Episode 006 - The Ready Steady Pro Photography Podcast: Social Media. Are you doing it (Right)?

These days it can be hard (pretty much impossible) to run a business without some sort of social media presence and so it was inevitable at some stage that we dedicated a podcast episode to discuss it. For episode 6 we recorded another virtual round table discussion with some of my favourite photographers on social media. Rob Grimes makes his first RSP appearance, with Neil Graham and Tracey Christina returning to lend their thoughts to this mammoth-sized topic.

This weeks Topic

Social Media. Are you doing it (Right)?

Little Gems

• Rob’s Gem was his 'OODA Loop' – a graphical means to show the circle of improvement and maintenance of standards if you will. By continuously focussing on the things in the OODA Loop you’re surely on a path to success.

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Rob Grimes' 'OODA Loop'. Click to Enlarge

• Tracey was kind enough to share the magic of PhotoMechanic fromCameraBits.com – a piece of software for Mac and PC that speeds up your culling and editing process no end. It’s available for just $150!
• Neil’s Gem today was Martin Bailey – the brains behind Martin Bailey Photography. Martin is a Landscape and Wildlife Photographer, eBook author and workshop leader & teacher. Check out Martin here and join the G+ Community too.
• Michael’s Gem for episode 6 was Rosh Sillars. Rosh is an SEO and Google Guru and is always on top of the latest SEO trends. If you’re looking to keep on top of your SEO then Rosh’s weekly podcast is a great, bitesize listen that will help you do just this.

Guests featured in this Episode

• Michael Rammell
• Rob Grimes
• Tracey Christina
• Neil Graham

Episode 005 - The Ready Steady Pro Photography Podcast: An Interview with Lel Hurst

For Episode 5 the wonderful Lel Hurst stepped up to the mic for her very first one-to-one interview. I went back through my notes for this episode, which read: "Today our guest is Lel Hurst of LelHurst.com Despite being very, very, very (very), nervous Lel smashed this interview right out of the park. Lel was open and honest and shared some very personal things that have happened to her during her journey into her photographic career to date."

Lel gave a fantastic interview and was fantastically candid. Looking back now It's clear to see why Lel's episode was so popular; Lel was in a position that resonated so well with so many other photographers out there who were just so keen and driven to make a successful business.

In Episode 5 we talk about:

• How Lel believes in training
• How Lel’s confidence has grown, and grown over the years and the impact this has had on her as a businesswoman
• Shooting all the time has helped Lel to hone her craft
• Supportive partners and family members
• Lel admits that she see’s faces…in everything and anything (even handbags!)
• We also touch on the business side of things ofcourse and discuss setting milestones, targets & goals to keep yourself on target and focussed.

This interview was recorded back in October 2013 and Lel has developed and grown in the past 3 years, naturally.

Little Gems

• Lel has kindly left us with a Gem for today: Go and check out Aspire’s Webinar Series Online: http://www.aspirephotographytraining.co.uk/courses.php
• Michael mentioned The Soul Society – the Charitable Organisation of Melissa & Jerry Ghionis. Please, donate generously today. It’s only takes $10.

Show Notes / Links

• The Guild of Photographers
• Stephen Cotterell
• Aspire Training
• Grumpy Bag
• The Soul Society
• Jerry Ghionis
• Rob Grimes
• The Ready, Steady Pro Facebook Group

Guests featured in this Episode

• Michael Rammell
• Lel Hurst

Episode 004 - The Ready Steady Pro Photography Podcast: To Specialise, or Generalise? That is the Question

5 Photographers coming together via Skype back in October 2013 to share their opinions on whether it's better to specialise in photography and choose one niche, or to generalise and shoot everything that comes your way. 

Episode 4 was the first time we had a guest from outside of the UK, as Mary Angelini from Chicago in the USA joined the conversation. Joining Mary as the other newcomer was Mr Jeff Hall from. Returning guests Lee Jones and Neil Graham made it 5 photographers in total to take on this topic.

