Feeling hesitant about adding video to your photography? In this cozy episode, I chat with Dorte, a Danish-born family photographer who makes it feel doable. From her Northamptonshire-Leicestershire home, she shares how a maternity leave redundancy led her to capture authentic family moments. With 15 years of experience, Dorte suggests starting small with your current gear—like a variable density filter—and embracing raw, unpolished footage that captures life’s real charm.

Dorte’s warmth shines as she talks about crafting family films and quick marketing reels while raising two boys. Her simple tips, like WhatsApp clips or social media hacks, make video approachable. Using just a monopod and a bold mindset, she shows how to dive into reels and TikTok. This episode is a heartfelt nudge for photographers to start creating lasting memories.

Connect with Dorte:

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Dorte's training courses.

Get your ticket to Gather To Grow 2025.

Gather To Grow is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Sophie Bowdler is a Dorset motherhood photographer and Mum, who shares how 20-minute mini sessions transformed her business. With 13 years of experience, she balances family life and self-employment, excelling in natural newborn shoots. Her seasonal mini sessions draw clients, boost income, and align with her values.

Sophie keeps mini sessions simple yet profitable, managing expectations and upselling smartly to avoid burnout. Her tales of dodging British rain and adapting during lockdown show resilience. Now creating a pricing guide and course, Sophie’s passion for empowering photographers shines.

Connect with Sophie:

Website | Instagram

Get your ticket to Gather To Grow 2025.

Gather To Grow is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Ever thought about swapping digital for film’s soulful charm? I am joined by Victoria Phipps, a Cheshire family photographer who ditched weddings after 15 years to embrace analogue. She shares how film reignited her creativity, capturing families in timeless, candid portraits.

Victoria’s honest take on imposter syndrome and love for black-and-white simplicity is a warm nudge to slow down and create with heart.

Connect with Victoria:

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Pintrest

Get your ticket to Gather To Grow 2025.

Gather To Grow is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Paige Anderson, a West Sussex newborn photographer turned her passion into a thriving business. From feeling stuck in an office job, Paige bravely leapt into full-time photography during lockdown, saving up and setting a deadline to chase her dream.

Paige opens up about the loneliness of going it alone and how connecting with photographers at Gather to Grow reignited her fire. With a cozy studio, mentorship, and grit to overcome self-doubt, she built something beautiful. Her story is a warm nudge for anyone ready to chase their dreams with heart and hustle.

Connect with Paige:

Website | Instagram

Get your ticket to Gather To Grow 2025.

Gather To Grow is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Jemella Ukaegbu, a South London photographer with over 15 years of experience, runs Mel’s Photography, specialising in maternity, newborns, and families. She founded the UK Black Female Photographers Community, empowering over 600 women. From a makeshift setup in her Mum’s living room to a sleek two-room studio, Jemella’s journey shines with resilience, turning challenges like burnt hard drives and tiny spaces into a thriving business.

Navigating a global pandemic, Jamella adapted with ingenuity, championing the value of printed photos in a digital world. She shares insights on making any space a studio, creating client experiences that feel warm and personal, and why authenticity drives lasting success. Her story inspires photographers and dreamers alike, blending grit, heart, and hustle.

Get your ticket to Gather To Grow 2025.

Connect with Jamella:

Instagram: @jemellabw | @MellzphotographyLTD

Website: mellzphotography.co.uk

UK Black Female Photographers community:

Instagram: @ukbftog

Website: ukbftog.com

Gather To Grow is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Curious about what it takes to capture family life’s raw essence? I sat down with Aimee, a Bristol, UK-based photographer whose cinematic, authentic style—shaped by film and renaissance art—shines after five years of practice. Motherhood sparked her journey with daughter Sierra’s pre-pandemic arrival, and a late autism diagnosis cemented her no-forced-smiles approach.

