Mastering Portrait Photography Podcast

So it's been a week or three since recording a podcast primarily due to being out on location in Italy co-hosting The 2 Fellows workshop with David Stanbury (shameless plug: if you'd like details of the 2020 workshop then head over to the2fellows.co.uk where we'll be releasing details for next year.) In this podcast, I get to chat (in a VERY loud restaurant) to the inimitable wedding photographer, Scott Johnson, about his work, his history and his business.  Lots of great things in here - listen out for how selling files on USB nearly cost him his business (his words, not mine.) Also listen out for a cacophony of culinary sound effects in the background! Scott mentions a couple of books in the podcast: The Magnum Contact Sheets Vivian Maier: Street Photographer Both these books are well worth a read - I'm ordering them for our studio library! Enjoy!   If you did enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can s

In this interview, I get to chat with Keith Roberts who had the masterstroke idea of matching top portrait photographers with the world's top cruise line. He talks about his life prior to setting up Paragon Pixels with many funny stories along the way (listen out for how he managed to screw up a critical roll of film while working in medical photography, leaving him barricaded inside the hospital dark room!) Keith is a remarkable guy on a number of levels - not least of which, is that he is a phenomenal photographer in his own right but has spent most of his life promoting the work of others (something that is all too rare!) It was his idea to match up some of the world's top portrait photographers with the world's top cruise line and, along with Phil, his brother, and Phil's wife, Lydia, he set up the company which now delivers beautiful images to discerning passengers around the globe.  And I am very lucky to BE one of those photographers! Keith cites his favourite book as Steve McCurry's South Southeast. E

It's just me for this episode: me, a microphone and my musings on creating portraits when on board a ship.   When I first encountered the luxury cruise ship that was to be our home and business for the next month, I thought that creating images on board would be a simple extension of what we do here at the studio.  Of course, there are similarities but there are also innumerable unexpected factors to consider. Such as what happens when the ship changes it's bearing or how the different spaces of the ship are utilised during the day, making picking a spot that bit more complicated! If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify. PLEASE also leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact

The great thing about having my own podcast is that I get to talk to lots of interesting people - not, necessarily, from within the photographic industry. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE my industry, but I think there is much to be learned from outside the industry too and, besides, the world is full of really cool people full stories, experiences and insight that just might (and I stress just might) be useful when it comes to running a photography business. While this interview focusses on Ellie's hugely successful wedding gown boutiques, there are plenty of snippets that are useful from customer care, looking after employees, using data and, most importantly, some top tips when photographing wedding gowns. Ellie's website is worth a look as it is beautifully designed. Much to be learned there too!  It can be found at https://elliesanderson.co.uk/ If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can subscribe

Just me in this one. Me, a microphone, a failed hard drive, a hacked website and some notes no lists and plans.  It's been an interesting couple of days! If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify. PLEASE also head over to iTunes and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk  Enjoy!

In this episode, it is my great pleasure to interview renowned photographer David Calvert FMPA FBIPP who is not only a wonderful photographer, but a true gentleman in the industry as well! The conversation talks about his passion for portraits, how he first became a photographer, his aversion to debt (he learned that the hard way) and how he came to photograph a family's pet dog that had already ceased to be. There are many useful nuggets in here - about anxiety, running a photography business and how getting qualified can help negate your insecurities. During the interview he mentions a couple of photographers - notably David Bailey and Patrick Lichfield - and refer's to Lichfield's book The Most Beautiful Women which was published back in 1981. If you're curious, you can buy a secondhand copy of the book for just a few pounds on Amazon UK. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can subscribe to thi

In this interview it is my pleasure to be interviewing a great friend of mine and supreme wedding photographer, David Stanbury FMPA FSWPP FBIPP, where we talk about how he became a photographer, how being forced into a position where it had to make money might not have been such a bad thing (though it didn't feel like it at the time) and why he prefers red cabbage to Brussel sprouts. Who knew? You can see more of David (and his wife, Jane's) work here. We're also talking about the workshop myself and David are going to be hosting in Italy towards the end of March this year (details can be found at www.the2fellows.co.uk). At the time of publishing the podcast, we have a couple of places left so if you fancy a week talking of nothing but the business of wedding and portrait photography, drinking a little wine, eating a little pizza and laughing an awful lot then this is the workshop you've been waiting for.  Visit the website to see why. Dave also mentions an amazing book during the interview: it's called Shade

Happy New Year!  Here's to a fantastic 2019! Had a few weeks off and feeling pretty excited about what this year will bring.  And am back recording new podcasts having enjoyed the break.  This podcast is just me musing on why it's important to be careful of what and who you pay attention to. Why? Well, if you're anything like me, you swing between creative confidence and complete self-doubt - and the more photographers I speak to, the more I realise that many of us fee the same way. You have to pick and choose with a little care if you don't want to feel demotivated and insecure rather than inspired and driven. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify. PLEASE also head over to iTunes and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to

Photography competitions can be a bit of a mystery: what are judges looking for; how do I prep the images; what subjects do better than others; how much post-production is encouraged? The list goes one. As Head Of Judging for the Societies, Terrie Jones is in charge of one of the biggest photographic competitions in the UK and so I thought it would be fun to have a chat about her views and to talk about the fast-approaching SWPP Convention in London in January 2019.  If you're curious about photography competitions then it is well worth listening to what she has to say as there are plenty of insights in this interview. Terrie recommends a book during the podcast: it's called 'Book Of Judges' and is by Vincent O'Byrne and can be bought directly from his website here. Details of the Convention can be found at http://swpp.co.uk/convention/ and you can find more information about the Superclass and Masterclass that I'm hosting at http://swpp.co.uk/convention/2019/speaker-bio-Wilkinson4840.htm These proved to be h

