The Loud Lens: Photography's Middle Finger

When a viral reel exposed a supplier perplexed over a photographer charging £150 for image use/access, the internet split. But beneath the outrage lies a bigger issue: GDPR, contracts, copyright, and the messy expectations between suppliers at weddings. In this episode, Khandie Rees breaks down the reality of who owns what, why photographers charge, and why your business needs to understand usage...

I will admit that resetting yourself in business is so important but what actually does that mean? Is it another cliche buzzword some self professed social media guru is gonna sell me an overhyped overpriced course about? Nah its a legit thing. In this episode of The Loud Lens, Khandie talks about how she resets to keep her business mind sharpe and her work on track.

He started out filming tutorials in his garage and now works with Adorama, runs sold-out workshops, and collaborates with some of the biggest names in photography. But being a photography educator isn’t the same as being a working photographer. In this episode, I sit down with my mate Gavin Hoey to get real about: Why he swapped shooting jobs for teaching thousands online The difference between pl...

Forget funnels, forget boosted posts. I’ve promoted my photography business in some seriously weird ways — and shockingly, they worked. From offering ‘just in case’ portraits after seeing a missing child poster with a bloody Snapchat filter, to running a Pay What You Can day where people literally paid me in cake, I’m lifting the lid on the marketing experiments that got me remembered. This isn’t...

Think the only way to make money as a photographer is by pressing the shutter? Bollocks. In this episode of The Loud Lens , I rip apart the myth that your camera is your only money-maker. From selling digital products, running workshops, and teaching, to building communities, affiliate partnerships, and even monetising your bloody personality — I’m breaking down every way you can earn without taki...

AI is creeping into the fashion industry but what happens when it starts to erase real people? In this episode, I break down how AI models and AI-generated imagery could impact plus-size fashion, diversity, and even the jobs of photographers, stylists, and creative directors. The fashion world already struggles with inclusivity. Plus-size bodies, disabled bodies, and people of colour are often tre...

Rainy season and no studio? Stop panicking. In this Loud Lens episode, Khandie Rees goes in hard on survival strategies for photographers who don’t have an indoor space. From hiring studios the smart way (and marketing them so you don’t lose cash), to shooting in client homes or alternative locations, plus ways to keep money flowing when it’s too cold or wet outside — this is your blunt, no-nonsen...

This isn’t a hate fest on amateur photographers — we all start somewhere. But some amateurs? They just can’t be told. They leap into pro work without the skills, refuse critique, and confuse mates’ compliments with client-level quality. In this episode, I dig into the psychology behind it — from the Dunning–Kruger effect to social media dopamine hits, and even why some men can’t handle being corre...

Everyone’s obsessed with going viral—but what happens when your business becomes all about chasing likes instead of serving clients? In this brutally honest episode of The Loud Lens , I dive into why so many photographers (especially here in the UK) are gambling on virality as their main marketing strategy—and why it’s a dangerous trap. We’ll get into: 🔥 The good side of going viral (extra revenu...

Natural light is trending hard. Blue hour portraits, nostalgic film edits, AI-manipulated wedding shots — they’re all over TikTok, Pinterest, and your clients’ mood boards. But here’s the catch: winter in the UK means light vanishes by 3pm, and clouds are basically the default backdrop. In this episode of The Loud Lens , I’m breaking down the hottest photography trends right now, showing you real...

Taylor Swift said “yes.” Travis Kelce bent the “wrong” knee. Instagram crashed. And photographers… lost the plot. Instead of learning from the moment, many went online to slate the photos—and in doing so, they revealed why they’re struggling to get clients. This week on The Loud Lens , Khandie Rees is calling it out: why slagging off celebrity shoots makes you look like a bitter amateur, how negat...

"No one’s booking your branding photography sessions? Spoiler alert—it’s not the algorithm, it’s not the economy, and it’s not because clients ‘don’t get the value.’ It’s YOU. In this brutally honest Loud Lens episode, Khandie rips the lid off why so many photographers are struggling to sell branding shoots. From shocking personal branding, cliché poses, and copycat styles to not understanding bus...

