Interview with Tux and Tales Photography

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

I live in Selby, which is just outside of the City of York, in North Yorkshire, England. 

What inspires you as a photographer?

Colour and Light. Some people get excited when they see a pretty dress or pretty shoes - I am jumping out of my skin with joy when I see pretty light dappled on that dress or an amazing pop of colour on the shoes. It is a silly way to be, really. I am at my happiest during the late autumn, when the sun is low in the sky and it shines the most gorgeous yellow and purple light across the vibrantly green Yorkshire fields. 

How long have been a photographer?

Like most photographers, I don't remember a time in my life when I wasn't camera-in-hand. 

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

Reading a book - preferably outside in the rare English sunshine. When the weather isn't cooperating, I can be found with that same book in any kind of warm, light spot in the house. My husband calls them my 'sunny spots'. 

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

There have been so many since I am the kind of person that devours books. A few that pop to mind - Visionmongers, Duct Tape Marketing & Six Pixels of Separation.  My biggest piece of advice for any entrepreneur is to read, read and then read some more. Some of the best pieces of advice you will ever find about running your business will be in the pages of a book. 

Best marketing idea?  

Collaboration. When many wedding vendors work together to create a shoot, you get so much exposure to so many new people in the industry. It is like networking on steroids. Instead of exchanging business cards and having a cuppa, you are exchanging ideas and concepts - which build a friendship - not just a wallet full of business cards

Worst marketing idea? 

Print advertising. 

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

We don't currently have a studio and I am always of two minds about wanting one. Sometimes when you work from home, you feel like you never get to leave your job. However, if I had a separate office or studio, I would have to pass that cost on to clients which isn't ideal. I don't do loads of studio work - so I generally find that when I need a studio- someone has one to rent at a really reasonable price. 

What do you think makes a photographer successful?

Persistence, ability to 'find the light', persistence, an empathetic way of working with clients, persistence, good marketing savvy & oh yeah.... persistence. 

What’s your weakness in this business?

I am sometimes too personally invested. If someone doesn't like my work, or a shoot doesn't go as well as I would have liked, I am really, really hard on myself. I am my own biggest critic. 

Are you a Nikon or Canon? and which model?

Neither. I am one of the 2% that use Olympus. I grew up on Olympus and my first digital was an Oly. I shoot with 2 Olympus E5's, 1 Olympus E3 and I still clutch onto my E410. 

and Lens? 

Zuiko 12-60 2.8, Zuiko 70-200 2.8, Sigma  50mm 1.4, Sigma 35mm 1.2 (and a few others which don't get to see much action)

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

I can't imagine being anything other than a photographer - but I can imagine being a different kind of photographer. Perhaps a photo journalist visiting really exotic places. 

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

Shut up and do things. The people I see that are really floundering (outside of skill issues) are doing so because they spend a lot of time talking about what they should or should not do - and never really doing much of anything. In this business, if you stand still, you die. 

Tell us your proudest moment of your career?

I keep having them! I would say my first 'WOOOOO FREEKING HOOO' moment was when we were first featured on Rock n' Roll Bride. 

Here is where you can find Tux and Tales

twitter.com/TuxandTales
Facebook www.facebook.com/TuxandTalesWebsite: http://www.tuxandtalesphoto.co.ukBlog : http://www.tuxandtalesphoto.co.uk/blog