Drone audits, drizzle disasters, and the eternal question of whether putting your prices up is ever a good idea. This week Pete, Laura, Liam and Bee dive into Pete's upcoming CAA drone audit and the surprisingly strict "flying currency" rules that come with it, before getting into a deep discussion on shooting weddings in bad weather, including the bride who left a bad review because it was too sunny, and the violinist who nearly walked out over a bit of drizzle.

The conversation moves into the business side of things, with Bee and Liam unpacking a recent price increase that coincided with enquiries dropping off a cliff, and whether that's down to pricing, a fiddled Google Ads budget, or just a quiet patch. There's also a chat about website portfolios, ad spend, and Pete and Laura's attempt to make their photography site sound less negative without losing what makes it them.

On the gear side, Liam debates renting an expensive lens for a castle wedding in Spain, Pete and Laura talk through their new 85mm lens and a Lightroom preset fix using Claude AI, and the group ends up arguing about which AI chatbot has the best personality. Plus reunion highs, root canal lows, and a real-time cat-versus-bird incident that derails the recording entirely.

As always, it's highs, lows, and everything in between for wedding photographers and videographers trying to navigate the job, the business, and each other.

Timestamps:

00:00 Cold open: memory card chaos and a lost SD card

02:01 Pete's CAA drone audit and the flying currency requirement

05:51 Eyeing up a new drone after seeing one at a wedding

06:46 Liam's Scotland wedding at Dunglass Estate

07:55 The sock-on-the-smoke-alarm pub incident

09:49 Pete's rainy Watermouth Cove wedding in Devon

11:06 Handling bad weather and difficult outdoor ceremonies

12:42 The violinist who nearly walked out

13:54 The one-star review from a bride who wanted rain

16:00 Pete's wedding at Goodnestone Park, Kent

19:42 Working alongside an editorial photographer's 20+ group shots

22:14 Price increase versus a sudden drop in enquiries

25:34 Debating Google AdWords and Meta ad spend

29:22 How many photos should be in a portfolio

32:01 Upcoming trips: Pete to Tuscany, Liam's multi-country wedding run

35:28 Liam considering renting an expensive lens for Spain

38:55 New 85mm lens and adapting old Lightroom presets with Claude AI

42:00 Favourite AI chatbots and their personalities

43:11 Bee's 25-year school reunion

44:08 Root canal woes and charging for consultation Zooms

45:08 Hugo the cat brings in a bird mid-recording

45:59 Highs and lows: mountain bikes, finished films, and 2:30am starts

53:05 Wrap up

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Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school

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