Happy 2026! We are back by the fire for our first chat of the year, and we have a lot to catch up on.

In this episode, we dive deep into the current state of the wedding industry. After judging hundreds of films for the British Wedding Film Festival, we’ve noticed some polarizing trends - from AI-generated voiceovers to the resurgence of "home movie" Super 8 vibes. We also discuss the controversial return of the "Dutch tilt" in photography (thanks, Gen Z) and ask the question: are Content Creators actually taking over, or was it just a phase?

On the business side, we open up about a recent painful client cancellation and discuss the ethics of contracts and refunds when things go wrong. We also debate a recent award-winning image controversy - where do we draw the line between photography, digital art, and cheating?

Plus, we share some life updates, including Liam’s new career path, Bee’s Harry Potter-style darkroom, and why Laura is painting in her underwear.

Topics:

•2026 Trends: The rise of AI music and voiceovers in wedding films.

•Gear Nostalgia: Why everyone is buying old DSLRs and 35mm film cameras.

•Business Realities: Handling last-minute cancellations and protecting your income.

•Ethics: The controversy of using stock imagery and composites in photo awards.

•Life Updates: Darkrooms, driving instructors, and car breakdowns.

Whether you are a photographer, videographer, or just a creative trying to navigate the changing landscape, grab a coffee (or a wine) and join the commune.

Timestamps:


00:00 - Intro: Happy New Year 2026


01:05 - Judging film awards & the rise of AI Voiceovers


05:23 - Photography trends: The return of the "Wonky Horizon"


07:00 - The DSLR nostalgia trap
09:30 - Bee’s new cupboard darkroom & developing film


14:55 - Laura’s new painting hobby


21:50 - Liam’s now a Qualified Driving Instructor


29:40 - Have Content Creators actually taken over?


33:00 - Dealing with a major wedding cancellation


36:40 - The Awards Controversy: Stock images vs. Photography


43:00 - Will AI eventually eat itself?


47:00 - Highs & Lows: Client testimonials & car breakdown nightmares


57:30 - Bee’s health scare & 80s nostalgia

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

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/

liamandbee.com

lawsonfilms.co.uk

lawsonphotography.co.uk

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

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

It’s just the boys in the studio this week! With Laura and Bee away (all that end of year editing!), Liam and Pete sit down to debrief on a recent luxury wedding they shot together in Whitehall, London.

While the venue was five-star, the day wasn't without its hurdles. We discuss the reality of shooting in high-end establishments - from the stress of strict dress codes to dealing with "smothering" service that eats into your shooting time. We also have an honest conversation about a struggle many creatives face: how do you politely tell a venue coordinator to back off and let you do your job?

Also in this episode, we chat about the physical toll of wedding photography (what is "Photographer's Toe"?), the panic of surprise speeches for videographers, and a terrifying gear malfunction that saw a camera hit the floor in front of the guests. Plus, we catch up on life outside of weddings, including broken cars, table tennis coaching, and life as a driving instructor.

Grab a coffee and join the commune!

Key Topics & Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro: Where are the girls?

02:18 - The 9-hour travel nightmare and the £36 wine incident

05:25 - The Dress Code Debate: Suits vs. Trainers

07:59 - The reality of "Photographer's Toe" and physical comfort

12:14 - Videography stress: Dealing with surprise speeches

19:00 - The "Missing Groom Prep" panic

25:43 - Technical struggles: Banding issues in venue lighting

28:42 - When luxury service ruins your portrait time

31:00 - Learning to say "No" to pushy venue coordinators

44:05 - Pete’s car suspension disaster

47:50 - Gear Nightmare: Liam drops his camera (twice)

51:25 - Highs and Lows: Life as a driving instructor

57:00 - Pete becomes a qualified table tennis coach

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

Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune

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

liamandbee.com

lawsonfilms.co.uk

lawsonphotography.co.uk

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

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

In this special episode of Our Creative Commune, we're swapping things around! Pete and Laura are hijacking the podcast with their co-founders of the British Wedding Film Festival, Joce Boissin and Jeff Wood, to dive deep into everything you need to know about this brand-new event for the wedding film industry.

