About Creative Experience

Tom Wright

A Photography Podcast for Professionals. Life in art never runs smooth. For every successful photographer there's a person making creative, business and real life choices about how they should grow as a business and an artist. ABOUT the CREATIVE EXPERIENCE (A.C.E) Podcast is about telling those stories, talking about the real life impact of being a creative and spotlighting tools and techniques that help us to develop into the remarkable creatives we all have the potential to be.

  1. From Fashion Designer to Vogue Photographer

    3 MAR

    From Fashion Designer to Vogue Photographer

    During the episode, we discuss how Charlotte transitioned from a successful career as a fashion designer to wedding photographer, her unconventional journey through the creative industries, and her commitment to shooting almost exclusively on film in an increasingly digital landscape. Full Show Notes - http://www.bytomw.com/podcast/from-fashion-designer-to-photographer Charlotte grew up in Paris and came to the UK at 15 to learn English. She studied fashion design and ran her own fashion brand from ages 23 to 30, getting picked up by Opening Ceremony and selling internationally. After leaving fashion due to sustainability concerns and unsustainable business costs, she transitioned to running a manufacturing studio for designer brands and costume work. A pivotal moment came after a friend's funeral in Scotland, when working with a career coach helped her realize she needed more creative freedom. Initially resistant to wedding photography—seeing it as "cheesy"—she discovered Naomi Koenig's film documentary work, which completely reframed what wedding photography could be. Her entry into wedding photography was organic. She shot her first wedding as a guest at her best friend's sister's wedding, and the experience rekindled her excitement about life and forced her to be truly present. Her early projects gained traction thanks to referrals from friends in the creative industry, leading to multiple features in Vogue. She has just completed her first full season and is now heading into her second.

    51 min
  2. Corporate Photography Pays for My Celebrity Work!

    18 FEB

    Corporate Photography Pays for My Celebrity Work!

    Today I am joined by the talented London-based photographer Haris Ahmed. He specializes in corporate, startup, and comedy/celebrity photography. During the episode, we discuss how Haris transitioned from working at Apple to building a sustainable photography business, his unconventional path into comedy photography, and his approach to balancing commercial work with creative passion projects. Episode Takeaways:→ Finding reliable income sources like corporate work funds creative experimentation in other genres—you don't need to monetize every aspect of your photography. → Reverse-engineer the client's perspective: understand that marketing managers need to justify spending and require proof of capability, not out of distrust but necessity. → Build portfolio proof through alternative means—Haris's YouTube channel demonstrated consistent content creation ability when he lacked traditional client work. → Equipment choices should prioritize achieving specific creative outcomes rather than technical specifications alone. → The quiet, personal moments shot for yourself often become client favorites—integrate your authentic voice across all genres rather than compartmentalizing. → Act as if you already have the job when discussing opportunities, focusing on problem-solving rather than pitching. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Creative Journeys01:32 - Haris Ahmed's Photography Evolution06:59 - Transitioning from Apple to Photography12:58 - Building a Portfolio through YouTube18:17 - Navigating Corporate Photography25:22 - Finding Inspiration in Corporate Work30:52 - The Importance of Personal Style in Photography35:39 - Exploring the Art of Photography40:06 - The Balance of Corporate and Creative Work46:07 - Navigating Equipment Choices for Photography1:02:05 - Evolving Creative Direction and Future Aspirations1:08:58 - Advice for Aspiring CreativesLinks Haris Ahmed's YouTube and Instagram - https://www.youtube.com/@HVRIS and https://www.instagram.com/hvrisworld Haris’ Website - https://www.haychdigital.com/ Tom's Website - https://www.bytomw.com Tom's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bytomw DB Captures (Next Interview Recommendation) - https://www.instagram.com/dbcaptures

    1h 4m
  3. Shoot for Realness, Not Perfection ft. Emmylou Kelly

    28/11/2024

    Shoot for Realness, Not Perfection ft. Emmylou Kelly

    It is about the journey. Episode Overview: Today I am joined by the talented wedding photographer and my wonderful friend Emmylou Kelly. She is based in the UK but works worldwide.  During the episode, we discuss how Emmylou got started in the industry, the amazing experiences she has had throughout her career (including Elevate!) and her creative practices! Emmylou started her journey to becoming a photographer at the age of 30, when she decided hospitality was no longer for her and she needed a change. So, she decided to attend university. Unsure of what area to study, she thought about what gave her joy as a child - drawing and painting.  Naturally, this led to fine arts, where Emmylou learned about various mediums and how to use photography as a found object to create art using other mediums.  It wasn’t until a university lecturer told Emmylou that she had an eye for photography - and from there…. she turned into becoming a highly sought after, talented wedding photographer who travels the world shooting weddings. Episode Takeaways → Being an artist requires more than simply technical skills - it requires a person to go beyond the technical aspect and find their artistic style. → Becoming a photographer is about not only understanding the craft and camera, it is about finding the style that works for them. Links Emmylou Kelly’s Website - https://emmyloukelly.com/  Emmylou Kelly’s Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/emmylou.kelly/  Miles - https://milesofgrain.com/  Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon - https://austinkleon.com/steal/ 0:00 - Introduction 3:36 - How Emmylou Got Started with Photography 6:02 - Why Emmylou Became a Wedding Photographer 9:28 - Having Business Scense as an Artist 11:55 - Finding the Artistic Style 28:46 - What Emmylou’s work is about 31:08 - The Creative Intent - What Are You Trying to Do 36:01 - Understanding Your Craft (and Your Camera) 46:34 - Finding the End Result - The Creative and Technical Pieces 50:44 - Shooting Weddings Around the World

    1h 6m
  4. Pivoting to Save Creativity - ft. Rachel Emma Waring

    14/08/2024

    Pivoting to Save Creativity - ft. Rachel Emma Waring

    Today I have a truly inspiring guest —Rachel Emma Waring, marketing coach, launch specialist, Pinterest expert and former host of the 'RE: Podcast' and a force to be reckoned with in the world of creative strategy. Rachel’s journey is one that resonates with so many of us in the creative field. She started out designing sets and costumes for theatre, transitioned into running a wedding styling business, and now she’s a full-fledged creative strategist helping businesses find their clarity and shine online. In today’s episode, we’re going to unpack Rachel’s incredible evolution and what it means to pivot your creative focus. We'll talk about the fears and challenges she faced in moving from a niche like Pinterest marketing to a broader, more holistic approach to creative strategy. But that’s not all—Rachel is passionate about helping people craft their launch strategies and being visible in ways that truly resonate with their audience. We’ll dive into how creative teams can radiate online, find the creativity in sales, and make the most out of different content platforms. And of course, we’ll explore why it’s so crucial to lean into your strengths, embrace public speaking, and ignore the noise of your weaknesses. So, whether you’re leading a creative team, part of one, or simply looking to amplify your business’s creative output, you’re going to find a lot of value in today’s conversation. Let’s get into it!" Essential Links Rachel's Website - https://www.rachelemmawaring.com Rachel's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rachelemmawaring Tom's Website - https://www.bytomw.com Tom's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bytomw

    56 min

About

A Photography Podcast for Professionals. Life in art never runs smooth. For every successful photographer there's a person making creative, business and real life choices about how they should grow as a business and an artist. ABOUT the CREATIVE EXPERIENCE (A.C.E) Podcast is about telling those stories, talking about the real life impact of being a creative and spotlighting tools and techniques that help us to develop into the remarkable creatives we all have the potential to be.

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