Commercial Photographer: Your Guide to Marketing, Creativity and Growth

Sam Hollis and Marcus Ahmad
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Commercial Photographer: Your Guide to Marketing, Creativity and Growth is the essential podcast if you're a professional headshot photographer or brand photographer. Ready to achieve sustainable business growth? Each week, we share practical advice and actionable strategies to help you master your marketing, ignite your creativity, and build a profitable commercial photography business. Learn how to attract ideal clients, stand out in the marketplace, and build the business you've always wanted. Stop guessing and start growing with business help and guidance from industry experts.

  1. The AI Revolution: The Truth Behind the Industry’s Biggest AI Misstep

    1D AGO

    The AI Revolution: The Truth Behind the Industry’s Biggest AI Misstep

    The AI Accountability Episode: In 2026, trust is the most valuable currency in Commercial Photography. Jay Peterson from Evoto AI joins us for an exclusive, candid discussion about a controversial project that nearly broke that trust with the professional community.• The SEO "Head Generation" Misstep: We lead with the exclusive story of a project that "slipped through the cracks"why it was pulled, what the organisation learned, and why they’ve committed to never letting it happen again.• The Efficiency Revolution: Discover the "Edit One to Edit All" system that distils complex manual retouching like frequency separation and dodging and burning into simple, intentional decisions.• The 36-Hour Delivery Secret: We investigate a new "Instant Capture" workflow that could allow you to shoot, cull, and deliver fully retouched galleries in real-time.⁠⁠⁠Download the free guide to Marketing and Creativity here

    34 min
  2. The AI Revolution: The Rise of "Mixed Reality" and Ethical AI

    FEB 10

    The AI Revolution: The Rise of "Mixed Reality" and Ethical AI

    The Foot in Both Camps: In 2026, the creative industry is split between the demand for total authenticity and the need for AI efficiency. Giles Christopher reveals how he carves out a "narrow channel" to meet client needs without compromising his professional ethics. • The High-End Access Gap: Discover how AI is lowering the barrier to entry for complex, CGI-style results, making high-budget looks accessible for seasonal commercial projects. • The "Mixed Reality" Formula: We explore Giles’s specific workflow for combining physical assets with machine intelligence, and why this particular "hybrid" approach is the secret to maintaining both your soul and your profit margins. • Combatting the Influencer Threat: Learn how to stay relevant in a market that prioritises quantity, and why "polishing" your work with AI is a defence against the race to the bottom. ⁠⁠⁠Download the free guide to Marketing and Creativity here

    27 min
  3. The AI Revolution: How to Automate Your Commercial Photography Admin Forever

    FEB 3

    The AI Revolution: How to Automate Your Commercial Photography Admin Forever

    The Efficiency Layer: Most photographers didn't start their business to spend hours on spreadsheets and emails. As we continue The AI Revolution, Sam reveals how to hand over the most tedious parts of your business to an AI assistant—without losing your professional "voice." • The 30-Second Quote: We discuss a specific technique for generating high-detail, branded quotes almost instantly—and why your first attempt will likely fail without one crucial setup step. • The "Perfect Memory" Bot: Discover how to ensure you never forget a client detail again, even months after a call, using a tool that lives inside your meetings. • Decoding the Numbers: Learn how to turn a mountain of confusing social media and website data into a clear marketing roadmap, even if you hate spreadsheets. ⁠⁠⁠Download the free guide to Marketing and Creativity here

    22 min
  4. The AI Revolution: How to Slash Your Commercial Photography Overheads by 60%

    JAN 27

    The AI Revolution: How to Slash Your Commercial Photography Overheads by 60%

    The Future is Here: While most are debating the ethics of AI Glenn Grant is it to rebuild his business from the ground up. In this season premiere, we explore how Glenn has automated the "boring bits" to focus purely on creativity. • The 60% Reduction: Discover the exact framework Glenn uses to reduce business overheads and why Commercial Photography delivery times are shrinking from weeks to hours. • The "Invisible" Editing Step: We reveal a critical stage in the post-production process that most photographers are completely ignoring—and how AI handles this high-value task in seconds. • The Ethical Blueprint: How to use real models and real products with AI composition to achieve "picture-perfect" results without losing your creative soul. ⁠⁠Download the free guide to Marketing and Creativity here

    30 min
  5. STOP Guessing Your Exposure: Is This "Relic" the Secret to Perfect Commercial Photography? .