We start off sharing some stories from the end of the wedding season, including Jeff's travel nightmare of losing all his kit right before a huge destination wedding and how he was forced to adapt.

Then, we get into the heart of the festival. We share the vision behind creating an awards ceremony dedicated solely to celebrating the incredible craft within our industry. We discuss why we felt it was so important to have categories that recognise specific skills like sound design, storytelling, and cinematography, and how we hope it will inspire a new wave of creativity.

Thinking of entering? We cover all the crucial details: the surprisingly hefty trophies you could win, the incredible panel of judges (including a James Bond sound designer and a Netflix producer!), the submission process, and what makes a film stand out. Plus, we give you all the info on the awards night itself—a chance for us all to get glammed up, connect, and feel inspired at the Manchester Art Gallery.

This is more than just an awards show; it's a celebration of our community and the art we create. Whether you're considering submitting a film or just want to join the party, this episode has all the inspiration and information you need.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro & Welcome to the BWFF Team

00:55 - Catching Up: How Was the End of the Season?

01:03 - Jeff's Destination Wedding Nightmare: The Airline Lost All My Gear!

04:50 - The Creative Benefit of Being Forced to Adapt

08:31 - Joce's Adventure with an Anamorphic Lens in Morocco

11:23 - Introducing the British Wedding Film Festival

11:51 - The Reason We Started These Awards

13:10 - Celebrating Individual Skills

14:30 - Using the Awards as a Creative Motivator for the Season

16:17 - It’s Scary Entering Awards

17:45 - Let's Talk About the Trophies

18:21 - The Incredible Judging Panel

22:05 - How the Judging Process Will Work

23:20 - The Awards Night

24:25 - The Venue

25:04 - Submission Deadline: 1st December!

26:07 - The Categories & Submission Rules

28:14 - Best Cinematography & Best Sound Design

32:02 - Best Storytelling

32:31 - Best Cinematic Language: Using Match Cuts & Parallel Action

36:55 - Best Use of Music & Best Colour Grading

38:39 - Best Elopement: Telling a Story with Just Two People

39:36 - Film Length & Password Protection

44:41 - Jeff's Story: The OG of Cinematic Wedding Films

46:57 - Jeff's Thoughts on Shooting with Phones

52:39 - Joce's Story: From iPhone Clips to Full-Time Pro in 2 Years

58:46 - Highs & Lows of the Week

The British Wedding Film Festival

https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/

Pete & Laura

lawsonfilms.co.uk

Joce Boissin

https://www.lunedemielstudio.com/

Jeff Wood

https://www.jeffwoodvisuals.com/

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

How many photos are too many? In this week's episode, we dive headfirst into a hot topic rattling the photography community: are we overwhelming our clients by over-delivering images? We debate whether a curated gallery of a few hundred photos is more valuable than a folder of over a thousand, and question what we'd want from our own wedding photographer.

We also get real about the struggles of social media after taking a week off Instagram punished our reach, sparking a conversation about whether the perfect grid still matters or if it's time to get more personal.

Alongside the business chat, we catch you up on our latest adventures, from shooting a wedding at the iconic Traitors castle (and revealing its secrets!) to road-tripping to Scotland and enjoying a half-term break on the beautiful Yorkshire coast. Join us for a candid chat about work, life, and the creative challenges we all face.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & a chaotic start

01:03 - The joy of singing alone in the car

02:40 - Liam's wedding at Guardswell Farm in Scotland

05:45 - The secrets of shooting at the Traitors Castle

09:28 - Working with fellow photographer Ash Springle

10:55 - Remembering industry legends Ed Peers & Ross Harvey

13:04 - Half-term adventures, portrait shoots, and comparing forests

14:58 - An update on the team's upcoming film festival

18:20 - Making work trips into mini-holidays

20:18 - The pressures of a busy schedule and life admin

22:36 - A relaxing week on the North Yorkshire Coast and discovering Haworth

25:08 - The Instagram struggle: The punishment for taking a week off

26:49 - Does your feed need to show your face?

