Our Creative Commune

Our Creative Commune
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Professional wedding photographers/videographers and bffs, Pete & Laura Lawson and Liam & Bee Crawley invite you to join them for a morning coffee. They'll be chatting all things work and life. Liam and Bee have recently moved and we all now live in the same little village; not quite the commune we always used to talk about but we do get to hang out every day. This podcast is an offshoot of our daily conversations, sometimes creatively inspiring, sometimes just having a good moan, but always fun. liamandbee.com lawsonfilms.co.uk lawsonphotography.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. JAN 26

    Quitting Social Media

    Is it time to delete the app? In this episode, we tackle the growing sentiment that the golden age of social media is behind us. Inspired by industry leaders stepping away from Instagram, we debate whether the constant hustle for likes, reels, and algorithm appeasement is actually worth the mental toll. Can a creative business survive today without a social presence, or is that a luxury reserved for the famous? We also dive into the nitty-gritty of award season. Having just finished a marathon judging session for the Wedding Film Festival and following the results of TWIA, we discuss what separates a good film from a great one, the subjectivity of art, and the fleeting high of winning a trophy. Plus, we share our struggles with the "wintering" season, the art of dealing with online trolls, and why school sports still have a long way to go regarding gender equality. Grab a coffee and join us at the kitchen table. 00:00 – Intro: Coffee, sleep schedules, and morning chats. 01:00 – Behind the Scenes: Judging the Wedding Film Festival. 04:20 – The "Run and Gun" Trend: Cinematic vs. Messy. 05:43 – TWIA Awards: Winners, the Liverpool venue, and the post-win feeling. 12:15 – The Winter Slump: Struggling with creativity and slow editing. 14:05 – Unusual Jobs: Branding photography for dentists. 18:15 – The Big Debate: Is it time to quit Instagram? 21:00 – The Ethics of Content: Sharing private moments for public entertainment. 25:30 – The "Cringe" Factor: Why self-promotion feels inauthentic. 35:35 – Dealing with Trolls: Negative comments and blocking the haters. 40:00 – Highs & Lows: Developing film at home & iron deficiencies. 43:10 – Laura’s Obsession: Alex Honnold and climbing documentaries. 47:12 – Pete’s Rant: Coaching table tennis and sexism in school PE. 52:30 – Liam’s Low: A near-death experience in the driving instructor car. Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy The British Wedding Film Festival https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/ Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school liamandbee.com lawsonfilms.co.uk lawsonphotography.co.uk #weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min

  2. JAN 12

    Is AI eroding the soul of wedding photography/videography?

    Happy 2026! We are back by the fire for our first chat of the year, and we have a lot to catch up on. In this episode, we dive deep into the current state of the wedding industry. After judging hundreds of films for the British Wedding Film Festival, we’ve noticed some polarizing trends - from AI-generated voiceovers to the resurgence of "home movie" Super 8 vibes. We also discuss the controversial return of the "Dutch tilt" in photography (thanks, Gen Z) and ask the question: are Content Creators actually taking over, or was it just a phase? On the business side, we open up about a recent painful client cancellation and discuss the ethics of contracts and refunds when things go wrong. We also debate a recent award-winning image controversy - where do we draw the line between photography, digital art, and cheating? Plus, we share some life updates, including Liam’s new career path, Bee’s Harry Potter-style darkroom, and why Laura is painting in her underwear. Topics: •2026 Trends: The rise of AI music and voiceovers in wedding films. •Gear Nostalgia: Why everyone is buying old DSLRs and 35mm film cameras. •Business Realities: Handling last-minute cancellations and protecting your income. •Ethics: The controversy of using stock imagery and composites in photo awards. •Life Updates: Darkrooms, driving instructors, and car breakdowns. Whether you are a photographer, videographer, or just a creative trying to navigate the changing landscape, grab a coffee (or a wine) and join the commune. Timestamps: 
00:00 - Intro: Happy New Year 2026
 01:05 - Judging film awards & the rise of AI Voiceovers
 05:23 - Photography trends: The return of the "Wonky Horizon"
 07:00 - The DSLR nostalgia trap
09:30 - Bee’s new cupboard darkroom & developing film
 14:55 - Laura’s new painting hobby
 21:50 - Liam’s now a Qualified Driving Instructor
 29:40 - Have Content Creators actually taken over?
 33:00 - Dealing with a major wedding cancellation
 36:40 - The Awards Controversy: Stock images vs. Photography
 43:00 - Will AI eventually eat itself? 
47:00 - Highs & Lows: Client testimonials & car breakdown nightmares
 57:30 - Bee’s health scare & 80s nostalgia Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy The British Wedding Film Festival https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/ liamandbee.com lawsonfilms.co.uk lawsonphotography.co.uk #weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 3m

  3. 12/08/2025

    Back off and let me do my job!

