In this episode I welcome Alex Benyon, a multi award winning wedding photographer based near the Cotswolds. Alex worked in the video game industry on huge games like Guitar Hero before transitioning into wedding photography.

In this episode we discuss:

• Alex's own podcast - To Have & Download
• Alex's history in the video game industry and transitioning into photography
• Mental Health / Clinical depression
• Photographing other genres alongside weddings
• Street photography
• The Wedding Industry Awards (TWIA)
• Much much more...

Show Links

Alex's Website

To Have & Download Podcast

Kevin Mullins

DocDay

Join Photographers Keeping it Real here

In this episode we welcome Jenna Kathleen, a Yorkshire based wedding photographer who has won many awards from PKIR, TIR and many others and still isn't even 30 years old!

In this episode we discuss:

• TV show recommendations
• Entering awards, the why and the how
• LR Catalogue management
• Adding videography to your photography offering, TikTok and behind the scenes content
• Couples who hire videographers with clashing styles
• Much much more...

Show Links

Jennas Website

Jennas Instagram

Jennas TikTok

Kick Ass Collective

Anna Pumer Websites

Karen Julia SEO Course

Join Photographers Keeping it Real here

In this episode I welcome Daniel Ackerley to the podcast. 

In this episode we discuss:  

• Being yourself and finding your ideal clients 
• Daniels marketing & leads and always working for referrals 
• Daniels journey from music photographer to weddings
• Pricing and the stigma within the industry
• Dans personal Facebook page, daily funny memes and funky shirts   
• Much much more…  

Show Links: 

Daniels Website

Daniels Instagram

Members only:

We go deeper into Daniel's ways of attracting ideal clients and setting expectations from the start.

Join PKIR to listen to the exclusive members only extended versions of the podcast, submit to the awards and watch exclusive members content to help improve your documentary wedding photography - https://www.photographerskeepingitreal.com/register/

In this episode we welcome Tom Beynon to the podcast. Tom is a huge talent with many awards from Photographers Keeping it Real, This is Reportage and Fearless. Tom was named NineDots photographer of the year in 2022.  

In this episode we discuss:  

• Toms journey into photography, starting as a documentary wedding photographer
• We ask can you really be unobtrusive at a wedding?
• After second shooting over 80 times for 40 different photographers, Tom shares his tips for second shooters
• Advice for entering awards  
• Much much more…  

Show Links: 

Toms Website 

Toms Instagram 

Photographers mentioned on the podcast:

Chelsea Cannar

Patrick Mateer

David Stubbs

Chris Denner

Members only:

Tom opens up and talks honestly about bookings, pricing and the current state of the industry. We look ahead to 2024 and although this is a long one, I would really urge people to listen to this section as it’s a good one.

For episode 21 I welcome one of the nicest people in the wedding photography world, the wonderful Alan Law. Alan is a wedding photographer, founder of This is Reportage and This is Reportage Family and runs his own wedding photography workshops called Law School. 

We discuss the highs and lows of running awards and photography communities, I get podcast tips from Alan who has released over 132 episodes of his own podcast and we talk about speaking at workshops, initial calls with potential couples and much much more. 

Alan's last Law School workshop for 2023 is on October 11th in Cornwall and as many past guests on this podcast have said, it’s one of the very best things you can do for your documentary wedding photography. Follow the links in the show notes for all the information and to book your place now. 

This is reportage has announced their Christmas party for 2023 on Monday 11th December in central London, find out all the information in the show notes and hopefully I will see you there. 

For the extended exclusive members only version I chat to Alan about his lead sources and marketing, including one new lead source that is working for Alan, especially for his local Cornwall weddings and the importance of networking and being part of communities. Alan shares some great insights into entering awards and we discuss how 2024 is looking for his business.

Show Links;

• Law School Workshop
• Alans Website
• Alans Dotcast Episode
• Alans To Have & Download Episode
• This is Reportage
• This is Reportage Family
• DocDay
• NineDots
• This Is Reportage Podcast Episode 132

On this episode we welcome Zalmy Berkowitz. All the way from California, Rangefinder Magazine Rising Star in 2021 and talented wedding and family photographer, Zalmy has a passion for composition, moments and his family.

