15 Lessons from the SheClicks Women in Photography Podcast

In June 2024, the SheClicks Women in Photography Podcast reached a significant milestone and became one year old. It's been fantastic speaking to so many amazing women in photography, hearing their insights and learning about their experiences. I've learned a lot from them and I thought it would be good to share some of the most important lessons they can teach us.

1. Learn from Your Mistakes

This is a theme that has popped up on several occasions, from Vanessa Joy's first solo wedding shoot that left her haunted by the memory of miniature dolls to Tania Freimuth not realising that her large prints would need backing before they could be hung. Making mistakes is natural when we try something for the first time; what’s important is that we understand what the problems are and learn to tackle them.

2. Take Control

Wanda Martin started with self-portraits to learn the technical aspects of photography and build confidence. This approach allowed her to experiment freely and develop a distinctive style, illustrating how taking control of your learning process can lead to significant growth. Similarly, Jemella Ukaegbu emphasises the importance of being bold and not worrying about being the first to do something.

3. Find Validation

Brooke Shaden found that positive reinforcement and constructive feedback helped her believe in her potential and pursue her creative ideas. Caroline Tran also highlighted the impact of supportive comments and community encouragement on a photographer. That's something we can all help with on a daily basis. In fact, Caroline challenged SheClickers to leave positive comments on five female photographers' Instagram accounts.

We all crave validation; it helps boost our confidence and makes us feel braver about trying new things. This can come from friends or family, but if they don't understand what makes a good photograph, they won't help you learn. That's where communities like SheClicks can come in because there's a mine of knowledge and people willing to share. Social media can also play a part, but it's important to keep it in perspective and select the channels carefully.

4. Embrace the Unpredictable

Ellie Rothnie’s journey in wildlife photography highlights the unpredictable nature of capturing photographs of animals in their natural habitats. Rather than feeling stressed by less-than-perfect conditions, she looks for the opportunities they can deliver, having a positive impact on her mental health and outlook. Her ability to adapt and embrace these uncertainties has led to remarkable images, showcasing the value of flexibility and openness to new experiences.

5. Tell stories Through your Images

In the episode with Tracy Calder, Tracy explores the narrative potential of close-up photography, inspired by works like Richard Billingham's 'Ray's A Laugh'. Tracy uses her skills to tell compelling stories through intimate, detailed images, demonstrating the impact of a focused, narrative-driven approach. Carolyn Mendelsohn’s work in amplifying voices and transforming lives through photography also illustrates the power of storytelling; she creates portraits with purpose and meaning.

6. Find Your Niche

Tigz Rice’s unexpected start in burlesque photography shows the importance of exploring different genres. Her willingness to embrace new opportunities and take risks led to a fulfilling career, demonstrating the value of being open to unexpected paths. Elke Vogelsang found her niche in capturing canine characters, combining her love for dogs and photography into a unique and successful career. Similarly, Donna Crous indulged her love of food and cooking to become the first Nikon ambassador who was a food photographer.

Margaret Soraya did all sorts of photography including wedding, commercial, architecture, and travel before she realised that she really wanted to focus on landscape photography. These days she still photographs weddings, but the landscape is an integral part of her wedding images.

7. Pursue Your Passion

Many of the women who have appeared in the SheClicks Women in Photography Podcast have been through a career change. Rachael Talibart, for example, started out as a solicitor but fell in love with photography after starting a family and then went through a 15-year transition to become a fine art photographer. Kim Grant was originally a nurse, Kate Kirkman's first career was in the media industry, and Elke Vogelsang's first job was as a technical translator. Emily Renier has a master's degree in business, which has been useful for running her photography business, but she worked as a teacher before a career change to photography.

Ellie Rothnie and Dani Connor's love for nature and the outdoors naturally led them to careers in wildlife photography, demonstrating how personal passions can develop beyond a hobby or pastime if you want. Meanwhile, Margot Raggett’s focus on wildlife conservation photography not only fulfils her creatively but contributes to important conservation efforts, showcasing how photography can be a powerful tool for change.

Kim Grant also underlines the importance of following one’s passion and creating meaningful connections with the subjects she photographs and within the photography community. She believes that pursuing what truly inspires you can lead to a more rewarding and connected life in which you enjoy the moment more.

8. Understand Your Tools

Kate Kirkman firmly believes that understanding your camera's technical aspects can significantly boost creativity and confidence, leading to better images and more opportunities. Christie Goodwin and Jill Furmanovsky also emphasised the importance of mastering your camera's controls to capture the essence of music photography.

9. You Can Empower Others Through Your Photography

Kate T Parker’s work focuses on capturing authentic, powerful images of young girls. By portraying them in genuine moments, she challenges traditional norms and highlights the importance of representation and empowerment in photography. Similarly, Carolyn Mendelsohn's work often gives her subjects a voice, helping them to feel empowered.

10. We Should Seek Collaborative Opportunities

Creative collaboration is very important to Lindsay Adler; she believes it plays a significant role in gaining commercial success. Working with other creatives can lead to innovative projects and professional growth. Consequently, Lindsay built a creative team around her who she supports and who support her in return.

I see creative collaborations a lot at SheClicks meet-ups. It can be anything from sharing kit to holding a twig back to give a clearer view of a subject. There's also lots of knowledge sharing with information about kit, techniques and subjects being freely exchanged.

11. Learn to Love Early Mornings

When asked if she prefers sunrise or sunset for photography, Verity Milligan put forth a strong case for setting an early alarm. She loves the morning light and misty scenes. For many landscape photographers, dawn is the perfect time for photography, and although it can be hard to get out of bed when it’s still dark, there are rewards for those like Verity who can do it.

12. Diversify Your Income Streams

Speaking candidly about being a professional photographer and content creator, Dani Connor highlighted the importance of having multiple revenue streams. Through sponsorship integrations on YouTube and Google AdSense, she ensures a stable income while pursuing her passion for wildlife photography.

Makayla Jade Harris’s transition from a hobbyist to a professional also underscores the importance of strategic planning and financial diversification in building a sustainable career. In her early days as a professional, Makayla set out to learn specific photographic skills so she could extend the range of photography she could produce, as well as create better images and command higher fees.

13. Approach Competitions Methodically

The opportunities offered by photographic competitions came up in episodes with Marina Spironetti and Amy Bateman. Marina explained how she identifies the key competitions that she wants to enter each year and, after carefully reading the rules and category themes to ensure she understands what's required, she earmarks images for submission over the coming months. This saves her the stress of searching for images last minute when the deadline is looming.

While the benefits of winning a competition are often obvious, Amy Bateman believes there's lots to learn from those that you don't win. She advocates doing an objective analysis of the winning images and comparing them with your own to work out how to improve in the future.

14. Be Proactive

Scarlet Page offers the advice, 'don't wait to be asked,' and recommends creating your own opportunities rather than waiting for them to come to you. She shares her experiences taking initiative, whether it is contacting venues, working with emerging artists, or simply starting a project. And when an opportunity such as photographing a band at a festival comes along, she tries to maximise it by reaching out to others and offering a shoot.

15. Be True to Yourself

If you want to produce images that make you happy or that mean something to you, you should embrace your own identity and personal preferences. This is something that Cristina Mittermeier feels very strongly about. She said, 'A lot of women often think that being a girl is a weakness. I think it's a superpower. Because when you lean into the more feminine attributes of just the way that we see the world, you can come back with something that is so much more poetic and so much more evocative and beautiful and truly feminine. And we shouldn't shy away from that.'

The SheClicks Women in Photography Podcast is available on all the leading podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Audible. However, you can also listen to it on our dedicated podcast page.