Netwalking: Why Networking in Nature Works (And What It Taught Me This Week)
As a North Wales and Cheshire photographer, I spend a lot of time meeting people; clients, creatives, business owners, but this week reminded me that where you network matters just as much as who you meet.
I started my Friday morning at Celtic Community Network, then headed straight into Elevate Netwalking with Karen Jones Coaching. Five and a half hours of conversations, ideas, and connection… but it was the time outdoors that shifted something for me.
The Value of Stepping Outside
I realised I haven’t been giving myself enough time in nature lately. When you’re running a creative business, whether that’s personal brand photography, wedding photography, or any kind of portrait work, it’s easy to stay glued to your screen, chasing the next task.
But walking through the woods slowed everything down. Karen encouraged us to notice what we were drawn to, and it made me pay attention in a way I had not done for a while.
Nature Has a Way of Holding Up a Mirror
I kept spotting contrasts: the peeling bark of a dead silver birch right next to bright green shoots pushing through the leaf litter. Two completely different states, side by side.
It felt like a reminder that growth doesn’t happen without shedding something first. In business and in life, you can’t move forward if you’re still carrying what’s already run its course.
That’s something I see often in my work as a portrait photographer, people stepping into new chapters, letting go of old versions of themselves, choosing to be seen in a different way. Nature just has a more poetic way of saying it.
A single snow drop reaches above the rest of on the forest floor.
The Power of Micro‑Actions
Another thing that came up on the walk was the idea of micro‑actions. The tiny, consistent choices that don’t look like much in the moment but compound over time.
Posting regularly.
Showing up even when you feel invisible.
Sharing your work even when you’re not sure who’s watching.
Recently, so many people have told me they’ve been enjoying my content. It’s been a reminder that those small actions are actually reaching people, even when the feedback isn’t instant.
It’s the same with personal life:
putting your phone in another room for an hour
reading the book you “never have time for”
spending time with your family (and your cats)
letting your brain breathe
Those tiny choices create space for new ideas, the same way those green shoots push through the forest floor.
Why This Matters for My Photography Work
Whether I’m photographing entrepreneurs building their personal brand, couples, mums-to-be, or anyone who wants an empowerment session, I’m always drawn to the in‑between moments; the shifts, the transitions, the clarity that comes when you slow down enough to notice it.
Netwalking reminded me that creativity doesn’t come from forcing it. It comes from paying attention.
And sometimes the best thing you can do for your business is to step outside and breathe the world in.
A snowdrop is illuminated by the last of the rays of sun before dusk settles in and the downpour starts.
