Episode 54 – A conversation with Martin Ellard
This week’s guest is Martin Ellard – a documentary wedding photographer based in South Wales with one of the most varied and fascinating paths into the industry we’ve heard yet.
Martin’s background takes us from the offices of Magnum Photos, where he somehow managed to land a one-on-one with the legendary Elliott Erwitt, through years spent on the front lines as a press photographer, and on to commercial gigs before finding his home in wedding photography.
We chat about what each of those roles taught him, how they’ve shaped the way he sees and shoots, and why the documentary approach speaks to him most. There’s plenty about the realities of press work, the pace and politics of editorial assignments, and the shift in mindset that comes with photographing a wedding day instead of a protest or breaking news.
We also touch on his personal projects, zine-making, and whether he’s planning more. And of course, there’s gear talk, stories from the field, and plenty of odd tangents too.
A thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation with someone who’s been around the block and still sees photography with a beginner’s curiosity. We could’ve gone on for hours, we probably will next time.
Show Links.
Martin’s Wedding Work https://www.martinellardweddingphotography.co.uk/
Martin’s Commercial Work https://www.martinellardphotography.co.uk/Chris Killip https://www.chriskillip.com/
Sebastião Salgado https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/constituents/sebasti%C3%A3o-salgado
Joey’s Shots YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@JOEYSSHOTS
Bristol Books on Photography https://bopbristol.org/
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