Grow Your Photography Business Podcast

Hosted by Studio Ninja

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Episodes

138

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-GB

About the show

Ninjacast is your go-to podcast for growing a successful, sustainable photography or videography business - brought to you by Studio Ninja , the trusted studio management software built specifically for creatives behind the camera. Hosted by Studio Ninja’s own Sally, Ninjacast features real, honest conversations with leading photographers, educators, and creative entrepreneurs. Each episode delivers practical tips, inspiring stories, and actionable advice to help you elevate your brand, attract your ideal clients, and run your business with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re just getting started or scaling up, you’ll discover how to simplify your workflows, sharpen your marketing, and build a business that supports both your creative ambitions and your personal well-being. Expect candid chats, zero fluff, and plenty of value - so you can spend less time on admin and more time behind the lens.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 15, 2026Episode 13829 min

138: Leesha Williams - Why Representation Matters & How Authenticity Builds Better Businesses

Leesha Williams is a UK-based photographer and filmmaker, and the founder of multiple creative brands including Leesha Williams Photo + Film, Onyx Branding Co, and Kindred by Leesha. With over a decade of experience shooting weddings, brands, and families, her work is rooted in honest storytelling, real moments, and skin tones that actually look like real life. Known for her documentary-led approach, Leesha specialises in multicultural and LGBTQ+ weddings, creating imagery that feels natural, unforced, and genuinely reflective of the people in front of her. Her work has taken her across the UK and internationally, and has been featured in publications including Hello Magazine. Alongside weddings, Leesha runs Onyx, a brand photography and content studio focused on helping Black-owned and independent businesses build strong, consistent visual identities. Her approach combines creativity with strategy, helping clients create content banks that actually support their growth. As a full-time photographer and single mum, Leesha also speaks openly about the realities of running a creative business, managing burnout, and building a life that aligns with both ambition and family.

July 15, 2026Episode 13726 min

137: Sam Docker - How To Adapt, Stay Creative & Future-Proof Your Wedding Business

Sam Docker is an award-winning wedding photographer based in Derby, known for his creative approach that blends documentary storytelling with editorial-inspired imagery. With over a decade of experience and more than 300 weddings photographed across the UK and Europe, Sam has built a reputation for creating authentic, emotional images that capture not just how a wedding looked, but how it felt. Drawing inspiration from art, fashion, architecture, and design, his work is modern, timeless, and deeply personal. Beyond photographing weddings, Sam is passionate about helping photographers build sustainable, long-lasting careers. He regularly educates and mentors creatives, sharing his thoughts on evolving your style, staying inspired, and adapting to an ever-changing wedding industry. Through his podcast and YouTube channel, Another Idea , he explores creativity, business, and the challenges of building a successful career in the creative industries. Based at Brickwork Studio in the heart of Derby, Sam continues to photograph weddings throughout the UK and internationally. His philosophy is simple: create honest, meaningful photographs that stand the test of time while constantly pushing himself creatively with every wedding he captures.

June 15, 202634 min

136: Charly Nelson - The Importance of Finding Purpose, Building Confidence and Growing Through Community

We Are Photo is an inclusive photography community and meet-up group dedicated to bringing the joy back into photography while creating space for genuine creativity, connection, and growth. Founded in December 2022, the community has quickly grown into a thriving network of photographers of all levels, from complete beginners picking up a camera for the first time to seasoned professionals looking to refine their craft and connect with others who share their passion. At its core, We Are Photo is built on the belief that photography should be fun, accessible, and collaborative. Through its free monthly meet-ups across Essex and Hertfordshire, the group provides a welcoming environment where members can practice their skills, explore new locations, and build meaningful relationships with like-minded creatives. Each event is thoughtfully designed to encourage both learning and play, featuring themed challenges and light-hearted competitions that inspire participants to step outside their comfort zones while enjoying the process. Beyond the monthly gatherings, We Are Photo offers in-person experience workshops tailored for photographers looking to build or strengthen their portfolios in areas such as family, animal, and wedding photography. These sessions place a strong emphasis on storytelling through portraits, focusing on connection, emotion, and authentic relationships—helping photographers develop not just technical ability, but a deeper creative perspective. For those who prefer to learn at their own pace or from a distance, the community also provides a range of online courses designed to help photographers refine their skills and elevate their work. Whether someone is just starting out or looking to take their photography to the next level, We Are Photo offers both the tools and the supportive community to help them grow. Through its combination of in-person experiences and online learning, We Are Photo continues to foster a vibrant, encouraging space where creativity thrives, confidence builds, and photographers are reminded why they fell in love with photography in the first place. https://www.wearephotogroup.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/827269684995108 www.instagram.com/wearephoto www.Tiktok.com/wearephotogroup https://www.youtube.com/@Wearephoto

