We Are Photo is an inclusive photography community and meet-up group dedicated to bringing the joy back into photography while creating space for genuine creativity, connection, and growth. Founded in December 2022, the community has quickly grown into a thriving network of photographers of all levels, from complete beginners picking up a camera for the first time to seasoned professionals looking to refine their craft and connect with others who share their passion.

At its core, We Are Photo is built on the belief that photography should be fun, accessible, and collaborative. Through its free monthly meet-ups across Essex and Hertfordshire, the group provides a welcoming environment where members can practice their skills, explore new locations, and build meaningful relationships with like-minded creatives. Each event is thoughtfully designed to encourage both learning and play, featuring themed challenges and light-hearted competitions that inspire participants to step outside their comfort zones while enjoying the process.

Beyond the monthly gatherings, We Are Photo offers in-person experience workshops tailored for photographers looking to build or strengthen their portfolios in areas such as family, animal, and wedding photography. These sessions place a strong emphasis on storytelling through portraits, focusing on connection, emotion, and authentic relationships—helping photographers develop not just technical ability, but a deeper creative perspective.

For those who prefer to learn at their own pace or from a distance, the community also provides a range of online courses designed to help photographers refine their skills and elevate their work. Whether someone is just starting out or looking to take their photography to the next level, We Are Photo offers both the tools and the supportive community to help them grow.

Through its combination of in-person experiences and online learning, We Are Photo continues to foster a vibrant, encouraging space where creativity thrives, confidence builds, and photographers are reminded why they fell in love with photography in the first place.

https://www.wearephotogroup.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/827269684995108

www.instagram.com/wearephoto

www.Tiktok.com/wearephotogroup

https://www.youtube.com/@Wearephoto

Sam Hollis helps photographers build businesses that actually serve their lives, not the other way around. As co-host of the Commercial Photographer podcast, he shares weekly insights on marketing, growth, pricing, and creativity, helping photographers think more strategically about how they run and scale their businesses.

Through his work at Website 4 Photographers, Sam specialises in helping photographers take control of their online presence. He is particularly known for his expertise in local SEO and Google Maps, showing photographers how to dominate their local area, increase visibility, and generate consistent, high-quality enquiries without relying solely on social media.

Sam is a strong advocate for building efficient, systemised businesses that support long-term sustainability. He believes that with the right foundations—clear messaging, a well-structured website, and smart marketing channels—photographers can create predictable lead flow and more freedom in their work.

Living what he teaches, Sam operates a highly mobile “freedom model” lifestyle. While his daughters live and study in the Netherlands, he and his wife split their time between the UK and the sun of Mozambique. His approach to business is grounded in flexibility, intentional design, and creating a life that aligns with what matters most.

With more than 13 years of experience as a professional wedding photographer, Martin has become a highly respected and recognisable figure within the wedding photography industry. Known not only for his work behind the camera, he has also built a strong reputation for his commitment to supporting, mentoring, and educating fellow photographers at all stages of their careers.

Following his appearance on the Studio Ninja Podcast three years ago, Martin was inspired to create his own platform, leading to the launch of Wedding Photography Unveiled. Through this podcast, he shares an honest and insightful look into the realities of running a successful photography business, going beyond just the creative side of the craft.

Today, Martin is widely regarded for his straightforward, no-nonsense approach, delivering practical, experience-led education that helps wedding photographers confidently navigate and master the business side of their work.

Gazza from Marry Us Gary is an ex-sparky who loved his own wedding day so much that he decided to down tools and become a marriage celebrant. What started as a passion project quickly turned into a thriving career built around fun, relaxed, and modern ceremonies that couples genuinely connect with. Not long after, his wife Georgie saw how much he loved what he was doing and decided to join the fun herself, becoming a celebrant under the name Marry Us Georgie.

Together, Gazza and Georgie are the directors of The Celebrant Society, one of Australia’s leading professional celebrant associations. Through their work, they help celebrants start, build, and grow successful businesses while being part of a supportive and collaborative community. The society now has more than 500 members across Australia, and their Annual Celebrant Conference has become a highlight of the industry calendar—bringing celebrants together for education, connection, and a whole lot of fun.

