119: Jemella Ukaegbu - Why You Should Utilize Print & How to Master Your Craft

Having founded her business in 2017 after turning to photography as a way to help recover from postnatal depression; Lauren Chambers quickly specialised in wedding photography. Growing up and living on the iconic Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland, it's no surprise that Lauren quickly started shooting elopements. Combining her love for capturing moments and landscapes Lauren's style has earned her recognition with awards, but it's the feedback and connection she gets from her couples that brings her the most joy. She has built a business that is rooted in her core values and allows her to be a mum to her two children. Lauren also hosts and runs Capture Love; a retreat and workshop for women in the wedding photography industry. She is extremely passionate about supporting other women in the industry and building community. Lauren loves the business side and believes that you can have a values based business that is profitable. In a time of uncertainty she has diversified her business and strengthened it. She shares how she has done that whilst staying true to her core values and ensuring her businesses work for her. https://litphotographyni.com/capture-love-northern-ireland-elopement-workshop/

Starting as a political news and celebrity portrait photographer in DC, Sam was instantly drawn to wedding photography as a space to promote more inventive ideas. Sam’s focus is on photographic techniques that are deceptively simple but have the potential to transform difficult or uninspiring shooting environments into one-of-a-kind opportunities for every photo made.

Faye Cornhill is a business coach to the wedding industry. With her signature mix of positivity, motivation and common sense, she specialises in helping aspirational business owners follow their dreams of making it in the world of weddings. Faye's career as a business coach follows a decade of hands-on experience as one of the UK's leading fine art wedding photographers. Today, as well as working one-to-one with many of the wedding industry's movers and shakers, Faye also runs The Wedding Business Club. This private members club has become a thriving community of wedding professionals from all across the globe. Faye firmly believes that mindset is the foundation for any successful business. Her followers praise her ability to inspire and energise and she is commended by prominent figures in the industry for leading by example. Find out more at www.fayecornhillcoaching.co.uk and www.theweddingbusinessclub.com or on Instagram www.instagram.com/fayecornhill

Adam is based in the county of Staffordshire in the United Kingdom where he operates his down-to-earth wedding photography business. Adam has lofty dreams of where he wants to take his business but unlike most, they don't involve working too far from his hometown. He values connections with everyone he meets and even more so his friends and family hence the local focus of his brand/business. With the help of his vast array of Insta360 cameras and his super likeable personality Adam has become widely known as "Mr Behind the Scenes". A business niche which was nurtured by his love for organic growth within his Instagram and now TikTok. If you haven't seen one of Adam's Behind the Scenes videos then check out this one.If you'd like to hear more about Adam and his passion for Behind the Scenes content then you can actually go and see him talk in person at this year's Click Live Expo in Coventry, UK on Sunday, June the 23rd at 12:00. You can read more about Adam's appearance at Click Live and the multitude of other educational offerings Adam is working on via dropping by his Education side of his website.

Jemella is an established photographer and has been working in the industry for over 13 years. She runs her own full-time photography business Mellz Photography, specialising in Maternity, Newborn, baby milestone sessions and weddings. Jemella's passion for photography comes from capturing her clients special milestones a printing them to last for generations in a digital consumed world.She is also the founder of the UK Black female photographers Community (UKBFTOG) . A community started due to the lack if diversity in the photography industry. Over the last 7 years the community has helped members connect with others Black Femalephotographers through meet ups, having opportunities of becoming published photographers, work experience in the photography industry such as capturing the BAFTA red carpet, as well as recently becoming an award winning community with with “Readers Choice Exhibition of the year”.

Fiona Elizabeth, Founder of Wedding Photography Mentor, has been in the industry for over a decade. Her recent accolade at the Icon International Photography Awards as a Category winner in the Boudoir & Fine Art Nude portrait division is another feather in her cap, placing Fiona among some of the world's leading photographers.With six professional photography qualifications in Documentary, Wedding, and Creative Portrait, including a Fellowship and multiple awards in the UK, Fiona has been judging photography and mentoring photographers for over four years.Her mentoring and membership program is designed for beginner and intermediate photographers who want to grow, scale, and refine their craft in wedding photography, creating signature work that appeals to high-paying clients.Fiona is passionate about helping other photographers succeed. Her nurturing demeanour, passion, and professionalism provide a safe space for photographers to be part of a motivational and inspiring community, resulting in fast-paced growth and development!www.theweddingphotographymentor.com

Eirik Halvorsen is a destination wedding photographer and educator based in Norway. By documenting real moments with his storytelling approach, he has photographed all over Norway, in 11 different countries, including 10 States in the USA. His artistic portraits range from multiple exposures and light painting to epic landscapes and starry skies colored by the Northern Lights. Eirik has been teaching since 2016 and continues to be an active wedding and elopement photographer while helping others to create sustainable businesses through The Photography Business Lounge.

Shutter Circle’s main core value will always be community over competition. When the team started out there was a lot of gatekeeping in the industry, and they wanted to be that change. There are so many wedding photography/videography workshops out there, but seem to only target established businesses. Shutter Circle wanted to close that gap, to help share their knowledge with beginners trying to get into the industry. Seasoned wedding photographers - Nik, Luke & Kieran have 25+ years of combined experience under their belts, and want to provide a community of like-minded peers where asking questions is actively encouraged and providing a support network in an otherwise lonely industry. In August 2023, the Shutter Circle team set up a facebook group that has now grown to over 1500 active members. In that group people feel safe to ask questions, and utilise the free resources and helpful tips that they share. Shutter Circle quickly identified the pain points within the industry and wanted to help other photographers and videographers connect and share work with each other. Through the use of their new second shooter portal (launching Spring 2024!) users will be able to filter search criteria to find the perfect second shooters for their upcoming weddings, and apply for jobs. The portal will remove the overwhelming process of looking for second shooters on Facebook, and trawling through the comments of people who may not necessarily fit the style or brand that you’re after. Users will be able to make their own profile, list their equipment, price and shooting style. There will also be a review system in place for both parties - meaning seconds can review the main photographer for things like; Did they pay on time? Did they return SD cards?