I was offered a paid brand deal — and I said no.

Not because I hate working with brands.Not because I’m trying to look virtuous.But because I was asked to say I loved something I hadn’t tested or used in my real workflow.

In this episode of The Loud Lens, I talk honestly about standards in online creation, the difference between influencers and real ambassadors, and why trust matters more than short-term campaigns.

This isn’t a brand-bashing episode. It’s a conversation about credibility, long-term partnerships, and why honesty makes better marketing — for creators and brands.

If you’re a creator feeling pressured to perform enthusiasm, or a brand looking for partners people actually believe, this one’s for you.

Photographing protests is one of the most powerful things a photographer can do — and one of the most dangerous.

From the viral moment of a photographer throwing his Leica to another person as he was being kneeled on by police in the US, to increasing censorship, legal intimidation, and hostility toward cameras in public spaces, this episode of The Loud Lens tackles what it really means to document resistance in 2026.

Khandie speaks from lived experience: being pepper sprayed, threatened, and paradoxically invited and resented by protestors to unpack the ethical, legal, and physical realities of photographing protests in the UK and the US.

This isn’t a hype episode. It’s a hard‑hitting, safety‑first, anti‑censorship conversation about power, responsibility, and knowing when the image is worth the risk — and when it isn’t.

This episode covers:

• The real dangers photographers face at protests
• Legal rights (and grey areas) in the UK vs the US
• Why protest photography matters — even when it’s uncomfortable
• When photographers become the story
• Safety, ethics, censorship, and survival

Strong language. Strong opinions. Real talk.

What happens when photographers get too comfortable online?

In this episode of The Loud Lens, Khandie dives into the most unhinged, out-of-pocket, and jaw-dropping confessions photographers openly admit in Facebook groups, comment sections, and behind-the-scenes industry spaces.

• From leaving weddings early.
• To turning up hungover…
• To openly admitting they hate their clients…

Yes — photographers are really saying this out loud.

This is a confessional-style episode exploring the wild side of photography culture, oversharing, burnout, influencer normalisation, and the behaviours that quietly damage trust between photographers and clients.

Expect dark humour, brutal honesty, and real talk about:

• Photographer confessions and unprofessional behaviour

• Wedding photography red flags clients never see

• Burnout vs accountability in creative businesses

• Boundary issues photographers normalise

• How “relatable content” is eroding industry trust

This episode isn’t about naming names — it’s about recognising patterns, calling out nonsense, and asking why this behaviour keeps getting validated.

⚠️ Content Warning: Strong language, uncomfortable truths, second-hand embarrassment.

Photographers love to say Facebook is dead.

It isn’t.

They’re just using it like Instagram — and that’s the problem.

In this episode of The Loud Lens, photographer, author, and industry speaker Khandie Rees explains how Facebook actually works for photographers, why it’s one of the strongest trust-building platforms available, and how it quietly converts clients when used correctly.

This episode covers:

• Why Facebook is a relationship platform, not a discovery one
• What Facebook reach and interaction really mean
• How trust is built through familiarity and conversation
• Why business pages matter more than you think
• How photographers misuse Facebook groups
• Real examples of Facebook content that works for wedding, family, boudoir, and commercial photographers
• Which Facebook stats actually matter — and which don’t

If Instagram introduces potential clients to you, Facebook often reassures them that you’re the right choice.

This episode explains how — without chasing trends, virality, or burnout.

Evoto’s AI headshot feature sparked intense backlash — not just because of AI, but because of how trust, transparency, and communication were handled.

In this episode of The Loud Lens, Khandie examines publicly visible product features, marketing language, and industry reaction to unpack why photographers felt blindsided — and what this moment reveals about the fragile relationship between tech platforms and creative professionals.

This is not an accusation or an anti-AI rant.
It’s a measured discussion about perception, responsibility, and why how innovation is introduced matters.

Why Instagram Isn’t Working for Your Photography Business (And It’s Not the Algorithm)

Instagram isn’t dead — but the way most photographers use it absolutely is.

In this episode of The Loud Lens, photographer, author, and industry speaker Khandie Rees breaks down the biggest social media pitfalls photographers fall into on Instagram — from follow-for-follow and engagement pods to chasing viral reach with zero business return.

This isn’t another “post more Reels” episode.

Instead, Khandie explains what Instagram terms actually mean in plain English, including:

• What “viral reach” really is (and why it rarely leads to bookings)
• What Instagram considers real interaction vs surface-level noise
• How photographers actually build trust on social media
• What showing authority looks like without becoming salesy or arrogant
• Why likes and followers don’t equal clients
• Which Instagram stats actually matter for service-based photographers

If you’re a photographer using Instagram to grow a business — not just a following — this episode will help you stop chasing tactics and start using the platform with clarity and intent.

🎙️ Next episode: why Facebook works completely differently for photographers — and why most people get that wrong too.

Photography courses and mentors are everywhere right now from Instagram ads and free webinars to high-ticket masterminds and group coaching programmes.

In this episode of The Loud Lens, photographer and mentor Khandie Rees takes a calm, honest look at the rise of photography education and what photographers should actually check before spending their money.

This isn’t an anti-course episode but a reality check. We talk about how to assess photography courses and mentors properly, how to spot smoke-and-mirrors marketing, and how to tell the difference between ethical education and overpromising sales funnels.

You’ll learn:

• What questions to ask before buying a photography course or mentorship
• How income claims and testimonials can be misleading without context
• The difference between learning from a working photographer vs a full-time educator
• When mentorship can genuinely help your photography business grow
• How to avoid pressure-based sales tactics and rushed decisions

If you’re a beginner photographer, a hobbyist looking to go professional, or a working photographer considering investing in education, this episode will help you make informed decisions — without shame, hype, or fear of missing out.

The Loud Lens is a blunt, honest photography podcast for creatives who want transparency, better business practices, and real conversations about the industry.

This is allegedly as the issue is ongoing and is my opinions. A US photographer as been issued a cease and desist by Amy Louise Taylor of Amyl and the Sniffers over the alleged exploitation of her image — and photographers everywhere should be paying attention.

In this episode of The Loud Lens, Khandie Rees breaks down the lawsuit without hype, without misinformation, and without legal myths. We explore the difference between owning copyright and having the right to commercially exploit someone’s image, why “editorial use only” actually matters, and how photographers keep getting caught out by contracts, consent, and the digital afterlife of images.

This isn’t celebrity gossip — it’s a real-world cautionary lesson for photographers who sell prints, promote work online, shoot editorial, or assume that pressing the shutter gives them unlimited rights.

Topics covered:

• Copyright vs licensing vs consent (UK vs US explained)
• GDPR and whether it applies to photographs in the UK
• Why “fine art” doesn’t magically bypass legal responsibility
• The biggest legal myths photographers still believe
• How to protect yourself, your clients, and your reputation

Blunt, informed, and unapologetically honest — this episode is required listening for photographers who want to stay professional in a rapidly changing digital and legal landscape.