The Unfiltered Lens

What does it really take to build a wedding photography career that lasts? In this episode, I’m joined by Ed Godden , a wedding photographer with over 30 years of experience, for an honest conversation about longevity, burnout, creativity and the reality of staying in this industry long term. We talk about the moments that test you, why passion alone isn’t enough, the business decisions that matte...

You’re in peak season. Photographing every weekend, editing midweek, and running your business on momentum alone. Which is exactly where things start to quietly leak money, bookings, and opportunities. This episode is your mid-season business audit. Not a strategy overhaul, not a branding deep dive, but a practical two-hour check-in that tells you what’s actually working right now and what’s slipp...

Have you ever looked at your business and felt like you should be further ahead, but something invisible has been holding you back? This episode breaks down the idea of “borrowed ceilings”, the limits you unknowingly adopt from the rooms you spend time in. Whether it’s wedding industry negativity, other people’s fear around money, or quiet bitterness disguised as realism, it all adds up. And befor...

Most wedding suppliers are either overcomplicating SEO or avoiding it completely, and both are costing them bookings. In this episode, I sit down with an SEO expert: Katherine to strip it back to what actually matters in 2026. No jargon, no recycled advice, just the real shifts happening in how couples search,  what Google is prioritising now, and how AI is working alongside this. We get into what...

Can you build a profitable, sustainable wedding photography business without attending industry events, conferences, or networking meet-ups? In this episode, I explore what happens when you stop chasing industry validation and start running your creative business more like an independent shop on the high street. With honest responses from photographers, this episode unpacks the difference between...

If you’ve ever felt like you’re showing up online, posting consistently, doing what everyone says you should be doing, and still questioning whether it’s actually working, this conversation will land. I’m joined by Lake District wedding photographer Tiree Dawson, who runs a consistently busy photography business and is known for being open about how she approaches marketing and social media. We ta...

In this episode, I’m talking about social climbing in the wedding industry and how it shows up in relationships, networking, and community dynamics. We explore the difference between genuine networking and strategic social positioning, and why the line between the two can feel so blurred in an industry built on visibility, referrals, and reputation. This isn’t about judging people or calling behav...

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your photography business, even when you’re fully booked, this episode will land. I’m joined by photographer and coach Tom Wright, and we unpack what’s really going on beneath that plateau, because it’s rarely about bookings or marketing. We talk about how to develop a point of view in your photography, why so many wedding photographers get lost chasing trends on Insta...

Wedding Photography Burnout, Social Media Pressure, and Finding Your Voice Again A few days ago I shared a post about the parts of wedding photography we don’t usually talk about. The pressure to keep up. The exhaustion from social media. The quiet fear of becoming irrelevant. It sat in my head for months before I posted it, because it felt a bit too honest. But the response made one thing very cl...

Please follow this show on Spotify? Apple. It really helps! Apologies in advance for the sound quality on this one. Styled shoots are everywhere. Beautiful, ambitious, creative. But who are they really for? In this episode, I’m joined by event designer and stylist Tara Knott to have an honest supplier to supplier conversation about styled shoots, how our relationship with them has changed over the...

Success can look great on paper and still feel a bit stale. In this episode, I’m talking about the wedding industry plateau, that point a few years in where you’re booked, busy, respected, and somehow… flat. Not failing, not burnt out, just disconnected from the buzz you used to have when everything was new. I share what was going on for me when I hit that stage, why it can turn people restless an...

In this episode, I sit down with Fer Juaristi   for a reflective conversation about wedding photography beyond the day itself. Fer shares his thoughts on documentary work, what the industry has quietly drifted away from, and the beliefs photographers may need to let go of if they want their work to last. We also explore longevity. How your relationship with success changes over time, how to grow w...

It’s that time of year again. Wedding photographers everywhere are running ads. And that’s fab - run them. Go get those weddings. But lately, I’ve been seeing a pattern that stops me in my tracks. Ads packed with passive aggressive digs at other wedding photographer/professionals. In this episode, I break down why this is one of the weakest ways to market yourself and why it signals insecurity rat...

