Are you leaving money on the table? Marcus breaks down event photography, a high value, high pressure genre that perfectly complements your commercial photography marketing. Learn how to capture the atmosphere and emotion that brands need for their future campaigns.
• The Preparation Blueprint: Discover the essential questions you must ask your client before the day begins to guarantee you capture the client's full vision.
• The Gear Guarantee: Discover the essential equipment setup you must adopt to guarantee reliability and professional results in unpredictable, low light venues.
• The Relationship Advantage: Learn the powerful, simple strategy borrowed from wedding experts that helps you turn venues and speakers into your best source of repeat bookings.
Is your SEO still working?
This episode with web expert Alex Vita asks the provocative question: Is traditional SEO dead in the age of AI?
Discover why tracking website traffic is no longer enough and what strategic shift you must make to secure premium clients in the "Zero Click Marketing" world.
The Zero Click Strategy: Discover why chasing simple SEO traffic is a waste of time and what single metric you should be tracking instead to prove your online efforts are working.
The New Rules of Google: Learn the most crucial concept for modern SEO and Google Search, and how to build a powerful online reputation that satisfies both AI and your potential clients.
Positioning for Premium Fees: Find out how to stop being a generalist and use a simple positioning tactic on your website that allows you to immediately justify charging higher fees.
Discover the true numbers behind the industry's gender split and see exactly why brand photography is attracting so many women photographers right now—and why it’s not just a coincidence.
Uncover the 'magic ingredient' of successful brand photography that allows you to charge more, secure repeat business, and turn simple images into powerful brand stories for your clients.
Identify a huge commercial advantage that many photographers are currently missing, which represents a clear path to high-value, consistent bookings if you understand how to approach it.
This week, we're diving into a topic not often discussed in the photography world: why brand photography is so heavily dominated by women photographers, both behind the lens and as clients. We go beyond the gear and business strategy to look at the psychology and personal connections that truly drive success in this niche.
Marcus and Sam discuss the surprising statistics showing the gender ratio and break down what makes women excel in this area—it's less about technical skill and more about empathy, storytelling, and emotional intelligence.
But here's the kicker: The show uncovers a huge commercial opportunity. We discuss an untapped segment of the market and what you need to know about their distinct visual approach. If you’re a brand photographer looking to increase your income, stand out from the crowd, and secure more repeat clients, tune in to find out where the real money is and how to get it.
Marcus is back this week with a fantastic guest: Colin Jones, CEO of The Society of Photographers (The Societies).
In this powerful episode, Marcus and Colin dive deep into the state of the professional photography industry, focusing heavily on the commercial and B2B sectors. Colin shares critical insights on how a 5,000-member international organisation supports photographers and what it truly takes to succeed in today's demanding market.
What You Will Learn. We’re covering the three key takeaways you need to navigate the evolving industry:
If you're looking to accelerate your journey in Brand Photography or Growing a photography business, this episode is an absolute must-listen. Sam and Marcus dive straight into the practical, down-to-earth steps for finalising the purchase of a photography business, focusing on the client lists and assets that form the real value. Stop wondering how to get ahead and start implementing the strategies that will give you significantbenefits and set you apart in Marketing for photographers.
What You'll Take Away From This Episode
Want to know the secrets to a smooth and profitable acquisition without getting bogged down in solicitor fees? Listen in todiscover:
Tired of the slow crawl to grow your photography business?In this episode, we're talking about a serious shortcut: buying an existing outfit. Sam shares his personal experience and lays out a practical guide on how to acquire a local photographer's assets to instantly boost your client list and portfolio, including a deeper dive into lucrative commercial photography and brand photography markets.
What You'll Take Away
Ready to stop waiting for growth and start making it happen?This episode is packed with invaluable, practical advice for any UK photographer looking to get ahead.
Brand photography isn't just a job; it's a goldmine for creativity and a sure-fire way to deliver massive value to your clients. Aimed squarely at UK photographers, this episode cuts through the waffle to show you how a fresh approach to branding shoots can keep you creatively sharp and significantly move the needle for your business.
