How I practice the Niyamas as a yoga photographer
I’m continuing on my philosophical and spiritual exploration of how I use yoga in my business as a yoga photographer.
How to prepare for your branding photoshoot
Here are my top tips for preparing for your yoga business photoshoot to make the most of our time together.
How do I deal with the fact that I hate what I see in pictures?
A question I have been asked quite fair bit as someone who suffers from body dysmorphia is “how to deal with what I perceive as negative emotions when I see myself on a picture” or in other words, “how do I deal with the fact that I hate what I see?”
3 myths that prevent you from booking a yoga photoshoot
I need to be good at asana to have my picture taken… The same way you don’t need to be “good” at asana to be a teacher or a practitioner, same goes for a photoshoot. We take these pictures in order to be credible and visible when we put ourselves out there as teachers - it means that you want to show up authentically to find your people.
How to choose the right photographer
I know it’s tempting to go for the cheapest option - that’s how I used to think before I got used to invest in my own business. But working with a person you trust ultimately saves money.
If you pick the cheapest photographer, chances are you are going to be disappointed with the images of someone who is either overworked because not charging enough, or inexperienced. Then you will have to take more pictures, and pay more money. So how do you choose?
4 myths about using photography for your business
Over the course of my career I was met with different reactions to the idea of having your picture taken in order to promote something such a yoga teacher - the idea of “branding” can seem somewhat incongruous when talking about teaching yoga.
How I practice the Yamas as a yoga photographer
I don’t think I ever expected to put “Yoga Photographer” as my job title - and yet here we are. I started yoga as a movement practice, and like many of us it became the gateway to what is now my spiritual practice. And if there’s anything to know about any spiritual practice, it’s that they are not separate from life: they ARE life. So I try to apply this philosophy to the way I conduct my life, and to the way I conduct my business. Here are some of the things I implement to work in line with my value system.
3 inversion variations that look great in photos
So I have the controversial opinion that straight legs inversions don’t look great on pictures - of course there are exceptions in my eye but I prefer working with leg variations, which usually have the benefits to be “easier” (well, except for the last one).
How to bring a photographer on your retreat
I’ve run retreats of my own and have been a photographer on others. I’ve been on the back end of painful number crunching, excel sheeting, advertising yoga retreat preparation and planning and I’ve made mistakes as a photographer and as a teacher. So if you’re thinking of bringing a photographer on your retreat, here a few things to consider…
3 backbends that look great in photos
Over the last few years of taking pictures of yoga teachers across the UK I’ve noticed the same thing happens every single time: The teacher forgets every single yoga asana they know! Because it can be a bit intimidating to be in front of a camera, the brain freezes - trust me it happened to me too. So I’ve decided to put together a little series of posts about poses that I think look good on camera, based on my experience as a yoga photographer in London.
What does being photogenic even mean?
So I’ve been a yoga and wellness photographer for a little while now and I often hear people say "I'm not photogenic". It always comes back. It’s either that or people ask about their “good angles” (maybe I should do a post about that too). And I had to sit down and think about it because to me, everyone is photogenic. If you are in a photo, you are photogenic.
3 reasons you should have a photographer on your yoga retreat
In the era of smartphones and cheap digital cameras it can be easy to think the photographer’s job is one that is easily replaced - however if you’ve ever been serious about taking your yoga business to the next level, here’s why you should take a professional with you on your yoga retreat.
3 reasons why professional yoga pictures work for your business
I have been a photographer for over 10 years now and as someone who has always been reluctant to invest in my business because of a lack of financial stability, I can only relate to those who can be skeptical to do so too. However since I have decided to take myself seriously - I invested in a business course, an accountant, a business coach … - there is no turning back!
2021 wins as a yoga & retreat photographer in London
What a year 2021 has been - on a personal level, it sure was a whirlwind. I entered a deep healing journey that has resulted in an expansion of everything around me, including my professional life. I still see the ripple effects of all the seeds I’ve planted throughout my life and I’m excited to see where 2022 takes me!
How to recognise your internalised fatphobia to deal with a photoshoot
We all have internalised fatphobia that we need to work on dismantling and when you are about to pose for pictures, it can manifest in many different ways. Fatphobia is damaging on many levels and working on our conditioning is extremely important to be more empathetic people and heal.When we book photoshoots quite often it tends to come up at the surface, particularly if you’ve been socialised as a woman.Recognising fatphobia in yourself will help you recognising it in others and advocate for fat people.
Lies you tell yourself to not book a yoga photoshoot
Are you going to deprive yourself from love, wearing a bikini, eating chips your whole life? You deserve to feel good, you deserve the pretty pictures, you deserve love. It’s easier said than done of course and I invite you to use a photoshoot cautiously on your path to healing any damaging body image issues you might have, but depending on where you are on the matter it can be a beautifully freeing experience.
Common fears before a yoga photoshoot
Throughout my career as a photographer - and a yoga photographer, I’ve encountered a lot of people expressing completely valid fears before booking a photoshoot.Paying someone to take pictures of you can be a quite scary experience, so with this article I hope to appease some of the worries you might also have. As someone who was also on the other side of the lens, I can only relate!
How to deal with body dysmorphia for a photoshoot
I have been struggling with body dysmorphia my whole life and as a photographer, I’ve met many people who suffer from the same thing. I also have been a model and had to partake in photoshoots as a yoga teacher and I’ve put together a list of advice that have helped me go through it. Of course it’s always a work in progress but I hope that it will help you!