Photography and Video Guides
Practical, plain English guides from both sides of the camera. Whether you are an actor, a musician, a dancer or a creator, or you run a business, a venue or a dance school, pick your area and dive in.
Guides for Actors
Headshots, showreels and self tapes, written by a working actor who knows what casting is looking for.
How Much Do Actor Headshots Cost in the UK?
Why actor headshot prices vary so much, the hidden extras to check for, what a session should include, and exactly what my £180 session in Liverpool covers.
How Long Should an Acting Showreel Be?
The ideal acting showreel length at every career stage, what casting directors and Spotlight say, and how to cut your reel down without losing your best…
Self Tape Audition Tips: Setup, Lighting and Sound at Home
How to set up a self tape at home that casting enjoys watching: framing, background, lighting, sound, your reader, the ident, and how to name and send the file.
How to Make a Showreel With No Credits
No credits, no reel? Three ways to build an acting showreel from nothing, what material to choose, and how casting directors want it cut.
How Often Should Actors Update Their Headshots?
The rule of thumb for updating actor headshots, the changes that mean you need new ones straight away, and how to time a refresh with your career.
What to Wear for Actor Headshots
The colours, necklines and layers that work for actor headshots, what to avoid, and exactly what to pack for your session.
Commercial vs Theatrical Headshots: What’s the Difference?
How commercial and theatrical headshots differ, whether UK actors need both, which to lead with on Spotlight, and how to get both looks from one session.
Spotlight Headshot Requirements: Sizes, Rules and What Casting Want
Everything Spotlight asks for in a headshot: the minimum size, file limits, how many photos to upload, photographer credits, retouching and what casting…
What Casting Directors Want From a Showreel
What casting directors want from an actor showreel: best work first, short and snappy, clear sound, and scenes that match your casting. Plus what to do with…
How to Prepare for Your Actor Headshot Shoot
How to prepare for an actor headshot shoot: what to wear, hair and makeup, the night before, what happens on the day and choosing your shots for Spotlight.
Guides for Musicians
Press shots, cover art, music videos and release content for musicians, bands, DJs and producers.
How Much Does a Music Video Cost in the UK?
What really sets the cost of a music video, the different kinds of video and what each takes, and how to get a video, stills and vertical clips from one shoot.
Album Cover Art Size and Rules for Spotify and Apple Music
The cover art size streaming services and distributors ask for, the rules that get artwork rejected, and how to shoot a photo that works as a square cover.
How to Get Great Photos of Your Gig
How bands and artists can get far better live photos: stage lighting, clearing the clutter, briefing your photographer, using soundcheck and posting at the…
Spotify Artist Image Sizes and Specs (2026)
Every Spotify artist image size in one place, from the avatar and header to Canvas, with Spotify’s rules and the other platform sizes you will need.
The Best Music Video Locations in Liverpool
Eight Liverpool locations that work for music videos, what kind of songs they suit, the best time to film, and who to ask for permission.
How to Make a Music Video on a Budget
How independent artists make music videos that look far more expensive than they were: choosing the type, spending where it shows, free ideas and planning…
Planning Content for a Music Release: A Six Week Rollout
A week by week rollout for your next single or EP, built around Spotify’s deadlines, with the content bank one planned shoot should give you.
What to Put in an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) for Musicians
Everything that belongs in a musician’s EPK, who reads it and what they look for, which photos to include, and the mistakes that get press kits ignored.
Press Photos for Musicians: What You Need for a Release
The photos and video a musician needs for a release: press shots, cover art, Spotify profile images, vertical video for Canvas and Reels, and a press kit.
The Best Photoshoot Locations in Liverpool
The best photoshoot locations in Liverpool for artists, actors and personal branding, from the Royal Albert Dock and St George’s Hall to Sefton Park and the…
Guides for Dancers and Creators
Portfolio photos, dance reels, content days and locations for dancers, models and content creators.
How to Make a Dance Reel Agents Actually Watch
How to make a dance reel that gets watched: the right length, what to open with, which styles and clips to include, filming tips and versions for socials.
How to Batch a Month of Content in One Shoot
How creators and personal brands turn one planned shoot into a month of posts, Reels and Stories, with a shot list, looks and platform sizes.
Building a Dance Portfolio: The Photos You Need
The photos agents, companies and choreographers want from dancers, the shots to plan for each style, what to wear, and how to shoot movement safely.
The Best Photoshoot Locations in Liverpool
The best photoshoot locations in Liverpool for artists, actors and personal branding, from the Royal Albert Dock and St George’s Hall to Sefton Park and the…
Guides for Business Video
Planning, pricing and ideas for brand films, promo videos, testimonials and recruitment video.
Testimonial Video Questions: 12 That Get Real Answers
Twelve testimonial video questions that get honest answers, how to put a nervous customer at ease on camera, and how to cut one interview into several clips.
What to Include in a Recruitment Video
What to include in a recruitment video: real people, the actual working day, honest moments, progression and short cuts for every platform.
Video Ideas for Small Businesses
Seven video ideas that work for small businesses, from meet the team intros to customer stories, plus how to film a month of content in one day.
How to Plan a Promo Video for Your Business
A simple way to plan a promo video: one goal, one message, a shot list and the right versions for every platform, from a Liverpool videographer.
How Much Does a Business Video Cost? What Moves the Price
A simple business video can cost a few hundred pounds; a bigger promotional production can run into the thousands. A Liverpool videographer explains what…
Guides for Event Organisers
Briefs, shot lists, venues and pricing for event organisers, promoters and venues.
How Much Does an Event Photographer Cost?
