Don’t let the business practicalities get in the way of the dream. Because the dream’s the thing that’s going to get you through the difficult times.
Matthew Dale
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When I had asked these folks from Fern Photography to jump on the show with me for episode 200, I had no idea what to expect. I had Daniel on a previous episode and learned a lot about his unique style as a photographer. We had some fun back and forth and it was a really nice chat. Get these two in a room with you; However, and you will have some deep conversations that explore the very depths of your soul.
The journey of Matthew Dale and Daniel Rannoch is a really great nod to the power of friendship and shared vision in the world of photography. As co-founders of Fern Photography, these two have created a business that beautifully intertwines their individual strengths and creative insights into a unique wedding photography business.
Matt and Dan faced the usual hurdles of a startup—financial constraints and learning the ropes of a new venture. Yet, their shared dream propelled them forward, allowing them to navigate these challenges with resilience and humor (wait until you hear the biscuit story).
- Their inspiring partnership and how it has influenced their approach to photography and business.
- The unique challenges of balancing creativity with the practicalities of running a business and how they overcome them.
- Their philosophy of using photography to capture not just images, but the moments that resonate with authenticity and emotion.
- The ongoing evolution of their craft, fueled by their commitment to staying inspired and connected to their roots.
I loved having these gentlemen on the show and I expect that we will have more opportunities and stories with them in the future.
Enjoy the episode!
Q: Matt, what would you have done if it wasn’t for photography?
Matthew Dale: I had a really big problem with finding a hobby I identified with and something that would keep me engaged and entertained. I really liked downhill mountain biking, but my friends were slowly drifting away from it and becoming more interested in computers. Photography was really the first or second thing that clicked as a career, as a hobby, as a fun activity, so a way of making friends. There was really no alternative, and that’s still where I am now.
Q: Matt, how did you meet Dan?
Matthew Dale: I met Dan at a fire festival in Edinburgh. I wanted to go along and be a part of it. I knew basically nothing. I found out there was a photography meetup, so I went along to meet everyone. I didn’t realize it was a post-event meetup for the photographers of the event. We hung out a lot because Dan was predominantly avoiding doing work, and I was also not greatly interested in studying.
Q: What kind of challenges did you face working both together as partners in a business and creative capacity? How did you overcome them?
Daniel Rannoch: The biggest hurdle we had when we first started was dividing business tasks between what we felt were our strengths. I would be like ideas and marketing, and Matt would be like accounting and numbers. But it didn’t account for some of our weaknesses.
