Kate Abbey is a commercial and Lifestyle photographer based in the north of England. She is represented in the UK and the US and in this episode we talk to Kate about how she got to where she is, and what that journey involved. Studying others to inform her own practice, creating a coherent brand and portfolio and how to get in front of the agents that you want representing you. We also discuss creating personal work and how her decision to take a step back and do an MA later in her life helped reinvigorate her personal work.

From the intro Tom’s cable clips that he’s so in love with

Mentioned by Abbey Photographer - Nick Meek

Photographer - David Harriman

Photographer - Kerry Harrison

Photographer - Peter Beavis

We discuss test shoots and what lengths Kate went too, to create her own shoots abroad.

Creating your own website by analysing other websites - figuring out what works and what doesn’t.

Key to having a consistent portfolio is repetition; repeat what you do 100’s of times - means clients will have no bad surprises about what you’ll deliver

Getting an agent in the US - putting them in a list - A, B and C of priority - and sending personalised mailers

Using Bikini lists - Subscription based mailout lists

Keeping organised by using Insightly - CRM software and tying that into using Linkedin and other social media

Desert Island camera: Hasselblad 503 with a 60mm

Desert Island Book #1: Mountain and waters by Alexander Gronsky

Desert Island Book #2: Girl Pictures by Justine Kurland