Photography Xperiment Podcast

Michelle Szpak of www.szpak.co.uk has been shooting for over 15 years and specialises in motorcycle and automotive photography. Not the classifieds type of car and bike phots, what Michelle creates are special, incredibly lit art pieces for her clients.

Her byline reads…

Unique, passion-fuelled professional Automotive photography of your pride and joy. Creating Artwork for your Walls that last a lifetime.

But it hasn't always been all about incredible images of beautiful motorcycles and fancy cars!

Michelle started with the idea of being a landscape and animal photographer before moving on to portraits – that was 12 years ago.

Then in 2013, she photographed her first motorcycle, and automotive photography has been the focus since.

The images our guest creates are works of art that require a fantastic imagination, expert lighting skills and an understanding of composition any photographer would die for.

You might be surprised at the lighting she uses to showcase the cars and bikes (examples below). Michelle shares techniques and more, including the business and sales side of her photography, in this interview. 

Big thanks to ImagenAI for sponsoring and making this episode possible. If you'd love to have your post-processing after every shoot done for you – in minutes and at super affordable costs (around 5c/image) you need to take a look at ImagenAI.

Following this interview, I’d love to read your feedback and comments. Was there something from this interview that struck a chord, inspired or motivated you?

Will you take any kind of action after hearing what Michelle had to share?

I've learned to be very confident with how much I charge for this because it's a very heavy process so I'm not scared of saying the price. – Michelle Szpak

Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Michelle or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below too.

I look at a vehicle a bit like a boudoir photographer would look a female body. – Michelle Szpak

If you understand light, you can create anything you want. – Michelle Szpak

Covid forced me to realize that if I take a day off the world does not fall apart. – Michelle Szpak

Michelle Szpak Website

Michelle Szpak on Instagram

Michelle Szpak on Facebook

Michelle Szpak on 500px

Free Photography Mindset Worskhop

Loxley Colour

Basics of Motorcycle Photography with Michelle Szpak – Facebook Live video

Thanks again for listening and thanks to Michelle for coming on and experimenting with a new and different format for this photography podcast and for sharing her thoughts, expertise, views and ideas.

I'm looking for the lines. I'm looking for the shapes. I'm looking for the curves on the bike or the curves on the car that make it unique. – Michelle Szpak

Also, big thanks to ImagenAI for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! If you're looking for the easiest, cheapest, fastest way to replicate yourself in regards to editing your photography, you need to try this service for yourself!

The real beauty of this Artificial Intelligent way of editing is it really does learn your editing style and apply it to your files – in literally seconds! It continues to learn as you develop your style, it's a fraction of the cost of outsourcing to an image editing company or training a VA from any country to do your editing.

You need to try this to believe it.

When I first heard about ImagenAI, I didn't think it was going to work. After the free trial, I was blown away. It pretty much nails my editing style and has cut my editing a ton. I highly recommend you give this app a shot. – Anthony Guana

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!

That’s it for me, hope everything is going well for you in life and photography!

Thanks and speak soon

Andrew

The post TPX30: Michelle Szpak – The business of motorcycle and automotive photography appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Ashley Jones is the driving force behind Love Not Lost – an organisation supporting people in grief and helping people heal by connecting portrait photographers with families facing a terminal diagnosis.

Ashley, through Love Not Lost, is on a mission to revolutionise the way we heal in grief by preserving memories for those they love – at no cost to them.

Ashley and her husband have endured this same grief when they lost their beautiful daughter, Skylar.

Their friends gifted them a portrait session to help preserve her memories. At the time, Ashley didn't realise how powerful these photos would become. They gave her a way to hold onto her baby girl.

Big thanks to ImagenAI for sponsoring and making this episode possible. If you'd love to have your post-processing after every shoot done for you – in minutes and at super affordable costs (around 5c/image) you need to take a look at ImagenAI.

Photo by Sarah Harms

Following this interview, I’d love to read your feedback and comments. Was there something from this interview that struck a chord, inspired or motivated you?

Will you take any kind of action after hearing what Ashley had to share?

