Wedding Photography Unveiled

After seven years and around 200 weddings in the UK, Frances made one of her bravest moves. She bought a farmhouse in Normandy, moved mid-pandemic and rebuilt her entire business from scratch in one of Europe's most competitive destination wedding markets.In this episode, we talk about how she pulled it off, from the early days with almost no local portfolio and no budget, to now shooting luxury chateau weddings and averaging £3,000+ per booking.What we cover:Her decision to leave the UK.Starting over with almost nothing.The portfolio problem and how she solved it.Networking over paid ads: No SEO, no paid ads. Pricing strategy and rapid growth.The reality of destination weddings in France.Why being British is a competitive advantage.The documentary vs editorial debate.Find Frances:Website: francesmarysales.comInstagram: @francesmarysales

In this episode I sit down with Jade Greenbrooke, a Kent-based editorial and documentary wedding photographer who has been shooting weddings since the age of 16. Jade is fully self-employed, shoots around 50 weddings a year, and has generated over 430 enquiries since January alone, almost entirely through TikTok and Instagram.We cover a huge amount of ground in this conversation. Jade opens up about her rocky start in the industry, including hiding in a cupboard crying at her very first wedding at 16 and why her photography degree left her with little more than a dislike of film photography. She shares how a snowy January wedding at 18 reignited her passion and set her on the path to where she is today.One of the things I find most compelling about Jade's approach is her philosophy that couples want to look their best, not just be photographed as they are. She explains why the anti-posing narrative has done couples a disservice, how she navigates portrait sessions so couples never feel overloaded with pictures, and why building genuine rapport before you even pick the camera up is one of the most important skills you can develop.We also dig into how she structures her wedding days to get the best from portrait sessions, why she times everything around golden hour and the first dance, and the practical techniques she uses to put couples at ease including knowing their best angles and hyping them up in the moment.On the business side, the numbers Jade shares are extraordinary. Over a thousand enquiries last year, a starting price of £3,500, and a diary that fills itself without paid advertising, a PR strategy, or SEO investment. It all comes down to posting work she is genuinely proud of and letting that speak for itself. She also shares her thoughts on managing social media without letting it consume your creative vision, including why she follows fewer than 100 people on Instagram.We wrap up talking about gear, shooting on aperture priority, the Canon kit she has used from her first 1100D through to the R5 Mark II, and why a simple approach to flash can often serve couples better than technically complex lighting setups.This is a brilliant episode for anyone questioning whether the pure documentary approach is always right for their couples, or wondering whether organic social media can still build a genuinely thriving business. Jade is proof that it can.Key Topics CoveredShooting her first wedding at 16 and the anxiety that came with itWhy her photography degree nearly put her off photography for goodThe editorial versus documentary debate and why couples often want more than pure candidsPortrait session structure and keeping couples energised throughout the dayHow she uses TikTok and Instagram to generate enquiries without paid adsWhy following fewer accounts can protect your creative visionCamera settings, gear choices, and her thoughts on flashAdvice for photographers starting out at less-than-glamorous venuesFind JadeWebsite: jadegreenbookephotography.co.ukInstagram: @jadegreenbrookeTikTok: @jadegreenbrooke

In this episode, I'm joined by Geraint Roberts, a fine art wedding photographer based near Cardiff with over a decade of experience shooting weddings across the UK and beyond. Geraint is known for blending film photography into his digital workflow and has a reputation for delivering beautifully curated wedding albums.Film PhotographyGeraint started incorporating film into his wedding work in 2021, inspired by photographer Jose Villa and his time studying photography at university where he had access to Mamiya and Hasselblad cameras. He shoots film as a complimentary addition to his digital coverage rather than a standalone offering, typically shooting one roll per wedding but sometimes as many as four.He shares how shooting film has actually improved his digital editing, using scans from his lab (Exposure Film Lab in Hereford) as colour reference images, particularly for skin tones. We cover the practical cost considerations of getting into film (film stock plus lab developing can run around £30 per roll), recommended entry-level cameras including the Olympus OM30, Pentax K1000, Nikon FM2 and the brand new Pentax 17, and the importance of testing equipment before taking it to a wedding. His key tip: always have a backup film camera.We also discuss how film sits in the broader market, whether it is a passing trend or here to stay, and why Geraint believes it will remain a fixture given Kodak's continued growth and film's enduring role in cinema.Wedding AlbumsGeraint includes an 8x8 inch album in every package as a baseline, with 90% of couples upgrading once they see and feel the product in person. We also get into the value of in-person client meetings for album sales, why physically holding an album makes a significant difference to upgrade rates, and why hotel bars beat coffee shops as a client meeting venue.Where to Find GeraintInstagram: @geraintrobertsphotoWebsite: geraint-roberts.co.uk

This week I'm joined for the second time by Chris Denner, a wedding photographer with nearly 30 years of experience who has built a reputation for creative, counterculture and LGBTQ-inclusive work. Chris is one of those rare combinations: a genuine artist and a sharp business operator, and this conversation is packed with practical wisdom for photographers at every stage.What You'll Hear in This EpisodeWe open with one of Chris's core philosophies: action is always better than reaction. In a market saturated with talented photographers and squeezed by cost of living pressures, staying passive is the most dangerous thing you can do. Shy kids don't get sweets.The Value ChainClient Experience at Any Price PointThe Saturated Market RealityFinding Your USP When You Think You Have Nothing SpecialSending Signals, Not Just Posting PhotosStyled Shoots: The Honest TakeResponse Times and First ContactCamera Tech, Settings and Getting Out of the WayThe Chaos Aesthetic ProblemClosing ThoughtConnect with Chris DennerChris Denner Photography Instagram

For years, wedding directories have been a frustration for suppliers. High prices, lofty promises and dubious quality enquiries. It's a topic that comes up constantly in photography groups and industry chats and it's one I wanted to tackle head on.In this episode I sit down with Zoe Burke, Head of Brand at Bridebook, for an honest conversation about the state of wedding directories today. We discuss why so many suppliers have felt let down, what Bridebook is doing differently with its pricing and packages and how the platform is shifting its focus from enquiry volume to genuine lead quality. We also talk about the future of directories in an AI driven world and the ongoing challenge of rebuilding trust between platforms and the supplier community.Zoe brings over a decade of wedding industry experience to the conversation and doesn't shy away from the difficult questions. If you want to understand whether a directory still has a place in your marketing strategy in 2025, this episode will give you a lot to think about.LinksBridebookWedding Photography Unveiled Community