In this episode, we explore balancing kids and creativity, ditching stiff portraits for candid chaos—like kids biting fingers or sulking mid-shot. Amy found her voice chasing what she loves, fuelled by pandemic struggles, a supportive partner, and slow seasons that recharge her. It’s a real, heartfelt peek into vulnerability and art colliding.

Get your ticket to Gather To Grow 2025.

Gather To Grow is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Gather to Grow is back for 2025, and I’m spilling the details with Mel, my longtime partner-in-crime. This UK event is a game-changer for family and newborn photographers. It’s got a laid-back house-party vibe where introverts, parents, and dreamers like us can ditch the daily grind for drinks, real conversations, and that electric buzz you just don’t get online. Think hot tub revelations and after-party laughs—it’s a space to rethink life behind the lens with people who totally get it.

We’re keeping it small this year with a festival twist, because real connection beats a crowded room any day. It’s the perfect spot to recharge your creative spark and shake off the isolation, no screens needed. Tickets are tight, with nearly 900 on the waitlist, so grab one quick and jump into the magic!

Get your ticket to Gather To Grow 2025.

Gather To Grow is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Curious about capturing motherhood’s wild beauty through a camera? I loved chatting with Nina Goks, a Margate-based photographer who’s turned her lens on family life into a thriving gig. With three kids—six, three, and one—she began five years ago when her eldest was 18 months, craving a creative outlet amid parenting chaos. Now, she snaps raw, fleeting moments—Renaissance glow meets toddler tornadoes—while shaping a career that fits her family’s rhythm.

Nina’s journey inspires, from early hustles to a garden studio haven. Motherhood sparked her drive to create and provide, balancing business with kids—editing during naps, trusting her gut. Her success reflects homeschooling and beach days over burnout, with a creative flair for filters and chaos. Her story resonates with passion-meets-parenting wisdom.

You can learn more about Nina at ninagoks.com

Build your photography website with SHOWIT, get your first month free at showit.com/r/gtgfamily.

Gather To Grow is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Have you ever wondered what happens when a conflict photographer trades war zones for the wild ride of motherhood? That’s Tekie Quaye’s story, and it’s incredible. I’m thrilled to chat with when, a postpartum photographer from Australia via South London. Her photos mix raw photojournalism with cozy lifestyle shots. She’s a mother of two, a former conflict photographer, and a passionate feminist.

In this episode, we dive into why storytelling drives her—from chasing truth in Rwanda to snapping her daughters’ fleeting moments. She’s real about the postpartum struggles, the challenge of turning art into a business, and how motherhood reshaped her creative spark.

As a Mum of four and a photographer myself, I totally get it. We talk about embracing vulnerability—think real skin, honest stories, no props. Tekie also shares a sneak peek at her new podcast, Unravelled, and how it ties into her photography.

This conversation is raw and heartfelt. It’s about rediscovering your passion, the weight of life’s big moments, and why every mother’s story matters. If you’re a creative or a Mum needing a boost, this one’s for you—full of heart and soul.

Build your photography website with SHOWIT, get your first month free at showit.com/r/gtgfamily.

Gather To Grow is produced by Urban Podcasts.

I’m so excited to be chatting with Emma Lawson, a talented Scottish wedding photographer who took the leap from her corporate job to follow her passion for photography. She’s built an amazing business, expanding from weddings to newborn and family photography – and she’s here to share how she made it all happen.

Emma’s journey is full of real, raw moments, from balancing the fast-paced world of wedding photography with the tenderness of family portraits, to growing her business organically. She opens up about the struggles, triumphs, and lessons she’s learned along the way – like finding your niche, pricing your work, and standing strong in a competitive market.

It’s a conversation that’s not only inspiring but real and down-to-earth, filled with practical advice for anyone wanting to turn their passion into a thriving, authentic business.

Build your photography webiste with SHOWIT, get your first month free at showit.com/r/gtgfamily.

Gather To Grow is produced by Urban Podcasts.