    It’s just the boys in the studio this week! With Laura and Bee away (all that end of year editing!), Liam and Pete sit down to debrief on a recent luxury wedding they shot together in Whitehall, London. While the venue was five-star, the day wasn't without its hurdles. We discuss the reality of shooting in high-end establishments - from the stress of strict dress codes to dealing with "smothering" service that eats into your shooting time. We also have an honest conversation about a struggle many creatives face: how do you politely tell a venue coordinator to back off and let you do your job? Also in this episode, we chat about the physical toll of wedding photography (what is "Photographer's Toe"?), the panic of surprise speeches for videographers, and a terrifying gear malfunction that saw a camera hit the floor in front of the guests. Plus, we catch up on life outside of weddings, including broken cars, table tennis coaching, and life as a driving instructor. Grab a coffee and join the commune! Key Topics & Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: Where are the girls? 02:18 - The 9-hour travel nightmare and the £36 wine incident 05:25 - The Dress Code Debate: Suits vs. Trainers 07:59 - The reality of "Photographer's Toe" and physical comfort 12:14 - Videography stress: Dealing with surprise speeches 19:00 - The "Missing Groom Prep" panic 25:43 - Technical struggles: Banding issues in venue lighting 28:42 - When luxury service ruins your portrait time 31:00 - Learning to say "No" to pushy venue coordinators 44:05 - Pete’s car suspension disaster 47:50 - Gear Nightmare: Liam drops his camera (twice) 51:25 - Highs and Lows: Life as a driving instructor 57:00 - Pete becomes a qualified table tennis coach Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy liamandbee.com lawsonfilms.co.uk lawsonphotography.co.uk #weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 6m

  4. 11/17/2025

    Everything you need to know about the British Wedding Film Festival

    In this special episode of Our Creative Commune, we're swapping things around! Pete and Laura are hijacking the podcast with their co-founders of the British Wedding Film Festival, Joce Boissin and Jeff Wood, to dive deep into everything you need to know about this brand-new event for the wedding film industry. We start off sharing some stories from the end of the wedding season, including Jeff's travel nightmare of losing all his kit right before a huge destination wedding and how he was forced to adapt. Then, we get into the heart of the festival. We share the vision behind creating an awards ceremony dedicated solely to celebrating the incredible craft within our industry. We discuss why we felt it was so important to have categories that recognise specific skills like sound design, storytelling, and cinematography, and how we hope it will inspire a new wave of creativity. Thinking of entering? We cover all the crucial details: the surprisingly hefty trophies you could win, the incredible panel of judges (including a James Bond sound designer and a Netflix producer!), the submission process, and what makes a film stand out. Plus, we give you all the info on the awards night itself—a chance for us all to get glammed up, connect, and feel inspired at the Manchester Art Gallery. This is more than just an awards show; it's a celebration of our community and the art we create. Whether you're considering submitting a film or just want to join the party, this episode has all the inspiration and information you need. Timestamps 00:00 - Intro & Welcome to the BWFF Team  00:55 - Catching Up: How Was the End of the Season?  01:03 - Jeff's Destination Wedding Nightmare: The Airline Lost All My Gear!  04:50 - The Creative Benefit of Being Forced to Adapt  08:31 - Joce's Adventure with an Anamorphic Lens in Morocco  11:23 - Introducing the British Wedding Film Festival  11:51 - The Reason We Started These Awards  13:10 - Celebrating Individual Skills  14:30 - Using the Awards as a Creative Motivator for the Season  16:17 - It’s Scary Entering Awards  17:45 - Let's Talk About the Trophies  18:21 - The Incredible Judging Panel  22:05 - How the Judging Process Will Work  23:20 - The Awards Night  24:25 - The Venue  25:04 - Submission Deadline: 1st December!  26:07 - The Categories & Submission Rules  28:14 - Best Cinematography & Best Sound Design  32:02 - Best Storytelling  32:31 - Best Cinematic Language: Using Match Cuts & Parallel Action  36:55 - Best Use of Music & Best Colour Grading  38:39 - Best Elopement: Telling a Story with Just Two People  39:36 - Film Length & Password Protection  44:41 - Jeff's Story: The OG of Cinematic Wedding Films  46:57 - Jeff's Thoughts on Shooting with Phones  52:39 - Joce's Story: From iPhone Clips to Full-Time Pro in 2 Years  58:46 - Highs & Lows of the Week The British Wedding Film Festival https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/ Pete & Laura lawsonfilms.co.uk Joce Boissin https://www.lunedemielstudio.com/ Jeff Wood https://www.jeffwoodvisuals.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 7m

