune and ask them what mummies and daddies do for a living, how much a wedding pays, what a wedding cake costs, and what jobs we should be doing instead.
Also this week: we're all back together, and we've all booked more weddings since putting our prices up (everyone put your prices up). Pete spends three hours teaching a food business to take better product photos on a phone, Bee explains how she culls a wedding, and the cat has a close call with a car (he's fine). Plus Liam versus the Wi-Fi washing machine, and a French B&B that serves coffee in breakfast bowls.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 All back together
01:02 Liam and the Wi-Fi washing machine
09:16 More bookings since the price rise
11:50 A French B&B and breakfast bowls
15:27 A four hour engagement shoot in London
17:29 Teaching a business phone photography
21:04 Over to the kids
22:04 What do mummies and daddies do?
24:08 How much does a wedding pay?
25:10 What jobs should we do instead?
29:15 Liam's week as a solo parent
34:32 Planning our film workshop
36:05 An Indian wedding and how Bee culls
39:06 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Bee away this week, Liam, Pete and Laura talk about confidence: how to earn it from your couples, and where your own comes from. On the first call, barely talk about your work. Ask about them, and admit the call is mostly so they can check you're not a weirdo. Walk them through the day so they know they're being looked after. On the day, arrive early, chat to the parents, calm the nervous groom by telling him how nervous you were at your own wedding (wiggle your toes), and take charge after the ceremony with a friendly "ladies and gentlemen" voice. Then portraits: Liam stays in one spot and talks constantly, Pete keeps moving. And are any of us confident at all?
Before that, Liam spends seven hours on vintage buses across two weddings in one weekend, including one that turned up fifty minutes late to a distillery and another doing thirty up the M6, plus a 25 minute portrait session on Blackpool's Central Pier: dodgems, the big wheel and chips.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Recording one down
04:37 Editing and the backlog
08:41 A distillery wedding and a late vintage bus
15:17 Another vintage bus up the M6
17:18 Portraits on Blackpool's Central Pier
19:18 How to photograph a bus full of guests
21:19 How do you gain a couple's confidence?
23:53 Walking couples through their day
26:32 Talking your way through portraits
31:41 Arriving early and chatting to the parents
34:16 Calming nervous grooms
37:22 Taking charge after the ceremony
40:33 Are we confident? Fixing a failed recording
45:39 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Bee away this week, Liam, Pete and Laura talk about confidence: how to earn it from your couples, and where your own comes from. On the first call, barely talk about your work. Ask about them, and admit the call is mostly so they can check you're not a weirdo. Walk them through the day so they know they're being looked after. On the day, arrive early, chat to the parents, calm the nervous groom by telling him how nervous you were at your own wedding (wiggle your toes), and take charge after the ceremony with a friendly "ladies and gentlemen" voice. Then portraits: Liam stays in one spot and talks constantly, Pete keeps moving. And are any of us confident at all?
Before that, Liam spends seven hours on vintage buses across two weddings in one weekend, including one that turned up fifty minutes late to a distillery and another doing thirty up the M6, plus a 25 minute portrait session on Blackpool's Central Pier: dodgems, the big wheel and chips.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Recording one down
04:37 Editing and the backlog
08:41 A distillery wedding and a late vintage bus
15:17 Another vintage bus up the M6
17:18 Portraits on Blackpool's Central Pier
19:18 How to photograph a bus full of guests
21:19 How do you gain a couple's confidence?
23:53 Walking couples through their day
26:32 Talking your way through portraits
31:41 Arriving early and chatting to the parents
34:16 Calming nervous grooms
37:22 Taking charge after the ceremony
40:33 Are we confident? Fixing a failed recording
45:39 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>All four of us have just joined the judging panel for the Wedding Industry Awards, so this week is all about awards. Pete and Laura first entered just to get the "entered" badge and ended up winning regional and national titles for their films. Liam tells the story of his first BIPP entry, and how it went rather better this year when he won BIPP Wedding Photographer of the Year. Then the practical bit, from the judging side: use all ten images, make sure every one is technically clean (straight horizons, no blown highlights, and please no pictures of flowers), put your strongest film first, and be warm in your written answers rather than having a go at other photographers. We also talk about whether an award lets you charge more (Liam's butcher's sausage theory), the awards we rate, and what we make of the claims that it's all a clique.
Before that, Pete and Laura's flight to a French wedding gets cancelled, so they drive for 17 hours instead, via a wrong junction and an unplanned view of the Eiffel Tower. Plus a station evacuation, a Camden death metal pub, Liam's hat habit and our first merch.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Sleepy catch-up
01:37 Flight cancelled, so we drove to France
10:49 Liam's Edinburgh workshop and a Camden pub
16:28 Evacuated at Piccadilly station
19:33 Awards season, and we're all judges now
21:04 How we started entering awards
26:44 Liam's BIPP story
28:47 Do awards let you charge more?
