About Creative Experience

In this episode I talk with Kate Winters, a wedding photographer working between Hawaii, California, and the UK. Her work is quiet, color-rich, and shot almost entirely on film. It feels calm and observed, yet it never takes itself too seriously. There's always a bit of play in it.

What makes that interesting is where Kate came from. She cut her teeth shooting party boats and nightlife in Honolulu, hyping up crowds at 10 p.m. The move from loud rooms to still, unplanned moments wasn't an accident. It came from knowing exactly what she wanted her work to look like, and holding firm on what she didn't.

In this episode I talk with April Payne, a Houston-based photographer whose work sits somewhere between documentary and editorial and who describes what she does simply as taking pictures of good parties. Not influencer weddings, not a day staked on a single perfect photo, but real people throwing a celebration for the people they love. April shoots roughly 80% documentary, 20% editorial, and the result is an ode to real life that still manages to look pristine.

But the reason I asked April on wasn't the work, lovely as it is. It was a post she'd made about family about what it actually costs to put your children first while you're trying to build a career in this industry. That post took some heat in her DMs.

April's work: https://aprilmpaynephotography.com

More episodes: https://www.bytomw.com/podcast

In this episode I talk with Yazmine May, a wedding photographer whose work is grounded in human connection, cultural traditions, and a distinctly film-forward approach. We unpack how Yazmine moved from a decade in finance into photography and how motherhood, COVID, and a camera that had been sitting unused became the catalyst.

A big thread running through the conversation is feeling over settings.

Show Notes - www.bytomw.com/podcast/culture-connection-and-motion-in-photography

00:00 Introduction to Creative Photography
08:14 Capturing Human Connection at Weddings
14:34 Film vs. Digital: A Photographer's Choice
20:50 Film Stocks and Their Impact on Aesthetics
25:54 The Emotional Connection to Film
32:04 Creativity Under Pressure
40:15 Business Growth and Client Relationships
47:12 Inspiring Figures in Photography

Resources

Yazmine May Photography - https://www.instagram.com/yazminemay/
Yazmine May’s Website - https://www.yazminemay.com
Labyrinth London - https://labyrinth.co.uk
South Sun Lab - https://southsun.co.uk

Today I am joined by London-based photographer Sophie Davidson, whose work spans author portraits, musician portraits, and editorial commissions. In recent years, weddings have become a significant part of Sophie’s practice, and they have approached that shift with the same guiding idea that runs through all their portrait work: make the person in front of the camera feel comfortable enough to be themselves.

We talk about Sophie’s reactive approach to portrait sessions, and why they avoid over-planning in favor of responding to the person in front of them. A simple but powerful tactic is asking someone which side of their face they prefer. It signals that the point of the session is not to “create” a version of them, but to make them look good in the way they already understand themselves.

Show Notes
www.bytomw.com/podcast/celebrity-portraits-and-honesty-in-weddings
Other Links
Sophie Davidson on Instagram - www.instagram.com/sophiedavidson

Sophie Davidson Editorial website - www.sophie-davidson.co.uk

Sophie Davidson’s Wedding Work on Instagram -instagram.com/sophiedavidsonweddings

Sophie Davidson’s Wedding Work Website - www.sophie-davidson-weddings.co.uk/

Jürgen Teller (Photographer) - www.juergenteller.co.uk

Wolfgang Tillmans (Photographer) - www.tillmans.co.uk

During the episode, we discuss how Charlotte transitioned from a successful career as a fashion designer to wedding photographer, her unconventional journey through the creative industries, and her commitment to shooting almost exclusively on film in an increasingly digital landscape.

Full Show Notes - http://www.bytomw.com/podcast/from-fashion-designer-to-photographer

Charlotte grew up in Paris and came to the UK at 15 to learn English. She studied fashion design and ran her own fashion brand from ages 23 to 30, getting picked up by Opening Ceremony and selling internationally. After leaving fashion due to sustainability concerns and unsustainable business costs, she transitioned to running a manufacturing studio for designer brands and costume work. A pivotal moment came after a friend's funeral in Scotland, when working with a career coach helped her realize she needed more creative freedom. Initially resistant to wedding photography—seeing it as "cheesy"—she discovered Naomi Koenig's film documentary work, which completely reframed what wedding photography could be.

Her entry into wedding photography was organic. She shot her first wedding as a guest at her best friend's sister's wedding, and the experience rekindled her excitement about life and forced her to be truly present. Her early projects gained traction thanks to referrals from friends in the creative industry, leading to multiple features in Vogue. She has just completed her first full season and is now heading into her second.

Today I am joined by the talented London-based photographer Haris Ahmed. He specializes in corporate, startup, and comedy/celebrity photography.

During the episode, we discuss how Haris transitioned from working at Apple to building a sustainable photography business, his unconventional path into comedy photography, and his approach to balancing commercial work with creative passion projects.

• Episode Takeaways:

  → Finding reliable income sources like corporate work funds creative experimentation in other genres—you don't need to monetize every aspect of your photography.

  → Reverse-engineer the client's perspective: understand that marketing managers need to justify spending and require proof of capability, not out of distrust but necessity.

