628: Liam and Dominique Shaw – The Business of Creative Documentary Photography
Description
Liam and Dominique Shaw of www.yorkplacestudios.co.uk were introduced to me by Blair deLaubenfels of World's Best Wedding Photos. Blair told me they are credited with bringing street photography to weddings, and their artistic vision and approach to their work is absolutely brilliant.
They are also the authors of “Is This Something?” A guide to capturing the unposed image through the lens of a wedding day.
Following that intro, off I went to take a look at what I could learn online.
The first thing to jump out at me regarding their images wasn't amazing light, a trendy colour cast, mind-blowing locations or model-like subjects. Their images required me to stop, slow down and absorb what I was looking at. And stopping to appreciate their photography is so worth the effort.
Slowing down allowed the magic of their images to emerge… from humour, storytelling, complex layers, beautiful moments, and a quirky interpretation of weddings, families and events. Their images are just so good!
In this interview, we dive deep into the business of creative documentary photography and how you can build a standout wedding brand by leaning into your vision, attracting the right clients, and letting go of industry “shoulds.”
Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:
- From a Scarborough high street studio to £4K weddings — how this brother-sister team built a brand photographers (and couples) rave about
- Why the booking journey starts with vibe — not a price list
- Shooting just 20 weddings a year… and earning more because of it
- Don’t wait for the moment — create it: how they capture magic without staging a thing
- The underrated combo that still fills their calendar: SEO and word of mouth
- Charging what you’re worth — and why their prices reflect value, not volume
- How the right website portfolio attracts the best clients (and gives them total creative freedom)
- Turning education into a £70K side hustle — and why they still do it for the love
- The truth about working as a team: no fixed roles, full trust, and open conversations
- Post-GFC pivot: what they changed when the world crashed (and how it saved the business)
- Educating your clients = better bookings, smoother shoots, fewer surprises
- Documentary doesn’t mean dull — why they lean into humour, honesty and humanity
- Still saying yes to everything? Why niching down gave them clarity, consistency and growth
- Letting go of perfect: how embracing imperfection leads to better photos and happier clients
What’s on Offer for Premium Members
If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews.
And there's nothing quite like having to succeed and not having a backup plan and going and saying, “We have to make this work, whatever it takes. We're in this now.” – Liam Shaw
You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all.
There's no ego. That's one of the things that's really important, actually probably the most, most important. No ego. It doesn't matter who took the picture and doesn't matter who got the award. It doesn't matter. It does not matter because the important thing is, as a team, York Place Studios got the picture. That's what we care about. – Dominique Shaw
In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business.
What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Liam & Dominique shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode.
I think about what's in front of me, and how do I make the best of this and then move on to the next? And if I'm successful, then I forget about it. And if I'm not successful, I forget about it. It doesn't matter. You've got to stay in the moment. – Liam Shaw
If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Liam &
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