For many years, my world was event photography. Mostly equestrian events. Early starts, long days, unpredictable weather, fast-moving horses and the occasional moment where you realise you’ve been standing in exactly the wrong place at exactly the right time…

It taught me to watch.
To anticipate.

And, perhaps most importantly, to be ready for things to happen before they actually happen.

Although my work moved more towards commercial and brand photography around ten years ago, event photography has never really left me.
In fact, I think it’s something that has become increasingly useful in the way I photograph businesses today.

At the end of July, for example, I spent time at The Game Fair, photographing for Countrywoman’s Guide and Hiho Silver Jewellery.

Now, The Game Fair is not exactly a quiet little gathering in a village hall.

There are people everywhere. Things happening in every direction. Products being sold, conversations being had, demonstrations taking place and approximately one million photographic opportunities disappearing within three seconds if you’re not paying attention. And I absolutely love it. Because this is where photography can become about so much more than simply taking a nice picture of someone’s product.

It’s about capturing a brand in its natural habitat.
The people behind it.
The customers engaging with it.
The details that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The atmosphere.
The personality.
The slightly chaotic bits.

And those moments that you simply couldn’t recreate in a studio if you tried.

For a business, an event can provide an incredible opportunity to create a whole bank of imagery in a relatively short space of time.

Thank you for reading – and naturally, I hope you picked up on those links to those who feature in this article 😉

Wishing you all a wonderful day and week ahead.

Rachel x

Join my world – Become a part of my community of small businesses and entreprenuers, all seeking fuss free support with their photography needs.  Head to the sign up page for my monthly newsletter and become part of a growing community.  

In my previous blog, I touched on the idea that supporting a small business does not always have to mean spending money. A like, a share, a comment or a recommendation can all make a real difference. This article feels like a natural follow-on to that conversation, because I want to explore one of those ideas a little further: the power of recommendation.

There is something wonderfully familiar about it too. Long before social media, recommendations often happened in the most ordinary of ways — over the garden fence, across a kitchen table or during a chat with a neighbour. Someone would mention a florist, a tradesperson, a hairdresser or a local café, and just like that, a business might gain a new customer.

That kind of word of mouth still matters today. In fact, I would argue it matters just as much, if not more. Because whilst a recommendation may only take seconds to give, its impact can travel much further than we realise…

Long before social media existed, recommendations happened naturally…

A neighbour would mention a local tradesperson. A friend would pass on the details of a florist. Someone would recommend a restaurant, a hairdresser or a saddler over a cup of tea.

Businesses grew through trust and reputation.

In many ways, very little has changed. The only difference is that today’s word of mouth often happens online.

• A tag in a social media post.
• A comment recommending a service.
• A testimonial on a website.
• A quick mention in a Facebook group.
• A share of someone’s work.
• These are todays equivalents of those conversations people used to have over garden fences, or down the pub.

And they still matter. Perhaps now more than ever?

Thank you for reading – and naturally, I hope you picked up on those links to those who feature in this article 😉

Wishing you all a wonderful day and week ahead.

Rachel x

Join my world – Become a part of my community of small businesses and entreprenuers, all seeking fuss free support with their photography needs.  Head to the sign up page for my monthly newsletter and become part of a growing community.  

There’s something I see on social media almost daily that always makes me smile a little… and wince a little at the same time.

A small business posts a beautiful image on Instagram or Facebook. The caption talks warmly about supporting small businesses. Perhaps it encourages people to shop local, spread the word, share the love… Like, comment etc etc

And yet quietly sitting in the corner of that post, entirely anonymous, is the photographer who created the image in the first place.

Like a ghost with a camera…

Now before anybody panics – this is not me dramatically throwing my lens cap to the floor demanding recognition at every turn!!  Most brand photographers I know, myself included, don’t insist clients must tag us every single time an image is used or even mention this within a contract. We’re not sat refreshing Instagram muttering, “Where’s my mention, Geraldine?”

But… it is a genuinely lovely thing when it happens.

Because here’s the thing many people forget about photography for business… the images don’t simply appear by magic.

Behind them is usually:

• planning
• editing
• styling guidance
• reassurance
• problem solving
• and often someone lying half in a hedge trying to get “the shot”

(An occupational hazard, frankly that many of you will have been witness too over the years)

When you tag your photographer in a post, you’re not just crediting a supplier. You’re extending the same small business support we all talk so passionately about online.

And honestly? It matters more than people realise.

Wishing you all a wonderful day and week ahead.

Rachel x

Join my world – Become a part of my community of small businesses and entreprenuers, all seeking fuss free support with their photography needs.  Head to the sign up page for my monthly newsletter and become part of a growing community.  

