In this episode of Shotlist, host Marshal Chupa sits down with creative director, photographer, and filmmaker Alex Strohl. With over a decade of experience, Alex shares his journey from his first photography sale to Microsoft, to building a multifaceted career with over 10 revenue streams, including 2 million Instagram followers, online education, and more.

They discuss the reps and mindset needed to succeed, navigating shifts in the creative industry, the power of self-worth in pricing your work, and how to future-proof your creative business in the age of AI. Alex also provides actionable advice for photographers and filmmakers looking to transition out of a feast-or-famine lifestyle and into a sustainable, thriving career.

If you’re a creative professional, this episode is packed with wisdom and practical tips on building freedom, fostering meaningful relationships, and staying ahead in an ever-evolving industry.

Key Topics Discussed:

​The Journey to 2 Million Instagram Followers: The reps, routines, and serendipitous moments that shaped Alex’s career.​

Diversifying Revenue Streams: From brandpartnerships to in-person retreats and online education.​

The Business of Creativity: Why self-worth matters in pricing, negotiatingusage rights, and breaking free from day-rate work.​

Navigating Industry Shifts: The impact of AI, macroeconomic changes, and the future of creative marketing.​

Building Relationships: How genuine ,long-term connections drive opportunities in the creative industry.​

Practical Advice for Creatives: Why assisting and interning remain powerful learning tools, and how to approach clients and partnerships effectively.​

Episode Highlights

00:37 Building a Career Behind the Lens

02:30 Photography as Freedom

08:10 Transitioning from Agency to Personal Projects

17:23 Finding Your Tribe in the Creative Industry

27:22 Future Trends in the Creative Industry

34:54 Building Meaningful Relationships

37:53 The Power of Accountability Partners

🔗 CONNECT WITH Alex Strohl

📸 Instagram | @alexstrohl

💻 Website | www.alexstrohl.com

📰 Newsletter | www. alextrohl.substack.com

🎥 YouTube| www.youtube.com/@alexstroh

🔗 CONNECT WITH MARSHAL

📸 Instagram | www.instagram.com/marshalchupa

💻 Website | www.marshalchupa.com

👥 Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/marshal-chupa-99a7921a8

📄 SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT

Visit the website for the transcript and highlights from the conversation - www.shotlistpodcast.com

🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST

This podcast is all about helping emerging cinematographers, photographers, and directors navigate the challenges of making a life and a living behind the lens. From workflow to personal growth, creative vision to marketing, finances to production—every episode is packed with a wide range of topics to support visual storytellers in their pursuit of building a business and growing a career they are proud of.

🎧 LISTEN FOR FREE

Apple Podcasts | https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800

Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/3m5203Y5yQ7wNXQhZBOmNV?si=f46bc0e937bf40c1

RSS | https://anchor.fm/s/5cb2e948/podcast/rss

🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, I’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on the bottom of Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show 👊 https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800

📱GET IN TOUCH

You can also drop me a DM instagram @marshalchupa or email [email protected]

In this episode of the Shotlist Podcast, Marshal sits down with world class cinematographer Anka Malatynska, whose journey behind the lens has spanned over 20 years. From her scrappy beginnings shooting whatever she could get her hands on, to working on acclaimed shows like Monsterland, NCIS, and Rescue: Hi-Surf, Anka shares how perseverance, emotional intelligence, and inner work have shaped her career.

They explore the challenges of navigating set politics, how to stay grounded in the chaos of production, and the power of letting go of ego. Anka also opens up about balancing her creative career with motherhood and how prioritizing mental health has been a game-changer in her life.

This episode is packed with insights for anyone in the film industry—or any creative field—looking to grow both professionally and personally.

