Focus Stacked Podcast

Focus Stacked is back! After a brief hiatus following Jim's move to Georgia and the transition into a new faculty position in Georgia, the podcast returns with a new season of conversations exploring creativity, photography, art, and storytelling.In Episode 15, Jim sits down with photographer and videographer Ashley Canay to discuss her journey building a successful creative brand as a Black female photographer and videographer in the Tampa Bay area.Ashley shares how she developed her business, found her niche in portrait and event photography, and built meaningful connections within her community. Along the way, she offers practical advice for emerging photographers looking to establish their own creative careers, from branding and networking to finding opportunities and staying authentic to their vision.The conversation also explores Ashley's passion for preserving local history through her ongoing interview project featuring Black senior citizens from the Tampa Bay area who lived through the Jim Crow and Civil Rights eras. Through these powerful oral histories, Ashley is helping ensure that personal stories and lived experiences are documented and shared with future generations. You can follow this important work on Instagram at @blacktampahistorians.Whether you're a photographer, creative entrepreneur, historian, or someone who appreciates the power of storytelling, this episode offers valuable insights into the intersection of business, community, and cultural preservation.Links & ExtrasExplore Ashley's Portfolio: https://ashleycanay.com/Follow Ashley on Instagram:@ashleycanay - https://www.instagram.com/ashleycanay/ @blacktampahistorians - https://www.instagram.com/blacktampahistorians/ Follow Focus Stacked on Instagram: @focusstackedpodcastFocus Stacked Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/FocusStackedPodcast

In this powerful episode, photographer, designer, and game creator Carol Record sits down with host Jim Reiman to explore how photography has become both a refuge and a tool for healing. Carol opens up about using the camera to process the trauma of her youth and the intense experience of her COVID-19 hospitalization—ultimately helping her reconnect with her true self.

Carol also shares the story behind Lumen, a photography vocabulary game she designed specifically for photo educators, blending her passion for learning and creative play. The conversation closes with Carol’s latest explorations in spirituality through dance and intentional camera movement (ICM)—a practice that lets her embody and express the unseen layers of experience.

It’s a deeply personal and inspiring look at how art, education, and movement can intersect to transform the way we see the world—and ourselves.

Links & ExtrasExplore

• Carol's Portfolio: https://www.carolrecord.com/portfolio/
• Purchase Lumen: https://www.blackwaterbucs.com/
• Follow Focus Stacked on Instagram: @focusstackedpodcast
• Focus Stacked Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/FocusStackedPodcast

Host Jim Reiman welcomes Rodrecas “Drék” Davis—professor, multidisciplinary artist, and Head of the Department of Visual & Performing Arts at Grambling State University—to explore how photography fits into his broader creative practice. For Drék, the camera functions as a private refuge: a way to step back, breathe, and capture fleeting impressions before any heavy conceptual lifting begins. Those photographic moments then feed his collage and assemblage work—the arena where he dissects history, politics, and pop culture and reassembles them through an African-American lens.In this episode, Drék unpacks the therapeutic value of shooting for himself, shares how found images morph into layered installations, and reflects on guiding students to balance technical skill with unflinching personal inquiry. If you’ve ever wondered how disparate media can fuse into one cohesive voice—or how process itself can be a form of self-care—this conversation is for you. Hit play, settle in, and let’s peel back the layers of Drék Davis’s multifaceted approach.

Links & Extras

Explore Drék’s portfolio: https://www.akaprofessordavis.com/

Follow Focus Stacked on Instagram: @focusstackedpodcast

Watch/Listen on Youtube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts!

#FocusStackedPodcast #RodrecasDavis #MultimediaArt #CollageArt #Assemblage #AfricanAmericanArt #CreativeProcess #PhotographyPodcast

Host Jim Reiman traces Todd’s path from traditional photographer to boundary-pushing conceptual artist, probing how generative tools can act as both collaborator and critic. Todd explains the prompt-hacking methods he uses to expose cultural biases in today’s most popular image generators, then reveals what happens when algorithms confidently “remember” events that never existed. You’ll hear why he prints Ai generations as cyanotypes of artificial houseplants, what he discovered when he asked AI for portraits of “Typical Americans,” and how all of this reshapes questions of authorship, ethics, and photographic history. Whether you’re skeptical of AI, thrilled by it, or simply curious about the future of lens-based art, this candid conversation unpacks the promises and pitfalls of inviting algorithms into the studio.

Links & extras

• Explore Todd Dobbs’s work: https://todd-dobbs.studio/

• Support Focus Stacked on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/FocusStackedPodcast

• Listen on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.

If Todd’s experiments spark ideas, concerns, or conversations—drop a comment below. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss a deep dive into the creative process. Thanks for tuning in!

Welcome back to Focus Stacked, the podcast that peels back the layers of creativity with today’s most inventive image-makers. In Episode 11—“Guided by Curiosity”—host Jim Reiman sits down with prolific photographer, educator, and relentless experimenter Jennifer Robison to uncover how a stubborn “what-if?” reflex sparks projects as varied as mixed-media prints adorned with real insects and an immersive, life-size “doll” house installation. Jennifer explains how keeping the creative door wide open invites unexpected opportunities and shares teaching insights that turn curiosity into a lifelong engine for art.

