Laura Shimili Mears Photography

22/07/2026

Who needs a photographer when you have AI

Spending time on socials (Linkedin in particular) we get the total vibe of AI and the feeling that many jobs are a thing of the past.

Photography being one of them, but also a few others - content, video, SEO etc.

Things are changing and some parts of these roles are now being done by AI - something many of us are using (me included).

Which can affect photography and how many people are booking a photographer. Photography can be seasonal with more busy seasons than others (depending on the industry, for me end of July and August are quiet). But this year has been very up and down.

Yes AI is making it easier to do some tasks - generally but more than take away bookings it might be adding to a feeling of let’s wait and see and information overload.

What do you think?

A big shift happened with the advent of social media and new jobs and practices emerged. Time will tell this time when we will look back.

In the meantime if you need a photographer and human help with your content, get in touch [email protected]

17/07/2026

Capture your special occasion this Summer 📸☀️

London Branding Photographer | Headshots & Personal Brands

Summer is the ideal time for gatherings, connections and to enjoy being outdoors.

Whether it’s on a roof terrace in the city or celebrations closer to home, Laura Shimili Mears can help you capture the energy and the vibe of your events.

Sharing these moments with guests brings back the moments, conversations and laughter.

Get in touch to check diaries and secure a special capture of your next special occasion.

07/07/2026

Do you hear yourself think or even say “I’m just an expert…“ add your profession?

The truth is as well as an expert you are much more.

A human on a mission.
A business owner.
A professional.

And all the other non-work related aspects.

But the other stories need to be told and shared.

And there are so many ways to tell them - what is your favourite?

In writing? Visually. Video. Live. Talks, presentations.

The more we do it the more it becomes the norm that “I am not just an expert”.

05/07/2026

Visibility is important, we all agree.

Why? Because presence, connection and trust are important in life. Whether for a business or at work.

However we go through phases and in some of them we are more or less visible.

Making an effort for visibility can often feel like forced or not authentic, vain or just for the sake of it.

But if we want to grow, the business or career being visible is the first step. No one ever promoted someone who does the work but doesn’t take the credit… and like energy nothing stats still, we are always changing and evolving.

I want to invite you to join me on this campaign focus I am launching.

Focused on visibility snd how it benefits personal brands, prospects and opportunities.

I’ll highlight clients I’ve worked with for photography, challenges, tools and practices that are good and help with visibility.

Do you want to join me? I’ll share here parts of this journey.

Please share what are challenges for you with visibility and I’ll share my thoughts too.

Happy Sunday! On this wonderful summer night, I feel blessed and grateful.

03/07/2026

Hi, it has been a few months so it is time to do an intro post.

I am Laura I started on my journey as a photographer 9 years ago.

I started off with babies and families and then business photography. I have worked with many clients, 50-70 per year, have loved it for many years and enjoyed doing the marketing for it.

Until a point when I started to feel a little consumed by the marketing wheel. But as every founder knows, with no marketing there are no clients... . In the meantime I developed an interest in running a network of businesses. I started running the Small Business Network in 2020 and have organised over 45 events for it. It also took a lot of time and effort but I really enjoyed it and I made many connections and friends along the way.

I started to take an interest in sharing my knowledge of marketing and social media with others. I took the interest further and trained as a business mentor and have now completed the level 5 ILM qualification in business coaching and mentoring.

Which takes me to the current moment, where I am now offering photography as well as marketing.

This photo was from an event I organised, part networking, part coaching, part content creation. I really it as it shows all the things I love.

Connecting people, being creative and strategic. I want to invite you to follow this new phase. The marketing brand is developing.

It helps businesses create brands that are found, seen and trusted.

If you see this post, say hi - I’d love to hear from you.

And here is to more creativity and connections xx

Photo

Thanks to the amazing
businesses that joined this event

Orsetto Interiors
Nudrat Chagtai, Nutritional Therapist | Health Coach
Tune Within, Anna Bojaryn, Reiki, Healing, Sound Baths SW London
Kate Lewis
Lucinda Peyton-Jones
Small Business Network london

23/06/2026

Father's Day has just passed, I know but talking about it still resonates.

I have updated the Father's Day photoshoot idea page with the story of the "dad who came from the coast".

It's a lovely story of spending time together and capturing the special moments from many years to come.

In any years time, the daughters will be looking back and think "how little we were" and "how young dad was" when we did that photoshoot.

Memories are precious whether for father's day or not.

Book to tell your family story with a memorable photoshoot.

A Father's Day photoshoot is a gift of time together and celebrating happy moments. Read one dad's story, see what a session looks like, and find out how to gift one in London.

18/06/2026

Father's Day is just around the corner.

A couple of years ago I had this lovely dad contact me for a Father's Day photoshoot gift voucher he was gifted.

He wanted to reserve a date to do the photoshoot with his two girls. They lived on the coast now (and they had once lived in London) and were going to come up on the train as a day trip and also do the photoshoot.

They arrived and we met at Wandsworth Common. We had the most lovely photoshoot of a dad with his two daughters. I often look back at this photoshoot with a lot of fondness and appreciation of the relation this dad had with his daughters which was lovely to witness and capture.

If you want to gift a Father's Day photoshoot I can send you an electronic voucher that yo can present on Sunday.

Let me help you, I can arrange it and send you all you need.

To order a Father's Day photoshoot gift voucher this is the link
https://shimilimears.com/fathers-day-photoshoot-to-celebrate-your-happy-moments/

12/06/2026

Summer is a special time, we love capturing photos of our clients creating unique memories and celebrating their special moments.

Children grow far too fast and it's a very short window we have to capture them and cherish them forever.

We can help make those moments special for many years to come.

Get in touch to create your special memories.

29/05/2026

“I wonder how she is doing” I thought remembering Elizabeth whose photos I had taken for Leukaemia Matters magazine.

I emailed her and she replied back saying she was going on a trip back to the homeland. Doing well and as with these things a few more conditions had afflicted her health. But she is still doing her gardening and looking after the community garden in East London.

When I first met Elizabeth for the photos I chatted to her about her area, how she kept herself busy and what she enjoyed doing. Going to church and the garden were her two absolutes she’d do every week.

“Amongst hospital visits and checkups that is, and food shops”, she would add.

I was amazed by her courage, faith and pleasure in her activities. She had neighbours who checked in on her but no family nearby. They speak to me on video calls she said and I have many siblings who are worried about my health but I am fine. She worked as a nurse all her life and was devoted to it since she started as a young girl.

Hearing her news made me happy, reading her reply reminded me of her energy. How she was so good at keeping going but not only, also being strong and loving of what her life had been and what it is everyday now.

A life lesson i thought to myself. I don’t know how she does it but she is.

It was a pleasure to take her photographs in the garden she spends time in. And to know her. I often think of her courage. And I hope to hear from her again soon.