Interview with Kerry McNair Photography

Will you start by telling us where you work and live and the type of photography you do?

I’m a professional photographer based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. I specialise in photographing Women and Weddings – these are my passions. I offer boudoir, beauty makeover and business photography for women covering London and the South East mostly but I have travelled further afield. I love photographing weddings and shoot nationally and internationally.

2. What inspires you as a photographer?

I’m passionate about photographing women and my style is about creating timeless, classic and beautiful images. So I find I am inspired by images of film stars such as Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor but I’m also a self-confessed fashion magazine addict. 

3. How long have been a photographer?

I’ve been working as a photographer for 2 years now having been in marketing for the last 13 years. So for many years I booked photoshoots and worked with photographers, critiquing and choosing images. This has helped me understand and appreciate what makes a great image which I use when working with my clients.

4. When you’re not photographing, where can we find you? 

If I’m not photographing I’m probably with my husband or girlfriends. I might be reading a magazine or doing something business related such as networking.

5. Any books that inspired you {or helped you} in your business?

I have to say that the Annabel Williams book on Wedding and Portrait photography is brilliant. Her approach to photography is fantastic and inspired me to become the photographer I am today. 

6. Best marketing idea?  

Last year networking was brilliant for me to raise my profile locally. This year google adwords is really working for me to extend my reach over a wider area. 

7. Worst marketing idea? 

Didn’t someone once say that all PR is good PR? But seriously if I was talking to someone who had no marketing experience and was just starting out I would advise them against press advertising as it’s very difficult to make it work without investing quite a lot of money.

8. Do you have a studio and if not do you feel having a studio would help your business grow?

I’m a location photographer so I don’t have a studio. I prefer the freedom and spontaneity that working on location brings, whether it’s outdoors, at a clients house or at a reputable hotel/venue. 

9. What do you think makes a photographer successful?

I think politeness and patience go a long way plus determination to succeed. I also think you have to constantly promote yourself as no-one else is going to do it for you. It doesn’t have to mean you sell to every person you met but just work it into a conversation.  After all you can be the best photographer in the world but if no-one knows about you then you’ll be the best kept secret in the world.

10. What’s your weakness in this business?

I love photographing women and just want to give every woman I meet a fantastic photograph of themselves that they love. So I have to try hard when I meet women not to offer my services for free just to stop them from ever saying this again: “I hate having my photograph taken. I don’t have any good photos of myself.” I like to think I can change that. 

11. Are you a Nikon or Canon? 

Canon.

12. and Lens?

I have a fabulous wide angle (16-35mm), a flattering portrait lens (24-70mm) and my favourite telephoto lens (70-200mm). This pretty much covers me for every situation I need across weddings, boudoir and business portraits.

13. If you weren’t a photographer, what would you be?

If this is an imaginary world and I could have been anything then I’d have become a singer and performed a duet with Marilyn Monroe. How amazing would that have been?

14. Can you give the readers your best piece of advice for starting or running a photography business.

Get out there and network – a lot! I have met some amazing people in the last couple of years and it’s all thanks to networking.  Invest in a strong brand and website/blog. Stick to your prices or people won’t value what you do. A polite way of responding to people who as for a discount is to let them know this wouldn’t be fair to previous and existing customers so your prices are fixed.

15. Tell us your proudest moment of your career?

Much as it sounds clichéd, when my first bride cried with joy upon seeing the photographs of her wedding and then cried again when she looked through the beautiful album. A seminal moment in my life and I found myself welling up too.

Here is where you can find Kerry McNair Photography
http://twitter.com/kerrymcnair 

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/kerrymcnairphotography  

Website.  HYPERLINK "http://www.kerrymcnairphotography.co.uk" www.kerrymcnairphotography.co.uk 

Blog  HYPERLINK "http://www.kerrymcnairphotography.co.uk/blog/" www.kerrymcnairphotography.co.uk/blog/