About Creative Experience

In this episode I talk with Kate Winters, a wedding photographer working between Hawaii, California, and the UK. Her work is quiet, color-rich, and shot almost entirely on film. It feels calm and observed, yet it never takes itself too seriously. There's always a bit of play in it.What makes that interesting is where Kate came from. She cut her teeth shooting party boats and nightlife in Honolulu, hyping up crowds at 10 p.m. The move from loud rooms to still, unplanned moments wasn't an accident. It came from knowing exactly what she wanted her work to look like, and holding firm on what she didn't.

In this episode I talk with April Payne, a Houston-based photographer whose work sits somewhere between documentary and editorial and who describes what she does simply as taking pictures of good parties. Not influencer weddings, not a day staked on a single perfect photo, but real people throwing a celebration for the people they love. April shoots roughly 80% documentary, 20% editorial, and the result is an ode to real life that still manages to look pristine.But the reason I asked April on wasn't the work, lovely as it is. It was a post she'd made about family about what it actually costs to put your children first while you're trying to build a career in this industry. That post took some heat in her DMs. April's work: https://aprilmpaynephotography.comMore episodes: https://www.bytomw.com/podcast

In this episode I talk with Yazmine May, a wedding photographer whose work is grounded in human connection, cultural traditions, and a distinctly film-forward approach. We unpack how Yazmine moved from a decade in finance into photography and how motherhood, COVID, and a camera that had been sitting unused became the catalyst.A big thread running through the conversation is feeling over settings. Show Notes - www.bytomw.com/podcast/culture-connection-and-motion-in-photography00:00 Introduction to Creative Photography08:14 Capturing Human Connection at Weddings14:34 Film vs. Digital: A Photographer's Choice20:50 Film Stocks and Their Impact on Aesthetics25:54 The Emotional Connection to Film32:04 Creativity Under Pressure40:15 Business Growth and Client Relationships47:12 Inspiring Figures in PhotographyResourcesYazmine May Photography - https://www.instagram.com/yazminemay/Yazmine May’s Website - https://www.yazminemay.comLabyrinth London - https://labyrinth.co.ukSouth Sun Lab - https://southsun.co.uk

Today I am joined by London-based photographer Sophie Davidson, whose work spans author portraits, musician portraits, and editorial commissions. In recent years, weddings have become a significant part of Sophie’s practice, and they have approached that shift with the same guiding idea that runs through all their portrait work: make the person in front of the camera feel comfortable enough to be themselves.We talk about Sophie’s reactive approach to portrait sessions, and why they avoid over-planning in favor of responding to the person in front of them. A simple but powerful tactic is asking someone which side of their face they prefer. It signals that the point of the session is not to “create” a version of them, but to make them look good in the way they already understand themselves.Show Notes www.bytomw.com/podcast/celebrity-portraits-and-honesty-in-weddingsOther LinksSophie Davidson on Instagram - www.instagram.com/sophiedavidsonSophie Davidson Editorial website - www.sophie-davidson.co.ukSophie Davidson’s Wedding Work on Instagram -instagram.com/sophiedavidsonweddingsSophie Davidson’s Wedding Work Website - www.sophie-davidson-weddings.co.uk/Jürgen Teller (Photographer) - www.juergenteller.co.ukWolfgang Tillmans (Photographer) - www.tillmans.co.uk

During the episode, we discuss how Charlotte transitioned from a successful career as a fashion designer to wedding photographer, her unconventional journey through the creative industries, and her commitment to shooting almost exclusively on film in an increasingly digital landscape.Full Show Notes - http://www.bytomw.com/podcast/from-fashion-designer-to-photographerCharlotte grew up in Paris and came to the UK at 15 to learn English. She studied fashion design and ran her own fashion brand from ages 23 to 30, getting picked up by Opening Ceremony and selling internationally. After leaving fashion due to sustainability concerns and unsustainable business costs, she transitioned to running a manufacturing studio for designer brands and costume work. A pivotal moment came after a friend's funeral in Scotland, when working with a career coach helped her realize she needed more creative freedom. Initially resistant to wedding photography—seeing it as "cheesy"—she discovered Naomi Koenig's film documentary work, which completely reframed what wedding photography could be.Her entry into wedding photography was organic. She shot her first wedding as a guest at her best friend's sister's wedding, and the experience rekindled her excitement about life and forced her to be truly present. Her early projects gained traction thanks to referrals from friends in the creative industry, leading to multiple features in Vogue. She has just completed her first full season and is now heading into her second.