The Photography Pod

Message Nick and Steve here:

AI is changing the way people search — and that could completely change how new clients find your photography business.

In this episode of The Photography Pod, Steve and Nick are joined by photographer, author, mentor and BIPP President Jeff Brown for a fascinating conversation about what photographers need to know about the rapidly changing world of online search.

For years we’ve been told that SEO, keywords and getting onto page one of Google are essential. But increasingly, potential customers aren’t simply typing “wedding photographer Bristol” into Google. They’re asking ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and other AI tools much more detailed questions — and expecting them to recommend the right photographer.

So how do you make sure they recommend you?

Jeff explains the growing importance of Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) and why understanding the questions your ideal clients are asking may now be more valuable than obsessing over traditional keywords.

We also get into the long-running debate about whether photographers should publish their prices online, why your website should be built around your customer rather than around you, and why testimonials shouldn’t be hidden away on a separate reviews page.

Jeff shares some brilliantly practical advice on:

• Why AI search is changing traditional SEO
• How ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude find and recommend businesses
• Why photographers should put prices on their websites
• How pricing can actually improve the quality of your enquiries
• The three jobs every photography website needs to do
• Why your homepage may need a rethink
• How to create dedicated service pages for different customers
• Why most photographers are using blogs incorrectly
• The difference between a useful blog and simply showing another wedding
• How to create content based on the questions clients are actually asking
• Why a detailed FAQ page could be one of the quickest improvements you can make
• Why LinkedIn is massively underused by photographers
• How photographers can use AI to help create content without producing obvious “AI slop”
• Why good quality, genuinely useful content may actually level the playing field for smaller photography businesses

There’s also a lovely twist towards the end of the episode when Steve asks Jeff how he originally discovered The Photography Pod.

The answer?

AI recommended us.

Which rather proves the point of the entire conversation.

If you run a photography business — or you’re thinking about starting one — this is an episode we think you really shouldn’t miss.

Find Jeff Brown

Jeff is President of the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) and works with photographers around the world through his mentoring and training.

His latest book, Help! My Photography Website Needs More Customers, looks specifically at many of the subjects we discuss in this episode.

You can find Jeff through The Photographers Mentor, LinkedIn and Facebook.

And as ever, if you enjoy the show, please follow or subscribe to The Photography Pod, leave us a review, and get in touch through the link in the show notes. We genuinely love hearing from you.

Support the show

The Photography Pod is twice monthly photography podcast for both working professionals and enthusiast photographers. The host Nick Church and Steve Vaughan are professional wedding photographers based in the UK. They both use Sony Alpha cameras and lenses.

Photography Pod Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephotographypod/

Video version of the Podcast including slide shows of images:  https://www.youtube.com/@thephotographypod

Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/

Nick Church Creative Academy https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/news/introducing-nick-church-creative-academy

Steve's website : https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve's Wedding Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography/
Steve's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevevaughanphotography

Message Nick and Steve here:

What makes a great photograph? Is it composition, technical perfection, or simply being in the right place at the right moment?

This week, Steve and Nick are joined by acclaimed photographer, filmmaker and author Neil Selkirk, whose extraordinary career began in New York in 1968, working alongside legendary photographers including Richard Avedon and Diane Arbus.

Neil shares fascinating stories from the golden age of photography, including his remarkable experience recreating Diane Arbus's darkroom prints, before discussing his new book, Why Photographs? — a book about photography with no photographs!

Along the way, we explore why Neil believes composition is overrated, the importance of spontaneity and authenticity, the changing world of professional photography, and whether AI threatens the very thing that makes photography special.

A fascinating, entertaining and occasionally provocative conversation about why we take photographs — and why the real world will always be worth capturing.

Links:

Neil Selkirk: https://www.neilselkirk.com

Why Photographs? — published by Warbler Press.

Aperture interview with Neil Selkirk on printing Diane Arbus's photographs

MOMA page on Diane Arbus 

Support the show

The Photography Pod is twice monthly photography podcast for both working professionals and enthusiast photographers. The host Nick Church and Steve Vaughan are professional wedding photographers based in the UK. They both use Sony Alpha cameras and lenses.

Photography Pod Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephotographypod/

Video version of the Podcast including slide shows of images:  https://www.youtube.com/@thephotographypod

Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/

Nick Church Creative Academy https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/news/introducing-nick-church-creative-academy

Steve's website : https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve's Wedding Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography/
Steve's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevevaughanphotography

Message Nick and Steve here:

Steve and Nick are joined by Scottish wedding photographers Murray McMillan and Lawrence Scott for a very funny and refreshingly candid conversation about photography, friendship and working together at weddings.

