9 to 5 Photographer: Recent Episodes
Simon Jones
The podcast to help professional photographers and film-makers get more shoots, make more money, and spend more time doing what they love. On the '9 to 5 Photographer' show we interview established photographers to find out how they grew their businesses, the marketing tactics they employed, how they cope working on their own and even (sometimes) whether they shoot with Canon, Sony, Fuji or Nikon. I also interview industry experts who can provide help and assistance to photographers and film-makers from a different perspective. Such as business acumen, successful accounting, mindset, health and fitness. Having started and grown my own photography and film-making business in 2010, I know exactly what it's like. This means I can ask the right questions to really get the most from the guests who come onto the show. Open to suggestions for new episodes, just let me know what you'd like to hear. Thanks for reading this :)
25 - Welcome back to ‘9 to 5 photographer’, back after a short break but this is still the podcast to help you get more shoots, make more money and spend more time doing the things you love.
This episode came about after Martin Hobby, a photographer, listened to another episode on this podcast and noticed a few weeks/months had gone by with no recording. He posted a message in a corporate photography Facebook group, asking about future episodes, and instantly (accidentally) set himself up to be the next invited guest.
So today, we’re talking to him. Martin Hobby has been shooting for 30 years but don’t let that make you think he’s someone over the hill, he genuinely started when he was very young. He’s very active today and immerses himself in corporate headshots but has a history of shooting weddings, families music photography and even pets.
This all means he’s someone who’s very relatable, he knows what it’s like to be shooting, running a small business, managing clients, looking after the beans and planning how to still have access to some beans in retirement.
If you know Martin you’ll know he’s a great guy; if you don’t you’ll know it in the next few minutes so come with me as we step into this conversation and speak to Martin Hobby.
Martin Hobby Links:
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/martinhobby
https://www.instagram.com/martinhobby/?hl=en
Corporate Photography Community UK on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/111286209709500
24 - Welcome back to ‘9 to 5 photographer’, this is the podcast to help you get more shoots, make more money and spend more time doing the things you love. Now unless you’ve had your head buried in the sand there seems to be more and more happening with 360 photography. But is it easy enough for a photographer to step into this world or is there more to it than just getting an Insta360 camera and calling yourself a professional in this sector?
Taralyn and Craig run 360 Marketing Lab and their special skill is running an amazing business shooting, you guessed it, 360 photography. Now some people shoot very creative 360 photography and they produce work from all around the world in some unusual places and their art is mind-blowing. Taralyn and Craig don’t focus so much on this, not to say their work isn’t good, of course. But they focus on a niche market and running it as a business. And that’s what we’re talking about today. After all this is the ‘9 to 5 Photographer’ podcast, not the ‘Shoot funky photos’ podcast.
But the other thing to note is that Craig and Taralyn started this business before the pandemic, not because of the pandemic. Which means their approach to making it work was more about making the idea fly instead of, “Oh pants, I need to pay the mortgage,” something I think we can all appreciate at times in our careers.
Anyway, enough dilly-dally. Instead let’s step into a 360 world and see what’s happening all around as we speak to 360 Marketing Lab’s very own, Taralyn and Craig.
360 Marketing Lab online: https://360marketinglab.co.uk/
Welcome back to 9 to 5 Photographer. This is the podcast to help you get more shoots, make more money, and spend more time doing the things you love. Now, this episode is great because we're talking all about a topic that's very much in the news today, especially it seems with photographers, filmmakers, and other artists.
It's AI, artificial intelligence, and we have an expert in the house with us today. Paul Asquin has worked in AI for some time, first regarding photo editing, and more recently regarding video editing. So naturally we talk about both, but we also touch on podcast editing too, given that it's very similar in some ways to video editing.
Now, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Paul is an algorithm nerd, and he may well be because he's very plugged into what's happening in the world of AI today. But he's also a photographer and looking at his Instagram after this recording, he's a very good photographer. But on this topic of ai, it means he also understands what's important to people behind the camera.