May 15, 2026Episode 13519 min

135: Sam Hollis - How To Increase Wedding Enquiries With A High-Converting Website

Sam Hollis helps photographers build businesses that actually serve their lives, not the other way around. As co-host of the Commercial Photographer podcast, he shares weekly insights on marketing, growth, pricing, and creativity, helping photographers think more strategically about how they run and scale their businesses. Through his work at Website 4 Photographers, Sam specialises in helping photographers take control of their online presence. He is particularly known for his expertise in local SEO and Google Maps, showing photographers how to dominate their local area, increase visibility, and generate consistent, high-quality enquiries without relying solely on social media. Sam is a strong advocate for building efficient, systemised businesses that support long-term sustainability. He believes that with the right foundations—clear messaging, a well-structured website, and smart marketing channels—photographers can create predictable lead flow and more freedom in their work. Living what he teaches, Sam operates a highly mobile “freedom model” lifestyle. While his daughters live and study in the Netherlands, he and his wife split their time between the UK and the sun of Mozambique. His approach to business is grounded in flexibility, intentional design, and creating a life that aligns with what matters most.

April 15, 2026Episode 13428 min

134: Martin Cheung - Stop Marketing Like Its 2015: Why Your Wedding Business Is Stalling

With more than 13 years of experience as a professional wedding photographer, Martin has become a highly respected and recognisable figure within the wedding photography industry. Known not only for his work behind the camera, he has also built a strong reputation for his commitment to supporting, mentoring, and educating fellow photographers at all stages of their careers. Following his appearance on the Studio Ninja Podcast three years ago, Martin was inspired to create his own platform, leading to the launch of Wedding Photography Unveiled . Through this podcast, he shares an honest and insightful look into the realities of running a successful photography business, going beyond just the creative side of the craft. Today, Martin is widely regarded for his straightforward, no-nonsense approach, delivering practical, experience-led education that helps wedding photographers confidently navigate and master the business side of their work.

March 10, 2026Episode 13328 min

133: Gary Clementson - Why Community Beats Competition & How Systems Help Wedding Businesses Grow

Gazza from Marry Us Gary is an ex-sparky who loved his own wedding day so much that he decided to down tools and become a marriage celebrant. What started as a passion project quickly turned into a thriving career built around fun, relaxed, and modern ceremonies that couples genuinely connect with. Not long after, his wife Georgie saw how much he loved what he was doing and decided to join the fun herself, becoming a celebrant under the name Marry Us Georgie. Together, Gazza and Georgie are the directors of The Celebrant Society, one of Australia’s leading professional celebrant associations. Through their work, they help celebrants start, build, and grow successful businesses while being part of a supportive and collaborative community. The society now has more than 500 members across Australia, and their Annual Celebrant Conference has become a highlight of the industry calendar—bringing celebrants together for education, connection, and a whole lot of fun. Gazza is widely known for his high-energy, engaging ceremony style and his passion for helping celebrants treat their work like a real business. A big advocate for systems and efficiency, he signed up to Studio Ninja within the first week of becoming a registered celebrant and has been a dedicated user ever since. Today he’s a proud Studio Ninja partner and regularly encourages fellow celebrants to embrace CRMs and smart workflows to streamline their businesses. Beyond ceremonies, Gazza also coaches celebrants on the practical side of building a sustainable business—covering everything from websites and SEO to creating strong systems and confidently MCing wedding receptions. His mission is simple: help celebrants run better businesses so they can focus on delivering unforgettable experiences for their couples. https://www.instagram.com/marryusgary_celebrant/ https://theweddingsociety.co/

