What makes a great portrait in a world where almost any image can now be created, or completely transformed with AI?

In this episode of The Bearded IFA Diaries, I'm joined by professional portrait photographer Gavin J Priest to explore his journey through an industry that has changed enormously during his career.

Gavin takes us right back to the beginning, sharing how his interest in photography developed as a youngster and the path that eventually led him to become an established and respected professional photographer.

We talk about the highs and lows of making a living from something creative, the lessons he's learned along the way and how his approach to both photography and business has evolved over the years.

And then there's technology. 📸

From the move to digital photography and increasingly sophisticated editing software to the extraordinary capabilities of AI-generated and AI-edited images, the industry is going through another period of significant change.

So where does that leave the professional photographer?

We discuss whether technology risks taking something away from photography and why there may actually be more value than ever in capturing real people, real expressions and genuine moments.

We also explore the business side of Gavin's journey, including the importance of finding your niche, specialising rather than trying to photograph everything, and where he sees his own career heading next.

In this episode:

📸 Gavin's journey from a young photography enthusiast to respected professional
👤 Why he chose to specialise in portrait photography
💼 The realities of turning creativity into a business
🎢 The highs, lows and lessons from years in the industry
💻 How technology has transformed professional photography
🤖 AI-generated images and the future of image editing
🧐 Can we still tell what's real?
❤️ Why authentic photographs of real people still matter
🎯 The value of specialising and finding your niche
🔮 What's next for Gavin and the photography industry

In a world where we can generate an apparently perfect image in seconds, perhaps the imperfect reality of a genuine photograph of a genuine person becomes even more important.

A really enjoyable and thought-provoking conversation about photography, technology, creativity, business and adapting to change.

🎙️ The Bearded IFA Diaries — real conversations with business owners, professionals and interesting people about their journeys, challenges and what they've learned along the way.

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🎙️ The Bearded IFA Diaries — real conversations with business owners, professionals and interesting people about their journeys, challenges and what they’ve learned along the way.