So he's seeing things from both sides. Anyway, it's time for us to find out if AI is really the biggest threat to us all, or whether it's something that can actually serve us Instead, let's not waste any more time, but instead, join me in the middle of Paris as I speak to our expert in France. It's Paul Asquin.
Paul Asquin on Instagram: www.instagram.com/paulasquinphoto
Paul Asquin on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/paulasquin
022 - Welcome back to ‘9 to 5 photographer’, the podcast to help you get more shoots, make more money and spend more time doing the things you love and if you’re a wedding photographer and if you’d like to book more weddings in 2023 then this is an episode for you. Kate Storey runs ‘Book more Brides’ with her husband, Nick, and today we’re going to hear from her some of the real techniques that you can apply to your website, to your sales process, to how you view the concept of selling your art, and all of this is with a view to book more brides.
Now this isn’t a ‘skirt around the edges’ episode. Instead this is a stack of real take-away actions that you can apply to your business right now.
This episode was recorded a while ago but that doesn’t change any of the content in here. Kate’s amazing and she’s passionate about what her and Nick do. But don’t just take my word for this, instead come with me as we hop across the Atlantic and speak to Kate Storey.
Website:
www.9to5photo.com
Kate and Nick online:
www.bookmorebrides.com
021 - Welcome back to another episode of ‘9 to 5 photographer’, the podcast to help you get more shoots, make more money and spend more time doing the things you love. Now today is Saturday, it’s mid-September which means I’m about to jump in the car and head to the NEC for The Photography Show.
I love this event, it’s good to speak to photographers, to exhibitors, I know that Sanjay Jogia will be there representing Canon so I’m hoping to catch up with him and generally just catch up with some familiar faces there. So, in the style of a Blues Brother, I got a full tank of gas, it’s not dark but I will be wearing sunglasses so it’s time to thunder up the A34, the M40, around the M42 and into the NEC for The Photography Show 2022. Website: https://my.captivate.fm/dashboard/podcast/51820d70-a293-440b-9a2d-a8d4b46a2a42/www.9to5photo.com (www.9to5photo.com) The Photography Show online: https://www.photographyshow.com (www.photographyshow.com)
020 - Welcome back to a new season of ‘9 to 5 photographer’, the podcast to help you get more shoots, make more money and spend more time doing the things you love and today we have a special episode for you. Someone who shoots weddings, boudoir, corporate, she’s a Sony ambassador and she’s talking to us today. It’s Kate Kirkman, you may know here as Kate Hopewell-Smith, and she’s here with us today.
Kate’s going to talk about what it’s like working alongside Brent, her life partner, her experience of shooting weddings and what’s important in her life to her and Brent. But I also ask her a small stack of quick fire questions to find out more about her as a person. That’s all coming up in this episode so come with me now as we learn all about Kate Kirkman. Website: www.9to5photo.com
Kate online: https://katehopewellsmith.com (katehopewellsmith.com) https://www.bylumiere.co.uk (www.bylumiere.co.uk)
019 - Welcome back to 9 to 5 photographer, the podcast to help you get more shoots, make more money and spend more time doing the things you love and this episode, a one off episode, is coming to you from the NEC because I’m at The Photography Show.
In this episode I’m going talk to some of the exhibitors to find out from them their take on the photography industry right now. How does this show compare to previous shows, that kind of thing.
Now I’m here on Sunday 19th September, I don’t usually come on a Sunday (Monday is my usual preference) but tomorrow I’m on a shoot in Yorkshire so it makes perfect sense to stop in here on my way up.
Looking around this place, first impressions is that there are fewer exhibitors, it’s all in a smaller space AND there are fewer visitors too. And I don’t just mean in relation to the whole thing being a smaller event because there’s a lower density in this smaller space so to me that means there must be waaaay fewer people here than normal years.
But I might be wrong. Maybe lots of people were here yesterday, maybe there’s a whole truckload coming here tomorrow. For the sake of exhibitors here I really hope so. But anyway, we’re not here for me to talk. Let’s get out there and start talking to some exhibitors.
