Is it possible to be a sustainable destination wedding photographer? That's the question I asked responsible travel expert JoAnna Haugen from ⁠Rooted Storytelling⁠ in this podcast episode.

We chat about the challenges of working internationally as a photographer, the impact our images can have, and how to give back to the places we are visiting with our clients.

⁠Show Notes & Summary⁠

Connect with JoAnna:

Website: ⁠https://rootedstorytelling.com/⁠

Socials: Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn
Newsletter

Other Links:

Recommended Reading: ⁠Rise Travel Institute - Decolonizing Travel⁠

Book Recommendation: ⁠Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World - Anu Taranath⁠

What happens when you get to a wedding day and the clients have a balloon release or some other activity planned that you know if incredibly damaging to the environment?

Do you still photograph it?

That's a dilemma I've faced in the past, and after speaking with Aida from My Wedding Season Podcast, I'm not alone.

So what can you do as a photographer to make sure you don't end up in this awkward position in the first place?

In this episode I chat with my good friend and fellow elopement photographer & coach Steph Zakas.

We chat about trends within the wedding photography industry, and how they can leave many photographers confused and unsatisfied with their businesses.

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Connect with Steph:

Steph Zakas Coaching

Zakas Photography

In this episode, I chat with British photographer Sam Spicer, who lives in Tokyo, Japan. We speak about the challenges of growing tourism and photography trends, the cultural differences between the UK and Japan, and how that affects photographers living and working in Japan.

About Sam:

Sam Spicer is a Tokyo-based wedding and portrait photographer with a unique blend of international experience. Having previously worked in military and humanitarian roles, he now focuses on capturing natural, heartfelt moments in his photography. His style is inspired by the beauty of human connection and the shifting landscapes around him. With a strong foundation in both Japan and the UK, Sam brings a timeless, emotive approach to documenting life’s most cherished moments.

Website: samspicerpotography.com

Instagram: @samspicer.photo

When a location becomes popular for destination weddings and elopements, the impacts to the local vendors can be huge.

In this episode, I chat with Lauren Chambers from LIT Photography NI about how she's embracing a more sustainable approach to destination elopement photography workshops to promote a more responsible and ethical approach to photographing overseas.

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Links:

In this episode, I introduce two key terms when looking at your impact as a photographer or media creator - footprint and brainprint.

Want to learn more? Read the blogpost for photographic examples: https://photographersforpeopleandplanet.com/understanding-footprint-brainprint-in-photography/

This episode is a quick introduction to the newly rebranded podcast.

Formerly titled "The Entrepreneurial Expedition", the podcast has rebranded to align with the work of Photographers for People and Planet.

Future episodes and collaborations will focus on issues of sustainability, ethics, diversity, and inclusion and how they relate to running a professional photography business.

In this episode, we take a dive into conscious copywriting, and look at some of the most popular destination wedding 'buzzwords' and how their use can be problematic.

Read the blog: https://adventureweddingacademy.com/conscious-copywriting-12-words-to-eliminate-in-your-marketing/

At the end of each wedding season, I sit down and do an energy audit across my businesses.

This slower time of year allows me to reflect on the months that have passed, and they help me to make sure that the work I do over the winter months is fully aligned with where I want to be going.

Do you take the time for an energy audit?

Does being a wedding photographer have an expiry date?

In this episode, I chat with the wonderful Nadia Meli about why she decided to walk away from her thriving wedding photography business, the fear that comes from leaving and why it's important to live in integrity with yourself.

Who is Nadia Meli?

Italian born, German raised, mum of two cats, and ambassador for Nikon. I love people and I seek truth and connection, that is why I am a photographer.

If you want to connect with Nadia, you can find her in these places:

Substack: https://nadiameli.substack.com/

Website: https://www.nadiameli.com/

Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/thenadiameli/

Instagram (photography): https://www.instagram.com/nadiameli/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadia-meli-270114124/