Shows
Focused ProfessionalAn Expat Artist in Asia - Peter RooneyOur guest for episode 20 is Peter Rooney, a renowned creative portrait photographer originally from the UK, currently living in Thailand. He joins us to discuss his creative journey and his varied experiences as a British expat living and working overseas. Peter has won numerous accolades for his work, including a Fellowship with the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) and winning the MPA (Master Photographers Association) International Photographer of the Year in both 2018 and 2019. He has also represented his country on more than one occasion for the World Photographic Cup.
In this episode, Peter takes us through hi...
2024-07-1558 min
Focused ProfessionalPerfecting Pet Photography with Belinda RichardsIn episode 19 we focus on pet photography with one of the world's top exponents of the genre. Australian photographer Belinda Richards has won many awards and titles for her work, including being The Society of Photographers overall photographer of the year in 2022. Belinda has worked with animals for many years and in different industries. Her time running a mobile dog grooming business and working for the local council in animal management have helped her to gain a deep insight into animal behaviour. She combines this extensive experience with her understanding of fine art and great camera skills to run...
2024-07-081h 08
Focused ProfessionalStorytelling That Changes Lives - Sean Gallagher on PhotojournalismIn Episode 18, Joe interviews Sean Gallagher, an independent photographer and filmmaker based in China. A fellow of the Royal Geographic Society with a passion for environmental issues, Sean is a multi-award-winning photojournalist whose work has appeared in National Geographic and on CNN.
After studying zoology, Sean stumbled upon photography by discovering an old family camera. His growing passion led him to teach himself how to develop his own prints and inspired him to seek out an internship at Magnum Photos. His time there fuelled his interest in photojournalism and gave him the opportunity to learn from some o...
2024-07-011h 11
Focused ProfessionalWedding Photography Passion with Fiona ElizabethFiona Elizabeth joins us to share her unexpected journey into wedding photography and the challenges she's faced along the way. Discover how Fiona balances the artistic and business aspects of her work and also helps others to do so through her Wedding Photographer Mentor programme. She is passionate about helping others to create successful wedding photography businesses, providing guidance and support drawn from her years of experience.
Hear the stories behind her impactful personal projects, including a poignant photographic essay based on the struggles of those living in a refugee camp in Calais. Her time there clearly m...
2024-06-2456 min
Focused ProfessionalWalking in the Shoes of Outdoor Photographer Curtis JonesImmerse yourself in the world of renowned outdoor photographer, Curtis Jones. Join us as Curtis shares the highs and lows of his ongoing journey exploring the most isolated environments on the planet. Find out what motivates him and how his approach has changed over the years. He shares his passion not only to photograph these places but also to study the rich history, culture, flora, and fauna, so he can enthuse and educate those he guides.
In this episode, Curtis tells us about his initial experiences in expedition and adventure photography. From this more documentary approach, he...
2024-06-171h 05
Focused ProfessionalMastering Multi-Genre Photography with Terry DonnellyJoin 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 m...
2024-06-101h 04
Focused ProfessionalWeddings, Composites & Competitions with Rachel OwenWorld-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...
2024-06-0358 min
Focused ProfessionalMotivation, Marketing and Mindset with Mark RossettoIn 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...
2024-05-271h 24
Focused ProfessionalChallenges of Commercial Photography with Renée RobynWelcome 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 m...
2024-05-201h 17
Focused ProfessionalBuilding a Flourishing Photography Business with Gary HughesWe 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...
2024-05-131h 36
Focused ProfessionalFine Art Portraits & Photography Training with Martina WärenfeldIn 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 t...
2024-03-251h 01
Focused ProfessionalKris Anderson - Special Guest - Focused Professional Podcast Episode 9In 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...
2024-03-181h 11
Focused ProfessionalTerrie Jones - Special Guest - Focused Professional Podcast Episode 8Our 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
2024-03-111h 05
Focused ProfessionalSteffi Blochwitz - Special Guest - Focused Professional Podcast Episode 7Swiss 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
2024-03-041h 00
Focused ProfessionalNeil Shearer - Special Guest - Focused Professional Podcast Episode 6Special 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
2024-02-2652 min
Focused ProfessionalHanna Neret - Special Guest - Focused Professional Podcast Episode 5Hanna Neret, the creative trophy-collecting genius from Sweden joins us in this episode. Her images have won numerous accolades including the 2022 Societies Photographer of the Year. She gives us an insight into how she creates her masterpieces and what motivates her.
Images ©Hanna Neret. See more of her work on Hanna's Instagram
2024-02-1944 min
Focused ProfessionalScott Johnson - Special Guest - Focused Professional Podcast Episode 4FSWPP Master Photographer Scott Johnson joins us to share what motivates him in his photography. Famous for his world class wedding photography, Scott is also diversifying both for his business and personal enjoyment. Enjoy his amusing anecdotes and find out what Scott couldn't do without if he is to remain a nice guy!
See more of Scott's work at The Edge website
2024-02-101h 06
Focused ProfessionalConnecting Motivation & Goals - Focused Professional Podcast Episode 3Why set goals? How should we choose them in the first place? Motivation comes from our needs. Having more of our needs met leads to a greater sense of satisfaction. Setting goals based on our motivators and needs helps to ensure that we are aiming for something that has genuine purpose and meaning for us. It can also make persevering through difficulties that much easier. This episode of the Focused Professional Podcast looks in detail about the role that goals can play for us.
2024-02-0116 minFocused ProfessionalPersonality & Business - Developing a Photography Business that reflects and suits us - Focused Professional Podcast Episode 2Does your business suit your personality? As professional photographers we are essentially our brand. So, if we keep trying to do things that don't work for our personality then there is a good chance that people will notice some dissonance in our brand. By understanding ourselves better we can find ways of doing activities such as marketing in ways that are more natural for us. This not only makes it easier for us, it also means that our prospective clients will see a more authentic brand.
2024-01-1416 minFocused ProfessionalThe Key to being a Happier Photographer - Understanding Motivation - Focused Professional Podcast Episode 1How can we be happy as professional photographers? The key lies in our motivation. If we are able to work in line with our motivators then we can feel happier and that we are achieving more. Ignoring what really motivates us can leave us frustrated and unhappy. This episode is an introduction to motivating factors that can affect photographers when running their own business. It is presented by Joe Lenton, mentor & business coach at Focused Professional.
2024-01-1418 min