Murray and Lawrence have very different photographic styles, but years of shooting together have turned them into a highly effective team. They talk about the benefits of having two photographers at a wedding, learning to anticipate what the other person is doing and why couples now sometimes specifically ask for both of them.

There’s plenty of gear talk too. Murray explains why his romantic idea of shooting weddings exclusively with Leica Q3s didn't quite survive contact with a real wedding, why he returned to Sony, and what he thinks of the A7 V and tiny RX1R III. Lawrence talks Nikon Z9s, fast lenses, low-light performance and his admiration for Sony autofocus.

The conversation also gets into the less glamorous realities of wedding photography: long days, endless editing, marketing, burnout, balancing photography with another career and wondering how long you want to keep doing it.

Plus: content creators at weddings, supplier meals, Ray-Ban Meta glasses, Lawrence's tendency to shoot rather a lot of photographs… and Steve's possible new career as a wedding toastmaster.

And at the end, Steve and Nick share more details about The Photography Pod London Meetup on 21 November, including plans for coffee, street photography walks, a pub and possibly a curry.

A relaxed, honest and very funny hour with four wedding photographers who probably know each other rather too well.

Murray McMillan Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/murray_mcmillan

Lawrence Scott Instagram :https://www.instagram.com/LSPix

Support the show

The Photography Pod is twice monthly photography podcast for both working professionals and enthusiast photographers. The host Nick Church and Steve Vaughan are professional wedding photographers based in the UK. They both use Sony Alpha cameras and lenses.

Photography Pod Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephotographypod/

Video version of the Podcast including slide shows of images:  https://www.youtube.com/@thephotographypod

Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/

Nick Church Creative Academy https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/news/introducing-nick-church-creative-academy

Steve's website : https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve's Wedding Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography/
Steve's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevevaughanphotography

Message Nick and Steve here:

Steve and Nick revisit the grey import debate after asking photographers where they buy their gear. The savings can be substantial, but what about warranties, VAT and the UK camera shops we value?

Wedding photographer Greg Thurtle joins them to talk about using the Osmo Pocket 4 Pro for hybrid wedding coverage. They discuss where a small camera helps, how the second lens changes the way Greg shoots, and the compromises he has found so far.

Later, Steve shares a simpler approach to his personal photography: shooting for pleasure, editing on an iPad and using ChatGPT to help build Lightroom presets. Nick has an AI story of his own, with a rather less straightforward result.

In this episode:

• Grey imports, warranties and supporting local retailers
• Greg’s experience with the Pocket 4 Pro at weddings
• Keeping personal photography from feeling like more work
• Lightroom on an iPad and AI-assisted presets
• News of the Photography Pod’s London get-together

Join the conversation in The Photography Pod Facebook group. We’d love to hear where you buy your gear and how you handle the photos you take just for yourself.

Support the show

The Photography Pod is twice monthly photography podcast for both working professionals and enthusiast photographers. The host Nick Church and Steve Vaughan are professional wedding photographers based in the UK. They both use Sony Alpha cameras and lenses.

Photography Pod Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephotographypod/

Video version of the Podcast including slide shows of images:  https://www.youtube.com/@thephotographypod

Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/

Nick Church Creative Academy https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/news/introducing-nick-church-creative-academy

Steve's website : https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve's Wedding Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography/
Steve's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevevaughanphotography

Message Nick and Steve here:

What would you put in your camera bag if you had £10,000 to spend?

In this episode, Steve and Nick take on the £10K camera bag challenge, choosing the bodies, lenses, lighting and video kit they’d want for weddings, commercial work and personal photography.

Along the way they discuss the new Sigma 85mm f/1.2, compact street lenses, fisheyes, Sony A1 and A7R bodies, prime lenses versus zooms, grey imports, DJI Osmo Pocket frustrations and the gear they actually rely on when things get busy.

There’s also plenty of wedding-season chaos, including speeding courses, damaged wheels, editing mistakes, forgotten kit and the dangers of trying to do too much at once.

Plus, details of the new Photography Pod Facebook photo competition and plans for a listener meetup in London.

What would be in your £10K camera bag? Let us know in The Photography Pod Facebook group.

Email the show : [email protected]

Support the show

The Photography Pod is twice monthly photography podcast for both working professionals and enthusiast photographers. The host Nick Church and Steve Vaughan are professional wedding photographers based in the UK. They both use Sony Alpha cameras and lenses.

