The Photography Pod

Message Nick and Steve here:
AI is changing the way people search — and that could completely change how new clients find your photography business.
In this episode of The Photography Pod, Steve and Nick are joined by photographer, author, mentor and BIPP President Jeff Brown for a fascinating conversation about what photographers need to know about the rapidly changing world of online search.
For years we’ve been told that SEO, keywords and getting onto page one of Google are essential. But increasingly, potential customers aren’t simply typing “wedding photographer Bristol” into Google. They’re asking ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and other AI tools much more detailed questions — and expecting them to recommend the right photographer.
So how do you make sure they recommend you?
Jeff explains the growing importance of Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) and why understanding the questions your ideal clients are asking may now be more valuable than obsessing over traditional keywords.
We also get into the long-running debate about whether photographers should publish their prices online, why your website should be built around your customer rather than around you, and why testimonials shouldn’t be hidden away on a separate reviews page.
Jeff shares some brilliantly practical advice on:
• Why AI search is changing traditional SEO
• How ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude find and recommend businesses
• Why photographers should put prices on their websites
• How pricing can actually improve the quality of your enquiries
• The three jobs every photography website needs to do
• Why your homepage may need a rethink
• How to create dedicated service pages for different customers
• Why most photographers are using blogs incorrectly
• The difference between a useful blog and simply showing another wedding
• How to create content based on the questions clients are actually asking
• Why a detailed FAQ page could be one of the quickest improvements you can make
• Why LinkedIn is massively underused by photographers
• How photographers can use AI to help create content without producing obvious “AI slop”
• Why good quality, genuinely useful content may actually level the playing field for smaller photography businesses
There’s also a lovely twist towards the end of the episode when Steve asks Jeff how he originally discovered The Photography Pod.
The answer?
AI recommended us.
Which rather proves the point of the entire conversation.
If you run a photography business — or you’re thinking about starting one — this is an episode we think you really shouldn’t miss.
Find Jeff Brown
Jeff is President of the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) and works with photographers around the world through his mentoring and training.
His latest book, Help! My Photography Website Needs More Customers, looks specifically at many of the subjects we discuss in this episode.
You can find Jeff through The Photographers Mentor, LinkedIn and Facebook.
And as ever, if you enjoy the show, please follow or subscribe to The Photography Pod, leave us a review, and get in touch through the link in the show notes. We genuinely love hearing from you.
Support the show
The Photography Pod is twice monthly photography podcast for both working professionals and enthusiast photographers. The host Nick Church and Steve Vaughan are professional wedding photographers based in the UK. They both use Sony Alpha cameras and lenses.
Photography Pod Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephotographypod/
Video version of the Podcast including slide shows of images:  https://www.youtube.com/@thephotographypod

Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/
Nick Church Creative Academy https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/news/introducing-nick-church-creative-academy

Steve's website : https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve's Wedding Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography/
Steve's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevevaughanphotography

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Message Nick and Steve here:
What makes a great photograph? Is it composition, technical perfection, or simply being in the right place at the right moment?
This week, Steve and Nick are joined by acclaimed photographer, filmmaker and author Neil Selkirk, whose extraordinary career began in New York in 1968, working alongside legendary photographers including Richard Avedon and Diane Arbus.
Neil shares fascinating stories from the golden age of photography, including his remarkable experience recreating Diane Arbus's darkroom prints, before discussing his new book, Why Photographs? — a book about photography with no photographs!
Along the way, we explore why Neil believes composition is overrated, the importance of spontaneity and authenticity, the changing world of professional photography, and whether AI threatens the very thing that makes photography special.
A fascinating, entertaining and occasionally provocative conversation about why we take photographs — and why the real world will always be worth capturing.
Links:
Neil Selkirk: https://www.neilselkirk.com
Why Photographs? — published by Warbler Press.
Aperture interview with Neil Selkirk on printing Diane Arbus's photographs
MOMA page on Diane Arbus 
Support the show
The Photography Pod is twice monthly photography podcast for both working professionals and enthusiast photographers. The host Nick Church and Steve Vaughan are professional wedding photographers based in the UK. They both use Sony Alpha cameras and lenses.
Photography Pod Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephotographypod/
Video version of the Podcast including slide shows of images:  https://www.youtube.com/@thephotographypod

Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/
Nick Church Creative Academy https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/news/introducing-nick-church-creative-academy

Steve's website : https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve's Wedding Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography/
Steve's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevevaughanphotography

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Message Nick and Steve here:
Steve and Nick are joined by Scottish wedding photographers Murray McMillan and Lawrence Scott for a very funny and refreshingly candid conversation about photography, friendship and working together at weddings.
Murray and Lawrence have very different photographic styles, but years of shooting together have turned them into a highly effective team. They talk about the benefits of having two photographers at a wedding, learning to anticipate what the other person is doing and why couples now sometimes specifically ask for both of them.
There’s plenty of gear talk too. Murray explains why his romantic idea of shooting weddings exclusively with Leica Q3s didn't quite survive contact with a real wedding, why he returned to Sony, and what he thinks of the A7 V and tiny RX1R III. Lawrence talks Nikon Z9s, fast lenses, low-light performance and his admiration for Sony autofocus.
The conversation also gets into the less glamorous realities of wedding photography: long days, endless editing, marketing, burnout, balancing photography with another career and wondering how long you want to keep doing it.
Plus: content creators at weddings, supplier meals, Ray-Ban Meta glasses, Lawrence's tendency to shoot rather a lot of photographs… and Steve's possible new career as a wedding toastmaster.
And at the end, Steve and Nick share more details about The Photography Pod London Meetup on 21 November, including plans for coffee, street photography walks, a pub and possibly a curry.
A relaxed, honest and very funny hour with four wedding photographers who probably know each other rather too well.
Murray McMillan Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/murray_mcmillan
Lawrence Scott Instagram :https://www.instagram.com/LSPix
Support the show
The Photography Pod is twice monthly photography podcast for both working professionals and enthusiast photographers. The host Nick Church and Steve Vaughan are professional wedding photographers based in the UK. They both use Sony Alpha cameras and lenses.
Photography Pod Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephotographypod/
Video version of the Podcast including slide shows of images:  https://www.youtube.com/@thephotographypod

Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/
Nick Church Creative Academy https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/news/introducing-nick-church-creative-academy

Steve's website : https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve's Wedding Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography/
Steve's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevevaughanphotography

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Message Nick and Steve here:
Steve and Nick revisit the grey import debate after asking photographers where they buy their gear. The savings can be substantial, but what about warranties, VAT and the UK camera shops we value?
Wedding photographer Greg Thurtle joins them to talk about using the Osmo Pocket 4 Pro for hybrid wedding coverage. They discuss where a small camera helps, how the second lens changes the way Greg shoots, and the compromises he has found so far.
Later, Steve shares a simpler approach to his personal photography: shooting for pleasure, editing on an iPad and using ChatGPT to help build Lightroom presets. Nick has an AI story of his own, with a rather less straightforward result.
In this episode:
Grey imports, warranties and supporting local retailers
Greg’s experience with the Pocket 4 Pro at weddings
Keeping personal photography from feeling like more work
Lightroom on an iPad and AI-assisted presets
News of the Photography Pod’s London get-together
Join the conversation in The Photography Pod Facebook group. We’d love to hear where you buy your gear and how you handle the photos you take just for yourself.
Support the show
The Photography Pod is twice monthly photography podcast for both working professionals and enthusiast photographers. The host Nick Church and Steve Vaughan are professional wedding photographers based in the UK. They both use Sony Alpha cameras and lenses.
Photography Pod Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephotographypod/
Video version of the Podcast including slide shows of images:  https://www.youtube.com/@thephotographypod

Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/
Nick Church Creative Academy https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/news/introducing-nick-church-creative-academy

Steve's website : https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve's Wedding Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography/
Steve's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevevaughanphotography

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Message Nick and Steve here:
What would you put in your camera bag if you had £10,000 to spend?
In this episode, Steve and Nick take on the £10K camera bag challenge, choosing the bodies, lenses, lighting and video kit they’d want for weddings, commercial work and personal photography.
Along the way they discuss the new Sigma 85mm f/1.2, compact street lenses, fisheyes, Sony A1 and A7R bodies, prime lenses versus zooms, grey imports, DJI Osmo Pocket frustrations and the gear they actually rely on when things get busy.
There’s also plenty of wedding-season chaos, including speeding courses, damaged wheels, editing mistakes, forgotten kit and the dangers of trying to do too much at once.
Plus, details of the new Photography Pod Facebook photo competition and plans for a listener meetup in London.
What would be in your £10K camera bag? Let us know in The Photography Pod Facebook group.
Email the show : thephotographypodstudio@gmail.com
Support the show
The Photography Pod is twice monthly photography podcast for both working professionals and enthusiast photographers. The host Nick Church and Steve Vaughan are professional wedding photographers based in the UK. They both use Sony Alpha cameras and lenses.
Photography Pod Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/thephotographypod/
Video version of the Podcast including slide shows of images:  https://www.youtube.com/@thephotographypod

Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/
Nick Church Creative Academy https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/news/introducing-nick-church-creative-academy

Steve's website : https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve's Wedding Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography/
Steve's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevevaughanphotography

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