29:15 - Dealing with internet trolls and negative comments

32:57 - Hot Topic: Are photographers delivering too many images?

45:38 - Highs and Lows of the Week

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

Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune

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

liamandbee.com

lawsonfilms.co.uk

lawsonphotography.co.uk

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

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

Ever come back from a conference feeling like a total fraud?

This week, Pete & Laura are recovering from the social hangover of the CODA conference and so we’re diving deep into the anxieties of networking as an introvert. We discuss the pressure to be "on" all the time, navigating imposter syndrome, and that cringe-worthy moment when you're introduced to one of the cool kids as the "King and Queen" of the UK market.

But it wasn't all anxiety at CODA. We were also massively inspired by many incredible stories. Plus the powerful 'smoke and mirrors' marketing strategy - the art of curating your portfolio to get the weddings you most want to shoot.

We debate a hot topic online: is flash photography becoming a nuisance at weddings? And we share a few thoughts on photographers getting a little too close for comfort during the ceremony.

Join us for these, and many other topics, as we chat about the last couple of weeks over a coffee.

Timestamps:

02:34 The social hangover from Coda Conference

04:21 Navigating events as an introvert: Are we 'cliquey'?

08:33 The pressure of being 'known' and imposter syndrome

10:28 Our key takeaway: The power of ambient audio

14:50 From Prison to a Creative Empire: The Fire & Ice Story

18:39 'Smoke and mirrors' marketing & defining our ideal client

22:27 Catching up: A pagan hand-fasting & a wedding at The Traitors castle

25:16 Is flash photography annoying for wedding guests?

34:15 When photographers get too close during the ceremony

41:37 Highs & Lows: Coda, family meals, and feeling overwhelmed

51:23 Rediscovering creativity by organising 15 years of photos

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

Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune

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

liamandbee.com

lawsonfilms.co.uk

lawsonphotography.co.uk

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

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

In this episode of Our Creative Commune, we're fresh from a beautifully emotional wedding in the heart of Storm Amy and a fun-filled autumnal family shoot. We also take a moment to celebrate the incredible work of fellow creative, Damian Brandon (https://damianbrandon.com/)

This leads us into a passionate discussion about the current state of the wedding photography industry. Are we seeing a decline in the traditional craft of photography? We delve into the rise of the "snapshotty" and "editorial" styles, the importance of understanding good light, and whether the focus has shifted from capturing genuine moments to creating content for Instagram.

Plus, Liam gives us an update on his new life as a driving instructor, Pete shares his insights from the world of Reddit on what couples are really looking for, and we chat about the highs and lows of our week, from technical triumphs to creepy crawly encounters. Join us for a candid conversation about creativity, business, and the ever-evolving world of wedding photography.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & Catching Up

02:13 Recapping Adam & Jade’s Stormy Welsh Wedding

07:36 Working With the Incredibly Talented Damian Brandon

12:38 Main Topic: Is the Art of Wedding Photography Being Lost?

14:51 The Death of Good Light: Why Are Photographers Ignoring the Basics?

20:12 Does Technical Quality Even Matter Anymore?

27:43 What Do Couples Actually Want? (Insights from Reddit)

30:43 The Changing Internet: SEO, Google, and Finding Clients Now

33:56 Liam's New Venture as a Driving Instructor

38:56 Building a New Website & The Logo Debate

42:12 Blogging vs. Full Galleries: What Should You Send to Clients?

45:32 The "Be Everywhere" Strategy for Modern Marketing

46:45 Highs & Lows of the Week (Including Hard Drive Sleeping Bags & Spiders!)

57:39 What's Coming Up Next?