  5. 11/10/2025

    What Happens When You Ignore Instagram?

    How many photos are too many? In this week's episode, we dive headfirst into a hot topic rattling the photography community: are we overwhelming our clients by over-delivering images? We debate whether a curated gallery of a few hundred photos is more valuable than a folder of over a thousand, and question what we'd want from our own wedding photographer. We also get real about the struggles of social media after taking a week off Instagram punished our reach, sparking a conversation about whether the perfect grid still matters or if it's time to get more personal. Alongside the business chat, we catch you up on our latest adventures, from shooting a wedding at the iconic Traitors castle (and revealing its secrets!) to road-tripping to Scotland and enjoying a half-term break on the beautiful Yorkshire coast. Join us for a candid chat about work, life, and the creative challenges we all face. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro & a chaotic start 01:03 - The joy of singing alone in the car 02:40 - Liam's wedding at Guardswell Farm in Scotland 05:45 - The secrets of shooting at the Traitors Castle 09:28 - Working with fellow photographer Ash Springle 10:55 - Remembering industry legends Ed Peers & Ross Harvey 13:04 - Half-term adventures, portrait shoots, and comparing forests 14:58 - An update on the team's upcoming film festival 18:20 - Making work trips into mini-holidays 20:18 - The pressures of a busy schedule and life admin 22:36 - A relaxing week on the North Yorkshire Coast and discovering Haworth 25:08 - The Instagram struggle: The punishment for taking a week off 26:49 - Does your feed need to show your face? 29:15 - Dealing with internet trolls and negative comments 32:57 - Hot Topic: Are photographers delivering too many images? 45:38 - Highs and Lows of the Week Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy liamandbee.com lawsonfilms.co.uk lawsonphotography.co.uk #weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min

  6. 10/27/2025

    Feeling Like a Fraud

    Ever come back from a conference feeling like a total fraud? This week, Pete & Laura are recovering from the social hangover of the CODA conference and so we’re diving deep into the anxieties of networking as an introvert. We discuss the pressure to be "on" all the time, navigating imposter syndrome, and that cringe-worthy moment when you're introduced to one of the cool kids as the "King and Queen" of the UK market. But it wasn't all anxiety at CODA. We were also massively inspired by many incredible stories. Plus the powerful 'smoke and mirrors' marketing strategy - the art of curating your portfolio to get the weddings you most want to shoot. We debate a hot topic online: is flash photography becoming a nuisance at weddings? And we share a few thoughts on photographers getting a little too close for comfort during the ceremony. Join us for these, and many other topics, as we chat about the last couple of weeks over a coffee. Timestamps: 02:34 The social hangover from Coda Conference 04:21 Navigating events as an introvert: Are we 'cliquey'? 08:33 The pressure of being 'known' and imposter syndrome 10:28 Our key takeaway: The power of ambient audio 14:50 From Prison to a Creative Empire: The Fire & Ice Story 18:39 'Smoke and mirrors' marketing & defining our ideal client 22:27 Catching up: A pagan hand-fasting & a wedding at The Traitors castle 25:16 Is flash photography annoying for wedding guests? 34:15 When photographers get too close during the ceremony 41:37 Highs & Lows: Coda, family meals, and feeling overwhelmed 51:23 Rediscovering creativity by organising 15 years of photos Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy liamandbee.com lawsonfilms.co.uk lawsonphotography.co.uk #weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min

