The Mastering Portrait Photography Podcast

Paul Wilkinson

Tales, techniques, tricks and tantrums from one of the UK’s top portrait photographers. Never just about photography but always about things that excite - or annoy - me as a full-time professional photographer, from histograms to history, from apertures to apathy, or motivation to megapixels. Essentially, anything and everything about the art, creativity and business of portrait photography. With some off-the-wall interviews thrown in for good measure! read less

EP134 The Power Of Thank You!
27-02-2023
EP134 The Power Of Thank You!
Photographers are supremely visual, right?  Of course.  But have you ever wondered about the power of words?  Two words, in particular, can have a bigger impact than any image ever can (and I am speaking as someone whose entire life is living and breathing pictures).  The words? "Thank You".  These two words, when given or received, can bring a huge amount of joy.  Trust me. In the podcast, I mention the dates of our upcoming workshops: 6th March, Mastering Essential Studio Lighting20th March, Mastering Available Light3rd April, Mastering Headshot Photography17th April, Mastering Your Creative Workflow From Shutter To Print15th May, Mastering Advanced Studio Lighting5th June, Mastering Available Light On Location In Oxford These can all be found on our website. Every workshop is limited to six delegates so we can fine-tune the content for the attendees.  They're an absolute blast! If you're a portrait photographer, whether a pro or looking to break into the industry, these workshops are perfect for you.  We also provide a delicious lunch!  Never underestimate the need for good food! haha. Enjoy! Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more articles and videos about this beautiful industry. You can also read a full transcript of this episode. PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.
EP133 Dealing With The Year Ahead With Joy And Positivity!
15-01-2023
EP133 Dealing With The Year Ahead With Joy And Positivity!
So it's 2023 already!  What happened to 2022?  This episode says a big thank you for 2022 and kicks off the year ahead with some thoughts on how to deal with so much negativity in the years and the media.  We're hitting it all with positivity, energy, creativity and laughter!  Well, you wouldn't expect anything different from us would you? We also say thanks to some incredible brands who have put a little faith in us and asked us to be ambassadors: Graphistudio (they create the best photographic albums on the planet!) https://www.graphistudio.com/en/  Pixellu (we use their brilliant Smart Albums application to do the heavy lifting for all of our album designs). If you fancy a discount, use the following link and discount code: https://www.pixellu.com/?fpr=masteringportraitphotography Code: MPP@2022 Panasonic Eneloop Batteries (not as sexy maybe as let's say, a camera but massively important!) These guys have very kindly helped with a little funding for the podcast - useful given that we entirely fund it, write it and produce it ourselves.  A little help like this goes a long way - just like the life of their AA batteries (sorry, couldn't resist!) https://amzn.eu/d/gbinUuT  Finally, we mention a package that is proving priceless for us in our colour correction - Imagen AI.  Machine Learning (aka. Artificial Intelligence) is certainly going to be a huge part of all of our lives in the future - some of it for good and some of it otherwise - and one or two applications have already emerged that are stunningly elegant in the way they support our business: this is one.  Since we added this to our workflow, it has not only saved us hour upon hour but has also improved the consistency of our colours and grading. Ai isn't all bad!  If you fancy getting 1500 free credits, use this link:  https://www.imagen-ai.com/start?ref=paulwilkinson     We also want to thank all of our clients - both as subjects and as delegates to our workshops - we could not be happier and more grateful that you're part of our lives! THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU and here's to a fabulous year ahead! Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more articles and videos about this beautiful industry. You can also read a full transcript of this episode. PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.
EP132 Interview With Michele Jennings, Former CEO Hearing Dogs UK
21-12-2022
EP132 Interview With Michele Jennings, Former CEO Hearing Dogs UK
We are a lucky business.  OK, I know you make your own luck to a greater or lesser degree, but we really are a lucky business.  Every day I work with people I love - from our team in the studio to our clients across the UK and further afield.   As we run into the festive holidays, our studio has been full of laughter (and the smell of gingerbread, thanks to our Christmas candles!) as clients come to pick up their last-minute gifts as well as albums and frames they ordered during the year.  The shelves have creaked under the weight of the boxes; each bowed with our distinctive ribbons and tags.  Today, with just a few days to Christmas, the shelves look empty, with just a few items left to be picked up. Every client through the door has brought joy and festive cheer and taken away photographs it has been a joy to create. Like I said, we are a lucky business. And so it is that I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with my guest for this interview for the past decade.  Michele Jennings was, up until a couple of months ago, the CEO of Hearing Dogs For Deaf People - an incredible charity that provides assistance dogs for deaf adults and children.  I have worked with the organisation for the past 11 years and so it has been my pleasure to spend time with Michele and her team, creating images for the brand. This is a lovely interview and we cover all sorts of things from positivity to passion, from vision to values. As ever, I asked Michele to nominate a book and she recommended Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman and it's available on Amazon here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Four-Thousand-Weeks-Time-How/dp/1847924018 Definitely worth a read! If you're curious, Hearing Dogs For Deaf People can be found here: https://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/  Anyway, I hope you enjoy the interview! Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more articles and videos about this beautiful industry. You can also read a full transcript of this episode. PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.