Episode Highlights

(01:45) The Journey of Becoming a Cinematographer

(14:08) Balancing Inner Work and Professional Growth

(23:30) Adapting to Set Politics and Creative Challenges

(38:48) Financial and Career Advice for Filmmakers

(59:49) Final Thoughts and Mentorship

📖 Check out Anka’s Visual Accelerator Course: visualaccelerator.co/podcast

🔗 CONNECT WITH Anka Malatynska

📸 Instagram | @ankavision

💻 Website | www.ankavision.com

🔗 CONNECT WITH MARSHAL

📸 Instagram | www.instagram.com/marshalchupa

💻 Website | www.marshalchupa.com

👥 Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/marshal-chupa-99a7921a8

📄 SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT

Visit the website for the transcript and highlights from the conversation - www.shotlistpodcast.com

🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST

This podcast is all about helping emerging cinematographers, photographers, and directors navigate the challenges of making a life and a living behind the lens. From workflow to personal growth, creative vision to marketing, finances to production—every episode is packed with a wide range of topics to support visual storytellers in their pursuit of building a business and growing a career they are proud of.

🎧 LISTEN FOR FREE

Apple Podcasts | https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800

Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/3m5203Y5yQ7wNXQhZBOmNV?si=f46bc0e937bf40c1

RSS | https://anchor.fm/s/5cb2e948/podcast/rss

🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, I’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on the bottom of Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show 👊 https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800

**📱** GET IN TOUCH

You can also drop me a DM instagram @marshalchupa or email [email protected]

In this episode, Marshal interviews photographer, filmmaker, and author Sean Tucker, exploring creative blocks, authenticity, and balancing commercial work with personal passion. Sean shares insights on building discipline, staying true to your vision, and finding direction in the creative journey. They discuss practical ways to handle introversion in a career that often requires extroverted skills, as well as strategies for dealing with perfectionism, social media validation, and envy.

Episode Highlights

03:41 Beginnings in Photography

06:22 Transitioning into a Creative Career

09:38 Finding Your Creative Direction

11:22 Balancing Passion with Profession

16:07 Developing Discipline in Creative Practice

25:13 Facing Creative Blocks

29:16 Managing Social Media and Criticism

32:19 Structuring Creative Projects

42:14 Introversion in a Creative Career

54:30 Final Thoughts and Future Projects

🔗 CONNECT WITH SEAN TUCKER

📸Instagram | ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/seantuck⁠⁠

💻Website | ⁠⁠www.seantucker.photography⁠⁠

▶️ YouTube | ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@seantuck ⁠

🔗 CONNECT WITH MARSHAL

📸 Instagram | ⁠www.instagram.com/marshalchupa⁠

💻 Website | ⁠www.marshalchupa.com⁠

👥 Linkedin | ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/marshal-chupa-99a7921a8⁠

📄 SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT

Visit the website for the transcript and highlights from the conversation - ⁠www.shotlistpodcast.com⁠

🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST

This podcast is all about helping emerging cinematographers, photographers, and directors navigate the challenges of making a life and a living behind the lens. From workflow to personal growth, creative vision to marketing, finances to production—every episode is packed with a wide range of topics to support visual storytellers in their pursuit of building a business and growing a career they are proud of.

🎧 LISTEN FOR FREE

Apple Podcasts | ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800⁠

Spotify | ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3m5203Y5yQ7wNXQhZBOmNV?si=f46bc0e937bf40c1⁠

RSS | ⁠https://anchor.fm/s/5cb2e948/podcast/rss⁠

🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, I’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on the bottom of Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show 👊 ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800⁠

📱 GET IN TOUCH

You can also drop me a DM instagram @marshalchupa or email ⁠[email protected]

In this episode, Marshal chats with filmmaker and entrepreneur Jakob Owens about building a seven-figure brand / business and transforming his career from day-rate gigs to multiple income streams. Jakob shares insights on the importance of a solid business partner, balancing life and work, and creating a thriving creative career. Tune in for his advice on overcoming challenges and tips for aspiring filmmakers.

