This international pod is with the awesome Sean Bell, based in Scotland. An inspiration for myself and a lot of photographers across Australia and New Zealand. Sean is considered a veteran of the photography industry - with a 15-year career of creating incredible art and imagery. In our chat, we explore his journey to wedding photography, his artistic processes and how to create a career with longevity.

Get to know

Sean is based just outside of Edinburgh but travels all over Scotland shooting - especially in the highlands. Growing up in Edinburgh, Sean was surrounded by photography with his father being a super keen amateur with a darkroom in his childhood home. As a kid, he was fascinated by the red light emanating from the darkroom and after getting a hand-me-down camera from his Dad, he was hooked. He’s now been in the business for 15 years after studying photography at college - starting in a local paper and then transitioning to commercial photography. He then fell into wedding photography, shooting for family and friends. It gave him a new sense of autonomy and the space to be creative when weddings were moving away from the traditional, stuffy format. Sean now creates stunning yet subtle imagery and has seen his business grow to much success.

What we cover

An intro to where Sean and where he’s located
His family ties to photography
The harsh beginnings of his professional career in journalism
His transition into wedding and portrait photography
How early criticism forged his photography
Not feeling satisfied with his images
Looking for nuance and subtlety
Sean’s practical process during a wedding
The importance of levelling with your clients and reading their body language
Inserting banter and soft direction - taking the couples lead
His kit for weddings
How to give direction and tapping into what makes a couple lights up
Buying time by starting the process and how it leads to creativity
The beauty of wedding shoots in Scotland
Working with his wife and We Are Elopers
What new photographers don’t do enough of lighting and working with couples
Still getting nervous before jobs and being the underdog
How to push your boundaries in wedding photography
The importance of consistently experimenting to keep things fresh
Taking your own artistic direction on shoot

My biggest takeaway

Speaking to Sean was really inspiring - especially with his legacy in the wedding photography space. What struck me was his consistent want to improve and ‘winging it’ attitude. Despite having a honed process and skill he still actively steps outside of his comfort zone and taps into the energy of a couple. This not only comes across in his creative process but his imagery too - enabling him to have a long and successful career.