EP130 Invest In Things That Benefit Your Client
28-10-2022
EP130 Invest In Things That Benefit Your Client
I recorded this podcast at 7am while sat in the studio, waiting for a new TV to be delivered.  Luckily it actually arrived when they said it would!  The TV is for our Client Reveal Room as we want our customers to have the best possible experience when they come back to see their pictures. But exactly how do you figure out where to spend your limited budget?  On things that benefit your client, that's where! In this episode, I mention a couple of different things.  Firstly, a reminder of the colour correction tool I love: Imagen AI If you use this link: https://www.imagen-ai.com/start?ref=paulwilkinson the lovely guys at Imagen AI will give you 1500 free (yes 1500 FREE) file corrections.  I get some as well, so feel free to use the link, and we BOTH get a freebie! We have just announced a brand new workshop: Mastering The Essentials Of Studio Lighting.. This workshop is very anyone who is venturing into studio lighting and wants to get to grips with creating stunning images with simple techniques and easily available kit.  We'll go through everything you need to know, from setting up the camera to getting the best out of your space.  Details can be found at https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/store/workshops/mastering-essential-studio-lighting-21st-november-2022/ As always with our workshops, the number of attendees is strictly limited to 6 (or half a dozen if you prefer it in words) so everyone gets plenty of time to try things out and ask questions. At the mentioned workshop, we'll be serving a delicious lunch care of the guys at What's Cooking.  Admittedly this link is a little geo-restrictive (I doubt it's much use to listeners more than a few miles away!), but the lunch was sooooo good at the last workshop that I felt we just had to give a quick link! Enjoy! Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more articles and videos about this beautiful industry. You can also read a full transcript of this episode. PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.
EP128 Stay Positive: That ’No’ Might Just Be A ’Yes’ For A Later Date
30-09-2022
EP128 Stay Positive: That ’No’ Might Just Be A ’Yes’ For A Later Date
I have honestly grown to love the sales process - from pitch to payment, it is something I never thought I'd get my head around but have surprised myself. One key aspect is understanding that a 'no' may not be all it seems.  In this episode, Sarah and I have stood out in the weather at Thame Food Festival, pitching to prospective clients.  Not everyone says 'yes' but learning that there are grades of success when it comes to selling, helps me not worry about those who've said 'no'. During this episode, I mention a piece of software we're now using to expedite our colour correction.  It's called ImagenAI and it uses machine learning to learn how YOU like YOUR colours, and then applies them.  It's very fast, it's very cool, it's incredibly accurate and it's cost-effective.  And, no, I am not in any way being paid to say that - it's just that this podcast was always meant to be helpful to other photographers and this is one of those moments when software is part of that value.   It can be found at https://www.imagen-ai.com/ Enjoy this episode! Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more articles and videos about this beautiful industry. You can also read a full transcript of this episode. PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.
EP127 - Things Change
18-09-2022
EP127 - Things Change
Had a chance this week to go and enjoy some incredible sketches and watercolours at the Ashmolean in Oxford.  The artists?  The Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood - one of my favourite groups of artists.  Somewhat uncharacteristically, we also developed some Ilford XP2 film (our daughter wants a film camera) and I've been testing a few old boxes we've had laying around for the past 20 years or more. The results, if I was being charitable, weren't a disaster.  But they weren't great either. And that's in stark contrast to the camera I am using daily: the Nikon Z9.   This camera is so utterly good that it is literally changing everything I have believed in since I first picked up a DSLR.  Have a listen and see if you agree with me (or not!) Would love to hear your thoughts. Also, a quick reminder, if you're listening to the BEFORE 20th September 2022, Sarah and I will be presenting on the Graphistudio stand at the Photography Show at 1pm - grandstanding as usual - and you can also catch us on the BIPP stand, doing business and portfolio reviews. See you there! Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more articles and videos about this beautiful industry.  PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.
