Ever felt the itch to perform, only to be held back by self-doubt or expectations? What if you didn’t have to prove anything to anyone and could simply enjoy your craft, just for you?

Fresh off a beach vacation, I reflect on being invited on stage by a musician friend, and why I chose to stay in the crowd. Revisiting my days at Berklee College of Music, I explore how even top musicians like John Mayer don’t always follow the expected path, and how stepping back from pressure can help you rediscover pure enjoyment in your passion projects, whether it’s music, photography, or any creative pursuit.

Additional Resources Mentioned:

• Ultimate Guitar
• Smartless with John Mayer
• Berklee College of Music

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow creative who might need a reminder: you don’t have to perform for anyone but yourself. Subscribe to Lenses & Lyrics for more conversations about balancing passion and pressure.

This episode of Lenses & Lyrics is brought to you by Imagen the AI post-production tool built for professional photographers. Whether you're culling hundreds of photos or editing full galleries, Imagen helps you get your time back by learning your style and handling the heavy lifting. That means less time behind the screen, and more time doing what you love, like growing your business or rocking out with your band. Check them out at lenseslyrics.com/imagen. Work smarter not harder with AI assistance and intelligent automation from Imagen. Try my black & white AI Profile for free and see how it works on your photos.

Find out what happens when punk rock and hardcore meets the world of cinematic wedding filmmaking. Take a journey from sleeping on hoarder house beds while on tour, to crafting emotionally resonant wedding films. Where music, nostalgia, and artistry collide.

Jason McCutchen is a wedding filmmaker based out of Boston Massachusetts, who currently owns three making brands, Merriment films, Stopgolove, and Huxley Film as well as an educator and podcaster at the YouTube channel Wedding Film School. Jason grew up in the New England hard-core metal scene, and in a previous life played in several bands in addition to working in recording studios.

Scott and Jason connect over their shared roots in hardcore bands and the scrappy reality of DIY touring, broken vans, sleeping in bathtubs, and houses filled with hoarded stuff. Jason reveals how his early love for writing and performing music led to a career in film, blending his artistic drive with wedding filmmaking. The episode dives deep into the creative crossovers between music and visual storytelling, how nostalgia shapes Jason’s approach to films, and the unique ways his team weaves personal and family music into their projects. From fanboying over Converge and Deftones to candidly addressing the business side of art, Jason shares both the highs and the hard choices along his creative journey.

Rock with Jason

• huxley.film
• instagram.com/jaymccutchen
• weddingfilm.school
• Holding Hannah
• Stopgolove
• Luma Sites

The tour

• (00:00) - Jason McCutchen

This episode of Lenses & Lyrics is brought to you by Imagen the AI post-production tool built for professional photographers. Whether you're culling hundreds of photos or editing full galleries, Imagen helps you get your time back by learning your style and handling the heavy lifting. That means less time behind the screen, and more time doing what you love, like growing your business or rocking out with your band. Check them out at lenseslyrics.com/imagen. Work smarter not harder with AI assistance and intelligent automation from Imagen. Try my black & white AI Profile for free and see how it works on your photos.

Ever wonder how the rhythm of music can shape a photographer’s vision? On this episode, a renowned photographer and lifelong musician shares how his creative paths have always been intertwined, revealing lessons and stories that just might change how you see (and hear) the world.

Rick Sammon, a photographer, musician, author of 43 books, and educator, joins me to explore the profound connections between music and photography.

From dreaming of jamming with Santana to studying composition at Berklee College of Music, Rick Sammon’s creative journey started with music before photography took center stage. He talks about growing up with a TV-director father, discovering photography through chance publication, and his enduring passion for both guitar and camera. Rick dives into lessons learned at Woodstock, how music reorganized his approach to seeing, and why his bestselling book has no pictures at all. We also explore healthy living, inspiration, and why sometimes "imitating is one of the best ways to create."

Rock with Rick

• ricksammon.com
• instagram.com/ricksammonphotography
• Rick's music room
• Rick's books
• Harey Benson
• Chordify
• Steal Like an Artist

The tour

• (00:00) - Rick Sammon

This episode of Lenses & Lyrics is brought to you by Imagen the AI post-production tool built for professional photographers. Whether you're culling hundreds of photos or editing full galleries, Imagen helps you get your time back by learning your style and handling the heavy lifting. That means less time behind the screen, and more time doing what you love, like growing your business or rocking out with your band. Check them out at lenseslyrics.com/imagen. Work smarter not harder with AI assistance and intelligent automation from Imagen. Try my black & white AI Profile for free and see how it works on your photos.

What happens when the worlds of photography and hardcore music collide? On this episode, you'll get an inside look at how a love for live music turned into a thriving photography career—and the unconventional journey that led Zac Wolf from basement shows to wedding aisles.

Meet Zac Wolf,  a photographer who found his creative roots capturing the energy of the Boston hardcore scene before making a name for himself in the world of weddings.

