Clients don’t just ask for photos — sometimes they ask for tax fraud, fake invoices, unpaid labour, and “just one more thing” until the job triples.\n\nIn this episode of The Loud Lens, Khandie reads real, anonymised submissions from photographers who’ve been put in wildly uncomfortable positions by clients — from being asked to take work off the books, to cash “discounts”, to turning up for one shoot and being expected to deliver sixty different images. This isn’t about bashing clients. It’s about why these requests happen, why saying yes is dangerous, and how photographers can set boundaries without tanking their reputation. If you’ve ever agreed to something that made your stomach drop, stayed quiet to avoid conflict or wondered if you were the problem. This episode is for you.🎙️ Expect blunt truth, real examples, and practical scripts you can actually use.
Are you tired of shelling out cash for “business events” that feel more like cult meetings than actual marketing?
In this brutally honest episode of The Loud Lens, Khandie tears into the world of networking breakfasts, empowerment brunches, “boss babe summits,” and overpriced marketing retreats — exposing exactly why so many photographers walk away inspired… but still broke.
You’ll learn:
This is NOT another fluffy “networking is important” episode.
This is a deep dive into the marketing industry’s weirdest psychology, fakest gurus, and biggest money pits — and a practical guide to choosing events that actually move your photography business forward.
Perfect for:
Photographers who are sick of wasting time, sick of being sold to, and ready to market smarter rather than louder.
Listen now, take notes, and stop funding other people’s delusions of grandeur.
A recent Vanity Fair photoshoot of the Trump administration sparked backlash — not for policy, but for appearance. In this episode of The Loud Lens, photographer and author Khandie Rees digs into the ethics of realism in photography, misogyny disguised as critique, and why audiences are deeply uncomfortable with unfiltered imagery. Is it wrong to show people as they actually appear? Or are we so conditioned by filters, PR imagery, and political branding that reality now feels like an attack? This episode explores portrait ethics, power, consent, editorial intent, and the responsibility of photographers working in political and documentary spaces.
One year.Dozens of rants.Millions of opinions.And somehow The Loud Lens became one of Spotify’s top-shared and most-talked-about shows of 2025.
In this anniversary special, I break down what actually happened this year: the wins, the setbacks, the trolls, the breakthroughs — and why I’m only just getting started.
Photographers! the 2025 UK Budget is about to f*ck with your profits. Hard. If you drive to shoots, run a studio, rely on freelance income or price your work like it’s still 2022, you need this episode.
We break down how frozen tax thresholds, rising petrol and travel costs, overhead inflation, business-rates changes, and pension restrictions will hit creative businesses. More importantly: you’ll learn what to do NOW to stop your photography business bleeding money next year.
Blunt, honest, and essential listening for any UK photographer wanting to survive 2026.
This is just my opinion and I urge you to seek advice from qualified professionals, not just some random loud mouth on the internet ok!?
Gear Acquisition Syndrome — GAS — is ruining photographers.
Not because gear is bad, but because we’re being sold the lie that the next camera, lens, or shiny upgrade will magically fix our work, our confidence, or our careers. Spoiler: it won’t.
In this brutally honest Loud Lens episode, Khandie Rees gets real about the psychology, marketing manipulation, and industry bullshit driving photographers into unnecessary upgrades, debt, and disappointment.
She shares her own journey — from shooting her first magazine front cover on a Nikon D90, to slowly upgrading through a D7000, a D750, and now mirrorless — all without falling for hype or ego traps.
If you’ve ever said “I’ll be able to deliver better work once I upgrade”…
This is the episode you need.
And it might just save you a LOT of money.
Got your own GAS horror story or your proudest old-camera achievement?
Struggling with bookings? This episode dives into how photographers can use December to boost visibility, prep their marketing, refresh their portfolio, and build strong client pipelines for January. Practical, blunt, and packed with actionable steps.
Everyone’s banging on about “elevating the client experience,” but let’s be honest — most of you don’t actually know what that means. It’s not props, coffee bars, or buzzwords. It’s clarity, communication, and giving a damn from first message to final gallery. In this episode, Khandie rips the fluff off the phrase and breaks down how to actually give your clients a professional experience worth paying for.
#marketing #photography #photobusiness
What happens when you get sick and you’re self-employed?
In this brutally honest episode, Khandie Rees breaks down how photographers can protect themselves from financial and reputational disaster when illness strikes. From contract clauses and client communication to backup plans and insurance — this is the unsexy but essential stuff that keeps your business alive.
🎙 Listen now on The Loud Lens — because pretending you’ll never get sick isn’t a business plan.
Most clients don’t know the bloody difference between a good photo and a strategic photo.
And honestly? A lot of photographers don’t either.
In this brutally honest episode of The Loud Lens, Khandie Rees tears into one of the biggest creative industry blind spots: why “pretty” doesn’t always perform. From influencers chasing aesthetics that don’t sell, to business clients who want Vogue when they need LinkedIn credibility. We’re unpacking why beautiful photos can still be bad strategy.
Expect real talk, real examples, and a bit of tough love about how to stop being “just a photographer” and start being a visual strategist.
Whether you shoot branding, portraits, or creative campaigns — this episode will change how you think about your camera, your pricing, and your purpose.
👀 In this episode:
💬 Join the discussion: Is your biggest client challenge explaining this difference — or are we the problem? Tell me your story in The Loud Lens Facebook group
📸 Follow Khandie on YouTube & Instagram for BTS, mentoring, and more blunt truths about running a creative business that actually pays.