Episode page:
www.9to5photo.com/019
018 - A special one-off episode in response to a wedding venue in Worcestershire and their initial plan to charge a fee to suppliers regardless of whether they were on a preferred supplier list with the venue.
The reaction from the wedding supplier community was fast and loud, mainly because of the fear of this becoming the norm in the industry.
While I was speaking to Martin Cheung in the first half of this episode the venue did a 180 on their decision but sadly, not creating the sympathetic response they may have been hoping for.
I invited them onto this podcast episode, they didn't want to do that but they did send me an email that I've shared here.
There's much to learn from this saga, not least the need to respect the industry, how to handle a PR disaster and also the power of the collective voice.
Martin Cheung online
Instagram: martincphotography
www.martincphotography.co.uk
Episode page:
www.9to5photo.com/018
017 - Welcome back to 9 to 5 photographer, the podcast to help you get more shoots, make more money and spend more time doing the things you love and today’s episode is with a guest who has more energy than Usain Bolt.
Zari Caan is an international event organiser and she’s worked with photographers and filmmakers for her whole career. She plans events all around the world and she’s going to give us an insight into her job, her business and the kinds of events she organises.
But we’re also going to find out some of the mistakes photographers and filmmakers can make at events, and what people like us can do to secure more events in the future.
But also, for the second time we play a little ‘Would you rather’ with another round of randomly selected questions for Zari to answer.
So buckle up your seatbelt and let’s go for a ride with Zari Caan.
Zari Caan online
Instagram: zari.caan
www.venuefind.co.uk
www.9to5photo.com/017
016 - Welcome back to 9 to 5 photographer, the podcast to help you get more shoots, make more money and spend more time doing the things you love and today’s episode is with a model. I’d love to know, do you know how it feels to be photographed when you’re a model, taking direction from a photographer and trying to understand what they want you to do but without compromising on your values. If so, this episode is for you because today we’re talking to Faith.
You can find her on Instagram by searching mystiquefay but, more importantly, we get some insights and advice from her in this episode because I ask her to share her experiences of what it’s like.
So she’s about to tell us some of the mistakes photographs sometimes make, some of the best photoshoots she’s modelled on and what advice she has for photographers who’ve never shot a model but would like to.
So let’s not waste any more time but join me in this episode as we find out what it’s like to be on the other side of the camera.
Faith online
Instagram: MystiqueFay
www.9to5photo.com/016
015 - Welcome back to 9 to 5 photographer, the podcast to help you get more shoots, make more money and spend more time doing the things you love and today’s episode is with an absolutely top guy, a solid bloke and someone with more experience of being a filmmaker than you can shake a stick at.
Andrew Cussens runs Bloomsbury Films from the heart of London. He’s been running the business for a number of years and he’s very much a business owner with a team of people. So it’s great to get an insight into running a business operation like that.
But we don’t just talk about that, of course. Andrew breaks down for us the way he brought his filmmaking business to life, he unpacks the direction he has taken and the reasons behind it, he talks about what he did in 2020 when the world kinda stopped and we talk about the art of filmmaking.
Then at the end I introduce something new which is a series of ‘Would you rather’ questions, just for fun. I came across these recently and it was a good opportunity to randomly select some of them.
But that’s at the end of the episode. For the moment let’s get into the start of this episode as we welcome the man himself, Andrew Cussens.
Andrew Cussens online
Instagram: adrewcussens & bloomsburyfilms
Youtube: Bloomsbury Films
www.bloomsburyfilms.com
www.9to5photo.com/015
014 - Welcome back to 9 to 5 photographer, the podcast to help you get more shoots, make more money and spend more time doing the things you love and today’s episode is with the amazing Hannah Couzens. She’s instantly likeable and I think this is because she’s very relatable, talking about things that you and I often find ourselves thinking about.
She doesn’t shoot weddings, she shoots portraits. And she’s pretty flippin’ good at it too.
We talk about what it’s like to photograph people and importantly what it’s like to be photographed. And we also talk about how she moved quickly when the first lockdown hit us all. Pretty impressive stuff.
