Focused Professional

Mastering Multi-Genre Photography with Terry Donnelly

Join host Joe Lenton in episode 15 of the Focused Professional Podcast as he welcomes Terry Donnelly - an award-winning, multi-genre Master Photographer with over 250 international accolades. Hear how he has honed his abilities across a range of genres, avoiding being pigeon-holed into one type of subject.
We compare and contrast the skills and approach needed for sports and architectural photography - 2 of Terry's main genres. Discover how you can get accredited as a professional football and rugby photographer like Terry. He loves his photography and feels privileged to get to chase the perfect moment in Premier League matches, revelling in the fast-paced action. 
Learn about Terry's principles of maintaining high standards, putting clients first, and running a values-based photography business. Listen to him candidly share his thrill of overcoming challenges and his motivation to capture the perfect photograph, despite the anxieties stirred by the notorious imposter syndrome.
Ever wondered what a brand ambassador is and does? As a long-term ambassador for Sony, Rotolight and Fotospeed, Terry shares how it gives him opportunities to come alongside and help people at trade fairs as well as helping to promote the brands.
Terry inspires listeners to use their talent for effecting change and pursuing passion through photography. He also emphasises the value of competitions, awards and self-improvement projects in a photographer's career. He has ambitious goals for his work, not least aiming to achieve the coveted "Photographer of the Year" title with the Society of Photographers. But his aims also go beyond trophies and certificates - he wants to make a significant contribution to red squirrel conservation and the air ambulance service. He helps us realise that photographs can be more than just spectacular images, they can be vehicles for significant societal change.
 
 
Images © Terry Donnelly (used here with permission)
For more of his portfolio please visit Terry's website
Terry's Instagram
 
This episode is sponsored by The Society of Photographers

Weddings, Composites & Competitions with Rachel Owen

World-renowned portrait photographer Rachel Owen joins Joe to share her experiences and the learning curve that led to her becoming a highly respected wedding photographer and international-award-winning composite artist. Rachel describes how she discovered her goals, aimed high and worked hard until she achieved her incredible success. She now helps other photographers along the journey, teaching and critiquing their work.
Over the years Rachel has professionally shot several different genres of portraits, including her latest main offering - bridal boudoir. Having experienced burnout, frustration at not reaching the standard she aspired to and then pivoting to keep herself sane, her story is one of perseverance, diversification and committed hard work that can inspire photographers going through hard times. She also speaks about some of her influences as an artist and how she came to work on projects with a message, such as her "Response" art book, inspired by the turmoil of the Covid pandemic. 
Reminding herself of the privileged position she is in, being chosen to photograph key moments in people's lives, Rachel has a client-centred business focused on delivering the best she can. As an artist she isn't afraid to break the rules and she thrives on the joy of creativity. Her playful side not only uses a range of items to convey metaphorical meaning, but she even hides elements in her images for the viewer to discover.
Rachel Owen is a photographer at the top of her game. Join us as she unveils her unique process for creating captivating photographic compositions, including how she turned a lack of space to her advantage - pushing her to hone her compositing skills which now allow her to create unique narrative images with depth of meaning.
Don't miss the chance to learn from her experiences and insights in this episode!
Images © Rachel Owen (used here with permission)
Visit Rachel Owen's website to see more of her work.
 
This episode is sponsored by The Society of Photographers

Motivation, Marketing and Mindset with Mark Rossetto

In this riveting 13th episode of the Focused Professional podcast, our host Joe Lenton interviews professional photography coach, Mark Rossetto. Get ready for a deep dive into marketing, the role of discipline, motivation and supportive community for building a successful photography business. Mark and Joe share their passion for nurturing the potential in photographers and helping them to run their business in a way that suits their personality. They highlight some of the essential structure we all need to have in place, while emphasising the flexibility with which we can work around that. 
Get insights into creating a unique and meaningful brand through consistent, active, and individualised marketing strategies. Mark & Joe offer advice for navigating common pitfalls and connecting with your target audience authentically. Great businesses don't happen by accident. Photographers need to be willing to put in a lot of hard work to enjoy the benefits of a career in the industry and be wary of the temptation of apparent shortcuts.
Don't miss this great opportunity to wrestle with what underpins a successful photography business and build your future in the photography industry.
Images © Mark Rossetto (used here with permission)
 
PPBN website
Mark Rossetto's website
 
This episode is sponsored by The Society of Photographers

Challenges of Commercial Photography with Renée Robyn

Welcome to the 12th episode of the Focused Professional Podcast. This episode features the brilliant Renée Robyn, known for her world class photography and composite images. With 25+ years of experience in the industry, she has plenty of stories to tell! We explore some of the challenges of working for commercial clients, from pricing to rights management, NDAs, working to a brief and more.
Renee shares her journey towards the publication of her forthcoming book, recognising the importance of getting the right people on board for a great result. We discover how she developed a new product "15 minutes of Chaos" to adapt to a new market in her current situation and her ongoing search for a new studio to base herself at. 
Hear about Renee's love for languages and how learning them is both a way for her to de-stress and to keep her brain healthy.  Listen to anecdotes about Canadian politeness, panicked discussions on Photoshop forums because of her cats and those difficult decisions when it comes to pleasing or potentially losing clients. Whether you are a seasoned professional, a photography enthusiast, or just enjoy stories about working in the photography industry, this podcast has it all.
Images © Renee Robyn (used here with permission)
 