Why event photography quotes vary so much, the eight things that set the price, how to compare quotes fairly and how I quote event coverage in Liverpool.
Liverpool Event Venues: Notes From Behind the Camera
Notes from the camera side of the room on Liverpool venues I have shot in, from ringside at the Olympia to open airs in the Baltic Triangle, and what to plan.
Conference Photography: The Shot List Every Organiser Needs
The complete conference photography shot list, from the empty room to the last award, plus what to send your photographer so nothing is missed.
Questions to Ask Before You Book an Event Photographer or Videographer in Liverpool
The questions to ask before booking an event photographer or videographer in Liverpool: experience, backup kit, turnaround, usage rights, delivery and what…
How to Get Reels, Photos and a Film From One Event
How to plan one event shoot that gives you Instagram Reels, TikToks, LinkedIn photos and a highlights film, from a Liverpool event photographer and…
How to Brief an Event Photographer and Videographer
How to brief an event photographer and videographer: the running order, the must have people and moments, where the content is going, and a simple…
Guides for Business Headshots
Corporate, LinkedIn and team headshots: what to wear, what it costs and how the day runs.
AI Headshots vs a Real Photographer: Which Should You Use?
A fair look at AI headshots versus a professional photographer: what AI does well, where it falls down, what it means for teams and actors, and cost.
Personal Branding Photoshoot: How to Plan One That Works
How founders, consultants and small business owners can plan a personal branding photoshoot so every image has a job, from the shot list to locations and…
How Much Do Corporate Headshots Cost in the UK?
Why corporate headshot prices vary so much, what changes the cost, individual sessions vs team days, what your money should include, and my own Liverpool…
Team Headshots at Your Office: How the Day Works
How an office team headshot day works: what I need, how long it takes, picking photos and keeping new starters consistent. From a Liverpool photographer.
How to Get a Great LinkedIn Profile Photo
How to get a LinkedIn profile photo that works: framing, light, background and expression, with a quick checklist from a Liverpool headshot photographer.
What to Wear for a Corporate Headshot
What to wear for a corporate or LinkedIn headshot: colours, necklines, glasses and a simple checklist, from a Liverpool headshot photographer.
Corporate and LinkedIn headshots in Liverpool · All headshots
Guides for Product Brands
Product photos that sell: platform rules, packshots or lifestyle, video ideas and pricing.
How Much Does Product Photography Cost?
Per image or day rate, packshots versus lifestyle, the things that change a product shoot quote, and how to get more from your budget as an ecommerce brand.
Product Video Ideas for Ecommerce: 12 That Sell
Twelve product video ideas that help ecommerce brands sell, where each one works best, and how to film them alongside your product photography.
How to Prepare Your Products for a Photoshoot
How to get your products ready for a photoshoot: samples, product lists, references and delivery, with a checklist from a Liverpool product photographer.
Packshot, Flat Lay or Lifestyle: Which Product Photos Do You Need?
Packshot, flat lay and lifestyle product photos each do a different job. Here is how to choose the right mix for your shop, ads and social.
Amazon and Shopify Product Photo Requirements
Amazon and Shopify product photo requirements in plain English: white backgrounds, image sizes, zoom and consistency, from a Liverpool product photographer.
Guides for Landlords, Agents and Hosts
Listing photos that earn the click: preparing the property, pricing, Airbnb shot lists and honest editing.
How Much Does Property Photography Cost?
What really sets the price of property photography, the add ons that change a quote, how agents can budget across a portfolio, and how I quote in Liverpool.
Property Photo Editing: What’s Allowed and What’s Misleading
Which edits to property photos are fine, which could mislead a buyer or tenant, how to handle virtual staging, and what UK consumer law now says about it.
Questions to Ask Before Booking a Property Photographer
Seven questions agents and landlords should ask before booking a property photographer, on turnaround, portal ready files, video, tenanted homes and…
Airbnb Photos That Get You Booked: A Host’s Shot List
The Airbnb shot list I plan around: the cover photo, the first five images, every bed, kitchens, bathrooms and the details that sell the stay, from a…
How to Prepare Your Property for a Photoshoot
How to prepare a house, flat or rental for property photos: clear surfaces, let the light in, sort the kitchen, bathrooms and outside, with a simple…
Guides for Dance Schools and Theatre Companies
Show filming, photo days, live streaming, consent and music licensing, sorted before the big night.
How Much Does It Cost to Film a Dance Show?
What really sets the cost of filming a dance show, one camera versus multicam, what families actually want, and practical ways schools cover the cost.
Photographing Children at Dance Shows: Consent and GDPR
A plain English guide for dance schools on photos and video of pupils at shows: what the ICO says, opt outs, parents filming, and sharing the film safely.
Do You Need a Music Licence to Film a Dance Show?
A plain English guide for dance schools on the music in a filmed show: what the Limited Manufacture Licence covers, downloads and streaming, and YouTube.
Dance Show DVDs, USBs or Digital Downloads: Which Is Best?
How dance show DVDs, USB sticks and digital downloads compare, what parents actually use now, and the music licensing questions to check before you sell copies.
Live Streaming Your Dance Show: What Schools Need to Know
What dance schools need to know about live streaming a show: private links, venue internet, music licensing, consent and the edited film.
How to Plan a Dance School Photo Day
How to plan a dance school photo day: the date, a class timetable, the shots to get and how families receive their photos. From a Liverpool photographer.
How to Get Your Dance Show Filmed: A Guide for Dance Schools
How to plan filming for your dance show: booking early, the running order, venue, consent, music licensing and getting the film to families.
Not sure where to start?
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