One of the most useful things any photographer can do, is attend seminars, workshops and trades shows, and one of the biggest of those in the UK is the SWPP Convention. I have always loved this convention for its mix of networking and learning - plus it’s just after Christmas which gives me something in the calendar to look forward to as the memory of sherry, mince pies, pine needles stuck in your socks, refuse cans stuffed full of discarded (and non-recyclable wrapping paper), the fire hazard that is tinsel, bloated stomachs, impressively average cracker jokes, the Queen’s speech and dodgy afternoon movies fades into the dim and distant past.  Just when you think the next thing to get excited about is an Easter egg or the hope of a Valentine’s card, there’s the SWPP Convention to cheer you up and set you on your way for the year. In this podcast it is my pleasure to be chatting to Juliet Jones who, as Managing Director of the Societies, is responsible for putting on one of the my favourite networking events

One of the great joys of creating this podcast is that I get to talk to lots of people who I genuinely like and find interesting.  This week it’s Martin Baynes, Sales And Marketing Director For Graphistudio UK And Ireland. Sarah and I have been friends with Martin for a very long time now and so I thought it would be fun to put that relationship to the test and stick him in front of a microphone! We have used Graphistudio albums for about ten years now and their incredible products sit right at the heart of our business (our clients love them - particularly the hand-finishing and the gorgeous leathers!) but the reason I asked Martin to come and be interviewed is because his experience is much broader than that and he brings a viewpoint that encompasses so much of this industry. If you enjoy this podcast, head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify. PLEASE head over to iTunes and

This podcast is an interview with Katy Walsh, photographer, owner of Red Fox Studios in Henley and the founder of a new venture: We Are Curious Photography Workshops. Katy is lovely and we talk about her background, how she founded the studio and what she's hoping will come from the new workshops. If you enjoy this podcast, head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify. PLEASE head over to iTunes and leave us a review - they're really useful for driving up our audience and our position in search engines! If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact us at info@masteringportraitphotography.com. 

In this podcast, I have returned from a family trip to Las Vegas where I saw the most amazing things, ate incredible food and had a wonderful holiday.  Along the way, I learned a few lessons about how it feels to BE a customer and how some people can make you feel valued (and others struggle with the concept!) In the end, a great customer experience can lead to great sales! If you enjoy this podcast, head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify. If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact us at info@masteringportraitphotography.com. 

In this episode it's back to just me on my own - feels a bit weird not having someone to interview (and yet I STILL managed to create a one-hour podcast! Someone stop me!) Anyway, this one is all about the client experience and how it feels from their (not your) point of view. Enjoy! If you enjoy this podcast, head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify. If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact us at info@masteringportraitphotography.com. 

This episode is an interview with the industry giant that is Kenny Martin. Kenny started out as a photographer, ultimately running one of the most succesful Venture Studios in the UK up in Edinburgh. These days he spends most of his time travelling the length and bredth of the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia helping photography studios to be, well, profitable - not something that comes naturally to every photographer! He's also a very lovely (and very entertaining) guy! If you'd like to see some of Kenny's photography (or learn more about his consulting services) head over to his website.  This podcast is a little longer than our normal but the chat was just to interesting to cut short! If you enjoy this podcast, head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify. If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed

This episode is a live Q&A taken from the Master Photographers Association "Meet The Masters" day.  Myself and James Musselwhite FMPA were fielding questions from the floor (no prepping!) so what you hear is raw and heart-felt.  The topics discussed range from "what is your signature image" to "how do I spend less time editing" and "how do you market yourself". If you enjoy this podcast, head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify. If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact us at info@masteringportraitphotography.com.   

In this slightly noisy podcast - yup, I recorded it while driving my Land Rover Defender which, it must be said, is not know for it's quiet, studio-like ambience - I talk about life and the need to be positive, even when you know there are weaknesses in your own images. If you enjoy this podcast, head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify. If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact us at info@masteringportraitphotography.com.  Enjoy!      

This week's episode focuses on the need to be creative during portrait shoots. It's scary sometimes, being out there without knowing quite what you're going to create,  but it's always worth pushing - both for you personally and because it helps drive sales. If you enjoy this podcast, head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify. If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact us at info@masteringportraitphotography.com.  Enjoy!      

In this episode I talk about packing the bag ready for a fashion-portrait session out on location; the kit, the thought process and why I take what I do. Keep an eye on the website for the finished images. If you enjoy this podcast, head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify. If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact us at info@masteringportraitphotography.com.  Enjoy!

  So it's Sunday evening after a long day of beautiful portrait photography and I'm sitting down to muse on the past week.  Weddings, portraits, Hearing Dogs and meetings seem to have been the order of the day (or, more accurately, 7 days.)  In this podcast we talk mostly about what happens when you make mistakes - and we use a very real (and very expensive) example right here in our own studio. Luckily these things don't happen too often but, ouch, did this one hurt! If you enjoy this podcast, head over to Mastering Portrait Photography where there are articles and videos about this wonderful industry.  You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, PodBean and Spotify. If there are any topics you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would simply like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact us at info@masteringportraitphotography.com.  Enjoy!