35:27 How judging works
38:31 What makes an award winning image
42:04 What to write in your answers
44:07 How to order your films
50:47 Cliques and losing gracefully
56:01 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>All four of us have just joined the judging panel for the Wedding Industry Awards, so this week is all about awards. Pete and Laura first entered just to get the "entered" badge and ended up winning regional and national titles for their films. Liam tells the story of his first BIPP entry, and how it went rather better this year when he won BIPP Wedding Photographer of the Year. Then the practical bit, from the judging side: use all ten images, make sure every one is technically clean (straight horizons, no blown highlights, and please no pictures of flowers), put your strongest film first, and be warm in your written answers rather than having a go at other photographers. We also talk about whether an award lets you charge more (Liam's butcher's sausage theory), the awards we rate, and what we make of the claims that it's all a clique.
Before that, Pete and Laura's flight to a French wedding gets cancelled, so they drive for 17 hours instead, via a wrong junction and an unplanned view of the Eiffel Tower. Plus a station evacuation, a Camden death metal pub, Liam's hat habit and our first merch.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Sleepy catch-up
01:37 Flight cancelled, so we drove to France
10:49 Liam's Edinburgh workshop and a Camden pub
16:28 Evacuated at Piccadilly station
19:33 Awards season, and we're all judges now
21:04 How we started entering awards
26:44 Liam's BIPP story
28:47 Do awards let you charge more?
35:27 How judging works
38:31 What makes an award winning image
42:04 What to write in your answers
44:07 How to order your films
50:47 Cliques and losing gracefully
56:01 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we're honest about how we're feeling. Pete and Laura rate their stress at around eight out of ten, mostly down to the editing backlog, the travel and getting back into the school routine, while Liam and Bee are more tired than stressed. We talk about whether shooting or editing is harder, whether we take on too many weddings, why comparing yourself on Facebook makes it worse, how many weddings feels right for next year, and who does what at home. Then what helps: hot yoga, running, walking, lifting weights (badly, in Pete's case) and getting outside. We don't have all the answers, so send us your tips.
Before that, Liam drives eight hours for a four hour wedding in Scotland, runs a portrait workshop in Blackpool, and buys a slim fit suit for a London wedding that he can't lift his arms in. And a photographer at a wedding asks Pete if he's Peter Lawson, because he listens to the podcast.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Autumn arrives and we're burnt out
02:32 A high energy wedding together
05:37 Eight hours' driving for a four hour wedding
07:07 Liam's Blackpool portrait workshop
10:42 A London wedding and a suit that's too slim
16:49 How burnt out are we?
20:25 The editing backlog and our stress scores
22:28 Is shooting or editing worse?
25:59 How many weddings is the right number?
30:04 Travel, chores and who does what at home
35:10 What helps: yoga, running, walking and weights
41:19 This weekend: workshops and a French chateau
46:25 Highs and lows of the week
54:45 Send us your burnout tips
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we're honest about how we're feeling. Pete and Laura rate their stress at around eight out of ten, mostly down to the editing backlog, the travel and getting back into the school routine, while Liam and Bee are more tired than stressed. We talk about whether shooting or editing is harder, whether we take on too many weddings, why comparing yourself on Facebook makes it worse, how many weddings feels right for next year, and who does what at home. Then what helps: hot yoga, running, walking, lifting weights (badly, in Pete's case) and getting outside. We don't have all the answers, so send us your tips.
Before that, Liam drives eight hours for a four hour wedding in Scotland, runs a portrait workshop in Blackpool, and buys a slim fit suit for a London wedding that he can't lift his arms in. And a photographer at a wedding asks Pete if he's Peter Lawson, because he listens to the podcast.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Autumn arrives and we're burnt out
02:32 A high energy wedding together
05:37 Eight hours' driving for a four hour wedding
07:07 Liam's Blackpool portrait workshop
10:42 A London wedding and a suit that's too slim
16:49 How burnt out are we?
20:25 The editing backlog and our stress scores
22:28 Is shooting or editing worse?
25:59 How many weddings is the right number?
30:04 Travel, chores and who does what at home
35:10 What helps: yoga, running, walking and weights
41:19 This weekend: workshops and a French chateau
46:25 Highs and lows of the week
54:45 Send us your burnout tips
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we compare what works for each of our businesses. Liam's answer is SEO, built up over years: county and destination pages, backlinks and, after a Google update, pruning a website that had grown to 1,200 pages. Pete and Laura's answer is mostly other photographers, which is why they end up passing on so many video enquiries. We talk about building a referral group when you're starting out (give more than you take), why most recommendations come down to how you were on the day rather than the photos, and what's working on Instagram, from short films posted two days after the wedding to collaborator posts. Plus blogging, Facebook ads, TikTok, giving venues something different, and how photographers and videographers can stay out of each other's way on the day.
Also this week: a Putney wedding with 32 nationalities, a handbag thief in Covent Garden straight out of Oliver Twist, and Laura slowly poisoned by caffeinated beans in the decaf bag. And a listener question: who would we book to photograph and film our own wedding now?
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro, and a Monday wedding in Scotland
05:01 32 nationalities and a Covent Garden handbag chase
08:01 A Herefordshire venue and the drone
10:04 Where do enquiries come from?
11:05 SEO and pruning a 1,200 page website
13:45 County pages and backlinks
16:22 Starting out: build a referral group
22:43 Repeat clients and being delightful on the day
25:48 Instagram: short films and collaborator posts
28:26 Blogging, Facebook and TikTok
33:34 Giving venues something different
36:05 Photographer and videographer etiquette
41:15 Highs and lows of the week
52:05 Listener question: who would you book for your wedding now?
