Barbara Leatham of Barbara Leatham Photography has an exciting 2023 in store!

Barbara Leatham Photography, experienced commercial photographer and trainer based in Tilshead, Wiltshire. Here she explains why 2023 is already looking to be a busy but exciting year for her!

2023 is already looking busy with having completed my first shoot and preparing for the next one. Sometimes January and February can be very quiet, so I use the time to “Spring Clean” everything. I look over my costs, the website, my documents that I send out to clients on a regular basis. I need to know that the wording is still on track with the business and what I am delivering. Essentially I make sure the images on my website don’t look dated; and - I had my headshot done two years ago, so I’ve got to think about booking a new one for this year. I honestly recommend this for every business.

I’m very excited to be launching a new service this year; it’s going to be called “Done With Me Photography”.  

The bit I’m looking forward to the most is helping businesses improve their own photography by sharing my 30+ years of experience. It’s all about being in their space with their equipment, be it a camera or a smart phone, and showing them how to use what they have to create branded images for themselves. Imagine seeing your space as endless opportunities for images and how to get the best from it. 

I’ll be celebrating my 16th business birthday in July. I’ve got a few months to think about how I want to celebrate, but I do know I’ll be asking some close business friends to share the time with me, and there will be sweet things involved.

Other things I will be looking forward to… continuing my friendship and working relationship with Fiona Scott from Scott Media. I’ve known Fiona 10 years this September and we have been working together with her clients for 9 of those years! Both of our businesses have survived Covid, and I’ve no doubt we will battle through any recession that may or may not be happening.

A huge shout out to the two charities I work with every year. Firstly to Entrain Space who offers accommodation and support to military veterans to help them transition from military life to civilian. They have just done some major changes and it’s looking exciting for them. Once you have been in the military it does stay with you for the rest of your life, it’s good to give back to other veterans.

I’m also going to be starting my 10th year as a volunteer photographer with the Butterfly Wishes Network. They are desperate for more photographers to gift their time and services to photograph families whose children have life limiting or life shortening illnesses. There are over 300 photographers across the UK who do this already, but with the applications from families increasing we are hoping that more photographers will sign up.

The BWN is run completely by volunteers who also run their own businesses as well as maintaining the behind the scenes work and admin. A big shout out to Donna Reid from Suffolk and Claire Petrie in Somerset who should wear super girl pants on the outside, you ladies are amazing and the BWN wouldn’t be here without you.

On a final note, my advice to all businesses in 2023 is to remind your clients that you are there and you should be connecting with them and seeing how they are doing. Ask them if there are things you can do to help, even if it’s just a chat over a cuppa. Sole traders, connect with others who are also managing on their own. It can be hard, so talking to others and finding support to talk through things might be the difference for many still being in business at the end of the year - make this the year you pay it forward.

Wishing you all success in 2023

To learn more about Barbara visit www.BarbaraLeatham.co.uk