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/

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.

In this week's episode we talk to the internationally renowned Destination Wedding Photographer and Canon Ambassador Igor Demba.

We talk about, podcasting, creative collaboration and the reality of building a multi year career as a professional photographer.

Sit back and enjoy this laidback interview with one of the wedding photography greats.

If you'd like to learn from Igor check out his Workshop, for more from About Creative Experience check out Tom Wright's Website