    JAN 20

    STOP Guessing Your Exposure: Is This "Relic" the Secret to Perfect Commercial Photography? .

    Museum Piece or Essential Tool? In the age of mirrorless previews and instant histograms, the humble flash meter is the subject of fierce debate. Marcus dives into the history and the high-tech reality of this device to determine if it still has a place in a modern Commercial Photography workflow. • The Precision Gap: Discover the specific scenario where your camera's digital preview is actually "lying" to you—and how a meter provides a level of repeatability that software can't match. • The Speed Paradox: Most photographers think a meter slows you down, but we reveal how it can actually save you 15 minutes of "trial and error" when building complex Studio Lighting for Photographers. • Educational Gold: Learn how this single piece of kit can fast-track your Commercial Photography Skills by training your eye to see light ratios in a way that looking at a screen never will. ⁠Download the free guide to Marketing and Creativity here

    16 min
  6. January Survival & April Success: The Essential 2026 Tax Roadmap for Photographers

    JAN 13

    January Survival & April Success: The Essential 2026 Tax Roadmap for Photographers

    The Dual Challenge: It’s a high-stakes start to 2026. While the January 31st Tax Return for Photographers deadline is looming, an even bigger shift is coming this April. Specialist accountant Vicki Pascoe joins us to provide a two-part roadmap for your business. • The 10-Day Warning: If you haven't filed yet, hear the critical reason why you cannot afford to wait until the 31st—and the specific "Gateway" hurdle that catches most photographers out. • The April 6th Shift: We pull back the curtain on "Making Tax Digital." Find out if your Commercial Photography turnover triggers the new mandatory requirements and what the quarterly filing actually means for you. • The Case for Outsourcing: Why hiring a professional for your Accounting for Photographers is often a profit-making move rather than a cost, and how to decide if it's finally time to stop doing your own bookkeeping. ⁠Download the free guide to Marketing and Creativity here

    22 min
  7. You Are Shooting Blind: Why Brand Photography Fails Without a Professional Brand Strategy

    JAN 6

    You Are Shooting Blind: Why Brand Photography Fails Without a Professional Brand Strategy

    The Critical Gap: Why do some high-quality images fail to get results for clients? Strategy expert Uta from Carrot and Karma joins us to explain why Commercial Photography is only as effective as the planning behind it. • The Clarity Trap: Discover why a lack of Brand Strategy makes it impossible for a photographer to represent a business accurately, regardless of their technical skill. • Target Audience Alignment: Learn how to identify if your client actually knows who they are talking to before you ever press the shutter. • The Impact Checklist: A guide for the Brand Photography professional to ensure the messaging and "feeling" of the brand are locked in before the shoot begins. Download the free guide to Marketing and Creativity here

    21 min

  8. 12/12/2025

    Martin Parr - A life in photography

    We received the sad news this week that photographer Martin Parr passed away. Our show this week is a mix of personal stories, reflections and discussion about the life and work of Martin Parr. Hear what Martin thought about Marcus's photography during his degree and about the fantastic legacy and foundation he leaves behind. Marcus shares with us a glimpse into Martin's commercial photography.

    12 min
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Commercial Photographer: Your Guide to Marketing, Creativity and Growth is the essential podcast if you're a professional headshot photographer or brand photographer. Ready to achieve sustainable business growth? Each week, we share practical advice and actionable strategies to help you master your marketing, ignite your creativity, and build a profitable commercial photography business. Learn how to attract ideal clients, stand out in the marketplace, and build the business you've always wanted. Stop guessing and start growing with business help and guidance from industry experts.

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