Stop leaving money and opportunities on the table. Here's a taste of what you'll gain from listening:
You'll discover the simple yet powerful shift in focus that instantly transforms your images from simple snaps into authentic, powerful visual narratives for your clients' brands.
How do you stay razor-sharp creatively when working on multiple, varied projects? We reveal why shooting brand photography forces you to borrow from different photographic genres, and how this fusion keeps your skills fresh and your portfolio unique.
Learn the crucial difference between 'spontaneity' and poor planning, so you can walk onto a set fully prepared while remaining completely open to unexpected, brilliant ideas—a skill that impresses clients and leads to your best work.
Tired of throwing time and money at marketing and gettingnowhere? This week, Sam delivers five and a half practical, low cost marketing strategies for photographers that any UK photographer can implement right now to bring in higher paying commercial photography clients and grow theirbusiness.
This episode is packed with useful content, but we've pulledout the three essential takeaways that will most quickly boost your commercial photography business. Stop relying on luck; start implementing a clear plan that converts prospects into paying customers.
Listen to discover:
Three Things You’ll Learn in This Episode
Grab a cuppa and listen now—your next big client is waiting.
This week, we're joined by personal branding experts Kaz Grant and headshot photographer Toby Lee. Toby has built an excellent personal brand which has helped him to stand out from the crowd and attract new customers. They discuss how all photographers can use their personal brand to grow their business. We explore why your reputation is more important than ever and how you can leverage it to get more work. Tune in to discover why a strong personal brand is the key to standing out in a crowded market.
What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
Discover the secrets to building a personal brand. You'll learn what a personal brand actually is and how it can help you get ahead in your photography business.
Find out how to attract new customers. We reveal how to make your social media and video content work for you by turning a passive audience into active clients. We also discuss other key marketing channels.
Learn how to make personal branding an enjoyable process. We give you practical tips for creating a personal branding strategy that feels authentic and fun, so you can do it consistently and see the benefits.
Tired of feeling like you need to remortgage your house to buy quality photography equipment? Think again. In this episode, we reveal five game-changing items you can get for under £20 to significantly improve your skills and efficiency in commercial photography. From must-have gear to mind-altering concepts, we give you the tools and ideas to elevate your work without breaking the bank.
What you'll learn
1. Low-cost gear that transforms your shots: Discover two affordable and essential pieces of photography equipment that will drastically improve how you manage light and capture stunning images, whether you're working with natural light or studio flash.
2. How to see your work with fresh eyes: Learn about two influential books that will change the way you think about your commercial photography and help you develop a deeper understanding of your craft, turning you into a more intentional and creative photographer.
3. The one small investment that could save your shoot: Find out about a simple solution that allows you to see your shots in a whole new way, helping you make real-time adjustments and impress clients with a professional workflow.
Struggling to protect your work and get more clients? In this episode, we chat with award winning travel photographer Nico Trinkhouse who shares his experiences turning a negative situation into a positive business venture.
Three Things You'll Learn
• How his personal journey with copyright led to a new business and a proven way for photographers to get paid when their images are used illegally.
• Why his unconventional approach to blogging has become his most effective marketing tool for finding and winning high value clients.
• How he discovered a business model that is far more profitable than the
On this week's episode, the hosts dive into the world of email marketing and how it can be a powerful tool for photographers to generate leads and grow their business. The conversation goes beyond simple newsletters, revealing how smart strategies can automate your marketing efforts and significantly boost your bottom line.
Three Things You'll Learn This Episode:
If you like this episode you'll probably also like:
What to do with your mailing list
Want to get more photography clients through the door? This week, we're talking about how to turn Google Maps and Google Business into powerful tools for getting more leads and growing your business growth. Learn how to improve your local marketing and get found by the right people, all without spending a penny.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why the name you've chosen for your photography business could be holding you back and what you can do about it to get more leads.