56:43 Gifts, USBs and going fully digital
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we compare what works for each of our businesses. Liam's answer is SEO, built up over years: county and destination pages, backlinks and, after a Google update, pruning a website that had grown to 1,200 pages. Pete and Laura's answer is mostly other photographers, which is why they end up passing on so many video enquiries. We talk about building a referral group when you're starting out (give more than you take), why most recommendations come down to how you were on the day rather than the photos, and what's working on Instagram, from short films posted two days after the wedding to collaborator posts. Plus blogging, Facebook ads, TikTok, giving venues something different, and how photographers and videographers can stay out of each other's way on the day.
Also this week: a Putney wedding with 32 nationalities, a handbag thief in Covent Garden straight out of Oliver Twist, and Laura slowly poisoned by caffeinated beans in the decaf bag. And a listener question: who would we book to photograph and film our own wedding now?
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro, and a Monday wedding in Scotland
05:01 32 nationalities and a Covent Garden handbag chase
08:01 A Herefordshire venue and the drone
10:04 Where do enquiries come from?
11:05 SEO and pruning a 1,200 page website
13:45 County pages and backlinks
16:22 Starting out: build a referral group
22:43 Repeat clients and being delightful on the day
25:48 Instagram: short films and collaborator posts
28:26 Blogging, Facebook and TikTok
33:34 Giving venues something different
36:05 Photographer and videographer etiquette
41:15 Highs and lows of the week
52:05 Listener question: who would you book for your wedding now?
56:43 Gifts, USBs and going fully digital
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We love weddings, we really do, and most of these things happened at our own. But this week we go through a wedding day in order and pick out the bits that make us sigh: bridal prep photos (why are we photographing the shoes?), vicars and their rules, group shots, horseshoes, wedding cars, bouquet tossing, speeches, cake cutting, sparklers, evening guests and enormous trains. Along the way: why is it still only dad who walks the bride down the aisle, and why do women so rarely get to make a speech?
Plus Liam gets grabbed by the arm and marched out of a church by a vicar, a bishop in the Caribbean couldn't have been more helpful, a registrar is lovely to Laura while moaning about Pete's tripod (not realising they're together), Liam reveals his first dance song, and we decide what we'd do if we got married now. Send us your own pet hates.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro, coffee jitters and white rabbits
01:31 Why destination weddings need two of us
09:47 Pointless and annoying things about weddings
10:50 Bridal prep photos and shoe shots
17:33 Awkward vicars and church rules
23:39 Celebrants, church helpers and registrars
27:19 Why does only dad walk the bride down?
29:21 Bells, group shots and the bins
33:53 Horseshoes, wedding cars and hats
36:55 Bouquet tossing
38:26 Speeches, and where are the women?
43:32 Cake cutting, sparklers and evening guests
50:40 First dances, and our dream weddings now
54:50 Big trains, and what we love about weddings
57:28 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>We love weddings, we really do, and most of these things happened at our own. But this week we go through a wedding day in order and pick out the bits that make us sigh: bridal prep photos (why are we photographing the shoes?), vicars and their rules, group shots, horseshoes, wedding cars, bouquet tossing, speeches, cake cutting, sparklers, evening guests and enormous trains. Along the way: why is it still only dad who walks the bride down the aisle, and why do women so rarely get to make a speech?
Plus Liam gets grabbed by the arm and marched out of a church by a vicar, a bishop in the Caribbean couldn't have been more helpful, a registrar is lovely to Laura while moaning about Pete's tripod (not realising they're together), Liam reveals his first dance song, and we decide what we'd do if we got married now. Send us your own pet hates.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro, coffee jitters and white rabbits
01:31 Why destination weddings need two of us
09:47 Pointless and annoying things about weddings
10:50 Bridal prep photos and shoe shots
17:33 Awkward vicars and church rules
23:39 Celebrants, church helpers and registrars
27:19 Why does only dad walk the bride down?
29:21 Bells, group shots and the bins
33:53 Horseshoes, wedding cars and hats
36:55 Bouquet tossing
38:26 Speeches, and where are the women?
43:32 Cake cutting, sparklers and evening guests
50:40 First dances, and our dream weddings now
54:50 Big trains, and what we love about weddings
57:28 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Back in the UK, round Liam and Bee's kitchen table, we go through how we each set our prices over the years. Pete and Laura started very cheap and nudged up every time the diary started filling, until a client told them they were far too cheap. Taking albums out was another step up (they hated making them anyway). Liam started out selling film packages from a shop he ran with his brother. Then the arguments. Should your prices be on your website? (Pete and Laura always have, Liam and Bee never do.) If you stand still while everything else goes up, is that a pay cut? Why do couples seem happier to pay more for video? And what about the photographer who asked his Instagram followers to guess his price, found they'd guessed higher, and put it up?
Pete's number one tip: just do it. You can always put it back down.