As we experience losses throughout our lives, we want people to feel loved and supported. – Ashley Jones

Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Ashley or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below too.

My hope with Love Not Lost is that we can kind of combat the pain cycle in the world by stepping in and really loving people even in the midst of their suffering. – Ashley Jones

When we can step in and love people, that's when the healing happens. – Ashley Jones

Love Not Lost Website

How Can I Love You Better Website

Love Not Lost on Facebook

Love Not Lost on Instagram

Love Not Lost on Twitter

Stefanie Finnemore

ImagenAI – artificial intelligent photo editing for professional photographers

ShootProof

WPPI Expo

Photo by Tessa Marie

Thanks again for listening and thanks to Ashley for coming on and experimenting with a new and different format for this photography podcast and for sharing her thoughts, expertise, views and ideas.

The thing about grief is that it's just love in another form. – Ashley Jones

Also, big thanks to ImagenAI for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! If you're looking for the easiest, cheapest, fastest way to replicate yourself in regards to editing your photography, you need to try this service for yourself!

The real beauty of this Artificial Intelligent way of editing is it really does learn your editing style and apply it to your files – in literally seconds! It continues to learn as you develop your style, it's a fraction of the cost of outsourcing to an image editing company or training a VA from any country to do your editing.

You need to try this to believe it.

When I first heard about ImagenAI, I didn't think it was going to work. After the free trial, I was blown away. It pretty much nails my editing style and has cut my editing a ton. I highly recommend you give this app a shot. – Anthony Guana

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!

That’s it for me, hope everything is going well for you in life and photography!

Thanks and speak soon

Andrew

The post TPX29: Ashley Jones – Love not lost through meaningful photography appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area.

Damon Pijlman of www.studiodamon.com photographs weddings, portraits, families and commercial work. His Instagram bio says he's a Visual Storyteller who Documents inspiring couples worldwide.

His wedding photography was voted best in the Netherlands – 2014, 2015 and 2016.

He has countless awards – take one look at the images that earnt them, and I promise, you will be blown away. His work is fantastic.

It was his artist and painter father who taught him to observe carefully. But it was following the Foundation Workshop in 2013 where Ben Chrisman and David Murray changed everything about wedding photography for him.

I read in an interview where he was asked, what's the stupidest thing you've ever agreed to do? His reply… Setting up a Groupon beach portraits package … After 500 sessions, he says he was ready to kill himself.

In this interview, Damon shares how to survive and thrive with your photography business during the pandemic.

If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this interview – the full length and more revealing version where you hear the absolute best tips and advice from every guest.

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus special member-only interviews.

All you need to do is listen on the call, and just make them excited. – Damon Pijlman

You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. There are also FB live video tutorials, role-play interviews and special live interviews happening in the group. You will not find more friendly, more motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Seriously, that's not all.

In addition to everything above, you'll get access to and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Damon shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below, let me know what your takeaways were, what you plan to implement in your business as a result of what you heard in today's episode.

It really was surprising that this happened. But the couples I didn't connect with very well, I still send them a voucher, and are one of our best couples. – Damon Pijlman

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Damon or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

Each week I check for any new iTunes reviews and it's always a buzz to receive these… for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they really are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!

Secondly, iTunes is the biggest search engine when it comes to podcasts and it's your reviews and ratings that help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and ultimately a better show.

If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.

Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast and email me your keywords or keyword phrase and where you'd like me to link to.

Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has made a difference to you and your photography business.

Here is the latest review…

In Apple Podcasts by rgwest from the United States on February 5th, 2021

What differentiates this podcast from nearly all other photo business podcasts is its diversity of photo professionals.

I’ve been to too many conferences where the business advice is either to enter a boutique market for the wealthy or shoot volume gigs for everyone else.

Guests on most of the photography podcasts are the rare, extremely successful photographers- which is why they’re on- and why we’ll likely never achieve their wealth and celebrity.