This is a preview of Scott's conversation with  Zac Wolf, originally recorded for The Workflows Photography Podcast. In this short clip from the Workflows episode, explore Zac’s origins in punk and hardcore band photography in South Florida and Boston, how technical limitations sparked creativity, and why Zac ultimately made the leap to photographing weddings

Rock with Zac

• zacxwolf.com
• instagram.com/zacxwolf
• The Workflows Photography Podcast

Did this episode strike a chord with your own creative journey? Be sure to subscribe to Lenses & Lyrics so you never miss a story at the intersection of music and photography.

This episode of Lenses & Lyrics is brought to you by Imagen the AI post-production tool built for professional photographers. Whether you're culling hundreds of photos or editing full galleries, Imagen helps you get your time back by learning your style and handling the heavy lifting. That means less time behind the screen, and more time doing what you love, like growing your business or rocking out with your band. Check them out at lenseslyrics.com/imagen. Work smarter not harder with AI assistance and intelligent automation from Imagen. Try my black & white AI Profile for free and see how it works on your photos.

In this episode of Lenses and Lyrics, our host speaks with David Scott Bowles, a seasoned photographer and musician, about his journey in the music industry and how it has shaped his career in photography. David shares stories from his time in various bands, his son’s budding musical career, memorable performances, and the creative transition to photography. He also discusses the influence of music on his current work, the connection between stage performance and camera presence, and the unique experiences that continue to inspire his art. This episode is filled with personal anecdotes, industry insights, and advice for aspiring artists balancing multiple creative passions.

Rock with David

• davidscottbowles.co
• instagram.com/dsbweddings
• Party At Her Place
• ABeautifulElegy
• Shipshape and Bristol Fashion
• Davis Freeman
• Johnny Cash Autobiography

The tour

• (00:00) - David Scott Bowles

This episode of Lenses & Lyrics is brought to you by Imagen the AI post-production tool built for professional photographers. Whether you're culling hundreds of photos or editing full galleries, Imagen helps you get your time back by learning your style and handling the heavy lifting. That means less time behind the screen, and more time doing what you love, like growing your business or rocking out with your band. Check them out at lenseslyrics.com/imagen. Work smarter not harder with AI assistance and intelligent automation from Imagen. Try my black & white AI Profile for free and see how it works on your photos.

In this episode of Lenses & Lyrics, Scott shares a personal story of improvisation when a string popped during a show, highlighting the importance of preparedness. From the pitfalls of early music performance to the critical lessons learned in photography, Scott dives deep into the art of backing up your life—both musically and photographically. Feel the tension between analog and digital transitions and learn why redundancy is your silent hero.

Scott's photography backup workflow

Don’t miss out on future tales of creativity and cautionary advice from professionals at the crossroads of music and photography. Hit subscribe or follow Lenses & Lyrics to stay in tune with what's coming next!

• (00:00) - e2

This episode of Lenses & Lyrics is brought to you by Imagen the AI post-production tool built for professional photographers. Whether you're culling hundreds of photos or editing full galleries, Imagen helps you get your time back by learning your style and handling the heavy lifting. That means less time behind the screen, and more time doing what you love, like growing your business or rocking out with your band. Check them out at lenseslyrics.com/imagen. Work smarter not harder with AI assistance and intelligent automation from Imagen. Try my black & white AI Profile for free and see how it works on your photos.

Embark on a nostalgic journey through the intertwined world of music and photography with host Scott Wyden Kivowitz, in the debut episode of Lenses & Lyrics. Discover how a clarinet's melody paved the way to capturing powerful photographic images, as Scott reminisces about his vibrant past as a musician and band photographer.

In This Episode:

• Scott's unexpected start with the clarinet and his ambitions at Berklee College of Music
• Transition from aspiring musician to passionate photographer
• The evolution of bands: 20 Minutes to Nowhere, Sever the Stars, and Fairmont
• The intersection of music theory and photography skills
• The inspiration for the Lenses & Lyrics podcast and its fascinating future guests
• Explore more about Scott's musical past at scottwyden.com/music

Join us on this auditory journey by tuning into episode one of Lenses & Lyrics. Let this be your gateway into a series of compelling conversations bridging photography and music. Subscribe now and never miss an episode!

• (00:00) - 01

This episode of Lenses & Lyrics is brought to you by Imagen the AI post-production tool built for professional photographers. Whether you're culling hundreds of photos or editing full galleries, Imagen helps you get your time back by learning your style and handling the heavy lifting. That means less time behind the screen, and more time doing what you love, like growing your business or rocking out with your band. Check them out at lenseslyrics.com/imagen. Work smarter not harder with AI assistance and intelligent automation from Imagen. Try my black & white AI Profile for free and see how it works on your photos.

Welcome to Lenses & Lyrics, where music and photography collide, and every frame tells a story. I'm Scott Wyden Kivowitz, your host, a father, a husband, a photographer, and podcaster and musician. This podcast dives into the crossover world of photographers who are or were musicians. Those whose passion for sound influenced the way they see through the lens.

We'll hear from photographers who started out in bands before photographing bands. And those who continue to blend both crafts. We'll also hear from musicians whose careers were shaped by the photographers who documented their journey. From backstage moments to front row pits, from record store memories to album cover photo sessions, Lenses & Lyrics is about the stories behind the images and the music that inspired them. Subscribe now to Lenses & Lyricss wherever you get podcasts, and join me as we continue to explore the intersection of sound and vision, one story at a time.