Plus a listener question about working alongside a videographer whose style is different to yours, and Liam's coffee machine of doom.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back in the UK and the missing coffee machine
04:40 How we set our prices
05:40 Starting cheap and creeping up
08:13 Taking albums out to raise prices
09:45 Liam's early days and film packages
13:24 Should your prices be on your website?
17:08 Testing your price with an Instagram poll
18:47 Should inflation push your prices up?
21:21 Photo prices versus video prices
27:25 WhatsApp as an enquiry channel
33:34 Our number one tip for putting your prices up
35:05 Finding a price you're comfortable with
44:51 Highs and lows of the week
49:31 Listener question: when your videographer's style is different
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Back in the UK, round Liam and Bee's kitchen table, we go through how we each set our prices over the years. Pete and Laura started very cheap and nudged up every time the diary started filling, until a client told them they were far too cheap. Taking albums out was another step up (they hated making them anyway). Liam started out selling film packages from a shop he ran with his brother. Then the arguments. Should your prices be on your website? (Pete and Laura always have, Liam and Bee never do.) If you stand still while everything else goes up, is that a pay cut? Why do couples seem happier to pay more for video? And what about the photographer who asked his Instagram followers to guess his price, found they'd guessed higher, and put it up?
Pete's number one tip: just do it. You can always put it back down.
Plus a listener question about working alongside a videographer whose style is different to yours, and Liam's coffee machine of doom.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back in the UK and the missing coffee machine
04:40 How we set our prices
05:40 Starting cheap and creeping up
08:13 Taking albums out to raise prices
09:45 Liam's early days and film packages
13:24 Should your prices be on your website?
17:08 Testing your price with an Instagram poll
18:47 Should inflation push your prices up?
21:21 Photo prices versus video prices
27:25 WhatsApp as an enquiry channel
33:34 Our number one tip for putting your prices up
35:05 Finding a price you're comfortable with
44:51 Highs and lows of the week
49:31 Listener question: when your videographer's style is different
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our last episode from Spain, we talk about staying healthy and happy through wedding season. Sleep first (Bee has a proper routine, Pete is a night owl), then exercise, stretching (Pete can't touch his toes, and we tested it), what we do the night before a wedding, and what we eat and drink on the day: Pete's Huel and the fridge in his car boot against Liam's full Scottish breakfast, which apparently keeps him going for two days. Then the more serious bit. We talk about mental health, why pushing through isn't always the answer, and why it's fine to ask a friend to cover for you. We also talk about the wedding community looking out for each other, being kind in Facebook groups, learning to say no, and blocking out holidays before the diary fills up.
Plus the photos of all four of us that became our seventies commune album cover, why the big light is evil, and a coffee in bed squabble that turns into marriage counselling.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Our last episode from Spain
04:08 Our seventies commune photos
05:38 Staying healthy and happy in wedding season
06:40 Sleep, bedtime routines and night owls
12:17 Exercise and getting fit again
15:18 Can you touch your toes?
17:20 The night before a wedding
24:33 What we eat on a wedding day
27:13 Water, hydration and a full Scottish breakfast
30:48 Mental health and asking for help
39:37 Looking after each other, online and off
45:53 Learning to say no and avoiding burnout
51:33 Falling back in love with taking pictures
52:33 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our last episode from Spain, we talk about staying healthy and happy through wedding season. Sleep first (Bee has a proper routine, Pete is a night owl), then exercise, stretching (Pete can't touch his toes, and we tested it), what we do the night before a wedding, and what we eat and drink on the day: Pete's Huel and the fridge in his car boot against Liam's full Scottish breakfast, which apparently keeps him going for two days. Then the more serious bit. We talk about mental health, why pushing through isn't always the answer, and why it's fine to ask a friend to cover for you. We also talk about the wedding community looking out for each other, being kind in Facebook groups, learning to say no, and blocking out holidays before the diary fills up.
Plus the photos of all four of us that became our seventies commune album cover, why the big light is evil, and a coffee in bed squabble that turns into marriage counselling.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Our last episode from Spain
04:08 Our seventies commune photos
05:38 Staying healthy and happy in wedding season
06:40 Sleep, bedtime routines and night owls
12:17 Exercise and getting fit again
15:18 Can you touch your toes?
17:20 The night before a wedding
24:33 What we eat on a wedding day
27:13 Water, hydration and a full Scottish breakfast
30:48 Mental health and asking for help
39:37 Looking after each other, online and off
45:53 Learning to say no and avoiding burnout
51:33 Falling back in love with taking pictures
52:33 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Still at the villa in Spain, we go through destination weddings from start to finish. Pete and Laura's first was Morocco in 2009, complete with camel carriages and a camera bag left on a camel. Liam's was a three day wedding in Kenya on two hours' sleep a night, followed by a Singapore wedding that came from an engagement shoot in Liverpool. We cover how we get them now (a dedicated page on your website, engagement shoots in London for couples flying in, Instagram), how we price them, why we never book an Airbnb, arriving two days early, and what's different on the day, from late ceremonies and heat to an Italian wedding where the guests started eating at five and were still going at midnight. Liam wants about ten a year. Pete and Laura are happy with four or five in Europe. We finish with advice for getting your first one.