🔗 Connect with Jennifer RobisonPortfolio: https://www.jrobison.com/

Instagram: @jrobison_318

💡 Support Focus StackedSubmit questions for future guests and help cover our streaming costs for just $3/month: https://www.patreon.com/c/FocusStackedPodcast

If this chat sparks a new idea, hit Subscribe, tap the bell, and share the episode with a fellow creative. Thanks for tuning in—stay curious and keep your creative layers Focus Stacked!

Running a portrait studio for two decades takes more than sharp lenses and good lighting—it takes vision, grit, and a partnership built on trust. In this episode of Focus Stacked Podcast, host Jim Reiman sits down with husband‑and‑wife duo John and Poppy Kelly of JP Portrait Studio to unpack 20 years of lessons learned at the helm of a thriving family business.Whether you’re dreaming of opening your own studio, looking to refine your business model, or just love hearing how creative couples make it all work, this conversation is packed with actionable tips and heartfelt inspiration.🔗 Check out JP Portrait Studio's portfolio: https://www.jpportraitstudio.com/📸 Photographers, want to be a guest? Sign up on the form in the channel description.💡 Support the show & become a Focus Friend on Patreon! / focusstackedpodcast 👇 Listen / Watch & SubscribeHit that LIKE button if you find value here, SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into photographic creativity, and tap the bell so you never miss an episode.

In this episode of Focus Stacked, host Jim Reiman speaks with photographer and Saddi Khali, whose work redefines the relationship between artist and subject. Saddi shares his deeply intentional approach to photography—one that centers vulnerability, trust, and liberation.Through intimate portraits and poetic storytelling, Saddi creates space for his subjects to be seen, honored, and healed. In this powerful conversation, he reflects on his creative journey, the role of healing in his practice, and the radical possibilities of photography as a tool for emotional transformation.

🖤 Visit Saddi’s work: https://saddikhali.mypixieset.com/🎧

Tune in to explore:

The emotional depth behind therapeutic photography

How vulnerability becomes an act of resistance

Ways photographers can hold space for healing and visibility

Don't miss this inspiring and soulful dialogue about art that heals.

Leave a comment, subscribe, and help grow the Focus Stacked community!

📸 FSP - EP 8: Bikers & Backroads with Michael LichterIn this episode of Focus Stacked, host Jim Reiman rides into the world of motorcycle culture with legendary photographer Michael Lichter. For over 40 years, Michael has been capturing the soul of biker life—chrome, leather, rebellion, and freedom.Michael shares incredible stories from the road, opens up about some of his favorite photographs, and reflects on how the motorcycle community has evolved over the decades. From Sturgis to small-town rides, this conversation is a full-throttle journey into a life lived through the lens.🎙️ Tune in for a deep dive into photography, culture, and the power of visual storytelling on two wheels.🔗 Check out the Michael's portfolio here: https://lichterphoto.com/📸 Photographers, want to be a guest? Sign up here! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow @focusstackedpodcast on Instagram for more creative insights. Thanks for watching—stay tuned for the next episode!🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch right here on YouTube. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!

In Episode 7 of Focus Stacked, host Jim Reiman sits down with photographer and curator Nicole Jean Hill for an insightful discussion on creating meaningful connections through photography. Nicole shares fascinating details about her diverse projects, from photographing greyhounds and beloved pets to capturing MMA fighters and the intricate beauty of deconstructed birds' nests.Nicole also dives into her role as co-curator of the extraordinary Lora Webb Nichols Archive, discussing the process and significance of making historical photographs accessible to today's audiences.Don't miss this enriching conversation about creativity, curation, and the powerful ways photography can unite people, animals, and histories across time.🔗 Check out Nicole's portfolio: https://www.nicolejeanhill.com/🔗 Check out the Lora Webb Nichols Photography Archive: https://www.lorawebbnichols.org/📸 Photographers, want to be a guest? Sign up here! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow @focusstackedpodcast on Instagram for more creative insights. Thanks for watching—stay tuned for the next episode!

In Episode 6 of the Focus Stacked Photography Podcast, host Jim Reiman sits down with lifestyle pet photographer Jessica Shaw to discuss the art of pet photography and capturing meaningful memories of beloved pets. Jessica shares valuable tips, her unique approach to photographing pets, and explains why end-of-life pet photography sessions are some of her most emotionally rewarding experiences.This episode also features special guest appearances by Jim and Jessica’s own furry companions - Lily and Willow!Subscribe now for more engaging conversations about photography, creativity, and inspiration.🔗 Check out Jessica’s portfolio: https://jessicashawphotography.com/📸 Photographers, want to be a guest? Sign up here! https://linktr.ee/FocusStackedPodcast💡 Support the show & become a Focus Friend on Patreon! https://linktr.ee/FocusStackedPodcast Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow @focusstackedpodcast on Instagram for more creative insights. Thanks for watching—stay tuned for the next episode!