By Mike Moreland
The podcast currently has 21 episodes available.
Rick Ferro is an author, international speaker, and a certified PPA Master Craftsman photographer. He has had a number of important projects during his career. For 40 years, he has been one of the leading wedding photographers in the nation. His career includes highlights such as commissioning the development of the wedding photography department for Walt Disney Corporation in Orlando, 7up, Sprint, Miami Dolphins, and many more.
Today Mike and Rick sit down to talk about some of the workshops that Rick leads. The topics for his hands-on workshops include lighting, posing, and many other aspects of photography. He emphasizes that his class sizes are small and that this is done on purpose. He notes that when you limit the number to around 15 people, it ensures that Rick can help each individual with the questions that they may have or the things they may want to learn.
Mike notes that Rick actually asks for the participants to tell him what they are looking to learn from the course, and he tailors the lessons to the specific group for their workshop. Rick responds by encouraging any of the participants to “send me your wishlist” because he wants to make sure you get out what you want and paid for from the course.
For the lighting course that Rick is leading in Alpharetta, GA April 9th, 2019, Mike mentions that since the course is so long, Rick has an opportunity to teach students about lighting even in the worst natural lighting time of day: midday.
Rick then mentions that it isn’t just lighting that can make or break the picture. He says that posing is also a very important part of portraits, especially in the wedding photography industry. The workshop will also go into posing for weddings and how to effectively pose your subject within minutes to increase your accuracy and quality for wedding photography.
Rick finishes his talk of the workshop by mentioning the talented models that have been selected to model for the class. He notes that the models are going to be wonderful subjects for the photography students to take amazing shots throughout the course. He also notes that he will be shooting right there with the photography students, which is not always the case in photography workshops. Rick remembers instructors who only let the students watch them shoot.
Mike talks about how the workshop begins at a studio in Alpharetta but moves to a church in the nearby area. Rick explains that he has never been to the church before so the purpose of this is to teach about how to properly meter and use ISO for shooting in both outdoor scenes and indoor scenes. He says that he is not always shooting inside churches or outside under direct sunlight. He often has to work in low light situations, so he wants to make sure that the students understand how to properly use ISO settings on their camera.
After learning how to set up the camera, Rick then leads the class into posing and how to quickly pose family members for quick photos so as to utilize the ever-changing lighting setup in the scene.
Rick also discusses how he will be letting students use some of his lenses (if their cameras are compatible) for certain impact shots. He notes that he wants to teach as much of his process as he can to help students improve their skills in the photography field.
To conclude, Rick emphasizes again that if you have any questions or if you are attending and wish for him to discuss a certain topic, don’t hesitate to email him about it. He is happy to talk with you about anything that you may need to discuss! His email is [email protected]
You can find more information about his workshop on this address!
https://www.fisheyeconnect.com/workshop_individual.php?workshopID=2311&eventID=5386
If you are interested in photography workshops around the world, go to our Fisheye Connect website!
https://www.fisheyeconnect.com/
Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel so that you never miss an episode!
During this interview, Mike talks with photographers Bruce and Josh Hudson.
Bruce and Josh talk about their photography careers. Recently, they have done a lot of lifestyle portraiture and senior portraits. They say that they do a little more than a lot of people when it comes to senior portraits. A lot of their clients opt for longer sessions for senior portraits. They note that a recent client brought them out to Reno, Nevada for a huge hot rod car rally to shoot family portraits and senior portraits. They note that they also do a lot of product photography as well as headshots.
Mike wanted to know more about their wall portraits and asked about how different the workflow for making those might be.
They note that it is all individualized to the client. They meet the client and go to their home in order to look at the canvas they have provided by the wall. There needs to be a lot more of the lifestyle. They say that this is what makes the biggest difference for the portrait. He notes that the people become smaller and you’re incorporating more aspects of their life and lifestyle. They said that the overall composition is important because no one wants to put a large close-up headshot as a mural on their wall.