The one thing you must do to get to the top of Google Maps and why reviews are absolutely vital for your marketing.
How to craft your Google Business profile to get more clients, and why you should be posting on it regularly.
Are you a commercial photographer in the UK looking to take your business to the next level? You’re likely focused on your portfolio, marketing, and networking—and those are all crucial. But what if we told you there’s a single, powerful skill that can dramatically improve your client relationships, boost your likeability, and ultimately lead to more business?
In this episode, we chat with Colin D Smith, a true expert on the art of listening. While most of us think we’re good listeners, the reality is that very few people have truly mastered this skill. Colin explains why deep listening is so important, not just for personal connections, but specifically for professional success.
Colin breaks down how a few simple changes can make a huge difference:
Build Trust & Likability: By asking open-ended questions like, “How do you feel about that?” or “What more do you want to say about that?”, you encourage clients to open up. This helps you build genuine trust and makes you more likable, which is essential for securing future work.
Improve Client Relationships: When you're a better listener, your clients will also listen more closely to you. This creates a powerful, two-way street that ensures your clients feel heard and understood, making them feel confident they’ve chosen the right person for the job.
Get More from Networking: Networking isn’t about pitching yourself; it’s about connecting. The better you listen, the faster you can build rapport and stand out in a crowded room.
Colin shares practical techniques to help you sharpen your skills:
Be Present: Clear away distractions and go into conversations with a calm, settled mind. Don’t just hear what someone is saying; truly listen by observing their body language and letting them finish their thoughts.
The Power of the Pause: After someone finishes speaking, wait a full three seconds before you respond. This simple pause prevents interruptions and gives you time to fully absorb what was said.
Listen for the Little Things: Pay attention to phrases like, “I’ve never told this to someone before.” This shows they are trusting you with something personal and gives you a powerful opportunity to deepen the connection.
Don't let your communication skills hold you back. Deep listening can be learned, and it might just be the most valuable investment you make in your photography business.
Want to learn more? You can connect with Colin at:
Website: dexteritysolutions.co.uk
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colindsmith1
Email: colin.smith@dexteritysolutions.co.uk
This week, Marcus and Sam discuss the hotly debated topic of “Do you need a photography degree/qualification to be a commercial photographer” and what’s the alternative?
This is the first ever episode of Shoot to the Top and we are sharing it with you as Marcus and Sam are taking a little summer break.
Marcus, no surprise, being an ex senior Lecturer in photography comes down in favour! But for reasons that may not be obvious. Sam asks probing questions and has an alarming stat of the Day.
This show is just perfect if you are trying to decide whether to spend your hard earned cash on going to university.
Kirsten Luts is a commercial portrait photographer on theoutskirts of London. He is also the host of the Camera Shake podcast. Kirsten uses podcasting and video (on YouTube) as a large part of his marketing.
The first thing to think about before starting a podcast or YouTube channel, you’ve go to think about why you are doing it. It could be getting more clients, or it could be a passion project. For Kirsten, it was to give him something creative to do during the COVID lockdowns when all his photography work had stopped. He says he learned a lot from some of the best photographers of our time.
Kirsten says that initially, he spent a lot of time and money on the podcast. It didn’t bring in money. But it has brought him a lot of opportunities, for example, speaking at photography shows. So the podcast has brought opportunities rather than directly making money. And those opportunities often lead to making money and to doing interesting things. Consistency is important when making a podcast of videos. There is a whole show about consistency here .
Working with someone else is also very helpful. This canmotivate you and help you to be consistent. Kirsten started their podcast on YouTube as well as on Spotify and Apple. He says that his podcast was terrible at the start, but they learnt and got better, and it’s important, in any project, to make that start, and not wait for perfection. Kirtsen is amazed by the guests that he managed to get on the show. Before he started, he made a list of guests he would love to have, and he’s managed to have all of those guests on the show.
Marcus asks Kirtsen for tips if you are going to start a podcast or YouTube channel. Kirsten says the first thing is to think about your audience and the topic. The topic has to be interesting and engaging for your target audience.