Before that, the wedding Liam and Pete have just shot together: a cove full of jellyfish, a pianist playing over the vows, and the loss of the flat cap Liam has worn to every wedding for ten years.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Heatwave and ice lollies
03:33 A book a day versus one book in six months
05:35 A beach shoot and a cove full of jellyfish
08:07 Shooting a hot, relaxed Spanish wedding
09:40 A pianist playing over the vows
15:43 How we got our first destination weddings
19:31 How to get destination weddings now
21:34 How to price a destination wedding
24:07 How many a year?
27:38 Flights, hotels and when to arrive
32:50 What's different on the day
39:03 The Italian wedding that never stopped eating
44:08 Advice for getting your first destination wedding
48:46 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Still at the villa in Spain, we go through destination weddings from start to finish. Pete and Laura's first was Morocco in 2009, complete with camel carriages and a camera bag left on a camel. Liam's was a three day wedding in Kenya on two hours' sleep a night, followed by a Singapore wedding that came from an engagement shoot in Liverpool. We cover how we get them now (a dedicated page on your website, engagement shoots in London for couples flying in, Instagram), how we price them, why we never book an Airbnb, arriving two days early, and what's different on the day, from late ceremonies and heat to an Italian wedding where the guests started eating at five and were still going at midnight. Liam wants about ten a year. Pete and Laura are happy with four or five in Europe. We finish with advice for getting your first one.
Before that, the wedding Liam and Pete have just shot together: a cove full of jellyfish, a pianist playing over the vows, and the loss of the flat cap Liam has worn to every wedding for ten years.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Heatwave and ice lollies
03:33 A book a day versus one book in six months
05:35 A beach shoot and a cove full of jellyfish
08:07 Shooting a hot, relaxed Spanish wedding
09:40 A pianist playing over the vows
15:43 How we got our first destination weddings
19:31 How to get destination weddings now
21:34 How to price a destination wedding
24:07 How many a year?
27:38 Flights, hotels and when to arrive
32:50 What's different on the day
39:03 The Italian wedding that never stopped eating
44:08 Advice for getting your first destination wedding
48:46 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Recorded on the terrace of a villa in Spain at the start of our first proper two week holiday, this is our first listener Q&A. Laura's answer to the big question is empathy and reading a room, spotting who matters most to the couple without being told. Liam says a friendly personality will get you further than amazing photos. Then: what drives our creative process, what to do when you feel uninspired at a grim venue (look for shadows, lines and shapes, as Liam proved once with a steam vent and an alley full of cigarette butts), why we release on a Monday, whether a drone is worth the cost of the licence, and our favourite part of the wedding day.
Plus a 2.30am start, Bee's new coffee machine that made one awful cup and gave up, and the important question: would you rather have fingers for toes, or toes for fingers?
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Our first episode outside, from Spain
02:33 Last week's wedding together
04:06 Should you have a drink at a wedding you're working?
10:18 Why we're in Spain
15:24 What makes a great photographer or videographer?
18:57 Our creative process
25:05 What to do when you feel uninspired
29:15 Making a good picture at a grim venue
31:19 Why do we release on Mondays?
32:20 Fingers for toes or toes for fingers?
33:20 Pricing photography versus film
40:00 Which drone, and is the licence worth it?
44:31 Our favourite part of the wedding day
47:05 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Recorded on the terrace of a villa in Spain at the start of our first proper two week holiday, this is our first listener Q&A. Laura's answer to the big question is empathy and reading a room, spotting who matters most to the couple without being told. Liam says a friendly personality will get you further than amazing photos. Then: what drives our creative process, what to do when you feel uninspired at a grim venue (look for shadows, lines and shapes, as Liam proved once with a steam vent and an alley full of cigarette butts), why we release on a Monday, whether a drone is worth the cost of the licence, and our favourite part of the wedding day.
Plus a 2.30am start, Bee's new coffee machine that made one awful cup and gave up, and the important question: would you rather have fingers for toes, or toes for fingers?
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Our first episode outside, from Spain
02:33 Last week's wedding together
04:06 Should you have a drink at a wedding you're working?
10:18 Why we're in Spain
15:24 What makes a great photographer or videographer?
18:57 Our creative process
25:05 What to do when you feel uninspired
29:15 Making a good picture at a grim venue
31:19 Why do we release on Mondays?
32:20 Fingers for toes or toes for fingers?
33:20 Pricing photography versus film
40:00 Which drone, and is the licence worth it?
44:31 Our favourite part of the wedding day
47:05 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we share our disaster stories (nearly all from at least a decade ago, as Liam is quick to point out). Pete and Laura drive four hours to a wedding in France and find their suitcase still on the bed at home. Laura's camera breaks at the start of a reception and she pretends to shoot the whole thing. Liam drives through snow to a Formby wedding where he is the only supplier who makes it, and does portraits on the beach at minus 17. Plus illness, injuries, getting lost, forgetting names and putting your foot in it. Back then you pushed through. Now we would rather you reached out and asked for cover.
Before that, Pete reports back from his first solo destination wedding and admits he may have changed his tune (a suppliers' table with wine on it helps), Liam runs his creative portrait workshop in Liverpool, and Laura floats the idea of a video workshop.