Mike asks about the book Bruce and Josh have written. Bruce said that it goes back to what he and his late wife used to do. They did a lot of work for Fujifilm “back in the day”. He notes that they did a lot of videos and other teachings. “Somewhere around 2 dozen literal VHS videos”
He and Josh now have a few different written offerings including How to Do Photo Classes, How to Do Large Wall Portraiture, and Bruce’s book called “The Relationographer: The Art of Relationship Marketing”. He recently wrote a revision and released it. You can find that here. The book is about how to build and maintain those professional relationships and how they have stayed in business for over 30 years now. Josh wrote a chapter about social media and how it is used as a relationship building tool for their business. “It’s about maintaining and connecting with existing clients and keeping that relationship [with us] in the foreground,” says Josh.
Mike asks next about the photography workshops.
Josh notes that Bruce was in the Rotary club for many years. A way for public service as well as gathering clientele, he created workshops for a lot of the rotary clubs in their area. He would talk about the 7 tips for better photography. They also did photo classes inside the studio as a fundraiser or a food drive of sorts a couple times a year. Groupon approached them after the economic crash in 2008 for an opportunity to teach people about photography. 7 years later, over 5,000 students are in their classes. Bruce’s experience in teaching communications, being a band director, and many other public speaking and teaching roles really made a difference in their classes. They have classes for photographers of all ages and skills.
Mike notes that the thing that he wants people to understand is that there is something that you get with hands-on workshops that you don’t get from YouTube. Bruce agrees and says that there’s nothing that will compare to working with an instructor and trying to improve your craft. They note that they’ve found that about half of their new clients were found in their workshops first. So, it is very important when building those client relationships.
For more information on Bruce Hudson, Josh Hudson, or their photography studio, click here!
Today, Mike talks with Aviation Photographer Douglas Glover. Glover has been around airplanes and other aviation vehicles most of his life, civilian and military. A lot of his work has been published internationally, as well as in books, magazines, and in collections of aviation enthusiasts worldwide. Through 3G Aviation Media, he hosts aviation photography workshops around the country! His workshop is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime workshop!
Glover begins by describing his workshops. He explains that every workshop is different, but the first step is getting to know the camera settings necessary for shooting aviation. Safety is also an important piece of his workshop, but most importantly, they become very comfortable with the planes! He notes that often times, the events are costly, but ultimately, the experience is priceless.
Glover notes that in his workshops, the ground portion is limited to between 8 and 25 photographers. However, the part of what makes this workshop so unique is that around 6 photographers at a time get to go into the air with, and in, these planes. The air-to-air portion of the workshop brings amazing results. It’s one thing to shoot planes while they’re static and grounded. It’s another world entirely to shoot these magnificent machines while they are doing what they are designed to do: flying.
Mike asks about using a gyro for the air-to-air version of the workshop. A gyro is a tool used for stabilization. Glover says that while he doesn’t use a gyro, his colleague with 3G Aviation Media does occasionally, and he gets amazing results with it. He also notes that he sometimes he wishes he had one, but ultimately he is usually in planes that are smaller, and weight is too troublesome to bring it in those situations.
A very important tip that Glover mentions is that it is essential for photographers to use equipment that works for what they want to accomplish, and that with which they are comfortable. Especially for the type of photography in this workshop, being comfortable with your equipment is vital for success.
He notes that he often sees photographers come back from the air-to-air shoot disappointed because they were not comfortable with the equipment they brought in the plane, and it caused problems.
During the air-to-air events for 3G Aviation Media, typically, they shoot out of the lowered ramp on a cargo aircraft. They noted that not only does this enable multiple photographers to shoot simultaneously, but it is also necessary since the damage from the high speeds makes shooting through the glass on these planes problematic.
Over time, a lot of the workshops have gained another perk: food, beverages, shade, and comradery.
For lenses, Glover says there are as many right choices out there as photographers and about four times as many wrong ones. He says that distortion is one thing to consider, but he shoots with a 24mm-70mm lens. Sometimes he even uses a longer focal length! The more important question is what do you want to get out of it? There are many “right” ways to shoot aviation photography.