Renee Robyn's website
 
Text & audio © Focused Professional 2024
 
This episode is sponsored by The Society of Photographers
 

Building a Flourishing Photography Business with Gary Hughes

We begin season 2 of The Focused Professional Podcast with another world class international photographer and educator, Gary Hughes. He is particularly known and in demand for his headshot photography. Gary recently put himself through the adrenaline-inducing ordeal of having his work scrutinised by a panel of 5 judges (one of whom was your host Joe Lenton) to gain his Fellowship qualification with The Society of Photographers. In this episode he starts by sharing how he found the process both terrifying and rewarding. We then delve deep into his experiences of running a photography business that have led to his success today.
Gary isn't afraid of change - on the contrary - he embraces it and uses it to adapt his business and flourish. He takes us through various ways in which we can keep track of the vital signs of our businesses and make decisions about our next steps. For Gary, the path to success isn’t just about financial security, but is driven by ambition and the pursuit of accomplishment, as well as quite simply enjoying time with his family.
There is plenty of useful advice here for both new and more experienced photographers. Gary encourages listeners to guard their creativity by prioritizing commercial viability and reinforces how crucial it is to make swift business decisions rooted in practicality. He encourages entrepreneurs to put processes in place, such as outsourcing certain tasks, that ultimately make for a more balanced and enjoyable workspace.
From selecting the right work to prioritizing your own well-being, this episode presses the need for business acumen among creative individuals. As Gary shares his journey of successful transition from generalist to a specific genre photographer, he reiterates the power of a strong value proposition and choosing the "right people." Through real-world examples and personal anecdotes, Gary challenges popular ideas and provides an honest and realistic roadmap for building a fulfilling, self-sustaining creative enterprise. It is a must-listen for emerging photographers looking to navigate this ever evolving, fast-paced industry with an innovative and persevering mindset.
All images © Gary Hughes (used here with permission)
 
See more examples of his headshot, commercial and other photography  on Gary's website
Gary on Instagram
 
Text & audio © Focused Professional, 2024
This episode is sponsored by The Society of Photographers

Fine Art Portraits & Photography Training with Martina Wärenfeld

In episode 10 of the Focused Professional Podcast, we dive into the world of fine art portraiture and photography training with renowned photographer and teacher, Martina Wärenfeld. This world class artist shares her varied experiences from recent surprise successes in Vegas to the reality of being a professional in a changing economic climate.
Martina shares how her approach to competitions has changed, using them in different ways as part of her career strategy. She speaks openly and honestly about her struggles, whether that is understanding the apparent whims of social media advertising or remembering the right technical terms when teaching! Martina dispels the myth of the "perfect expert", showing us instead that all of us are always learning and evolving. Together, we explore the importance of understanding your own personality for developing a photography business. 
Join us in this journey of learning, growing, and gaining inspiration to develop a photographic style and solid business. It's a fantastic blend of artistry, resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and humorous anecdotes intended to fuel continual learning, development, and passion in photography
Some of Martina's images:
 
Visit Martina's Website for Fine Art Portraiture & Teaching
If you would like to keep up to date with the latest images and news from Martina then please follow her on Instagram
 

Kris Anderson - Special Guest - Focused Professional Podcast Episode 9

In Episode 9 of the Focused Professional Podcast, we have an exclusive interview with special guest, Kris Anderson. A double master from Icon and recent winner of the in camera division at the Icon awards, Kris shares his passion for creating impactful images and visual storytelling. We discuss a range of topics from dealing with imposter syndrome and learning from failures, to exploring unorthodox photographic techniques and working towards a Fellowship panel.
Plus, get a sneak peek into Kris's personal life, his move from Canada to Australia, and his love for snow!
The image that won the in camera division at Icon:
One of Kris' most well known composites:
An example of Kris' storytelling through images:
See more of Kris' images on the Images By Anderson website
Or follow him on Instagram to keep up with his latest work
Kris Anderson is a Double Master with Icon International Photography Awards, a Fellow with The Society of Photographers, an NZIPP Master with Distinction and has won numerous awards on the international stage for his outstanding images. 
He is also now famous for the 2 word phrase at the end of his behind the scenes video

Terrie Jones - Special Guest - Focused Professional Podcast Episode 8

Our special guest for this episode is Terrie Jones, Head of Judging & Personal Development Manager at The Society of Photographers. As you will hear, Terrie has a strong passion for helping photographers with self-development. She is always looking to improve how things are done and explains one example of this - why the scoring system was recently updated for the 20x16 print competition. Find out how pets help her and her family live more healthily and get a teaser of one of her latest goals.
The Societies of Photographers website

Steffi Blochwitz - Special Guest - Focused Professional Podcast Episode 7

Swiss wedding photographer Steffi Blochwitz joins us in this episode to talk about photography, self-image, her cats and more. She recently won the 20x16 Print Wedding - Open Photographer of the Year & the Wedding - Couple Together Photographer of the Year titles with The Societies of Photographers. Here she is with her cat "Nuts"!
Some Examples of Steffi's work:
Follow Steffi on Instagram
Visit Steffi's website

Neil Shearer - Special Guest - Focused Professional Podcast Episode 6

Special guest Neil Shearer shares his story and also his thoughts on creativity, CGI, AI, and more. Neil is a qualified Fellow (IFSWPP) and recently won the 20x16 Print Advertising & Commercial Photographer of the Year title.
Images ©Neil Shearer, 2024
See more of Neil's commercial photography and personal work 
You can also keep up to date with his latest projects by following Neil on Instagram