Plus Bee's high of the week: a very strange production of Joseph with her mum.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back from hot yoga
01:01 Two weddings at the same new venue
02:32 Pete's first solo wedding in France
06:06 Liam's Liverpool portrait workshop
09:08 Should we run a video workshop?
12:43 Things that have gone wrong
13:14 The early days
17:21 The suitcase left on the bed
19:26 Forgotten batteries and a broken camera
21:56 Being ill at a wedding
23:27 A snow wedding at minus 17
24:30 Injuries on the job
27:04 Saying the wrong thing and forgetting names
30:15 Traffic, getting lost and the wrong church
36:23 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we share our disaster stories (nearly all from at least a decade ago, as Liam is quick to point out). Pete and Laura drive four hours to a wedding in France and find their suitcase still on the bed at home. Laura's camera breaks at the start of a reception and she pretends to shoot the whole thing. Liam drives through snow to a Formby wedding where he is the only supplier who makes it, and does portraits on the beach at minus 17. Plus illness, injuries, getting lost, forgetting names and putting your foot in it. Back then you pushed through. Now we would rather you reached out and asked for cover.
Before that, Pete reports back from his first solo destination wedding and admits he may have changed his tune (a suppliers' table with wine on it helps), Liam runs his creative portrait workshop in Liverpool, and Laura floats the idea of a video workshop.
Plus Bee's high of the week: a very strange production of Joseph with her mum.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Back from hot yoga
01:01 Two weddings at the same new venue
02:32 Pete's first solo wedding in France
06:06 Liam's Liverpool portrait workshop
09:08 Should we run a video workshop?
12:43 Things that have gone wrong
13:14 The early days
17:21 The suitcase left on the bed
19:26 Forgotten batteries and a broken camera
21:56 Being ill at a wedding
23:27 A snow wedding at minus 17
24:30 Injuries on the job
27:04 Saying the wrong thing and forgetting names
30:15 Traffic, getting lost and the wrong church
36:23 Highs and lows of the week
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week it's all about kit. Pete and Laura started on a 6 megapixel Canon 300D with a nifty fifty and a one gigabyte card that cost about 200 pounds. Liam started on borrowed film bodies, including one early wedding he would rather forget. We go through our camera journeys from Canon to Sony and back again, manual versus aperture priority, why we have always shot primes, and Liam's new 28-70mm f2, which might be too perfect. Then the software and websites we use, and how Liam packs for a destination wedding (lithium batteries, mini light stands and an underwater housing that takes up half a suitcase).
Plus the hottest day of the year, a portable air conditioner balanced on a footstool, a Scottish castle with Cromwell's cannonball hole still in the wall, and a listener question: when will we stop shooting weddings?
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and the hottest day of the year
02:07 This week's weddings
05:13 A Scottish castle with a cannonball hole
07:44 What we shot our first weddings on
10:47 Liam's borrowed film camera disaster
12:19 Film versus digital, manual versus aperture priority
15:23 Canon versus Sony, and our camera journeys
20:03 Why we shoot primes
22:35 Liam's 28-70mm f2
24:37 If you could only keep one lens
29:13 The software and websites we use
34:26 Packing for destination weddings
40:05 Highs and lows of the week
46:11 Listener question: when will you stop shooting weddings?
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week it's all about kit. Pete and Laura started on a 6 megapixel Canon 300D with a nifty fifty and a one gigabyte card that cost about 200 pounds. Liam started on borrowed film bodies, including one early wedding he would rather forget. We go through our camera journeys from Canon to Sony and back again, manual versus aperture priority, why we have always shot primes, and Liam's new 28-70mm f2, which might be too perfect. Then the software and websites we use, and how Liam packs for a destination wedding (lithium batteries, mini light stands and an underwater housing that takes up half a suitcase).
Plus the hottest day of the year, a portable air conditioner balanced on a footstool, a Scottish castle with Cromwell's cannonball hole still in the wall, and a listener question: when will we stop shooting weddings?
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and the hottest day of the year
02:07 This week's weddings
05:13 A Scottish castle with a cannonball hole
07:44 What we shot our first weddings on
10:47 Liam's borrowed film camera disaster
12:19 Film versus digital, manual versus aperture priority
15:23 Canon versus Sony, and our camera journeys
20:03 Why we shoot primes
22:35 Liam's 28-70mm f2
24:37 If you could only keep one lens
29:13 The software and websites we use
34:26 Packing for destination weddings
40:05 Highs and lows of the week
46:11 Listener question: when will you stop shooting weddings?
Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>Over a bottle of prosecco after Pete's birthday walk, we take the 16 Personalities test and compare results. We all lean introvert, some a lot more than others, which leads into how each of us fell into weddings in the first place: Liam's cousin's wedding in 2002 that he didn't want to shoot, and the talk in a hotel conference room that changed Laura's mind about weddings for good. We also get into planners versus whimsical shooters, and the wedding showtime switch that gets us through the day.
Then a Facebook storm about a venue reportedly charging recommended suppliers 10 percent. We agree it isn't great, but did the pile on and review bombing go too far? And shouldn't people get the chance to put things right privately first?
We finish with two listener questions: is Silverstone better in person, and when is the right time to leave your day job and go full time? (Do the sums properly. A two grand wedding is not two grand in your pocket.)