Podcast 0126 - How A Winery Won Us Over (and Lessons We Can Learn)
14-09-2022
Podcast 0126 - How A Winery Won Us Over (and Lessons We Can Learn)
After a little bit of a break from recording over the summer, this episode is a quick update and reflects on the experiences we had while visiting the beautiful Tuscany area of Italy.  As with so much in business, it's the experience that completely won us over (though the product was delicious too!) Huge shout to the Buglioni Winery (and, in particular, to Lorenzo, who could not have made us feel more special! We'll be back!) We have also been announced as ambassadors for three different top-flight companies (so these links are going to become familiar territory!) Graphistudio The best photographic albums in the world!Pixellu Smart Albums If you design albums, this is a lifesaver!Panasonic Eneloop Our whole studio has these rechargeable batteries powering it! It is an honour to be associated with all of these products as we already use them all (because they're the best!) Wouldn't have it any other way for our clients! If you're reading this before Tuesday 20th September, 2022, Sarah and I will be talking on the Graphistudio stand at 1pm - we're going to be talking about five key things while creating a very special personal project with Graphistudio.  The lessons were personal they apply to any photographer wishing to make the most of their client opportunities.  Come say hello! Enjoy! Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more articles and videos about this beautiful industry.  PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.
EP125 You Set Up The Sale In The Shoot (Not The Saleroom)
07-07-2022
EP125 You Set Up The Sale In The Shoot (Not The Saleroom)
In this week's episode, I am talking about how we set up the sale in the shoot - not in the salesroom; the salesroom is where we close the deal.  I love this process, and it works, too: happy clients, great images and consistent (and high-value) sales.  Perfect.   Also, this episode is kindly sponsored by Pioneer Eneloop Batteries.  Once again, I am extolling the virtues of replacing all those single-use batteries with eco-friendly, long-life rechargeables.  I did the same thing last year and enjoyed using the batteries (and charger) so much that I went out and bought a complete set of them.  The Zoom recorder I used for this episode has Eneloop Pro batteries in it.  Love them.   You can get them on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3utOdzg    Also, I get carried away and end up chatting about the new headphones I bought - brilliant things!  Was always jealous of Sarah's AirPods Pro that I bought for her (https://amzn.to/3upRhMH), so as I headed off to work in Ibiza a few weeks ago, I bought some Sony equivalents. Life-changing.  Seriously. Life-changing.  Podcasts, Spotify, and even watching Netflix while I'm retouching, I love these things.     Again, these are available on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3AxhjRT    Enjoy! Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more articles and videos about this beautiful industry.  PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.
EP123 Interview With Street Photographer Ross Grieve
10-05-2022
EP123 Interview With Street Photographer Ross Grieve
This episode was recorded in a bar - possibly my favourite but, in contrast to our studio garden - not the quietest place to record audio.  But it makes me happy.  It was at this year’s incredible Societies of Photographers Convention in London where I spent the week judging and, well, generally feeling liberated from the previous two years of lockdown! The interview is with one of the nicest guys in the industry - Ross Grieve - who is a street and portrait photographer as well as a videographer and Panasonic Ambassador.  He is also the host of the Talking Shot podcast - details of which he gives in the interview. As always, I asked my interviewee to nominate a book that would make us smile and what a choice it is! The. Far Side, by Gary Larson is one of those books you just can't put down and can't help but feel better for reading.  Well, it is choc-full of funny cartoons after all! Of course, being in a bar, we had bought ourselves a pint or two and we commence with the obligatory cheers… During this episode, I also mention the workshops we've introduced here at our studio.  Details of these can be found here on our website. Enjoy! Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more articles and videos about this beautiful industry.  PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.