Whilst some would say there is nothing wrong with wanting to shoot everything to gain maximum exposure, others may argue that specialising and shooting one niche is the best way to move your photography business (and skill set) forward. Then again what about the seasonality of some niche’s such as wedding photography? Should photographers shoot other things, say food, portraits or commercial, during the winter months to keep cash flow coming in? I’m really excited about this topic and am really looking forward to hearing the thoughts of my guests.

So be sure to take a listen to hear what my guests and I have to say on the topic.

This weeks Topics

To Specialise, or Generalise? That is the Question

Today’s Little Gems

• Jeff’s Gem for Episode 4 was Elliot Siegal’s book “Photographing Women: 1,000 poses”. A great read and of course, available on Kindle
• Lee Jones shared with us his new purchase – theWacom Bamboo Graphics Tablet that aids in precision and speed when it comes to post-processing
• Mary wanted to highlight the fantastic new video series from David DuChemin from Craft & Vision; “The Created Image Video Series Vol.1”
• Neil kindly shared the book ‘Tribes’ from Seth Goden – a very thought provoking read. Also available as an eBook through Amazon
• Michael wanted to share the very inspiring work by Brandon Stanton, who is known for the Humans Of New York body of work

Show Notes / Links

• Michael mentioned that Jerry Ghionis suggests Second Shooters shouldn’t be paid. Sign up to the ICE Society for free here to watch the web cast where Jerry says this
• ICE Society Affiliate Code
• The guys also gave a brief nod to the superb Cliff Mautner. Take a look at his work here
• Rob Grimes got a mention on today’s show. You can see his work here. I’m very pleased to say that Rob will be on Episode 4 in Late October too.

Guests featured in this Episode

• Michael Rammell
• Lee Jones
• Neil Graham
• Mary Angelini
• Jeff Hall

Episode 003 - The Ready Steady Pro Photography Podcast: An Interview with Lee Jones

The first of the Ready Steady Pro episodes to begin using the intro that would become the intro for all future episodes. Still stumbling through, still a complete amatuer, but everyone had to start somewhere, right? This was also the first of the one-on-one interview episodes too. Lee Jones stepped into to record a cracking episode!

Lee Jones of McDonald Jones Photography (formerly Phitography) was generous with his time as he spent over an hour to talking to me over Skype, sharing with us his photography ambitions and some of the challenges he’s faced in getting where he was at the time. Keeping up with Lee on Facebook since then It's clear to see that Lee has grown and developed superbly as a photographer and achieved some great success.

In episode 4 Lee and I discuss:

• The value of photography to different people
• The value of our time as people and photographers
• Running a small business whilst having a full time day-job and a family to attend to

...and much much more.

Please do note as I said at the very start of our conversation both Lee and I were suffering from severe flu at the time of recording. Many will tell us it was a bad case of man flu and that we just need to ‘Man-up’ – well, we did. Despite our poorly conditions we spoke at length and in great detail about the wonderful world of photography, and all for your listening pleasure.

I also wasn’t going to let Lee get away without leaving us a little Gem – Just because this is a little different from usual episodes doesn’t mean we can get away without sharing something with you guys!

Little Gems

• Lee’s Gem today was BlogStomp – the fantastically fast and very smart tool that effectively creates collages (or, Cartoon strips) of your photographs, ready for posting to the internet and blogging. It’s available for both Windows and Mac, there is a free trial and of course so go and give this a try. Thanks Lee!
• Michael mentioned Stephen Cotterell’s fantastic upcoming course: ‘Unleashing your Inner photographer’. For more information be sure to head over to Stephen’s Website @ http://stephencotterell.com

Show Notes / Links

• The Guild of Photographers
• The Ready, Steady Pro Facebook Group
• Lee Jones’ Website: http://www.phitography.co.uk/

Guests featured in this episode

• Michael Rammell
• Lee Jones