Photography Pod Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephotographypod/

Video version of the Podcast including slide shows of images:  https://www.youtube.com/@thephotographypod

Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/

Nick Church Creative Academy https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/news/introducing-nick-church-creative-academy

Steve's website : https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve's Wedding Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography/
Steve's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevevaughanphotography

Message Nick and Steve here:

The Photography Pod is back! After a busy summer break, Steve and Nick catch up on weddings, house moves, broken gear and the challenges of keeping photography fresh after years behind the camera.

They chat about avoiding wedding-photography autopilot, travelling light, Sony and Godox gear frustrations, using the Osmo Pocket for hybrid coverage, mentoring new photographers and stepping outside your comfort zone with different types of photography.

Plus, there’s a look ahead to the new series of The Photography Pod, with more guests, listener involvement, competitions and plenty more photography chat every two weeks.

Happy shooting – see you in two weeks!

Support the show

The Photography Pod is twice monthly photography podcast for both working professionals and enthusiast photographers. The host Nick Church and Steve Vaughan are professional wedding photographers based in the UK. They both use Sony Alpha cameras and lenses.

Photography Pod Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephotographypod/

Video version of the Podcast including slide shows of images:  https://www.youtube.com/@thephotographypod

Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/

Nick Church Creative Academy https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/news/introducing-nick-church-creative-academy

Steve's website : https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve's Wedding Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography/
Steve's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevevaughanphotography

Message Nick and Steve here:

In this mid summer check-in, Steve and Nick reunite after a hectic few weeks of weddings, travel, house moves and an ill-advised afternoon involving several IPAs and very little food. The conversation covers recent wedding adventures, working together as photographers for the first time, thoughts on new camera gear, and a completely unscientific "Photography World Cup" to crown the best camera of 2026. 

In This Episode

The London Meet-Up That Went Slightly Wrong

Steve and Nick finally meet up in person . What starts as a sensible plan for a quick drink after a London wedding quickly escalates into a cautionary tale involving multiple pints, a tube journey that went round in circles, and a desperate dash for the last train home. 

Shooting a Wedding Together

The pair reflect on photographing a wedding together for the first time after Samantha was forced to step back due to illness. They discuss:

•  Different shooting styles and approaches 
•  The benefits of second shooting 
•  Creative freedom versus lead photographer responsibility 
•  Lighting setups and dancefloor photography 
•  Learning new techniques from another experienced photographer 

Wedding Season and Life Updates

Nick shares an update on his imminent house move, while both discuss the reality of balancing busy wedding seasons with family life, editing workloads and running photography businesses. 

Gear Talk

The discussion turns to camera equipment, including:

•  The DJI Osmo Pocket 4 and rumours of a Pocket 4 Pro 
•  Using crop mode on high-resolution Sony cameras 
•  Whether 61MP sensors can replace multiple focal lengths 
•  The continuing appeal of compact cameras 
•  Why neither host has bought much new gear recently (apart from Steve buying a Toyota) 

The Photography Pod World Cup 2026

Inspired by the football World Cup, Steve and Nick create a knockout tournament featuring some of photography's biggest camera names:

•  Canon 5D Mark IV 
•  Nikon D850 
•  Fuji X-T5 
•  Fuji X100VI 
•  Canon R5 Mark II 
•  Sony A1 Mark II 

After a series of highly questionable comparisons and football analogies, a surprise winner emerges. The result says more about how photographers actually enjoy taking photographs than it does about technical specifications. 

 A Walk and a Pint

Steve reveals plans for a new YouTube project combining local walks, photography, pubs and storytelling. The concept is simple: start at a pub, head out for a walk, explore the local area, then return for a well-earned pint. Nick immediately volunteers to be a guest. 

What's Next?

The Photography Pod will return properly in the autumn once wedding season calms down. Future plans include:

•  More regular episodes 
•  Guest interviews 
•  Listener meet-ups 
•  Street photography outings 
•  Greater community involvement 
•  More YouTube content 

Links & Mentions

•  DJI Osmo Pocket 4 
•  Sony A1 II 
•  Canon R5 II 
•  Fujifilm X100VI 
•  A Walk and a Pint (coming soon) 

Enjoying the Show?

If you enjoy The Photography Pod, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and subscribe so you don't miss future episodes when the show returns in the autumn. 

The Photography Pod – Real conversations about photography, weddings, gear and the realities of being a working photographer.

Support the show

The Photography Pod is twice monthly photography podcast for both working professionals and enthusiast photographers. The host Nick Church and Steve Vaughan are professional wedding photographers based in the UK. They both use Sony Alpha cameras and lenses.