Gazza is widely known for his high-energy, engaging ceremony style and his passion for helping celebrants treat their work like a real business. A big advocate for systems and efficiency, he signed up to Studio Ninja within the first week of becoming a registered celebrant and has been a dedicated user ever since. Today he’s a proud Studio Ninja partner and regularly encourages fellow celebrants to embrace CRMs and smart workflows to streamline their businesses.

Beyond ceremonies, Gazza also coaches celebrants on the practical side of building a sustainable business—covering everything from websites and SEO to creating strong systems and confidently MCing wedding receptions. His mission is simple: help celebrants run better businesses so they can focus on delivering unforgettable experiences for their couples.

https://www.instagram.com/marryusgary_celebrant/

https://theweddingsociety.co/

David Zhou is a versatile photographer and videographer known for his dynamic approach across multiple genres — from natural light portraiture to event coverage and commercial photography. With an intuitive eye for storytelling and a deep understanding of visual composition, David brings a sense of authenticity and clarity to every project he takes on, whether he's capturing intimate moments, high-energy events, or polished brand visuals.

Beyond the camera, David is also widely recognized as a YouTuber in the camera tech space, where he covers the latest gear and industry news. His content spans everything from Sony Alpha releases and DJI drones to emerging innovations like 360-degree cameras. With a growing following of creatives and tech enthusiasts, David bridges the gap between artistic practice and cutting-edge technology — offering honest insights, reviews, and tutorials that empower others to create.

What sets David apart is his ability to balance the creative and the technical. His passion lies at the intersection of photography as an expressive art form and the ever-evolving technology that fuels it. Whether he's behind the lens or in front of the camera sharing his expertise, David is dedicated to helping others unlock their creative potential through both inspiration and information.

Scarlett is a 24-year-old fine art dance and wedding photographer based on the scenic south coast of England. Her journey into photography began unexpectedly in 2019 when a former colleague asked her to take headshots for his acting portfolio. With a background in video production and seven years of filmmaking education under her belt, she took on the challenge — and quickly discovered a deep passion for capturing people through the lens. That spontaneous photoshoot, made possible by a free camera found on Facebook, marked the beginning of a transformative creative path.

In 2021, Scarlett photographed her first wedding and hasn’t looked back since. By April 2022, she officially launched her business as a sole trader, leaving behind her day job and graduating from university to pursue photography full time. Her artistic style, rooted in her filmmaking background, combines cinematic storytelling with a refined editorial eye — a blend that’s earned her recognition from prestigious publications such as Vogue and Green Wedding Shoes.

Scarlett’s work has taken her far beyond her seaside hometown, with weddings and editorial shoots leading her to quaint villages in the South of France, cozy whiskey bars by the coast, and most recently, the historic halls of Westminster Abbey.

Amy has been a part of the wedding industry for over four years, carving out a space where creativity, authenticity, and human connection come together seamlessly. Specialising in capturing the raw emotion and beauty of a couple’s most important day, she’s built a reputation for her ability to document moments that feel both timeless and deeply personal.

Though weddings are the heart of her business and her primary focus, Amy also enjoys stepping into other areas of photography, including family portraits and branding work. These sessions allow her to explore different dynamics and creative challenges, keeping her inspired and constantly evolving as an artist.

Throughout the growth of her business—through trial, error, and plenty of learning—Amy has remained grounded in one core belief: that photography is about so much more than just images. For her, it's about capturing the true essence of people and the connections between them. That intention has guided her from the very beginning and continues to be the foundation of everything she does.

Alex Vita runs a website called ForegroundWeb.com which is all about photography websites.

Alex started out as a photographer himself, and has experienced the struggles of finding work, shooting weddings, having his own portrait studio, and learning to build photography websites through firsthand trial-and-error. Since then he's been a successful freelancer, gathering experience from over 200 projects, both small and large, everything from beginner photographers to full-time pros and large agencies.

He help photographers grow their photography business with a stellar web presence, in two ways:

• He either build websites for them, he have almost twenty years of experience, having worked on over 200 websites for photographers from 25 countries
• or he helps to teach photographers how to improve their online business themselves:
  • a ton of educational content (articles, newsletter, resources)
  • website teardowns and SEO audits, showing them where they need to improve
  • consulting & strategy calls

Alex's clients are pro or semi-pro photographers selling licenses or photo-based products online (prints, calendars, books, workshops, photo tours, etc.)