Plus a 16km surprise birthday walk with a ploughman's the size of a planet, and Liam's fifteen hour castle wedding.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Prosecco in the afternoon
01:32 Pete's 16km surprise birthday walk
04:38 Liam's 15 hour castle wedding
05:41 Taking the 16 Personalities test
08:18 Who is the most introverted?
09:51 How we each fell into weddings
13:00 From a BBC plan to Manchester
15:34 Planners versus whimsical shooters
18:40 Timeline questionnaires and group shot lists
20:14 Why introverts keep doing weddings
23:18 Should venues charge suppliers 10 percent?
27:22 Pile ons, bad reviews and sorting it out privately
38:14 Highs and lows of the week
46:55 Listener question: is Silverstone better in person?
49:27 Listener question: when should you go full time?
Say hi on Insta @ourcreativecommune
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]]>Over a bottle of prosecco after Pete's birthday walk, we take the 16 Personalities test and compare results. We all lean introvert, some a lot more than others, which leads into how each of us fell into weddings in the first place: Liam's cousin's wedding in 2002 that he didn't want to shoot, and the talk in a hotel conference room that changed Laura's mind about weddings for good. We also get into planners versus whimsical shooters, and the wedding showtime switch that gets us through the day.
Then a Facebook storm about a venue reportedly charging recommended suppliers 10 percent. We agree it isn't great, but did the pile on and review bombing go too far? And shouldn't people get the chance to put things right privately first?
We finish with two listener questions: is Silverstone better in person, and when is the right time to leave your day job and go full time? (Do the sums properly. A two grand wedding is not two grand in your pocket.)
Plus a 16km surprise birthday walk with a ploughman's the size of a planet, and Liam's fifteen hour castle wedding.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Prosecco in the afternoon
01:32 Pete's 16km surprise birthday walk
04:38 Liam's 15 hour castle wedding
05:41 Taking the 16 Personalities test
08:18 Who is the most introverted?
09:51 How we each fell into weddings
13:00 From a BBC plan to Manchester
15:34 Planners versus whimsical shooters
18:40 Timeline questionnaires and group shot lists
20:14 Why introverts keep doing weddings
23:18 Should venues charge suppliers 10 percent?
27:22 Pile ons, bad reviews and sorting it out privately
38:14 Highs and lows of the week
46:55 Listener question: is Silverstone better in person?
49:27 Listener question: when should you go full time?
Say hi on Insta @ourcreativecommune
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we talk about work/life balance: living on less and shooting fewer weddings (Liam reckons about 25 a year would do it), what happened when Liam and Bee put their prices on their website for a month, why little things like the morning walk and a decent coffee matter so much, being around for the kids, and how a group of introverts manages to be ultra professional on a wedding day. Have we got the balance right? Mostly. Bee still works every day, and Liam and Pete still travel too much.
Before that, Liam's eventful trip home from a wedding in Spain and what you do if things go wrong mid wedding, and Pete's birthday weekend at Silverstone, which ends with a souvenir lump of rubber from the track that Bee now keeps next to a bit of the Berlin Wall.
Plus Pete's Starbucks years, the AeroPress, and a late night cat emergency.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome back, Liam
00:31 Liam's eventful week in Spain
03:08 What do you do if you get ill mid wedding?
07:48 Pete's birthday weekend at Silverstone
13:27 Track walks and a souvenir of rubber
18:02 Work/life balance
20:34 Living on less and shooting fewer weddings
22:08 What happened when we put our prices online
24:11 Morning walks, coffee and little joys
27:17 Being home for the kids
29:21 Bedtimes, TV and a cat emergency
33:00 Extroverted introverts at weddings
36:32 Have we got the balance right?
38:33 Highs and lows of the week
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>This week we talk about work/life balance: living on less and shooting fewer weddings (Liam reckons about 25 a year would do it), what happened when Liam and Bee put their prices on their website for a month, why little things like the morning walk and a decent coffee matter so much, being around for the kids, and how a group of introverts manages to be ultra professional on a wedding day. Have we got the balance right? Mostly. Bee still works every day, and Liam and Pete still travel too much.
Before that, Liam's eventful trip home from a wedding in Spain and what you do if things go wrong mid wedding, and Pete's birthday weekend at Silverstone, which ends with a souvenir lump of rubber from the track that Bee now keeps next to a bit of the Berlin Wall.
Plus Pete's Starbucks years, the AeroPress, and a late night cat emergency.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome back, Liam
00:31 Liam's eventful week in Spain
03:08 What do you do if you get ill mid wedding?
07:48 Pete's birthday weekend at Silverstone
13:27 Track walks and a souvenir of rubber
18:02 Work/life balance
20:34 Living on less and shooting fewer weddings
22:08 What happened when we put our prices online
24:11 Morning walks, coffee and little joys
27:17 Being home for the kids
29:21 Bedtimes, TV and a cat emergency
33:00 Extroverted introverts at weddings
36:32 Have we got the balance right?