  → Build portfolio proof through alternative means—Haris's YouTube channel demonstrated consistent content creation ability when he lacked traditional client work.

  → Equipment choices should prioritize achieving specific creative outcomes rather than technical specifications alone.

  → The quiet, personal moments shot for yourself often become client favorites—integrate your authentic voice across all genres rather than compartmentalizing.

  → Act as if you already have the job when discussing opportunities, focusing on problem-solving rather than pitching.

Chapters

1. 00:00 - Introduction to Creative Journeys
2. 01:32 - Haris Ahmed's Photography Evolution
3. 06:59 - Transitioning from Apple to Photography
4. 12:58 - Building a Portfolio through YouTube
5. 18:17 - Navigating Corporate Photography
6. 25:22 - Finding Inspiration in Corporate Work
7. 30:52 - The Importance of Personal Style in Photography
8. 35:39 - Exploring the Art of Photography
9. 40:06 - The Balance of Corporate and Creative Work
10. 46:07 - Navigating Equipment Choices for Photography
11. 1:02:05 - Evolving Creative Direction and Future Aspirations
12. 1:08:58 - Advice for Aspiring Creatives

Links

Haris Ahmed's YouTube and Instagram - https://www.youtube.com/@HVRIS and https://www.instagram.com/hvrisworld

Haris’ Website - https://www.haychdigital.com/

Tom's Website - https://www.bytomw.com

Tom's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bytomw

DB Captures (Next Interview Recommendation) - https://www.instagram.com/dbcaptures

It is about the journey.

Episode Overview:

Today I am joined by the talented wedding photographer and my wonderful friend Emmylou Kelly. She is based in the UK but works worldwide. 

During the episode, we discuss how Emmylou got started in the industry, the amazing experiences she has had throughout her career (including Elevate!) and her creative practices!

Emmylou started her journey to becoming a photographer at the age of 30, when she decided hospitality was no longer for her and she needed a change. So, she decided to attend university. Unsure of what area to study, she thought about what gave her joy as a child - drawing and painting.  Naturally, this led to fine arts, where Emmylou learned about various mediums and how to use photography as a found object to create art using other mediums. 

It wasn’t until a university lecturer told Emmylou that she had an eye for photography - and from there…. she turned into becoming a highly sought after, talented wedding photographer who travels the world shooting weddings.

Episode Takeaways

→ Being an artist requires more than simply technical skills - it requires a person to go beyond the technical aspect and find their artistic style.

→ Becoming a photographer is about not only understanding the craft and camera, it is about finding the style that works for them.

Links

Emmylou Kelly’s Website - https://emmyloukelly.com/ 

Emmylou Kelly’s Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/emmylou.kelly/ 

Miles - https://milesofgrain.com/ 

Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon - https://austinkleon.com/steal/

• 0:00 - Introduction
• 3:36 - How Emmylou Got Started with Photography
• 6:02 - Why Emmylou Became a Wedding Photographer
• 9:28 - Having Business Scense as an Artist
• 11:55 - Finding the Artistic Style
• 28:46 - What Emmylou’s work is about
• 31:08 - The Creative Intent - What Are You Trying to Do
• 36:01 - Understanding Your Craft (and Your Camera)
• 46:34 - Finding the End Result - The Creative and Technical Pieces
• 50:44 - Shooting Weddings Around the World

Today I have a truly inspiring guest —Rachel Emma Waring, marketing coach, launch specialist, Pinterest expert and former host of the 'RE: Podcast' and a force to be reckoned with in the world of creative strategy.

Rachel’s journey is one that resonates with so many of us in the creative field. She started out designing sets and costumes for theatre, transitioned into running a wedding styling business, and now she’s a full-fledged creative strategist helping businesses find their clarity and shine online.

Essential Links

Rachel's Website - https://www.rachelemmawaring.com

Rachel's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rachelemmawaring

Tom's Website - https://www.bytomw.com

Tom's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bytomw

Join your host Tom Wright for an in depth coversation with Barry Harley, a commercial photographer specializing in architectural and hospitality photography. He shares his journey and insights into the business side of photography. He emphasizes the importance of understanding licensing and usage rights, as well as valuing your work and negotiating with clients. Barry also discusses the significance of personal projects in developing your portfolio and finding your unique style. He advises new photographers to prioritize the business side of photography and define their target market to establish a strong foundation.

Links mentioned in the episode: Explore Barry Harley's website: https://www.barryharley.com/Art Production Agency Wonderful Machine: https://wonderfulmachine.com/ Photographer's Coffee Morning with Emma Alexander from Wisern: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM4v_N7za60 Association of Photographers (UK): https://www.the-aop.org/

In this episode of About Creative Experience Tom W talks to Zoe Goldsmith a professional photographer and Head of Partnership at Imagen AI about what it means to truly serve the creative community.

We talk about what companies like Imagen look for in their brand ambassadors and talk about the importance of protecting your creativity when building a career in the photography industry.

Tom W's Website - https://www.bytomw.com

Zoe's Photography - http://zoeamberphotography.co.uk/

Imagen AI - https://imagen-ai.com/

Footnote

This weeks episode of About Creative Experience is a blast from the past and was originally recorded in 2023 but only released now. Imagen's Product may have changed since this podcast was published.