Creative Enterprise Growth Programme: Photography That Sells

We are thrilled to welcome Rachel McClumpha, a professional photographer who specialises in helping creative businesses create clear, confident imagery that truly represents their work.

Rachel brings a thoughtful blend of technical expertise, creative sensitivity, and real-world understanding of how images are actually used across websites, social media, portfolios, and marketing. Her calm, supportive teaching style turns photography from something confusing or intimidating into something practical, achievable, and empowering.

This full-day session gives you the space to step back from guesswork and learn the foundations of photography that genuinely supports your business. You will understand how light, styling, and branding work together, and how to create images that help customers and clients connect with what you do.

Workshop Six : Photography That Sells – A Practical Workshop for Creative Businesses

Strong imagery plays a powerful role in how people understand your creative business.

If you sell products, your photos help customers decide whether to buy.
If you sell services, your photos help people decide whether to trust you, book you, or get in touch.

This workshop gives you the space to slow down, learn the foundations properly, and practice in a supportive environment. While there is a strong focus on photographing physical work, the principles apply equally to service-based creative businesses who want clearer brand imagery, portfolio images, and visual content that communicates what they do.

The day is designed to feel practical, encouraging, and easy to follow, with time to learn, ask questions, and apply everything straight away.

1. Branding Through Photography

Your images should feel like you.

In this section we will look at:

• How photography supports your brand identity
• Creating visual consistency across your images
• Making intentional choices that align with your values and audience

This helps you move away from trends and towards imagery that genuinely represents your work or services.

2. Equipment & Useful Tools

You do not need expensive kit to create strong images.

Rachel will talk through:

• Using a phone or camera confidently
• What equipment is helpful and what is unnecessary
• Affordable tools that make a real difference

The focus is on making the most of what you already have.

3. Creating the Right Visual Set-Up

We will explore the foundations of strong, intentional imagery, including:

• Choosing backdrops that suit your work and your brand
• Using props and styling without distracting from the focus
• Creating simple, repeatable set-ups you can recreate at home or in your studio

This applies whether you are photographing products, artwork, materials, tools, process, or brand details.

4. Lighting Made Simple

Lighting is one of the biggest factors in how professional your images look, and one of the most confusing.

We will cover:

• How to work with natural light
• Simple lighting options for small spaces
• Common mistakes and how to fix them
• How lighting affects colour, mood, and clarity

Everything is explained in a clear, practical way, with creative businesses in mind.

5. Practical Hands-On Session

This is where everything comes together.

You are encouraged to bring products or visual elements from your business, such as artwork, materials, tools, samples, sketchbooks, packaging, props, or anything that represents your work.

During the session you will:

• Set up your own backdrop and lighting
• Practice photographing your work
• Receive gentle guidance and feedback

The practical session is relaxed, supportive, and designed to build confidence.

What You Will Learn

By the end of the workshop, you will:

• Understand how to style and set up strong images
• Feel more confident using light
• Know how to align your photography with your brand
• Understand what equipment you actually need
• Have practical experience photographing your own work
• Leave with clarity, confidence, and skills you can use immediately

Everything is broken down into manageable steps so the process feels clear and achievable.

Who It Is For

This workshop is exclusively for people working within the creative industries, including:

• Makers and craft businesses
• Artists and designers
• Illustrators and photographers
• Creative freelancers and consultants
• Service-based creative businesses
• Micro businesses selling handmade, original, or creative work

It is suitable for both product-based and service-based creatives who want images that clearly communicate what they do and support their business goals.

No previous photography experience is required.

What to Expect

You will be supported throughout the day by Rachel McClumpha, whose calm, practical approach makes learning photography feel approachable and empowering.

Expect clear explanations, demonstrations, time to practice, and space to ask questions. This is not corporate or technical for the sake of it. It is human, practical, and designed around real creative businesses.

Most people leave feeling more confident, more capable, and excited to update their imagery.

Can’t Make the Date?

If you are unable to attend this session, please get in touch and we will help you explore alternative workshop dates and ways to engage with the programme.

The Creative Enterprise Growth Programme is a Creative Impact project, part of Creative Central NCL, funded by the North East Combined Authority and Newcastle City Council.