Half the episode was recorded before anyone noticed the mic wasn't on. That's the vibe this week.

Pete, Laura, and Bee (Liam is off conquering Scotland and London simultaneously) are talking about the real pressures hitting the wedding industry right now - and what, if anything, we can do about it. Bookings are shifting. Budgets are tighter. Midweek and shorter-coverage weddings are on the rise. And one person out there reckons full-time wedding photography might not even be viable anymore.

Then there's the ghosting. Bee's Instagram post on the subject got 30,000 views and 122 comments, almost entirely from suppliers saying same. So why is it happening - and is it actually couples being rude, or are we just making the booking process too hard? The Coda Podcast gets a mention, contact forms get a roasting, and Zoom calls are on trial.

They also untangle the word "editorial" - which apparently now means "natural and relaxed" to couples, despite meaning the opposite to everyone who actually shoots it. And when a content creator couple rocked up in a Lake Como wedding group claiming to be the only people capturing candid, in-between moments, the documentary photographers and videographers in the room had some thoughts.

Plus: Bee's Super 8 film comes back from the lab. Pete's British Gas bill arrives and it is not good news. Table tennis glory. And the completely startling realisation that this podcast is nearly four years old. Oh, and then we end with Pete being packed off to live on a narrowboat survivng on only Huel, and no cushions.

Timestamps

00:00 - Didn't record the first half, Pilates is evil, and Liam is everywhere at once

01:50 - Work lethargy: the post-holiday slump is real

04:07 - The Mandela Effect: both Pete and Bee have vivid memories of uploading galleries that never happened

08:05 - The state of the wedding industry: midweek bookings, shorter coverage, tighter budgets

13:25 - Is full-time wedding photography still viable?

14:06 - Bee's viral ghosting post: 30,000 views and 122 comments

20:50 - Is the booking process the problem? Zooms, forms, and friction

22:15 - The Coda Podcast: what videographers discovered when they became the clients

28:05 - Rethinking how we communicate with enquiring couples

30:03 - "Editorial": what couples think it means vs what it actually means

33:28 - The content creator controversy: who's capturing the in-between moments?

38:35 - Highs and lows: Bee's Super 8 film and Lawson Film School

43:05 - Pete's £1,400 British Gas nightmare

47:25 - Laura's TV high and general tiredness low

49:04 - The podcast is nearly four years old

Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune

Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy

The British Wedding Film Festival

https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/

Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school

liamandbee.com

lawsonfilms.co.uk

lawsonphotography.co.uk

#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The busy season has officially arrived, and we are already feeling the heat (literally and figuratively).

This week on Our Creative Commune, Pete, Laura, Liam, and Bee sit down in the sun to catch up on a wild few weeks of local weddings, destination showcases, and the ever-changing landscape of booking clients. Are we all suffering from Zoom fatigue? We debate whether it’s time to stop video consultations altogether and build a brand enigma instead.

We also share some wild on-the-job stories, including a dream local shoot at Rivington Barn, the chaos of tracking fire-breathers in Spain, and Liam’s incredibly awkward encounter with a "secret" second photographer hired by the mother of the bride. Plus, we dive into some massive business milestones - including the joy of finally paying off that dreaded COVID bounce-back loan!

Grab a coffee (or a matcha) and join us as we chat through our highs, our lows, Pete's foray into the EV world, the heartbreak of airport security ruining analog film, and a surprisingly mind-blowing fact about apples.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on your favourite podcast app - it really helps us grow the commune!

00:00 - Catching rays and the start of the busy season

03:20 - Zoom fatigue and changing client booking psychology

05:13 - A dream local photo & video shoot at Rivington Barn

11:10 - Bosh! Smashing out a one-week video edit turnaround

13:26 - Wedding horror story: Dealing with a secret second photographer

17:18 - A rapid road trip to France and scanning questionable family negatives

19:30 - Destination wedding showcase at Castell d'Empordà in Spain

23:22 - Photographing fire-breathers and a rogue drone incident

26:24 - Business strategy: Should we stop doing client Zooms entirely?

30:43 - Are jet fuel prices and logistics threatening destination weddings?

32:57 - Pete's new car: Buying an EV for wedding travel

37:22 - Pete's Highs: Disputing energy bills and paying off the bounce-back loan!

41:24 - Liam & Bee's High: Quality time in Spain and overcoming separation anxiety

44:43 - Liam's Low: Heartbreak as a driving instructor

46:55 - Bee's Low: Left-behind outfits and airport security ruining film

51:12 - Laura's High & Low: London museum trips and canceled Pilates classes

56:18 - Mind-blowing apple facts and wrapping up

Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune

Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy

The British Wedding Film Festival

https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/

Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school

liamandbee.com

lawsonfilms.co.uk

lawsonphotography.co.uk

#weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.