September 14, 2025Episode 13238 min

132: David Zhou - How To Guarantee Return Business & Why You Should Use AI To Grow Your Business

David Zhou is a versatile photographer and videographer known for his dynamic approach across multiple genres — from natural light portraiture to event coverage and commercial photography. With an intuitive eye for storytelling and a deep understanding of visual composition, David brings a sense of authenticity and clarity to every project he takes on, whether he's capturing intimate moments, high-energy events, or polished brand visuals. Beyond the camera, David is also widely recognized as a YouTuber in the camera tech space, where he covers the latest gear and industry news. His content spans everything from Sony Alpha releases and DJI drones to emerging innovations like 360-degree cameras. With a growing following of creatives and tech enthusiasts, David bridges the gap between artistic practice and cutting-edge technology — offering honest insights, reviews, and tutorials that empower others to create. What sets David apart is his ability to balance the creative and the technical. His passion lies at the intersection of photography as an expressive art form and the ever-evolving technology that fuels it. Whether he's behind the lens or in front of the camera sharing his expertise, David is dedicated to helping others unlock their creative potential through both inspiration and information.

August 12, 2025Episode 13133 min

131: Scarlett Cook - How To Gain Followers on TikTok & Why You Should Always Do It Your Way

Scarlett is a 24-year-old fine art dance and wedding photographer based on the scenic south coast of England. Her journey into photography began unexpectedly in 2019 when a former colleague asked her to take headshots for his acting portfolio. With a background in video production and seven years of filmmaking education under her belt, she took on the challenge — and quickly discovered a deep passion for capturing people through the lens. That spontaneous photoshoot, made possible by a free camera found on Facebook, marked the beginning of a transformative creative path. In 2021, Scarlett photographed her first wedding and hasn’t looked back since. By April 2022, she officially launched her business as a sole trader, leaving behind her day job and graduating from university to pursue photography full time. Her artistic style, rooted in her filmmaking background, combines cinematic storytelling with a refined editorial eye — a blend that’s earned her recognition from prestigious publications such as Vogue and Green Wedding Shoes . Scarlett’s work has taken her far beyond her seaside hometown, with weddings and editorial shoots leading her to quaint villages in the South of France, cozy whiskey bars by the coast, and most recently, the historic halls of Westminster Abbey.

May 14, 2025Episode 13044 min

130: Amy Elizabeth - How Consistently Showing Up In Your Socials Grows Your Business & Why To Consider Adding Content Creation

Amy has been a part of the wedding industry for over four years, carving out a space where creativity, authenticity, and human connection come together seamlessly. Specialising in capturing the raw emotion and beauty of a couple’s most important day, she’s built a reputation for her ability to document moments that feel both timeless and deeply personal. Though weddings are the heart of her business and her primary focus, Amy also enjoys stepping into other areas of photography, including family portraits and branding work. These sessions allow her to explore different dynamics and creative challenges, keeping her inspired and constantly evolving as an artist. Throughout the growth of her business—through trial, error, and plenty of learning—Amy has remained grounded in one core belief: that photography is about so much more than just images. For her, it's about capturing the true essence of people and the connections between them. That intention has guided her from the very beginning and continues to be the foundation of everything she does.

January 30, 2025Episode 12931 min

129: Alex Vita - Photography Website Mistakes & What Makes A Great Website

Alex Vita runs a website called ForegroundWeb .com which is all about photography websites. Alex started out as a photographer himself, and has experienced the struggles of finding work, shooting weddings, having his own portrait studio, and learning to build photography websites through firsthand trial-and-error. Since then he's been a successful freelancer, gathering experience from over 200 projects, both small and large, everything from beginner photographers to full-time pros and large agencies. He help photographers grow their photography business with a stellar web presence, in two ways: He either build websites for them, he have almost twenty years of experience, having worked on over 200 websites for photographers from 25 countries or he helps to teach photographers how to improve their online business themselves: a ton of educational content (articles, newsletter, resources) website teardowns and SEO audits, showing them where they need to improve consulting & strategy calls Alex's clients are pro or semi-pro photographers selling licenses or photo-based products online (prints, calendars, books, workshops, photo tours, etc.)