Photobiz X is for the rest of us- for those of us who aren’t looking to hear keynote speakers at conferences brag about their destination wedding jobs and celebrity portraits. Guests range greatly in their level of business savvy and path to their own version of success- you’ll easily find people who you identify with. And not every guest is promoting the questionable ethics of high-pressure print sales and quite literally conning people into purchasing more than they need. Many are transitioning from enthusiast to part-time or full-time pro and share the personal, professional, financial and motivational challenges that they seek to overcome.

Host Andrew Hellmich is simply charming in his laid-back, comfortable style of interviewing. His guests open up to him with not only their successes but also their struggles- there is no glossing over the hurdles. Andrew is curious, open-minded, and welcoming to all guests regardless of their place on their road to success. Each of his guests is listened to with sincere interest and must leave their interview feeling supported and respected.

I have learned from each and every episode, even when the business models differ greatly from my own. A most enthusiastic thumbs-up for this superb podcast.

Damon Pijlman Website

Damon Pijlman on Instagram

Damon Pijlman on Facebook

Damon Pijlman on Vimeo

Damon Pijlman on Fearless Photographers

The 5 AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life by Robin Sharma

Episode 293: Ben Chrisman – How to Build a Successful Studio Portrait Photography Business

Episode 348: Steve Saporito – How to excite and delight your portrait clients to better sales

Thanks again for listening and thanks to Damon for coming on to share his thoughts and experiences on how to pivot, survive and thrive with your photography business during the pandemic – whether you photograph weddings, portraits, pets or commercial work.

You need to schedule because if you do not schedule, they will not go to the portrait shoot. They key is to make them so excited about the portrait shoot. – Damon Pijlman

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!

That’s it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

Thanks and speak soon

The post 401: Damon Pijlman – Survive and thrive with your photography business during the pandemic appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Erick Danzer and Scott Wyden Kivowitz of www.imagely.com are two of the guys behind a new automated lab fulfilment for photographers with WordPress websites.

I asked both guys onto the podcast after reading about what could be a game-changing service for photographers who want to sell directly from their WordPress websites.

My first thought was – is this the end of services like Pixieset, Pic-time and Shoot-proof?

Erick Danzer is the man behind-the-scenes at Imagely. His focus is on ensuring Imagely gives back to the photography community through the Imagely Fund and other initiatives.

Scott Wyden Kivowitz who was interviewed for episode 274 of the PhotoBizX Podcast and is the Chief Community Officer at Imagely, a father, blogger, photographer and educator. He's the author of multiple photography books, and often educates photographers about WordPress via blogging and YouTube.

If the idea of doing away with a third-party print and file selling solution like Pic-Time, Smugmug, Photoshelter, Zenfolio, Shootproof, Cloudspot or Pixiset sounds attractive… it'll be worth listening to what Erick and Scott have to share.

Following this interview, I’d love to read your feedback and comments. Was there something from this interview that struck a chord, inspired or motivated you?

Will you take any kind of action after hearing what Scott & Erick had to share?

I often think of businesses being very simple but not always easy. – Erick Danzer

Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Scott & Erick or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below too.

Be excellent at whatever you're doing. – Scott Wyden Kivowitz

Without product excellence, you don't get off the ground. – Erick Danzer

If you want to succeed, you really need just two things. You need product excellence or service excellence… then you need good marketing. – Erick Danzer

NextGEN Pro Pricing Comparison – compare NextGen to other photography e-commerce solutions available with this handy tool

Imagely Website

Imagely Podcast

Imagely on Facebook

Imagely on Instagram

Imagely on YouTube

Imagely on Twitter

Imagely on Pinterest

Sell Photos on WordPress with Automated Print Fulfillment

Moving From Squarespace to WordPress

WHCC – White House Custom Colour

Buffer

Episode 274: Scott Wyden Kivowitz – Modern lead generation tactics for photographers

TPX18 Episode: Paul and Kate Atkins – The Real Fine Art Photography Printers

Thanks again for listening to the show and thanks to Scott & Erick for coming on and experimenting with a new and different format for this photography podcast and for sharing their thoughts, expertise, views and ideas.

Try to be unique and create something spectacular beyond that. But do it because you want to and you love it, and not because you think that's going to make you more money. – Scott Wyden Kivowitz

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!