EP119 Everyone Included: Interview With Author Helen May
27-01-2022
EP119 Everyone Included: Interview With Author Helen May
If there is one skill I have, it's recognising an opportunity when it bops me on the nose.  Today was one of those moments.  Helen May actually came to the studio to update her headshots but the minute we sat and talked about her work on diversity and inclusion, I knew she would be perfect to have on the podcast.  Luckily both of our diaries had some time after her session and so we sat, chatted and laughed about her life, her work, her new book and how photographers (like me) can learn and improve our approach both as company owners and as people who interact with people on a daily (or hourly!) basis. Helen's new book Everyone Included is available on Amazon: Diversity and inclusion (D&I) isn’t just an HR exercise – it can make a real difference to your team performance too. By making everyone in your team feel like they belong, you’ll be able to boost motivation and productivity. Everyone Included helps you make inclusion, belonging and wellbeing central to your team. By helping everyone feel that they belong, your team will foster genuine inclusion and be ready to adapt and evolve in the future. With a step-by-step plan to design and implement a diversity and inclusion plan that brings results: Where are you now? – Understand your team profile now by conducting a belonging Audit to identify how inclusive your team is. What do I do next? – Design a D&I plan, including a business case to win support, and identify key metrics to measure its effectiveness How do I keep going? – Ensure your programme continually improves and remains relevant by creating measurements and feedback loops Everyone Included is your comprehensive, step-by-step guide to creating a diversity and inclusion strategy that delivers results for your team.As always, I asked my interviewee for a book recommendation for our little library and she recommended The Art Of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli - and can be found here on Amazon. It was a very funny, very informative hour or so and well worth a listen.  Of course, I would say that but have a listen and see what you think!   And if you're thinking that Helen and I hit it off immediately?  Well, you'd be absolutely right! Enjoy! Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more articles and videos about this beautiful industry.  PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.
EP118 Admit It, Own It, Fix It
12-01-2022
EP118 Admit It, Own It, Fix It
It's 2022 and I have to say it's starting off in a very positive mood!  Admittedly New Year didn't go quite to plan, thanks to Covid and family injury, but other than that all good. And besides, my Nikon Z9 has arrived and I am now having a ball with what can only be described as the best camera I've ever had the pleasure to use.  More on that in this and future podcasts! We had a wonderful email today from a client saying how happy she was with everything we'd done - a truly lovely email to receive!  But here's the thing: during this particular job, a mistake had crept in.  They sometimes do; we are a team of humans!  But how we dealt with it, how we managed it, how we reacted to that client and made sure we did everything possible to apologise and fix it, well that made all the difference. And we have an email to prove it! Running a business is never going to be easy but dealing with mistakes has to be at the very heart of what you do.   Just remember: Admit It, Own It, Fix It. Enjoy! Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, where there are articles and videos about this beautiful industry.  PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.  If you'd like to use one of the other players out there, why not try Vurbl?
EP117 Interview With Grays Of Westminster
22-12-2021
EP117 Interview With Grays Of Westminster
Well, this is the last episode of 2021.  Unless I find a moment to drag myself away from the turkey, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes, cheese, Quality Street, sherry, wine, stuffing, more turkey, more cheese and maybe just a tad more sherry.  Oh go on then, if I must, best make it a small one. In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Grays Of Westminster - a legendary shop of all things Nikon.  I am speaking with Becky and Kon from the shop who not only run rings around me with their knowledge of Nikon gear but are two of the nicest people you can imagine!  It is a lovely interview, irrespective of the camera brand you use. Mostly we chat kit, customer service and the imminent Z9! In the interview, I ask them both for the book recommendations. Kon recommended Wonderland, by Annie Leibovitz:  ‘Looking back at my work, I see that fashion has always been there,’ Annie Leibovitz observes in the preface to Wonderland. ‘Fashion plays a part in the scheme of everything, but photography always comes first for me. The photograph is the most important part.  And photography is so big that it can encompass journalism, portraiture, reportage, family photographs, fashion ... My work for Vogue fueled the fire for a kind of photography that I might not otherwise have explored.’  Becky recommended The Real Deal, by Jo McNally 'Joe writes about everything from the crucial ability to know how to use (and make!) window light to the importance of creating long-term relationships built on trust; from lessons learned after a day in the field to the need to follow your imagination wherever it takes you; from the random and lucky moments that propel one s career to the wonders and pitfalls of today s camera technology. For every mention of f-stops and shutter speeds, there is equal discussion about the importance of access, the occasional moment of hubris, and the idea of becoming iconic. Before Joe was a celebrated and award-winning photographer, before he was a well-respected educator and author of multiple bestselling books, he was just Joe, hustling every day, from one assignment to the next, piecing together a portfolio, a skill set, a reputation, a career. He imagined a life and then took pictures of it. Here are a few frames.' I'll be adding them to the library! If you'd like to see some of their videos, they can be found on YouTube (or just search for 'Grays Of Westminster') Have a wonderful Christmas, one and all and here's to a happy New Year! Enjoy! Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, where there are articles and videos about this beautiful industry.  PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.  If you'd like to use one of the other players out there, why not try Vurbl?