If there’s one piece of advice I find myself giving over and over again, it’s this: don’t wait for perfect.

In the second part of this series (if you didn’t read the first one, you’ll find it here to read) I’m going to help you see the power of ‘here and now’.

So many brilliant business ideas gather dust while their owners wait for the stars to align, maybe waiting for the right haircut, or for spring flowers to bloom, or for a ‘better’ version of their website to be finished. But the truth is, your audience isn’t looking for perfect.

They’re looking for you.

They want to see your enthusiasm, your energy, your genuine expertise. They want to trust that you can help them. And that connection starts when you show up… exactly as you are, right now.

Brand photography helps you do just that. It gives you a ready-to-go collection of images that you can use instantly, across every platform, to build interest, buzz and confidence around your launch.

And once you’ve got those visuals in your back pocket, you’ll find it so much easier to move forward; no more waiting, no more hesitation, no more hiding behind the “just one more thing” excuse.

Wishing you all a wonderful day and week ahead.

Rachel x

Join my world – Become a part of my community of small businesses and entreprenuers, all seeking fuss free support with their photography needs.  Head to the sign up page for my monthly newsletter and become part of a growing community.  

There’s something thrilling about a new launch, isn’t there? That heady mix of excitement and mild panic; a to-do list that somehow grows instead of shrinks; the endless tweaking of ideas, words and visuals until it all feels just right. But here’s the catch: many business owners get so caught up in making things perfect that they end up losing momentum altogether.

The outfit isn’t quite right. The hair isn’t behaving. The new office wall still needs painting. And before you know it, the ‘launch’ has been quietly nudged back a few more weeks.

Sound familiar?

Brand photography isn’t a luxury for “someday” when your business is more polished; it’s a tool that helps get you that next level, sooner.

Keep your eyes peeled for part two of this topic….

Wishing you all a wonderful day and week ahead.

Rachel x

Join my world – Become a part of my community of small businesses and entreprenuers, all seeking fuss free support with their photography needs.  Head to the sign up page for my monthly newsletter and become part of a growing community.  

Do you know who your ideal customer is?

I was asked this recently, and my answer came easily. Yes, because my ideal client looked very much like me when I first started out. Those early days of running a business can be exciting, but also overwhelming. You know what you want to create, but working out how to show it to the world feels daunting…

Looking back to when I first started out as a brand photographer in 2016 after nearly 5 as an equestrian photographer, I can see that I was finding my way, building something piece by piece, without necessarily having the words or confidence to call it a brand.

That is why this question matters so much. Do you know who your ideal customer really is? Because once you do, it changes how you show up, what you create, and how you are seen.

Photography plays a big part in that. It is not just about creating professional looking images, it is about creating a sense of recognition. When your ideal customer sees your photos, they should feel something familiar. They should think, “this speaks to me.”

If you take the time to know who you are speaking to, your photography can:

• reflect their personality and values
• show your brand in a way that feels natural and honest
• build trust through consistency and clarity

So let me leave you with a gentle challenge. Picture your ideal customer, the person you most want to work with. Then look at your website or your social media. Do your images reflect them? Do they tell the story in a way that makes that person feel welcome and understood?

Join my world – Become a part of my community of small businesses and entreprenuers, all seeking fuss free support with their photography needs. Head to the sign up page for my monthly newsletter and become part of a growing community.

If there’s one phrase that comes up most often after I photograph an event, it’s this:

“I didn’t even notice you were there!”

And to me, that’s the best compliment.

Because when I’m photographing a brand-led event, whether it’s a creative workshop, a product launch, a client gathering or a retreat, my role is not to be centre stage. It’s to quietly observe. To blend into the background. To support the energy of the space without interrupting the flow.

But here’s the thing: that doesn’t mean I’m not doing anything.

In fact, long before your event starts, we’ve already discussed what’s important.

You’ve shared your goals, your brand tone, the key moments you’d love captured and the kind of images you’re hoping to walk away with. I arrive with your brief quietly tucked into my back pocket (figuratively, usually), and from the moment your guests begin to arrive, I’m gently capturing what we agreed, without you needing to think twice about it.

You’re free to host.
To greet people at the door.
To connect with clients or collaborators.
To take a breath, knowing it’s all in hand.

I’m there for the realness:
• The quiet concentration as someone writes notes
• The sparkle of laughter shared over coffee
• The textures of your table styling or product set-up
• The glow of candlelight at golden hour
• The natural, unposed images that tell the story of what you created

There’s no shout of “look this way!”
No interruption of the moment.

Just a calm presence, tuned into your brand and quietly working in the background to build a gallery of images that will serve you well long after the chairs are stacked and the lights go off.