Mike asks if there is a post-production component to this workshop. As it turns out, yes! There is a portion that focuses on post-production and photo editing. He notes that it is not geared towards learning specifics, but more along the lines of getting the photographers comfortable with the tools they have. They prefer Adobe programs, but they are not necessary to do some amazing post-production work.
For more information, or to be updated on workshops and future air shows, click here for their website. Here is a link to their Facebook.
For more information on Mike’s photography or Fisheye Connect photography workshop site, visit some of our links below!
https://www.fisheyeconnect.com/
https://morelandphoto.com/
If you’re a photographer with a workshop that you would like to promote, or if you would like to appear on the Fisheye Connect podcast with Mike, send us an email at [email protected]
In this episode, Mike talks with photographer Mary Buck and Lori Snow on the topic of their collaboration for a photography workshop in Havana, Cuba!
Mary will be hosting the Cuban workshop February 21-26, 2019. This will be her 3rd time in Havana. Mary notes that a DSLR or mirrorless camera should come with you for this excursion, but all photography skill levels are welcome to the workshop.
The entire excursion is a mixture of tours to get you familiar with the landscape of Havana, Cuba, and a few 2-hour workshop sessions to give you a chance to learn about using your camera. Before and after the workshop in Cuba, there will be sessions for packing and receiving critique located in Duluth, GA or via Skype.
She then turns the mic to Lori who goes in depth about the itinerary for the Havana trip. It includes visits to many sites that have relevance for Cuban culture, but also offer many chances for photographers to take some amazing pictures.
She notes that all meals will be included in the cost of the workshop in addition to lodging in a Cuban hotel. The hotel sits right on the Malecón of Havana and is called the Hotel Nacional. The location offers great opportunities for picture taking as well.
They also offer help getting visas and other special accommodations for attendees. There are around 6-12 spots available. Mary and Lori also discuss the prices, so make sure you check out the episode!
For more information on the workshop hosted by Mary Buck, click here!
For more information on Mike’s photography or Fisheye Connect photography workshop site, visit some of our links below!
https://www.fisheyeconnect.com/
https://morelandphoto.com/
If you’re a photographer with a workshop that you would like to promote, or if you would like to appear on the Fisheye Connect podcast with Mike, send us an email at [email protected]
Heather Chesky is a successful photographer in the northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. area. She has a successful model program called Photography Sessions Excel: How to Create a Baby, Tween, or Senior Model Program. This program is great for photographers wanting to get more clients. Heather and Mike talk about her program and how it works.
Heather first talks about how much frustration she had with growing her business. Then she found out about a type of marketing called a model program. She has a model program for high school seniors that gives perks for the members while also enabling growth of her business. It created so much success in her business, she decided to start offering coaching for how to create your own model program.
She explains that offering a program like this really helps to drive business during the slow season. The basic idea of it is that you invite a lot of your ideal model base to a meeting about a model program. The models must sign up for the program with cash in hand.
It gets clients on the calendar with payment during the slow seasons. It gives the clients perks, but it can also create community.
Heather says that she likes to hold team photoshoots. She says that having this big event can help create a community among your clients, but it also can help you market the program.
When you take their pictures and have them all share the picture, it gets your program to more people. She puts together events that meet the needs of clients while also creating and supporting that group or community atmosphere.
Heather goes more in depth for how she selects her models. Now that her program has some fame, she only lets clients who are already part of her program recommend others to her program. This gives even more incentives for clients to be part of the program just for being chosen to be part of the it.
For more information on Heather Chesky or her model program, click this link.
For more information on Mike’s photography or Fisheye Connect photography workshop site, visit some of our links below!
https://www.fisheyeconnect.com/
https://morelandphoto.com/
If you’re a photographer with a workshop that you would like to promote, or if you would like to appear on the Fisheye Connect podcast with Mike, send us an email at [email protected]
Randall J. Hodges has been capturing images of the Western United States and Canada as a full time professional photographer for over 18 years. Most of his work comes from time spent hiking and backpacking the wilderness areas of the West where he had has hiked and photographed over 27,000 trail miles.