Everyone’s crying that bookings are slow, but few are actually doing the one thing that gets clients — pitching.
In this episode, Khandie dives into the real talk behind pitching your photography to businesses — from understanding what brands actually want, to writing an email that doesn’t sound desperate, to why sitting around waiting for “discovery” is the fastest way to go broke.
Whether you’re in Northampton or New York, the truth’s the same: followers don’t pay your bills — clients do.
And the photographers who treat pitching like marketing (not begging) are the ones still standing when everyone else is panicking.
If you’ve ever said “I just need more visibility,” this episode’s your wake-up call.
It’s time to be seen — because you made them look.
🎧 Listen now for a no-fluff breakdown on how to pitch, who to pitch to, and how to stop underselling your damn self.
Grab tickets for the BIPP bash here: https://www.bipp.com/the-bipp-big-bash-2025/
#TheLoudLens #PhotographyBusiness #FreelanceLife #PitchLikeAPro #CreativeEntrepreneur #PhotographerMindset #UKPhotography #BusinessOfPhotography #MarketingForPhotographers
Every photographer and their bloody ring light is selling Christmas Minis right now — but are you actually making money, or just burning out for mince pie money? In this episode, Khandie rips open the truth about mini sessions: how to market them properly, why most photographers get them wrong, and how to make real profit without wrecking your sanity.
She dives into pricing, burnout, scarcity marketing, and how to upsell products the smart way (including her collab with my-picture.co.uk, who make affordable, UK-made products perfect for your festive sessions — use code Khandie15 for 15% off).
If you’re planning Christmas Minis, this is your festive wake-up call. Brutal honesty, real maths, and no bullshit.
🎧 Listen now and learn how to shoot smarter, sell better, and stop being Santa’s underpaid elf.
Struggling to get clients? Feel like your photography business is invisible?
In this episode, I’m breaking down EXACTLY how I’d market my photography business right now if I was flat broke, had no clients, and no budget — just pure hustle and strategy.
This is a real, blunt, no fluff 7-day plan that actually works in 2025 — especially if you’re a UK-based photographer trying to build your name locally.
We’re talking:💬 Using Facebook groups without being spammy🤝 How to collaborate with purpose🎯 Turning your personality into free marketing🧠 Creating content that builds trust, not just likes💣 Building real momentum when you’ve got no money.
#marketing #photography
Congratulations! You’ve been selected as one of the Top 50 Visionary Creative Innovators of 2025!
…Just send us £250 and we’ll email your certificate.
Yeah. We’re going there. In this episode of The Loud Lens, I’m calling out the bullshit behind pay-to-play photography awards, the fake prestige machine, and the obsession with being “award-winning.” Let’s talk about the money, the ego, and the marketing spin — and whether buying your own applause is ever worth it.
It’s been one year since I wrote Take The F*cking Lens Cap Off* . The book that pissed some people off, empowered others, and reminded me exactly who the hell I am.
In this honest anniversary episode, I’m unpacking why I wrote it, what it cost me, and why I’m still not going anywhere. This is my love letter to the loud, the defiant, and every creative who’s ever been told to stay small.
We’re talking naysayers, growth, authenticity, and taking up space in an industry that still pretends to be polite. Consider this your wake-up call — and your reminder that no one’s coming to save your dream.
If you needed a sign to stand up, speak out, and take the damn lens cap off… this is it.
#TheLoudLens #KhandieRees # photography #CreativeBusiness #PhotographerLife #UnfilteredPhotography #CreativeRevolution #NoGatekeeping #WomenInPhotography #RealTalkCreative #BluntTruths #OwnYourVoice
Specially requested episode from The Loud Lens facebook group. How do you market your photography business when you have no money and very few clients. So after some thought and planning, here is a 7 day plan that might help. I hope it does. I dont have all the answers but this HAS worked for me before.
Feel free to request any episodes yourself and let me see if you impliment any of the tips!
#photography #marketing #free
I only went and got myself another swanky guest! This time it is Matt Curtis who is an award winning photographer and big deal at The BIPP who is massive believer in heirloom photography work over the dispoable imagery the algorithm seems to thrive on. Have prints had their day or should we push them more?
Find out more about Matt here:
www.mattcurtisphotography.com
www.facebook.com/mattcurtisphotography
https://www.instagram.com/mattcurtisphotography
Grab tickets for the BIPP Big Bash 2025:
https://www.bipp.com/the-bipp-big-bash-2025/
When a viral reel exposed a supplier perplexed over a photographer charging £150 for image use/access, the internet split. But beneath the outrage lies a bigger issue: GDPR, contracts, copyright, and the messy expectations between suppliers at weddings. In this episode, Khandie Rees breaks down the reality of who owns what, why photographers charge, and why your business needs to understand usage rights before you kick off on Instagram.
I will admit that resetting yourself in business is so important but what actually does that mean? Is it another cliche buzzword some self professed social media guru is gonna sell me an overhyped overpriced course about? Nah its a legit thing. In this episode of The Loud Lens, Khandie talks about how she resets to keep her business mind sharpe and her work on track.
He started out filming tutorials in his garage and now works with Adorama, runs sold-out workshops, and collaborates with some of the biggest names in photography. But being a photography educator isn’t the same as being a working photographer.
In this episode, I sit down with my mate Gavin Hoey to get real about:
This isn’t your usual polished interview. Expect honesty, laughs, and a few hard truths about what it takes to build a career teaching photography in 2025.
Follow Gavin:
#gavinhoey #teaching #photography