But, most of all, without getting too emotional, Hannah breaks some personal news in this episode which filled me with so much joy I can only sense how it’ll make you smile too. You might even be able to figure it out just from this intro but when she tells me the news I had no idea and I’m smiling again now just remembering that part.
Anyway, enough with the jibba jabba, let’s hook you up with the amazing Hannah Couzens!
Elyse Hannah Couzens online
Instagram: hannahcouzensphotography
www.hcphotography.co.uk
www.learnwithhannah.com
www.9to5photo.com/014
013 - Welcome back to 9 to 5 photographer, the podcast to help you get more shoots, make more money and spend more time doing the things you love and today’s episode is with Elyse Marks.
If you don’t know Elyse then, honestly, you’re missing out on something in your life. She’s a photographer (corporate events, corporate headshots, weddings, families) she’s always smiling and she’s got a great outlook on life.
But what are you going to find out in this episode? Well, she tells us how she started her business, what her USP is and what her style of shooting is from a social interaction perspective. But also, as always, we’re just talking so it’s a great way to listen in while you’re walking, running, driving or quite possibly editing photos.
Let’s get into it – Elyse Marks.
Elyse Marks online
Website: www.elysemarksphotography.com
Instagram: elysemarksphotography and elysemarksimaging
www.9to5photo.com/013
012 - Welcome back to 9 to 5 photographer, the podcast to help you get more shoots, make more money and spend more time doing the things you love and today’s episode is perfect if you’ve started your own photography business, maybe shooting weddings in the local golf club but you’d like to shoot at The Savoy or The Lanesborough or some of those other pretty sexy 5 star venues in London.
David Christopher isn’t just a wedding photographer, he does some corporate work too, but he’s going to talk in this episode about how to build a business, the importance of taking on staff and building a team, and some of the things he does when he’s not shooting for his clients.
This is one of those episodes where we just kinda talk and leave it on record. It’s great fun, David is such a nice bloke and he’s very open and honest about his business and his feelings too.
David Christopher online
Website: davidchristopher-photography.co.uk
Instagram: davidcphotography
www.9to5photo.com/012
011 - So if you want to hear about success in the world of photography from someone who went to university to study photography but admits that she learned next to nothing there about running a business then this episode is definitely for you.
Natalie Watts talks to us about her photography journey, from humble beginnings to making it a commercial success and how she’s flying on Instagram too. She shares some of her techniques on how to attract a large following so if you’re not fully embracing Instagram for your photography or if you feel the need to step up to the next level then you’re going to learn a lot from Natalie.
And towards the end of this episode she talks about ways that she can help you with your business too so make sure you don’t miss that.
Her amazing heated eye mask! Link to Amazon here
Natalie Watts online
Website: www.nataliejweddings.com
Instagram: nataliejweddings
www.9to5photo.com/011
010 - In this episode we speak to Casey Gutteridge, possibly the nicest bloke in the world(!) and certainly very easy to listen to. One of the things I love in this episode is the way he speaks openly about wanting to help other photographers but he also talks about how he's been able to photograph some of the biggest names in the world of PR (and how he started working in PR photography too).
I really enjoyed recording this episode and I know you're going to enjoy listening to it too.
Casey Gutteridge online
Website: www.cpgphotos.com
Instagram: cpgphotos
www.9to5photo.com/010
009 - Named as one of the top 6 wedding photographers in the world by Professional Photographer magazine in London, Sanjay Jogia (of Eye Jogia) is this week's guest and I'm so pleased to have him on the show. In this episode he talks about how he migrated from his previous career into photography, we learn about what it means to be a Canon Ambassador, and Sanjay tells us how he and Roshni work as a husband & wife team effectively.
We also find out some of his favourite music from the 80s...
Sanjay online
Website: www.eyejogia.com
Instagram: eyejogia
www.9to5photo.com/009
008 - This week we're talking to Anja Poehlmann, photographer and filmmaker from Brighton & Hove here in the UK who talks about how she moved from employed work to starting her own photography business, how she handled lockdown and how she's been working in a niche market photographing and videoing other photographers.