Randall’s work has been published over 4,500 times worldwide in books, magazines, calendars, greeting cards, post cards, newspapers and much, much more. His work appears in publications like National Geographic, Nature Photographer Magazine, Northwest Travel Magazine, Oregon Coast Magazine, Hawaii Magazine, Photo Monthly Magazine, Outdoor Photography Magazine, Photo Professionals Magazine, Seattle Magazine, 1859 Oregon Magazine, Washington Trails Magazine, In the Pacific Northwest Magazine, Seattle Met Magazine just to name a few. Randall has won countless awards for his photography.
Randall does not alter his work in any way and considers himself an “All in Camera Shooter” as he spends the time to wait for the right light and color and uses “Old School Techniques” rather than post-processing to capture his remarkable images. Only the smallest adjustments are made to ensure the finished print matches the back of the camera as closely as possible.
Randall’s work has been featured in countless galleries and art shows around the West. He speaks at photography conventions and seminars. Randall teaches his “Out in the Field” lessons and Adventures around the West where he shares his old-school techniques on digital cameras with his students.
His new book “Images of the West” is a 208 page full color landscape photography book, featuring 20 years of his amazing and unforgettable photography of the West.
Randall owns the “Randall J. Hodges Photography” Gallery in Downtown Edmonds Washington and the “Images of the West” Gallery in beautiful Cannon Beach, Oregon.
Randall notes that in his workshops, his students usually say that their professional camera is not performing as well as the cameras on their smartphones. Since he is a classic-style photographer, preferring to do all of the work for the picture in the camera as opposed to post production, Randall helps his students change the settings in the camera to really make their pictures amazing.
After the first 30 minutes of his course, he says that his students have a brand new outlook on their camera. With the rest of the time in his workshops, he helps the photographers fine-tune their shots.
He notes that he is extremely hands-on. He gives a lot of feedback and tips for how to create a strong image.
Since he does minimal to no post-production on his pictures, the majority of his instruction is about how to configure the camera for optimal shooting.
For more information on Randall Hodges and his work, explore some of these links!
Randall's Website Credits Lessons
Don Sparks is an award winning professional photographer with over 25 years of full time experience based in Atlanta, Georgia. However to really know Don Sparks is to understand that he is far more than simply a Photographer. In fact he is just as much a lighting designer, wardrobe stylist, set builder, digital artist, and innovator… Quite honestly you could portray Don as rather a “Rockstar” of Photography. He is fun, creative and always full of energy.
Even in his tween years he loved photography. Don’s passion for Photography has roots in his early memories of printing photographs in tiny amber lit basement darkrooms. According to Don, “Other than watching the birth of my daughters there is nothing more magical than photography”.
Don’s fascination with photography continued through his teens and 20s as he earned his Kappa Tau Alpha Honor’s Degree in Photojournalism at California State University, San Jose. After college, he was hired by The National Geographic Society as their youngest Photographer/Editor in their 100+ year history.
For the past two decades Don has been operating award winning photo studios in Washington DC, Miami and Atlanta. With all of this experience there aren’t many things that Don hasn’t photographed. This range of experience gives him quite an edge on his competition. In fact, many of his clients rave how quickly Sparks works and often produces twice the content as that of the average Photographer.
Whereas many Photographers choose just one photographic specialty, Don enjoys and even excels at many. He captures people, portraits, products and events with great skill and a pinch of magic. “I thrive on creating really powerful images that truly wow my clients… my goal is to turn the ordinary into extraordinary” says Sparks.
Mike sits down with this legend of photography, and his old employer. That's right! Mr. Mike Moreland began his career as an assistant in Don's studio!
Today, the duo talk about the photography workshops and classes that Don instructs. He says that his specialty is boudoir and building sets for photoshoots. He loves experimenting with bold and bright colors.