We move on to video, and Kirtsen says that if you are not offering clients video as part of your work a using it as part of your marketing, you will end up behind other photographers that are offering this. He thinks video is much more of a threat to a still photographer than AI is. It’s not a big jump to go from stills to video. Much of the technique is similar, such as lighting and exposure.
Speaking of video, Shoot to the Top is now on YouTube, and you can watch it here.
Marcus says that Flash used to be challenging many years ago. But now life is much simpler. Sam asks about Chinese copy brands, but Marcus says that with modern lighting, the Chinese equipment isn’t a copy; they are the originators. Marcus is going to be talking about Godox lighting, which is sometimes known by a couple of other brand names. He is going to give anideal kit to have with you. Marcus says you want your lighting all to be the same brand; otherwise, your lights will not communicate with each other, so this is essential.
A handheld or on-camera mounted flash is what we are goingto talk about first. Sam digs out one of these from his cupboard. Marcus says these simple flashes are great and often five times cheaper than the camera brand flashes. Godox’s camera flash is called the V1. This is the basic start, and it goes onto the hot shoe of your camera. The next level up is to get aremote that goes onto your hot shoe. That allows you to put your flash where you want; it is no longer tied to the camera. Once you have a remote, all other flashes need to be the same brand to communicate with the remote.
The next thing needed is a main light. Marcus recommends that if you get one, then a Godox pro light, which is near the top of the range, is worth getting. The flash head is very large on the Godox pro range, which Marcus likes. The flash head is also diffuse, and the glass is diffuse, not clear. Marcus also says he recommends going for a high-power flash. The main reason is that the batteries are so good and have almost no time to recharge between shots. Marcus also says that some of these lights can also separate the light and battery, so the lighter light can be on a stand without the battery being on the stand too.
Finally, Marcus talks about a modifier. A modifier goes onto the light to modify it. Marcus says the best modifier to get is an umbrella. Marcus doesn’t recommend the Godox umbrella.He recommends going for a more expensive umbrella. He says they last longer, and reflective material is better. He recommends getting an umbrella that is at least 1 metre across. There is also an alternative to an umbrella, which Marcus describes.
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And to join the Shoot to the Top Facebook group here.
Jay Garrido is a Mozambican photographer. He studied film inCape Town. However, the film industry in Mozambique is not very developed, so he turned to photography. He started with weddings but transitioned to magazine work and now wants to return to his creative roots. While in Cape Town, there was a diverse mix of people from various cultures.
Marcus asks about photography in Africa. Jay talks about photographer Mario Macilau. He grew up in a poor neighbourhood. By chance, he got his hands on a camera that was donated to him because his photos were so good. He is now a top photographer. Jay says there is a lot of culture to present through photography. He says the market is growing exponentially. There is a school of photography in Cape Town where lots of experimental photography and he got to see lots of their work while in Cape Town.
Jay says the commercial market in Mozambique is also growing. He had an opportunity to work with a high-level Portuguese magazine. He felt working with them forced him to level up his work. After that, he worked with Indico for 5years, which is the magazine of the Mozambican airline. This meant he didn’t just work for the magazine but also with the businesses advertising in the magazine. This helped him move into commercial photography. He says the commercial market is growing rapidly, as it is in many other African countrieslike Angola and Nigeria.
Jay is sure that good photographers coming to Mozambique with their style would make a lot of money. Jay says that the photographers who do their own look are well ahead of everyone else and can pick who they work with. Jay has also worked for agencies here in Mozambique, both in photography and video work. He wants to eventually become a director of photography once the film industry starts to develop. He has managed to spend time shadowing a Portuguese director of photography.
Jay has got a lot of work from word of mouth. His work with the magazine meant he met a lot of people in business. He has also found that wedding work has led to commercial work due to the people he has met at the weddings, who liked his work.