In this episode of The Unfiltered Lens, I walk through how to reflect on your year properly, use numbers without fear, and set goals that actually change how you work. This is a business focused approach to planning your next wedding season. No aesthetics. No manifesting. Just clarity, action, and realism. I also share why delusional goals can both help and hurt, how to turn goals into habits, and...

What happens when you ask chat gpt if you're the best photographer and it says no? In this episode, I’m sharing what happened when I asked ChatGPT who the best wedding photographer in Rutland was, and why I didn’t show up. It opened up a much bigger conversation about SEO, online visibility and what it really means to grow a wedding photography business in a crowded market. I talk honestly about t...

Season 2 opens with the conversation I needed to have the moment the lights went down. After months off the mic and one of the biggest creative pushes of my career, I wanted to talk honestly about what it took to prepare and deliver my Nine Dots talk. I’m joined by Frances Foster, a friend, peer and fellow speaker who walked the same path, carried the same pressure and stood on the same stage. Thi...

Today marks season two of The Unfiltered Lens. New cover art, fresh headspace, same intention. This space is where I get to talk honestly about the wedding industry, creativity, and the parts of this job we don’t always say out loud. We’re in the winter stretch of the wedding calendar. Everything drops into a quieter rhythm. It’s the season where most of us go inward. We reflect, we recalibrate, w...

In this episode, I discuss the concept of digital hoarding, reflecting on my experiences and the impact it has on creativity and productivity. It’s really about importance of taking action rather than accumulating saved content, and I’ll share strategies to combat digital hoarding, encourage you to trust your instincts and focus on creating rather than saving. 💬 DM me your thoughts on Instagram @...

In this episode, I open up about the quiet wave of copying that's been sweeping through creative industries. I've experienced firsthand the frustration of seeing my work and ideas copied, and the emotional impact it has. From photographers to small business owners, many of us face the challenge of copycats. I share my personal journey through the anger and existential questions about origi...

In this episode, I sit down with award-winning celebrant Louise Gather of KickAss Gatherings to unpack why content that copies, conforms or hides behind trends is killing connection — and what to do instead. We talk honestly about marketing, being visible without selling out, and the difference between creating content and chasing validation. From the value of delayed wedding recaps to the myth of...

Are you posting to get booked—or to get clapped for? In this episode of The Unfiltered Lens , I’m calling out the messy truth most photographers avoid: you're probably stuck in a loop of posting only what looks good, not what actually sells your service. But you don't have to choose between posting for praise or for clients. You need both! I’ll walk you through how to balance your feed so it conne...

In this episode I am joined by Amanda from Amanda Steele Flowers ( @amandasteeleflowers ) and we get into the real stuff behind floristry and the wedding industry — from building genuine client relationships to the pressures of social media and keeping up with trends. We talk about why education matters, how content creators are changing the game, and what the future might look like with AI in the...

You're not broken. You're seasonal. Balance is one of the most misused words in the creative business world—especially in wedding season, when your workload triples and your energy plummets. So let’s drop the pressure and get honest. In this episode of The Unfiltered Lens , we unpack: Why daily or weekly balance doesn’t work in a seasonal business How to reframe your expectations to match your act...

You’ve heard the phrase “community over competition” a hundred times but what does it actually mean in real life? In this episode, I’m joined by my friend and fellow creative Sarah Carter, and we chat honestly about comparison, connection, and how the whole ‘support your peers’ vibe works when we’re all trying to grow our own thing. No fluff, no filters - just a real conversation about the highs,...

Sometimes it’s cliquey AF—and that’s okay. We hear it everywhere: community over competition . But behind the pastel quotes and group selfies, the wedding industry can be cliquey, exclusive, and low-key performative. And if you’ve ever felt on the outside of it—you’re not imagining it. In this episode of The Unfiltered Lens , we unpack: The unspoken social ladders in the industry Why “community” i...