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

Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune

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

liamandbee.com

lawsonfilms.co.uk

lawsonphotography.co.uk

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

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

In this episode, we discusses the most talked-about trend in the wedding industry right now: the rise of the content creator. Are they replacing videographers, and how should creative professionals adapt to a TikTok-driven market? We share our honest thoughts on the challenges and potential solutions, from offering next-day clips to staying true to your unique style in a sea of trends. Is it possible to fight the tide, or is it time to evolve?

We also dive into what we've been up to on the road, including Liam shooting a stunning wedding in Ostuni, Italy, and Pete's "life-changing" experience hiring a second shooter for the first time at a wedding in Anglesey. Plus, hear how Laura and Pete got inspired by music videos and started experimenting with flash-style, direct lighting for video and a 4:3 aspect ratio to create a raw, editorial feel.

Join us for an open conversation about navigating the ever-changing creative landscape, a surprisingly detailed chat about the limitations of expanding foam, and our usual highs and lows of the week—including one of us starting a brand new career!

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Welcome & Morning People vs. Night Owls

03:49 What We've Been Up To

03:53 Liam’s Shoots: London, Tunbridge Wells & A Wedding in Italy

05:29 Pete's "Life-Changing" Anglesey Wedding with a Second Shooter

08:21 Laura & Pete's Dorset Wedding & Manchester Shoots

08:57 Creative Development: Experimenting with Direct Lighting & 4:3 Ratio

17:24 DIY Chat: The Surprising Limits of Expanding Foam

18:21 Main Topic: The Great Content Creator Debate

19:32 Are Suppliers a Bigger Problem Than Couples?

22:29 The "Your Wedding is Not Content" Movement

30:25 How Videographers Can Adapt to the Trend

39:06 Final Thoughts on the Future

46:08 Highs and Lows of the Week

50:32 Liam's Big News: A Career Change

Get 30% off Lawson Film School (until October 2025) with code: BACKTOSCHOOL

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

Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune

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

liamandbee.com

lawsonfilms.co.uk

lawsonphotography.co.uk

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

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

This week, join Pete, Laura, Liam, and Bee for a catch-up packed with wild wedding stories and industry insights. Liam shares a tale from the depths of Scotland, where he photographed the first and only elopement inside a massive, disused WWII underground oil tank - complete with world-record-breaking echoes and drone flights in the dark. He then takes us to Iceland for a vow renewal, revealing the stressful reality of shooting in iconic, tourist-filled locations and the rules you sometimes have to bend to get the perfect shot.

The team also dives into the great dishwasher debate (are your precious mugs and knives safe?), discusses the pros and cons of the new Canon C50 video camera, and shares their thoughts on recent industry shake-ups. Plus, they explore the unspoken rules of working with other suppliers and share personal highs and lows, featuring everything from a hit-and-run and a ghost named Jim to the joys of booking a wedding in Montenegro.

00:36 - Wedding season fatigue & back-to-school chaos.

02:23 - Liam's story: Photographing an elopement in a disused underground oil tank in Scotland.

10:28 - Pete & Laura's "painless" wedding shoot in Scotland.

13:31 - Shooting a wedding for a fellow photographer.

14:42 - The great debate: Should you put precious mugs and knives in the dishwasher?

18:00 - Liam's story: A vow renewal in Iceland and the challenges of shooting in tourist hotspots.

23:39 - Discussion on managing expectations at popular photo locations.

26:47 - Industry News: The new Canon C50 video camera.

30:44 - Industry News: The Easy-Flix gallery migration controversy.

34:36 - The pros and cons of culling software like Narrative and Photo Mechanic.

40:13 - How to handle working with difficult or rude suppliers on a wedding day.

46:52 - Liam's travel drama: Getting locked in a car park and a hit-and-run.

51:31 - Highs and Lows of the Week.

Get 30% off Lawson Film School (until October 2025) with code: BACKTOSCHOOL

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

Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune

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

liamandbee.com

lawsonfilms.co.uk

lawsonphotography.co.uk

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

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