I really enjoyed recording this episode and I know you'll enjoy listening to it too.
Anja online
Website: www.anjapoehlmann.com
Instagram: by_anjap
www.9to5photo.com/008
007 - American wedding photographer, Becker, is one of those people who just never seem to stop. First he created a successful wedding photography business which saw him in huge demand from brides all over the world, then he created the '[b] school' as a social network for photographers to learn and develop.
But then, having lost 70 lbs in weight, Becker became a fat-loss coach and now helps people around the world with life-changing decisions to become fit and healthy.
Of course, he still shoots weddings too. I don't think he'll ever put the camera down 😎
Becker online
Website: thebecker.com
Instagram: thebecker
www.9to5photo.com/007
006 - Today we’re not talking to a photographer but instead to someone who’s going to share some insider information with you. Because if you’ve ever wanted to get onto the preferred supplier list for a 5 star hotel in your nearest city then this episode is for you. Emma Murray-Jones has worked at some of London’s finest 5 star venues in the heart of the city and explains in this episode how to get onto a Preferred Supplier List and then how to ensure you completely wow your customers and the staff at the venue.
Being on a PSL is so good because quite simply there’s someone else putting you forward as a possible supplier for photography or video. That could be a corporate event, a private party or a wedding, but whatever it is you stand a much greater chance of being hired for that event than someone who’s not on the list. I don’t do much event photography anymore but when I did I was fortunate enough to be on the supplier lists at a few London hotels so from personal experience I can tell you how important it can be for your business if you’re there.
So buckle up for this episode because Emma’s gonna take you on a ride!
Insta: @emma.murrayjones
www.9to5photo.com/006
005 - Like so many of us, Guy Collier had a 'regular' job before dipping a toe in the water of wedding photographer. After going full-time while also balancing family life (with pets!) Guy is now a successful business owner and loving having made the transition.
One of the things we discuss in this podcast is the importance of creating a style but then sticking with it, even when we see so many other styles from other photographers around us.
Website: www.guycollierphotography.com
Insta: @guycollierphoto
https://www.9to5photo.com/005
004 - Stuart Beeby moved across to the US six years ago when his wife relocated there for work. Deciding to set up his own photography and film-making business after arriving, Stuart started his career with a contact list of zero, a long way from home and having to build things up from scratch.
Fast-forward to 2021 and Stuart is killing it (as they say over there). In this episode he explains how he grew the business with some smart marketing tactics that you could swipe and deploy yourself.
In this podcast we explore what it's like to be a busy photographer and why it's so important to put yourself in your clients' shoes from time to time.
Website: www.stuartbeebyphotography.com
Insta: @stuartbeebyphotography
https://www.9to5photo.com/004
003 - This episode features our guest, Stephanie Belton, a St Albans based photographer who loves nothing more than photographing families as well as being in an office to photograph all the staff from receptionist to CEO.
Stephanie is originally from France but after meeting her husband-to-be in Germany moved across to the UK and began working in London in the dotcom era.
In this podcast we explore what it's like to be a busy photographer and why it's so important to put yourself in your clients' shoes from time to time.
Website: www.stephaniebelton.com
Insta: @stephaniebelton
https://www.9to5photo.com/003
002 - In this episode we have special guest Xander Casey, one of the country's leading wedding photographers who shoots at some of the most prestigious venues in Central London.
Like so many of us Xander wasn't always a wedding photographer but used to work in telecoms, running a marketing department in the corporate world.
But today in this podcast he takes us through that transition from employee to business owner, some of the challenges he faced and some of the mistakes he made in the early days.
https://www.9to5photo.com/002
001 - Welcome to my new podcast channel to help photographers and film-makers get more shoots, make more money and spend more time doing the things they love.
This is a special episode because it's the first of the whole show(!) and it gives you a chance to see whether this podcast channel is for you.
In most episodes we'll be interviewing established photographers and film-makers to find out how they started and grew their businesses, and then later in this series we'll be interviewing other experts in the industry who also have something to offer.
To get the show notes for this episode visit:
https://www.9to5photo.com/001