In this episode we discuss;

• Staying present, how to balance living the moment vs capturing it
• Showing personal work on your website
• Overdelivering at weddings, is more, more or should we be curating a tight gallery
• Shooting weddings and families with a fisheye lens
• Jewish weddings
• Zalmy's excellent composition workshop
• The documentary wedding photography market in America vs the UK
• Fuji cameras and depth of field in documentary photography

• Zalmy's composition workshop - https://oncomposition.com/
• Zalmy's website - http://zalmyb.com/
• Zalmy's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zalmy_b/
• Wild Wides - http://zalmyb.com/wild-wides
• Camp Days - http://zalmyb.com/camp-days

Join PKIR Here

In this episode, Scott welcomes world renowned documentary wedding photographer, Tyler Wirken. Tyler now runs Foundation Workshop, often talked about as one of the greatest wedding photography workshops in the world, and it's finally coming to the UK. Full details can be found here.

Tyler talks about why Foundation has the format it does. How it changes a photographers mindset and improves your overall photography going forward.

In this episode Tyler & Scott also discuss mentoring, mindset and what does 'documentary' actually mean to them.

This episode is a must if you have even a tiny interest in Foundation Workshop and want a better understanding of what it is and how it will change your life!

Tyler Wirken Website

Foundation Workshop UK

Tyler Workshops & Mentoring

Erin Chrisman

Erwin Darmali

Susana Barbera

In this episode we welcome the very talented Nathan Walker, Nottingham based wedding photographer. We discuss;

• Juggling 4 children and wedding photography
• 2 of Nathan's passions, Tennis & Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Awards for Marketing, shouting about yourself online
• Initial client calls and a great tip from Nathan on helping couples visualise working with you and closing on the call
• Presenting final galleries to clients
• How Nathan approaches a wedding day
• That Instagram blue tick
• Much much more...

We chat about Nathans marketing, leads and his SEO.

• Nathan's Workshop
• Nathan's Website
• Nathan's Instagram

Join Photographers Keeping it Real here

Episode 17 - Hamish Irvine 

In this episode we welcome Leeds based photographer Hamish Irvine. A huge personality and talent with a colourful, personality filled style. It was a huge honour to chat to Hamish, he hasn't spoken on many podcasts before and to hear his passion for photography / art and business was inspiring. 

We Discuss;

• Playing the saxophone, jazz music and music in general
• Work life balance, travel, burn out and do we create our best work at the start of the season?
• Should we be less involved in the wedding photography community?
• Working with couples and the importance of pre wedding shoots for Hamish
• Other genres of photography, squash (the sport, not the fruit)
• Websites, is it worth spending the money to have your website built professionally?

Members Only Content;

• VAT registration, why Hamish went VAT registered and his thoughts 
• Marketing / leads - how's 2024 looking for Hamish and where do most of his leads come from?
• Rant about art / social media and printing photos (it's a good rant! and very interesting)

Show Links;

• Hamish's Website
• Website Designer - Sophie Amelia Designs

Other Photographers Mentioned;

• Adam Lowndes
• Kristian Leven

Join PKIR

To find out more about PKIR and to join - https://www.photographerskeepingitreal.com/

Episode 16 - Hollie & Patrick Mateer 

In this episode we welcome husband and wife photography duo Hollie & Patrick Mateer. Yorkshire based photographers Hollie & Patrick were named our photographers of the year in 2021, winning a huge 14 awards! Recently winning The Wedding Industry Awards (TWIA) national title, numerous This is Reportage (TIR) & Fearless awards, they are amongst the best documentary wedding photographers in the UK. Last year Hollie was named in Rangefinder magazines 30 Rising Stars of wedding photography. It was a huge pleasure chatting chatting to Hollie & Patrick about their style, how they work together and how they capture so many award winning photos. 

We Discuss;

• Working as a duo 
• Entering / organising and selecting images for awards
• Hollies Rangefinder Rising Star Award
• Being parents, juggling breastfeeding and wedding photography 
• Speaking at and attending events and the importance of community 
• Taking inspiration from your own family and other art

Members Only Content;

• Marketing, leads and where does this duo get so many enquiries from? 
• The Wedding Industry Awards (TWIA), after winning the national award and then judging, we discuss the awards and what they did for their business
• Work life balance, juggling shooting A LOT of weddings with family and down time

Show Links;

• Best of 21/22 photo post
• Hollie & Patricks Website
• Hollie & Patricks Instagram
• Hollies Family Photography 
• Rangefinder Rising Stars Post 

Other Photographers Mentioned;

• Lyndsey Goddard
• Chelsea Cannar
• Sanne De Block
• Wayne La
• Dave Scholes
• Joel Meyerowitz
• William Eggleston