  7. 10/13/2025

    The Battle for the Soul of Wedding Photography

    In this episode of Our Creative Commune, we're fresh from a beautifully emotional wedding in the heart of Storm Amy and a fun-filled autumnal family shoot. We also take a moment to celebrate the incredible work of fellow creative, Damian Brandon (https://damianbrandon.com/) This leads us into a passionate discussion about the current state of the wedding photography industry. Are we seeing a decline in the traditional craft of photography? We delve into the rise of the "snapshotty" and "editorial" styles, the importance of understanding good light, and whether the focus has shifted from capturing genuine moments to creating content for Instagram. Plus, Liam gives us an update on his new life as a driving instructor, Pete shares his insights from the world of Reddit on what couples are really looking for, and we chat about the highs and lows of our week, from technical triumphs to creepy crawly encounters. Join us for a candid conversation about creativity, business, and the ever-evolving world of wedding photography. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro & Catching Up 02:13 Recapping Adam & Jade’s Stormy Welsh Wedding 07:36 Working With the Incredibly Talented Damian Brandon 12:38 Main Topic: Is the Art of Wedding Photography Being Lost? 14:51 The Death of Good Light: Why Are Photographers Ignoring the Basics? 20:12 Does Technical Quality Even Matter Anymore? 27:43 What Do Couples Actually Want? (Insights from Reddit) 30:43 The Changing Internet: SEO, Google, and Finding Clients Now 33:56 Liam's New Venture as a Driving Instructor 38:56 Building a New Website & The Logo Debate 42:12 Blogging vs. Full Galleries: What Should You Send to Clients? 45:32 The "Be Everywhere" Strategy for Modern Marketing 46:45 Highs & Lows of the Week (Including Hard Drive Sleeping Bags & Spiders!) 57:39 What's Coming Up Next? Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy liamandbee.com lawsonfilms.co.uk lawsonphotography.co.uk #weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 1m

  8. 09/29/2025

    Your Wedding is Not Content

    In this episode, we discusses the most talked-about trend in the wedding industry right now: the rise of the content creator. Are they replacing videographers, and how should creative professionals adapt to a TikTok-driven market? We share our honest thoughts on the challenges and potential solutions, from offering next-day clips to staying true to your unique style in a sea of trends. Is it possible to fight the tide, or is it time to evolve? We also dive into what we've been up to on the road, including Liam shooting a stunning wedding in Ostuni, Italy, and Pete's "life-changing" experience hiring a second shooter for the first time at a wedding in Anglesey. Plus, hear how Laura and Pete got inspired by music videos and started experimenting with flash-style, direct lighting for video and a 4:3 aspect ratio to create a raw, editorial feel. Join us for an open conversation about navigating the ever-changing creative landscape, a surprisingly detailed chat about the limitations of expanding foam, and our usual highs and lows of the week—including one of us starting a brand new career! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Welcome & Morning People vs. Night Owls 03:49 What We've Been Up To 03:53 Liam’s Shoots: London, Tunbridge Wells & A Wedding in Italy 05:29 Pete's "Life-Changing" Anglesey Wedding with a Second Shooter 08:21 Laura & Pete's Dorset Wedding & Manchester Shoots 08:57 Creative Development: Experimenting with Direct Lighting & 4:3 Ratio 17:24 DIY Chat: The Surprising Limits of Expanding Foam 18:21 Main Topic: The Great Content Creator Debate 19:32 Are Suppliers a Bigger Problem Than Couples? 22:29 The "Your Wedding is Not Content" Movement 30:25 How Videographers Can Adapt to the Trend 39:06 Final Thoughts on the Future 46:08 Highs and Lows of the Week 50:32 Liam's Big News: A Career Change Get 30% off Lawson Film School (until October 2025) with code: BACKTOSCHOOL Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy liamandbee.com lawsonfilms.co.uk lawsonphotography.co.uk #weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min
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About

Professional wedding photographers/videographers and bffs, Pete & Laura Lawson and Liam & Bee Crawley invite you to join them for a morning coffee. They'll be chatting all things work and life. Liam and Bee have recently moved and we all now live in the same little village; not quite the commune we always used to talk about but we do get to hang out every day. This podcast is an offshoot of our daily conversations, sometimes creatively inspiring, sometimes just having a good moan, but always fun. liamandbee.com lawsonfilms.co.uk lawsonphotography.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Our Creative Commune
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    125
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Our Creative Commune
  • Show Website
    Our Creative Commune

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