Photographers are sounding the alarm on scammers in the industry—but what if you’re the one setting off the warning bells? In this brutally honest episode of The Loud Lens, Khandie Rees breaks down the red flags clients see all over social media—no contracts, no insurance, dodgy portfolios, styled shoots masking inexperience, and outdated business practices. This isn’t just a callout—it’s a wake-up call. Let’s fix the mess before it costs you your reputation.

Sign up here to be sent the Red Flag Audit.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses grief, child loss, terminal illness, and emotional trauma. Please listen with care.

In this emotionally raw episode of The Loud Lens, I share the stories behind the most powerful—and heartbreaking—sessions I've ever photographed. From cancer warriors to child funerals, from pet goodbyes to grieving mothers, this is the side of photography that rarely gets talked about.

This isn't about lighting setups or editing tips. It's about holding space. It's about seeing people in their pain and being brave enough to document it. If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to be a photographer beyond the portfolio, beyond perfection, beyond the performance—this one’s for you.

Summer's here—but your bookings might not be. Whether you’re off on holiday, stuck in a slow season, or drowning in weddings, this episode is packed with real, actionable advice for photographers who want to stay visible and grow their brand without faking the hype or frying their brain.

Host Khandie Rees gets brutally honest about:

• How to look booked and busy without lying to your audience

• Marketing while on holiday (without being cringe or manipulative)

• Building your portfolio ethically at festivals, events and on the go

• Balancing work-life without disappearing from your audience

• Copywriting tricks that sell your vibe without desperation

Referencing past episodes like “Taking Up Space”, “Burn It All Down”, and “You’re Not a Freelancer—You’re a Damn Business”, this longer-form episode helps you treat summer like what it really is: a chance to recharge, reconnect, and re-market yourself like a pro.

Perfect for photographers who want real results, honest advice, and zero fluff.

What if the thing that built your career wasn’t your qualifications—but your grit?

In this brutally honest episode, I share how I went from a complicated, abusive childhood and academic overachievement to building a thriving creative business with zero formal training in my field.

I am unpacking:

• Why my 14 GCSEs and top A Levels never actually opened doors
• How trauma shaped my need to excel—and how I broke free
• The myth of “proper” qualifications in creative industries
• How self-taught creatives can build powerful careers without permission

Whether you’ve felt gatekept by education, been told you’re “not creative enough,” or are simply done waiting for the ‘right time’ to start—this episode is your sign to burn the rulebook.

You don’t need a degree to make noise. You need guts, Google, and the willingness to begin.

From ghosting weddings to turning up drunk, we're diving deep into the wildest real-life stories of photographers behaving badly. Join me as I react to documented horror stories (yep, even that one where a photographer shot the wrong wedding) in my classic no-BS, OMG-what-the-actual-hell tone. It’s chaos, it’s cathartic, and it’s your checklist for how not to end up as the next Reddit cautionary tale.

Tired of hearing the same old tips? “Post more!” “Niche down!” “Just charge your worth!” — Yeah, we’re calling BULLSH*T on most of it.

In this episode of The Loud Lens, I break down the most overhyped, useless, and damaging photography advice circulating in the creative world—and replaces it with practical, tested strategies that actually help you grow a real business.

You’ll learn:

• Why common tips like “just be consistent” don’t work
• How bad advice is keeping photographers broke
• What strategies DO work (based on real results)
• And why your blog isn’t ranking no matter how cute it is

🎧 Plus, I dish out truths from my own journey, my books, my YouTube channel, and The Loud Lens community—so you know this ain’t theory.

📚 Grab the books:
No One Fucking Cares… About Your Photography

🎥 Watch BTS + more: YouTube.com/@KhandiePhoto

🔗 Join the convo: What’s the worst advice you’ve ever been given as a photographer?

Photography has an influencer probleman d it’s time we talk about it.

In this episode of The Loud Lens, I’m diving into how influencer culture is slowly eroding trust in the photography industry. From fake BTS content and gear reviews with affiliate links to photographers who haven’t done a paid shoot in years telling you how to run your business… we’ve lost the f*cking plot.

I’m not here to cancel anyone—I’ve worked with brands too—but I am here to demand more honesty, more transparency, and a serious reset in how we value photographic work.

🎯 We cover:– The pressure to become a content creator instead of a photographer– Why gear hype and switch-ups are killing credibility– Real-life examples where influencer trust has broken down– What brands, creators, and you can do to make this better

If you’ve ever felt like the algorithm is more important than the image—you’re not alone. And you’re not crazy.

🔥 Let’s bring the craft back.

💬 Join the conversation in The Loud Lens Facebook group or DM me on Instagram @khandiePhoto

📱 Want to watch the video version? Head to my YouTube channel: Khandie Photography

#photographypodcast #thetruthaboutinfluencers #photographyeducation #theloudlens #authenticphotography

A lot of photographers aren’t running businesses. They’re running expensive hobbies with fancy gear and no plan. In this episode, I sit down with business coach and networking event host Brian Wrigley to get brutally honest about what’s going wrong in the photography industry.

We dig into:

• Why photographers are scared to charge properly

• The real reason your bookings have dried up

• Whether networking is still worth your time in 2025

• How the “passion over profit” mindset is killing your business

Brian works with business owners across industries — and while I don’t endorse many coaches, I do back a frank conversation. If you’ve been undercharging, hiding from marketing, or just winging it — this one’s your wake-up call.

🎙 Recorded for photographers who are ready to run a proper business.

Find out more about Brian: https://maximum-profit.co.uk/