That’s it for me, hope everything is going well for you in life and photography!

Thanks and speak soon

Andrew

The post TPX26: Scott & Erick – no more third party platforms to sell your photography appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Angie Connell of www.angieconnellphotography.com.au is arguably the most creative photographer I've interviewed for the podcast.

It's rare in the world of photography today to see something unique or to see a photographer creating something different from the norm.

In a social media run world where we are over saturated by imagery, it feels like an impossible task to be different, to find your specialty and stand out from the crowd.

At the same time, we're told to find what moves us as a person, as a photographer, an artist and focus on that. And if we do, if we let our unique voice come to the surface and shine through in our work, we will find we have no competition.

We're told, do this and we'll connect with our perfect clients who will be drawn to our vision and life as a successful creator will be assured.

The problem is… finding and recognising that unique voice and translating it to our work is tough.

Today's guest has done exactly this.

I've always tried to produce work that speaks to me and speaks to the subject and sort of infuse my humour in it. – Angie Connell

Her photography is unique, it's captivating, thought-provoking, inspiring, funny, quirky and just damn good.

She shoots conceptual pet photography for the quirky pet lovers in this world.

She's becoming more and more recognised within the industry by her peers and I have a feeling, she will become known around the world if she continues to produce the work she has been.

I'm talking about Angie Connell and I'm rapt to have her with us now.

Angie, welcome!

A big thanks to The Image Salon for sponsoring this episode of the podcast and making the show possible. If outsourcing your editing is something you're currently doing or considering, please put the guys at The Image Salon to the test… I think you'll be blown away! They service some of the biggest names in the industry including Fer Juaristi, Two Mann Studios, Gabe McClintock and Edwina Robertson to name a few.

Following this interview, I’d love to read your feedback and comments. Was there something from this interview that struck a chord, inspired or motivated you?

Will you take any kind of action after hearing what Angie had to share?

I have to always remind myself that sometimes my failures are not what other people would consider failures. – Angie Connell

Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Angie or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below too.

My personal work is more for me to try new things out and whether it succeeds or fails is always something to be seen. – Angie Connell

I struggle with perfectionism in my images a lot like I spend so much time working on an image that you'd become obsessed with the little details when the bigger picture is very much there. – Angie Connell

If you can't get what you want, then you have to work around that and sort of adjust the concept a little bit. – Angie Connell

Angie Connell Website

Oddball Tails

Oddball Tails on Instagram

Oddball Tails on Facebook

Angie Connell on Intagram

Angie Connell on Facebook

Angie Connell on Pinterest

Thanks again for listening to the show and thanks to Angie for coming on and experimenting with a new and different format for this photography podcast and for sharing her thoughts, views and ideas.

Also, a big thanks to The Image Salon for sponsoring this episode of the podcast and making the show possible. If outsourcing your editing is something you're currently doing or considering, please put the guys at The Image Salon to the test… I think you'll be blown away!

At the end of the day, not everyone can love your work so you just got to keep on producing and putting it out there and managing the anxiety with a bit of wine. – Angie Connell

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!

That’s it for me, hope everything is going well for you in life and photography!

Thanks and speak soon

Andrew

The post TPX25: Angie Connell – Creative photography is alive and well appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.

Lawrence Scott of www.lspix.co.uk agreed to record this interview while driving from Glasgow to Edinburgh to go see the Castle and catch up with a bunch of Scotish photographers in one of their most beautiful cities. On the drive, it was difficult to talk business with so many stories from Lawrence about his early days as a crime photographer – some of which you'll hear in this episode.

We did get around to some photography business, life as a photographer based in Scotland, family, bookings, sales and more. I hope you enjoy the conversation/interview as much as I did when recording it.

Lawrence's Website

Lawrence's Facebook Page

Lawrence on Instagram

Thanks again for listening and big thanks to Dan for allowing me to record this interview at a moments notice and not running up the back of the track while trying to answer my questions with your full attention.

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!

That’s it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

Thanks and speak soon

Andrew

The post Audio Diary 7 – Glasgow Wedding and Portrait Photographer Lawrence Scott appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.