steps to creating a sustainable brand

in any profession


Efficient equipment

Energy efficient equipment: Opt for cameras that have a long battery life and consume less power; this information should be easily accessible in the product description. 

  • Rechargeable batteries: I use rechargeable batteries instead of single-use ones. (My Nikon F55 film camera of course still uses single use batteries, when I do use this camera, I make sure I turn it off between shots so that they last and recycle them properly. 
  • .
  • Energy-efficient lighting: I use LED lights or other energy-efficient lighting options, which consume less power and generate less heat.
  • Turing off my computer between uses ( I used to be awful at this!) 


 Minimise Travel 
  • Plan efficiently: Combine shoots in the same location to reduce the need for multiple trips. If I’m travelling far especially, I’l see if I can book a c couple of projects in that area.
  • Use public transport: When possible, I use public transportation; of course there are times when this is not practical and heavy equipment doe play a part but I always look at it as an option. 

 Digital Workflow
  • Optimise storage: This is another big learning curve and a constant journey but regularly clear out unnecessary files to minimise your digital footprint. I don’t use any printed paper documents. 
  • I use Ecosia as my search engine instead of Google. Ecosia uses renewable energy to power its servers, invests profits into tree planting projects and are great, transparent company.
  • I am also a proud partner of One Tree Planted which means, every time I book in a new project, more trees are planted. A very small but lovely thing to contribute to. 


Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
  • Repurpose gear: Several of my pieces of equipment are second hand, there are a few companies I use and have never had an issue with Wex. If you are buying new ( I did with my latest camera update) be sure to shop with businesses themselves and bypass the convenience of Amazon 
  • Recycle: Properly recycle old or broken equipment instead of discarding it. 
  • Can you use anything you’re about to throw out as a prop? 
  • Reduce packaging. All products that are sent to me are returned in the same box and secured with paper sticky tape. 


Sustainable Packaging
  • Eco-friendly packaging: When delivering products, use biodegradable or recycled materials for packaging, open them carefully so that can be used again and again.
  • Minimalist packaging: Reduce the amount of packaging material used, too. What can you dig out of your recycling bin to use as protective stuffing within a box rather than tissue or bubble wrap?


Continuous Learning and Advocacy

I am far, FAR from perfect in my small business and in my day to day life too and it often puts me off shouting about things that I do because that’s the vulnerable thing about being online isn’t it! But any small positive change is worth celebrating and those small positive habits easily snowball into bis improvements for our planet. It’s not about every one of us being perfect, but all of us making little changes. 


I continue to learn and be open to learning from you and the organisations I follow. If you’ve found a way to make a positive step in your business that I may not have thought about or learnt something interesting; I’d love to chat to you. I’d love for this to be a really open space to discuss things for a positive impact! Never judgement, just support.