Jay and Marcus also discuss weddings in Mozambique. Mozambique has some stunning beaches and five-star resorts, which are amazing for weddings. Marcus likes the sound of Mozambique and wonders if he should move out to join Jay and Sam.
The podcast is now on YouTube, and you can see our YouTube channel here.
You can reach out to Jay on Instagram here
To get the Shoot to the Top Podcast in your inbox every week, click here
And to join the Shoot to the Top Facebook group here.
Are you a commercial photographer who undervalues the headshot? 30 year veteran Nick Gregan explains why a single portrait holds the power to make or break a career. Learn why specialisation, confidence, andconnection are the keys to premium headshot photography and effective marketing for photographers.
• The Career Catalyst: Discover why a powerful photograph carries the potential to launch a career, and the heavy consequences for your clients if you approach their headshot photography without expertise.
• The Two Techniques: Learn Nick's unique system for building instant client rapport and capturing authentic personality, a crucial skill for successful marketing for photographers.
• The Artisan Model: Find out why Nick moved away from high volume, low cost work, and how adopting an "artisan" model allowed him to increase his rates and transform his business significantly.
Get the Commercial Photographer Guide to marketing and Creativity here.
Stefanie has been a professional photographers for twenty years in the St.Albans area. Her focus is now 100% on commercial photography.
Stefanie says it’s important to think about what motivates people to get photos. What are the triggers that make people want a photograph? This could be an event for a family, it could be being asked for a headshot as a business leader.
Stefanie says it’s very important to make it very easy for people to work with you. For example if someone wants a corporate headshot she already has a blog ready that answers many of the questions they might ask about headshots.
A few weeks ago Stefanie was working with a school on their marketing. She said the women at the school was convinced that she only did school photography as she had such a great landing page for school photography. Having specialised landing pages for areas you work in makes life simple for the lead which helps to convert them. Stefanie also ensures she responds to lead very quickly.
Stefanie also wants to engage the local community as she wants to work locally. For example last year she went on a local Mum’s Facebook group and said she wanted to help those with a LinkedIn profile photo that they were embarrassed about. She offered a free headshot for three people who were happy with their before and after shots being shared publicly. She got a lot of queries and then worked out who she wanted to work with using various criteria, including making sure they were very different. So the posts on the Facebook group created abuzz. She then started sharing what she did on LinkedIn. She did some posts asking people to help people choose their new headshot and gave a few options. This got lots of engagement as so many people saw the post and so many people were willing to chip and and comment on which headshot should be used. This process has also been working on the triggers helping people realise they do need a headshot.
Corporate photography UK is a Facebook group that Stephanie helps to run along with Martin Hobby (see our show with Martin here). Elise Marks setup the group. The group is about supporting each other and is Uk based. The group is also used for referrals, so for example if Stefanie does a photoshoot in London and the same company needs a photoshoot in Manchester, she would use the group to find someone to refer that work to. Stefanie says it’s vital that your website is excellent as it needs to appeal to photographers looking to refer work. Also she says she won’t refer work to photographers who don’t have a good website, even if she knows they are excellent, as she wants to ensure the person she is referring gets the right impression.
Sam asks Stefanie how being close to London effects her work. She is about 20 miles outside London. Stefanie says she aims to get work in her local area not in London. There are some big business parks containing large national companies in her area.
Marcus asks about Stefanie’s use of artificial light. She says she uses artificial light nearly all the time. As she is a portrait photographer then light on the face needs to be right and an artificial light is essential for this.
Stefanie’s advice for anyone moving to corporate photography is first of all to learn off camera flash. Understanding and creating light is a big differentiator between professional photographers and those shooting on phones. This skills means that during the day you may need to change your setup as the sun moves and comes in and out of clouds.
Marcus asks about dealing with people and getting them comfortable. Stefanie says you need to work with your own personality or it won’t work. Stefanie says she is quiet, calm person. So she doesn’t work in a high energy way, which others might if this is their personality. It is important to also understand where the person is coming from who is having their photograph taking and having empathy with them. This is related to our past show on listening.