Photography Pod Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephotographypod/

Video version of the Podcast including slide shows of images:  https://www.youtube.com/@thephotographypod

Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/

Nick Church Creative Academy https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/news/introducing-nick-church-creative-academy

Steve's website : https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve's Wedding Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography/
Steve's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevevaughanphotography

Message Nick and Steve here:

Steve and Nick are joined for this episode by photographer and YouTuber Hannah Young. Hannah talks about her journey into photography, from landscapes to travel and street photography. She describes her equipment choices, how she makes her YouTube videos, and what would her dream photography trip.  Steve and Nick speculate on the rumours of a 67MB Sony A7R6 and the soon to be released DJI Osmo Pocket 4. 

Hannah Young :

Website : https://www.hannahyoung.co.uk/

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@HannahYoungPhotography

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hyimages

Support the show

The Photography Pod is twice monthly photography podcast for both working professionals and enthusiast photographers. The host Nick Church and Steve Vaughan are professional wedding photographers based in the UK. They both use Sony Alpha cameras and lenses.

Photography Pod Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephotographypod/

Video version of the Podcast including slide shows of images:  https://www.youtube.com/@thephotographypod

Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/

Nick Church Creative Academy https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/news/introducing-nick-church-creative-academy

Steve's website : https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve's Wedding Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography/
Steve's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevevaughanphotography

Message Nick and Steve here:

One 30-second Instagram Reel sparks a full-blown photography debate, and it starts with a phrase designed to annoy the internet: “Da Vinci Got It Wrong.” We break down why the “perfect bell-shaped histogram” advice is so sticky, why it’s often wrong, and what the histogram is actually good for when you’re trying to nail exposure. We talk dynamic range, highlight clipping you can’t recover, why crushed blacks are sometimes fine, and how bracketing and blending in Lightroom can solve scenes your camera simply can’t hold. If you’ve ever searched “how to read a histogram” and still felt unsure, this will make it click.

Then we’re joined by Matt Hodgkin, a half-Brazilian, half-English photographer who spent years shooting stills on film sets and in theatres before stepping into UX product design and eventually committing fully back to photography. Matt shares what pulls him toward wedding photography, how he thinks about the balance of creativity and business, and what mentorship and accountability change when you’re building a wedding photography brand from scratch.

Matt also tells the story of shooting a three-day wedding in Brazil as both family and an additional photographer alongside the hired team. We dig into kit choices for travel, how to stay respectful without shrinking yourself, and why client experience matters as much as the photos. 

We even detour into Singapore’s Leica gallery and Betty Goh’s powerful work, plus a ChatGPT experiment that proves a big point: presets aren’t a substitute for light, timing, and intention.

If this helped, subscribe, share the episode with a photographer friend, and leave us a review on Apple or Spotify.

Matt Hodgkin on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hodgkin_studio/

Betty Goh on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betty_goh_photography/

Support the show

The Photography Pod is twice monthly photography podcast for both working professionals and enthusiast photographers. The host Nick Church and Steve Vaughan are professional wedding photographers based in the UK. They both use Sony Alpha cameras and lenses.

Photography Pod Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephotographypod/

Video version of the Podcast including slide shows of images:  https://www.youtube.com/@thephotographypod

Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/

Nick Church Creative Academy https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/news/introducing-nick-church-creative-academy

Steve's website : https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve's Wedding Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography/
Steve's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevevaughanphotography

Message Nick and Steve here:

We asked ChatGPT for 10 controversial photography questions - we got some suprising results! Nick and Steve debate some interesting and thought provoking topics around street photography, weddings, analogue photography and sharpness in lenses. 

Resources:

Nick Church Creative Academy - https://nickchurchcreativeacademy.com/
Fujifilm Instax Camera - https://instax.com/mini_evo_cinema/en/
Joel Merowitz Exhibition - https://www.joelmeyerowitz.com/new-events
Peter Dench Photography - https://peterdench.com/
The Photography Show - https://thephotographyshow.com/
Digital Camera Magazine - https://digitalcameramagazine.com/

Support the show

The Photography Pod is twice monthly photography podcast for both working professionals and enthusiast photographers. The host Nick Church and Steve Vaughan are professional wedding photographers based in the UK. They both use Sony Alpha cameras and lenses.

Photography Pod Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephotographypod/

Video version of the Podcast including slide shows of images:  https://www.youtube.com/@thephotographypod

Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/

Nick Church Creative Academy https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/news/introducing-nick-church-creative-academy

Steve's website : https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve's Wedding Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography/
Steve's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevevaughanphotography