EX RAF Photographer Applies Military Values to her business nineteen years after leaving the forces.
A Wiltshire photographer and business owner says the values she learned during her time in the Royal Air Force continue to influence how she works now – almost 20 years later.
Barbara Leatham, founder of Barbara Leatham Photography and The Business Lens, joined the RAF at the age of 29 as a single parent. She spent five years serving as a photographer before returning to civilian life and, at length, building her own business.
Armed Forces Day on Saturday 27th June, recognises the contribution of serving personnel, veterans, reservists, cadets and military families. Ahead of that Barbara reflects on the four core RAF values that continue to shape her approach to business today. They are: Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence.
Respect
For Barbara, respect begins with understanding that every photograph tells somebody else’s story.
‘When people invite you into their business, their event or an important moment in their lives, that comes with a responsibility,’ she said. ‘I’ve worked with many people who aren’t comfortable in front of the camera for a variety of reasons. It’s important to give them the time they need so we get the best results.’
‘Respect is about listening first, understanding what matters to people and recognising that every business and every individual is different.’
Integrity
Barbara believes integrity is one of the most important values she carried from military life into her photography career.
‘Photography should tell the truth,’ she said. ‘Now, in particular, when people are seeing more edited, generated and artificial content than ever before.’
‘I shared a photo of myself recently on my socials that showed the original photograph of me, and a transitional AI version. I come with blemishes, my hair is rarely perfect, and there’s a need to be honest when there is so much fake in the world.
“I’ve always believed that the strongest images are the authentic ones. My job is not to create a false impression, it’s to help people tell their story with honesty.’
Service
While Barbara’s career has evolved from photographer to trainer and mentor, she says the principle of service remains the same.
‘My role has always been about helping people achieve what they need, whether that’s creating photographs, building confidence or developing new skills.’
‘I’ve always believed that if I can share a useful tip or spark a new idea while I’m working with someone, I should. Almost every shoot I’ve done has involved conversations about future opportunities, content ideas or ways a client can make more of what they’re already doing.
I love it when someone gets back in touch to say they’ve come away with a whole list of ideas from our time together.
‘Service is about putting other people first and understanding what success looks like for them, not for you.’
Excellence
Barbara says excellence is often misunderstood as perfection.
‘In the RAF, excellence wasn’t about being perfect. It was about trying, preparation and taking pride in your work.’
‘I’ve always been someone who likes to arrive early. I’d much rather have time to get my bearings, understand the environment and be ready to start than risk missing an important moment. Photography often captures moments that are impossible to repeat. So preparation is so important to me.
‘That mindset has stayed with me throughout my career. I still believe in turning up prepared, paying attention to the details and always looking for ways to improve.’
This July marks 19 years since Barbara launched her photography business. And almost a year since she introduced The Business Lens, a photography training programme designed to help businesses create stronger visual content using the equipment they already have.
Looking back, Barbara believes the values she learned in the military continue to guide her both professionally and personally. ‘The uniform comes off, but the values stay with you,’ she said.
‘They’ve influenced who I am, how I work and the standards I set for myself every day. Armed Forces Day is a chance to recognise everyone who has served, but also to reflect on the lessons that stay with us long after our service ends.’
For more information about Barbara Leatham Photography and The Business Lens, visit https://www.the-business-lens.co.uk/