In his workshops, he takes the same approach as Mike, hand-on, and very personalized. He shows the students how he runs his photoshoots and how he organized his models and props.
One tip that he gives to photographers who are new to shooting portraits and boudoir photography is that you must take control of the shoot. If you do this, and compliment them frequently, it can really bring the confidence and beauty out during the shoot.
For more information on Don Sparks or his workshops, explore some of these links!
Don's Website Portraits Courses Next Workshop in Alpharetta, GA
Ken is a location and corporate photographer. He has traveled all around the world with his photography, shooting for many clients. Ken also teaches a photography workshop!
Today, Ken and Mike talk about his workshop at Speed Week, a group of automotive enthusiasts that come together at the bottom of a large, flat former lake bed in order to get the cars to top speeds.
The workshop is unique because of Ken’s relationship with the officials who organize this event. They let the students in the workshop get beyond the typical boundaries in order to shoot some truly amazing pictures. We have some pictures here from his workshops that demonstrate the amazing contrast of colors with the sky and the sand and dust that these vehicles disturb.
Ken recommends a lens with a good zoom for specialty equipment during this workshop. Since you are right beside the vehicles when they take off, that means that you are pretty far from them when they reach top speeds. The extra zoom capabilities are essential for getting that perfect shot from those distances.
In addition to the amazing scenes available to the students for shooting, Ken also is available for them. Since there are only about 4 students, you really get the individual help that is vital for learning photography.
Ken describes his photography workshop as a “Bucket List” photoshoot. He says that there is so much to photograph. With miles and miles of scenery to photograph, it’s truly something that he wants to share with anyone that is interested.
For more information on Ken and his photography workshop, click this link!
This episode is a very special one. You have been listening to photographer Mike Moreland sit down with other photographers to talk about their photography and careers. Now it's time to hear from the man himself, Mr. Mike Moreland.
In this episode, Mike sits down to talk with you about his photography workshops. He is the owner of the photography workshop database, Fisheye Connect.
With 30 years of photography experience, Mike really brings a lot to the table during his workshops in Atlanta. He offers courses that range from beginner to advanced. He even covers many different aspects of photography.
He has a series of workshops dedicated to lighting. He has courses about wedding photography. He has courses created for folks who are new to the field of photography. He's even starting a new course that is centered around photography for cosplay!
During his workshops, he has a team of professionals and assistants, as well as equipment and models ready to be utilized by the students. Since the class sizes are smaller, it really gives you a personalized, hands on experience that you might not get with other workshops.
Here are some of the important links for Mike's workshops and his portfolio.
Mike's Website Workshops Weddings Maternity New Born
Fisheye Connect Website
His recent resume includes working for Fstoppers since 2014, a senior writer for Shutter Magazine, speaking at Shutterfest in 2016, 2017, and 2018, and a featured instructor for CreativeLive, as well as his own events and workshops around the country!
During this interview, Mike and Nino talk in-depth about the workshops that Nino teaches around the country. He is currently on a workshop tour with model Josie Fox from July until December of 2018.
Nino talks a bit about how his hands on workshop work. He says that his workshops are not just about taking someone from "beginner" to "professional" with his instructions, he tries to make sure that no matter what the level of the students are, that they all leave with the tools necessary to capture amazing photographs.
He is also an expert in retouching pictures. In the beginning, he notes that he taught retouching during his workshop. He found that a better way to teach retouching is actually to wait until after the workshop, create a video of retouching the images taken during the workshop, and sending it to the attendees. He's found that this is more effective.
Another tip that Nino gives is to crouch and get down. He says that one thing that a lot of photographers forget is that the act of simply changing the height of your camera while shooting can change the angles of your pictures and improve the pictures drastically.
Here are some important links for Nino's workshops and website!
Nino's Website Workshop Tour Dates Car Portfolio Model Portfolio
Houston Workshop Enrollment
The podcast currently has 21 episodes available.