Everyone wants to shoot bands. The flashing lights, the pit access, the epic shots for Instagram. It looks like the dream job. But here’s the truth: starting out in music and event photography is messy, intimidating, and often unpaid. This week I’m joined by Jonathan aka JmPhotography http://instagram.com/jmphoto97 , a newer music photographer I met while shooting Midgardsblot Festival in Norway....

Unfiltered truth incoming. In this explosive episode, Khandie Rees calls out the growing epidemic of clients who genuinely believe their FaceTuned selfies are reality—and tear photographers apart for daring to deliver the truth. From viral side-by-sides to delusional expectations, we’re unpacking the war on realism in photography. If you’ve ever been told your work “doesn’t look like me,” this epi...

In this no-holds-barred episode of The Loud Lens , Khandie Rees tackles the rise of the sh t wedding photographer*—not the beginners, not the learners, but the weekend warriors who lowball, ghost clients, and drag the whole industry down. From underpriced packages to missing wedding galleries, these faux-tographers are damaging client trust, undercutting real professionals, and risking the entire...

Not every photographer wants—or needs—to go pro. In this powerful episode, Khandie unpacks the joy and freedom of being a hobbyist photographer in a world obsessed with monetisation. Whether you shoot for peace, pleasure, or personal meaning, this episode validates your choice, dismantles creative gatekeeping, and reminds you that art doesn’t have to earn money to matter. 🎧 Perfect for: hobbyists...

Photographers are sounding the alarm on scammers in the industry—but what if you’re the one setting off the warning bells? In this brutally honest episode of The Loud Lens , Khandie Rees breaks down the red flags clients see all over social media—no contracts, no insurance, dodgy portfolios, styled shoots masking inexperience, and outdated business practices. This isn’t just a callout—it’s a wake-...

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses grief, child loss, terminal illness, and emotional trauma. Please listen with care. In this emotionally raw episode of The Loud Lens , I share the stories behind the most powerful—and heartbreaking—sessions I've ever photographed. From cancer warriors to child funerals, from pet goodbyes to grieving mothers, this is the side of photography that rarely get...

Summer's here—but your bookings might not be. Whether you’re off on holiday, stuck in a slow season, or drowning in weddings, this episode is packed with real, actionable advice for photographers who want to stay visible and grow their brand without faking the hype or frying their brain. Host Khandie Rees gets brutally honest about: How to look booked and busy without lying to your audience Market...

What if the thing that built your career wasn’t your qualifications—but your grit? In this brutally honest episode, I share how I went from a complicated, abusive childhood and academic overachievement to building a thriving creative business with zero formal training in my field. I am unpacking: Why my 14 GCSEs and top A Levels never actually opened doors How trauma shaped my need to excel—and ho...

From ghosting weddings to turning up drunk, we're diving deep into the wildest real-life stories of photographers behaving badly. Join me as I react to documented horror stories (yep, even that one where a photographer shot the wrong wedding ) in my classic no-BS, OMG-what-the-actual-hell tone. It’s chaos, it’s cathartic, and it’s your checklist for how not to end up as the next Reddit cautionary...

Tired of hearing the same old tips? “Post more!” “Niche down!” “Just charge your worth!” — Yeah, we’re calling BULLSH*T on most of it. In this episode of The Loud Lens , I break down the most overhyped, useless, and damaging photography advice circulating in the creative world—and replaces it with practical, tested strategies that actually help you grow a real business. You’ll learn: Why common ti...

Photography has an influencer probleman d it’s time we talk about it. In this episode of The Loud Lens , I’m diving into how influencer culture is slowly eroding trust in the photography industry. From fake BTS content and gear reviews with affiliate links to photographers who haven’t done a paid shoot in years telling you how to run your business… we’ve lost the f*cking plot. I’m not here to canc...

A lot of photographers aren’t running businesses. They’re running expensive hobbies with fancy gear and no plan. In this episode, I sit down with business coach and networking event host Brian Wrigley to get brutally honest about what’s going wrong in the photography industry. We dig into: Why photographers are scared to charge properly The real reason your bookings have dried up Whether networkin...

“My partner doesn’t get it — being a photographer isn’t a 9–5.” That’s what a listener messaged me recently via The Loud Lens Facebook group, struggling to explain the reality of a creative career to someone new in their life. So I invited my own partner — the unofficial assistant, emotional support human, and long-suffering plus-one — to the mic. This brutally honest, listener-requested episode e...