Indie Oxford Interview: Kevin Potter of Potters Instinct Photography

This week we catch up with Kevin Potter, founder of Potters Instinct Photography based in Kidlington, to find out more about how is career started and what he loves most about photographing weddings.

Can you tell us how you became a photographer and where you got your love for photography from?

My photography inspiration started from my father many years ago. He was a keen amateur photographer and I still have his film SLR camera today. After leaving school and spending a number of years in all different job roles; including a Royal Engineer in the British Army, I only then found my deep love and creative calling with photography. My Fianceé (now wife!) bought me a DSLR camera soon after we were engaged. After taking my camera along to a couple of family weddings, I soon discovered an exciting buzz for photographing in this environment of happiness and love. I then got my big break with photographing a wedding in Oxford, with the most amazing, trusting and fun couple I could have wished for. They are the one’s that helped me spring board my career and I still keep an image of them on my website for good luck and thanks. I am completely self taught; like many independent businesses in and around Oxford, but this I feel brings a genuine and unique style to our crafts.

What aspect of your job do you find most exciting?

I get a huge adrenaline rush and emotional attachment when I am photographing a wedding. A wedding photographer lives and absorbs every emotion experienced on your wedding day through a tiny eye piece on our cameras. I’m not ashamed to admit it, I have shed many a tear at couples weddings because I am so focused on the emotions of others. And it brings me an enormous sense of elation when I have photographed a couples day as they remembered it, so they are able to view those images for many years after and re live their day over and over again.

Which part of the wedding day do you enjoy photographing the most?

I LOVE the confetti shot! It’s just one of those opportunities to get everyone involved with a fun and exciting photograph for the couple to treasure! It’s also a great way of breaking the ice with all the guests, helping them to relax around me so I can then capture truly natural and candid images.

Aside from weddings, if you could photograph anything else, who/what/where would you love to be able to photograph?

I adore photographing weddings and special events, and they form a large part of my yearly business, but photography can be applied to a wide number of genres, PR, Commercial, Family Photography, but also and including, “Business Lifestyle Photography”. Business lifestyle photography is using high quality photography to tell the story of your business. To show your clients & customers who you are, what you do, where you do it & how you do it. Photos give your clients & customers an opportunity to see you & your business in action, without actually being there, a little peep behind the scenes! I am keen to help other local independent businesses expand their brand, tell their story and show how strong the independent movement is, I would love to hear from you!

What advice would you give to any aspiring photographers?

Photography now is available to everyone! Even my 2-year-old daughter has a bright pink working toy camera! And rightly so, it has become a way of any person from any background to express their emotions, artistic flare, lively hoods and businesses through the art of capturing a single moment in time. My advice to any photographer, especially photographers who have started; or are considering starting a career in photography, is to never ever give up and constantly have the urge to learn new skills. It is an art, a craft, a skill and a lifestyle. The photography industry is a very very hard industry to break into, but I have spent years constantly striving to improve “my” business. And I emphasis the word “my” as your business will grow as much as you put into it. And you want your business to accentuate your passions and skills as a professional photographer. But most of all, go out and just enjoy taking photographs! It’s Fun!

Tell me about your plans for 2018 – do you have any big projects coming up?

Exciting news for 2018! I have been working with a website company called Grizzly Bear Designs, and they’ve worked hard over the winter to design and build a brand new website for me! This will be launching soon. Wedding season is well underway! Always fist pumping, moon walking, excitedly wondering what the year will bring!

Lastly, which are your favourite independent businesses in Oxford?

I really enjoy artisan coffee!! I will go as far to say I am a coffee snob lol! It’s so great the coffee movement has exploded in and around Oxford. So 4 favourite coffee shops in Oxford I enjoy going into are (in alphabetical order you are all amazing!) Colombia Coffee Roasters, Jericho Coffee Traders, The Missing Bean and Turl Street Kitchen. In the wedding industry I have had the pleasure of working with Fabulous Flowers & Bicycle Blooms. I also practice Yoga when I can! So a big fan; and in-house photographer, of Yoga Venue on The Cowley Road.

We’re excited to have Kevin on board and can’t wait to see more of his work. With wedding season fast approaching there will be a lot of happy couples just thrilled with the work of this amazing indie business! Find out more about Kevin at www.pottersinstinctphotography.co.uk.