38:33 Highs and lows of the week
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>With Liam away shooting in Spain (and, as usual, impossible to get hold of), Pete, Laura and Bee compare how editing works in each business: who culls, who grades and who checks whose work. We compare numbers, from the 7,000 or 8,000 frames shot on a wedding day to the 600 to 850 we deliver, and Laura breaks down the five days that go into a wedding film. Then the big question. If you could outsource one thing, what would it be? Email, maybe. Culling, absolutely not. We also talk about how far we trust AI culling and editing tools (this was 2022, and things have moved on a lot since).
Plus a live phone call to Liam on a beach in Spain, Pete's enormous birthday treadmill, sprinting in with the drone when the first dance is announced, Pete ringing Laura mid wedding to tell her he might have forgotten the confetti shot, and Bee's Tamagotchi low.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Where's Liam?
01:34 Impossible to contact on a wedding day
03:11 Phoning home to moan mid wedding
08:15 Severance and Stranger Things
11:18 Who edits what in each business
13:49 Editing routines and the garden office
16:54 Editing to music, podcasts or silence
18:28 How many photos we shoot and deliver
20:31 Culling, and black and white versus colour
25:14 How long it takes to edit a wedding film
26:14 What would you outsource first?
30:54 Phoning Liam on a beach in Spain
33:29 Highs and lows of the week
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]]>With Liam away shooting in Spain (and, as usual, impossible to get hold of), Pete, Laura and Bee compare how editing works in each business: who culls, who grades and who checks whose work. We compare numbers, from the 7,000 or 8,000 frames shot on a wedding day to the 600 to 850 we deliver, and Laura breaks down the five days that go into a wedding film. Then the big question. If you could outsource one thing, what would it be? Email, maybe. Culling, absolutely not. We also talk about how far we trust AI culling and editing tools (this was 2022, and things have moved on a lot since).
Plus a live phone call to Liam on a beach in Spain, Pete's enormous birthday treadmill, sprinting in with the drone when the first dance is announced, Pete ringing Laura mid wedding to tell her he might have forgotten the confetti shot, and Bee's Tamagotchi low.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Where's Liam?
01:34 Impossible to contact on a wedding day
03:11 Phoning home to moan mid wedding
08:15 Severance and Stranger Things
11:18 Who edits what in each business
13:49 Editing routines and the garden office
16:54 Editing to music, podcasts or silence
18:28 How many photos we shoot and deliver
20:31 Culling, and black and white versus colour
25:14 How long it takes to edit a wedding film
26:14 What would you outsource first?
30:54 Phoning Liam on a beach in Spain
33:29 Highs and lows of the week
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our very first episode, recorded round the kitchen table with a microphone weirdly in the middle of us, we explain how the commune came about and why living close by made such a difference after years of working on our own. Then we get on to destination weddings. Liam loves the adventure and has shot sixteen weddings at one venue in Spain. Pete is quietly phasing them out. Laura and Bee would rather do more weddings at home and go on proper holidays. Liam also runs through what he found out about working in Spain, Italy and France after Brexit (this was 2022, so check the rules before you book anything).
Plus Liam falls down a ravine into a field of thistles mid portrait and has to be pulled out by the groom, we mourn the pub with the free pool table, Liam joins a 24 hour gym that still has its Christmas lights up, and our highs and lows of the week.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome to the commune
00:32 The morning canal walk
02:33 How we all ended up in Adlington
10:38 Why living close by changed everything
12:09 Shooting fewer weddings together
15:19 Pete shooting weddings without Laura
18:22 Liam's week: Cotswolds, Anglesey, Shropshire, Spain
21:25 Destination weddings: love them or phase them out?
22:55 Working in Europe after Brexit
26:12 Are destination weddings worth the cost?
29:13 The pub with the free pool table
31:15 Highs and lows of the week
40:23 Liam joins a 24 hour gym
44:00 Packing lists and goodbye
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>In our very first episode, recorded round the kitchen table with a microphone weirdly in the middle of us, we explain how the commune came about and why living close by made such a difference after years of working on our own. Then we get on to destination weddings. Liam loves the adventure and has shot sixteen weddings at one venue in Spain. Pete is quietly phasing them out. Laura and Bee would rather do more weddings at home and go on proper holidays. Liam also runs through what he found out about working in Spain, Italy and France after Brexit (this was 2022, so check the rules before you book anything).
Plus Liam falls down a ravine into a field of thistles mid portrait and has to be pulled out by the groom, we mourn the pub with the free pool table, Liam joins a 24 hour gym that still has its Christmas lights up, and our highs and lows of the week.
Our Creative Commune is four wedding photographers and filmmakers chatting about photography, videography and the wedding industry, just like we do over coffee most mornings.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome to the commune
00:32 The morning canal walk
02:33 How we all ended up in Adlington
10:38 Why living close by changed everything
12:09 Shooting fewer weddings together
15:19 Pete shooting weddings without Laura
18:22 Liam's week: Cotswolds, Anglesey, Shropshire, Spain
21:25 Destination weddings: love them or phase them out?
22:55 Working in Europe after Brexit
26:12 Are destination weddings worth the cost?
29:13 The pub with the free pool table
31:15 Highs and lows of the week
40:23 Liam joins a 24 hour gym
44:00 Packing lists and goodbye
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
]]>