Winter is often seen as a tricky time for photography, but I think it’s full of creative opportunities. With its...
Authenticity
Introducing The Simple Shoot
Recently, I've spent a lot of time reflecting on the way the world is changing. A lot of this has been fuelled by the...
Why your business will benefit from YOU being YOU online
By unapologetically being yourself, you give permission for others to do the same.
Whether that’s in person or online, you make other people feel like it’s okay for their authentic selves to show up too.
Who wouldn’t want to work with someone that makes you feel like that?
5 tips for freelancers who like to break the rules
There’s a lot of nonsense talked online about what you should and shouldn’t do as a freelancer. Most of it is well-meaning, but a lot of it is often based on old-fashioned business practices and doesn’t account for our constantly changing world. You probably became a freelancer because you wanted some control over your working conditions, so why would you recreate the environment of the world you left in the first place?
Traits of my favourite event photography clients
I love shooting events. I love the energy, the candid faces, the networking and connections you see taking place, and I love learning new things from industries that I’m completely unfamiliar with.
I love shooting personal events too. Seeing the bond between families and being part of treasured moments is a privilege and I’m always honoured when people trust me to be part of their occasion.
Small Business Owners: Adapt & Survive
Hey, fellow small business owners and freelancers, did you know that some things that you perceive to be big threats to your business can be turned into your biggest strengths?
Why I don’t shoot weddings
This conversation usually comes up at least once a month at networking events. Person: “Do you make all your money...
Empathy, neurodivergence, and getting the best out of everyone
As I embark on a new journey as a neurodivergent speaker, I thought I would use the final day of ADHD awareness month to write up a brief summary of something that I’ve found myself saying a lot recently.
When I look back upon my career in employment with my newly-focussed ADHD eyes, I can pinpoint the management techniques that helped me become successful, and I can equally see the times when bad management hindered my work.
How I make life easy for event organisers
On the face of it, being an event photographer is a very simple job: turn up, shoot, leave, send photos.
But if it truly was that simple, there would be no need for professional photographers.
Better than. Less than. Different than. An easy way to be authentic.
Ask yourself this – how much are you doing to appear “better than” your competitors? Also ask yourself this – is it the best use of your time? What are the criteria for establishing who is “the best”? Your story will ALWAYS be different than your competitors.
The oddest thing you’ll hear a photographer say
If you’ve read my blogs about authenticity, networking, or personal branding, you’ll know that I don’t tow the line...
Is your marketing speaking to your ideal customer?
If you’re a freelancer, you’re probably competing against lots of other freelancers in your area of specialism. Unless you have a particularly unique service or a skillset that sets you apart, what is the one thing that’s going to make your potential customers choose you over them?
Why I’m not the photographer for you
Let’s be honest – there are lots of photographers out there, and most of them are immensely talented. There are photographers out there for any budget, from people just starting out, to those with name recognition that charge tens of thousands of pounds for a single photograph. So what makes me different and why should you choose me for your personal branding shoot?
Why persistence is the key to successful networking
If you go to a networking event and run around the room handing business cards to everyone and only giving them a token level of attention, they’ll remember that you made them feel insignificant.
Would you do business with someone that made you feel insignificant?
By attending networking events regularly and connecting with the same faces on an ongoing basis, you can build a cheerleading squad for your business, but only if you make people feel valued.
7 things no one tells you about freelancing
During my years of providing business advice to start-ups, I realised that a lot of the things that I took for granted weren’t obvious to those just starting up. In recent years that seems to have exasperated as my TikTok feed is full of people giving out incredibly bad, unrealistic advice.
So here’s my reality check for you.
Who Are Not Your Customers?
As a freelancer, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you need to be everything to everyone. After all,...
What does “Authentic” really mean?
The word “authentic” is bandied around a lot when it comes to marketing for freelancers and small businesses, to the point where – ironically – it no longer represents what it means, but a version of “authenticity” that is expected within the business community.
What happens in a room full of neurodiverse people?
Coverage of the ND Leaders 02 event at Wunderman Thompson in London.
Why hiring a photographer with ADHD is a good idea
Just over a year ago, at 41 years old, I discovered I have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Thanks to...
