Is AI eroding the soul of wedding photography/videography?

Happy 2026! We are back by the fire for our first chat of the year, and we have a lot to catch up on. In this episode, we dive deep into the current state of the wedding industry. After judging hundreds of films for the British Wedding Film Festival, we’ve noticed some polarizing trends - from AI-generated voiceovers to the resurgence of "home movie" Super 8 vibes. We also discuss the controversial return of the "Dutch tilt" in photography (thanks, Gen Z) and ask the question: are Content Creators actually taking over, or was it just a phase? On the business side, we open up about a recent painful client cancellation and discuss the ethics of contracts and refunds when things go wrong. We also debate a recent award-winning image controversy - where do we draw the line between photography, digital art, and cheating? Plus, we share some life updates, including Liam’s new career path, Bee’s Harry Potter-style darkroom, and why Laura is painting in her underwear. Topics: •2026 Trends: The rise of AI music and voiceovers in wedding films. •Gear Nostalgia: Why everyone is buying old DSLRs and 35mm film cameras. •Business Realities: Handling last-minute cancellations and protecting your income. •Ethics: The controversy of using stock imagery and composites in photo awards. •Life Updates: Darkrooms, driving instructors, and car breakdowns. Whether you are a photographer, videographer, or just a creative trying to navigate the changing landscape, grab a coffee (or a wine) and join the commune. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: Happy New Year 2026 01:05 - Judging film awards & the rise of AI Voiceovers 05:23 - Photography trends: The return of the "Wonky Horizon" 07:00 - The DSLR nostalgia trap 09:30 - Bee’s new cupboard darkroom & developing film 14:55 - Laura’s new painting hobby 21:50 - Liam’s now a Qualified Driving Instructor 29:40 - Have Content Creators actually taken over? 33:00 - Dealing with a major wedding cancellation 36:40 - The Awards Controversy: Stock images vs. Photography 43:00 - Will AI eventually eat itself? 47:00 - Highs & Lows: Client testimonials & car breakdown nightmares 57:30 - Bee’s health scare & 80s nostalgia Lawson Film School: https://www.lawsonfilms.co.uk/lawson-film-school Say hi on Instagram @ourcreativecommune Get a free 14 day trial of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/935Cy The British Wedding Film Festival https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com/ liamandbee.com lawsonfilms.co.uk lawsonphotography.co.uk #weddingphotography #weddingvideography #filmphotography #creativepodcast #weddingindustry #ourcreativecommune Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.