NineDots: The DotCast
NineDots: The DotCast
NineDots
The NineDots podcast. Topical ramblings from NineDots co-founders Rahul Khona and Andy Gaines, with regular guests from the world of wedding photography, creative business and entrepreneurship!
James Richard: On Emotion, Meaningful Moments, and the Shift to Film Photography
In this episode, Rahul Khona sits down with wedding photographer James Richard to explore what it really means to capture more than just images - but feeling, memory, and human connection. James shares the quiet philosophy behind his work, reflecting on how the smallest, often unnoticed moments can hold the deepest meaning. From helping couples feel truly at ease in front of the camera to embracing the imperfect, fleeting nature of a wedding day, this conversation gently unpacks the art of st...
Apr 24
1 hr 18 min
Rocio Vega: Automation Meets Emotion: Finding Balance in the Age of Ai
In this episode, Rahul sits down with Rocio for a forward-thinking conversation about the evolving landscape of wedding photography - and how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we work. Drawing on her extensive experience in the industry, Rocio shares how she’s thoughtfully integrated AI into her business - not to replace creativity, but to enhance connection. From using tools like ChatGPT to streamline workflows and personalise client communication, Rocio explains how technology ca...
Mar 23
1 hr 45 min
Martin Ellard: Attracting the Right Clients (Not Just More Clients)
In this episode, Rahul Khona and Martin Ellard cut through the noise to talk about what actually helps photographers build smarter, more sustainable businesses today. From using SEO with intent rather than guesswork, to creating behind-the-scenes content that attracts the right clients, Martin shares hard-won insights from working across commercial, food, and wedding photography. We dig into why relationships matter more than trends, how to communicate personal style without over-explai...
Mar 2
1 hr 11 min
Frances Foster: Creativity, Change & Building a Sustainable Wedding Photography Business
In this episode, Rahul Khona sits down with Frances Foster for an open, unfiltered conversation about creativity, change, and what it really takes to build a sustainable wedding photography business in a fast-moving industry. They dive into social media and business strategy, the value of professionalism, and how clarity, confidence, and genuine care help build lasting client trust. From personal branding and content creation to destination weddings and shifting client expectations, the discu...
Feb 10
1 hr 26 min
Rebecca Carpenter: The Strategy That Took Her From Local to Luxury
In this episode, Rebecca Carpenter joins Rahul to talk about how wedding photography has transformed over the last 9 years - from rigid, traditional coverage to a more honest, documentary-driven approach shaped heavily by social media culture. Rebecca shares her journey from launching her business nine years ago to becoming a sought-after destination wedding photographer, revealing the strategic decisions that helped her stand out, including how styled shoots played a crucial role in bui...
Jan 20
1 hr 28 min
Rahul Khona & Andy Gaines - Surviving 2025: Why Complacency Kills Bookings (and How Instagram Ads Save Them)
Welcome back to the Dot-Cast - Season Four, Episode One baby! In this episode join Rahul Khona and Andy Gaines as we dive deep into our reflections on 2025 sharing our experiences from a year that was full of up’s and down’s. We take a look back at what made last year's NineDots Gathering special, discussing what worked well and what we might tweak for this year's 11th instalment along with our favourite highlights. We also explore our how are bookings are going for 2026 and Andy shares his k...
Jan 5
43 min
Episode 91: Chelsea Cannar on being pregnant and running a creative business through big life shifts.
In this episode, Rahul Khona and Chelsea Cannar dive into the whirlwind journey of navigating pregnancy while running your own creative business. From the emotional and physical shifts to the challenge of staying visible online and showing up authentically, we talk about the real-life balance of personal change and professional drive. We unpack the role of ego as a creative, the excitement (and pressure) of entering and winning The Wedding Industry Awards (TWIA), and the joy of expandin...
Jul 25, 2025
1 hr 38 min
Episode 90: Lewis Fackrell on Balancing Creativity, Parenting, Clients & Content in 2025
In this episode, Rahul Khona and Lewis Fackrell dive deep into the tools, trends, and time management hacks that are reshaping the creative industry right now. From the power of AI automations and ChatGPT to the game-changing potential of Generative Fill, we explore how photographers and filmmakers can streamline their workflows and boost creativity. We also chat about the realities of being fully booked while raising kids, managing time effectively, and making hybrid photo-video coverage wor...
Jul 9, 2025
1 hr 14 min
Episode 89: Mark Horton on Social Media for Photographers: What’s Working in 2025?
In this episode, Rahul Khona is joined by Mark Horton where we dive into the evolving world of social media and how photographers can stay ahead of the curve. We talk about the power of making reels that actually reach people, the importance of recording an intro video to build trust, and how trial reels can help you test what resonates. We also discuss why many are choosing Instagram over TikTok, and the strategy behind rebranding yourself every year to stay fresh and relevant. We explore wh...
Jun 19, 2025
1 hr 12 min
Episode 88: Paris Wedding Photographer Elodie discusses confidence, changing trends and evolving as a photographer
In this episode, Paris Wedding Photographer Elodie joins Rahul Khona as she shares her journey as a wedding photographer in France, reflecting on her evolving business, a fresh new website design, and a strategic shift in her target audience. She opens up about navigating changing trends in the wedding industry, the importance of confidence when connecting with clients, and finding the right balance between documentary-style and posed photography. We also dive into the challenges of booking w...
Jun 5, 2025
1 hr 8 min
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