So if you’re planning an event and want beautiful, meaningful imagery that reflects your business at its most real and most resonant, without having to micromanage your photographer, I might just be your person.

You bring the vision. I’ll quietly capture it….

Wishing you all a wonderful day and week ahead.

Rachel x

Join my world – Become a part of my community of small businesses and entreprenuers, all seeking fuss free support with their photography needs. Head to the sign up page for my monthly newsletter and become part of a growing community.

Let’s talk about some of the quiet little thoughts that hold people back from booking a brand shoot. The sort that whisper:

“Maybe it’s not for me… maybe I’ll do it later… maybe I’m not the kind of business that needs this.”

I hear these hesitations/dithers often, and not from people who are doing anything wrong either! They’re just being human! Running a business, juggling All-The-Things, and quietly wondering if they need to be glossier / braver / thinner / clearer / more professional-looking before they deserve great photos.

So here are a few myths I’d like to gently but firmly shatter….

Truth:
Confidence actually often follows the shoot — not the other way round.
So many of my clients arrive feeling unsure and leave feeling proud with a dirty great smile on their faces. When you see yourself doing what you love, through a thoughtful lens, something shifts.

Truth:
You don’t need to be. That’s not your job really.
You need to be yourself, and I’ll help with the rest. I’ll be there guiding you, putting you at ease, helping you feel like you’re just having a relaxed, happy chat.

Truth:
If you are the business — service provider, maker, therapist, coach, creative — then showing up as yourself helps people connect and trust you.
This isn’t about glamour shots at all. It’s about showing who the “Everyday You” is behind the magic you personally create.

Truth:
If you’re showing up online, brand photography is one of the most practical tools you can invest in.
You’ll use it for your website, social media, marketing, launches, emails, printed material… all the things you’re doing anyway — just with visuals that truly feel like you.

Truth:
There’s a difference between a photo and a strategy.
A professional shoot gives you a cohesive, story-driven set of visuals you can use again and again — not just ‘one decent photo’.

Wishing you all a wonderful day and week ahead.

Rachel x

Join my world – Become a part of my community of small businesses and entreprenuers, all seeking fuss free support with their photography needs.  Head to the sign up page for my monthly newsletter and become part of a growing community.  

If there’s one thing small business owners are excellent at, it’s juggling. We’re part accountant, part marketing expert, part customer service rep, and at times, probably also the office cleaner. We wear so many hats we could open a millinery.

And beyond business?

We’ve got life to fit in too — family, pets, friends, a bit of self-care (or at least the occasional cuppa while staring out of the window, pretending we’re doing yoga). It’s all too easy to say yes to every opportunity, every client, every project, and before we know it, we’re stretched thinner than a pancake on Shrove Tuesday.

But here’s the thing: when we try to do it all, we don’t always do it well. And sometimes, in saying ‘yes’ to everything, we lose sight of what we actually do best. That’s where the magic of prioritising and delegating comes in.

It’s tempting to grab every opportunity with both hands, but have you ever found yourself knee-deep in something that’s draining the joy out of your work? Maybe you took on a project that wasn’t quite your thing, or agreed to a favour that became a full-time job.

Instead of thriving, you’re just surviving.

A well-placed ‘not right now’ or even a firm but friendly ‘I don’t think I’m the right fit’ can do wonders. Protecting your time and energy isn’t selfish—it’s what keeps your business (and sanity) running smoothly.

You started your business because you’re brilliant at what you do. Whether it’s creating, coaching, crafting, or consulting, that’s where your time is best spent. I didn’t become a photographer in order to learn accountacy, or to become a location scout…. Some of it I’ve discovered I love doing, but it was never on my radar when I had that lightbulb “I’m working for myself” moment.

When you’re overloading yourself with tasks that don’t light you up, your business and wellbeing suffer. Focus on the bits that make your heart sing, and let the rest go—either by doing less of it or passing it on.

We often feel like we should be able to do it all. But outsourcing or delegating isn’t an admission of defeat—it’s a sign of wisdom. Whether it’s hiring a bookkeeper, getting professional brand photos (see what I did there?), or even just asking a friend to help with a task, sharing the load frees up your time for the things you truly excel at.

Wishing you all a wonderful day and week ahead. Whatever you are choosing to do first with your list of things, go careful with yourself and remember that the next pancake you flip might be so thin it sticks to the ceiling and nobody notices how perfect it was.

Rachel x

Join my world – Become a part of my community of small businesses and entreprenuers, all seeking fuss free support with their photography needs.  Head to the sign up page for my monthly newsletter and become part of a growing community.