Episode Highlights

6:26 How Jakob got started in filmmaking

12:47 Building an audience

22:22 Jakob’s multiple income streams

25:06 Breaking out of the day rate mindset

34:56 Managing multiple businesses

38:34 Creating systems and processes

45:40 Selling without an audience

55:13 How to avoid burnout

1:16:39 Jakob's current project

🔗 CONNECT WITH Jakob Owens

📸 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/jakobowens/

💻 Website | https://www.directorjakobowens.com/

💻 Website | https://tropiccolour.com/

🔗 CONNECT WITH MARSHAL

📸 Instagram | www.instagram.com/marshalchupa

💻 Website | www.marshalchupa.com

👥 Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/marshal-chupa-99a7921a8

📄 SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT

Visit the website for the transcript and highlights from the conversation - www.shotlistpodcast.com

🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST

This podcast is all about helping emerging cinematographers, photographers, and directors navigate the challenges of making a life and a living behind the lens. From workflow to personal growth, creative vision to marketing, finances to production—every episode is packed with a wide range of topics to support visual storytellers in their pursuit of building a business and growing a career they are proud of.

🎧 LISTEN FOR FREEApple Podcasts | https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800

Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/3m5203Y5yQ7wNXQhZBOmNV?si=f46bc0e937bf40c1

RSS | https://anchor.fm/s/5cb2e948/podcast/rss

🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, I’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on the bottom of Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show 👊 https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800

📱 GET IN TOUCH

You can also drop me a DM instagram @marshalchupa or email [email protected]

In this episode, Marshal sits down with renowned photographer and author David duChemin to explore the art of productivity and focus. Together, they unpack the importance of identifying your "big rocks"—the essential priorities that drive your creative life—and how to use your calendar as a powerful tool for achieving your dream goals. David also shares insights on navigating distractions and staying on track when life throws inevitable curveballs. This conversation is packed with actionable advice for anyone looking to get more done and stay aligned with their purpose.

Episode Highlights

3:31 Finding Direction

12:06 Moving Forward

30:35 Evernote & Calendar Process

43:07 Dealing with Distractions

51:30 Creating Priorities

57:49 The Only Tools You Need

1:03:28 Time vs. Money

1:10:58 David’s Thought Process

🔗 CONNECT WITH David duChemin

📸 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/davidduchemin/

💻 Website | https://davidduchemin.com/

🔗 CONNECT WITH MARSHAL

📸 Instagram | ⁠www.instagram.com/marshalchupa⁠

💻 Website | ⁠www.marshalchupa.com⁠

👥 Linkedin | ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/marshal-chupa-99a7921a8⁠

📄 SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT

Visit the website for the transcript and highlights from the conversation - ⁠www.shotlistpodcast.com⁠

🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST

This podcast is all about helping emerging cinematographers, photographers, and directors navigate the challenges of making a life and a living behind the lens. From workflow to personal growth, creative vision to marketing, finances to production—every episode is packed with a wide range of topics to support visual storytellers in their pursuit of building a business and growing a career they are proud of.

🎧 LISTEN FOR FREEApple Podcasts | ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800⁠Spotify | ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3m5203Y5yQ7wNXQhZBOmNV?si=f46bc0e937bf40c1⁠RSS | ⁠https://anchor.fm/s/5cb2e948/podcast/rss⁠

🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, I’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on the bottom of Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show 👊 ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800⁠

📱 GET IN TOUCH

You can also drop me a DM instagram @marshalchupa or email ⁠[email protected]

In this episode, Marshal sits down with Heather Mosher, a seasoned documentary filmmaker who has produced and sold films internationally to major companies like the CBC, Red Bull TV, and Air Canada. Heather delves into her unique experiences, including filming Olympic rock climbers, offering listeners an exclusive peek into her creative process. They explore the critical role of a compelling logline in securing funding and discuss why prioritizing mental health is crucial for filmmakers—so much so that Heather even suggests budgeting for a therapist. With heartfelt vulnerability and a deep passion for her craft, Heather provides invaluable insights on sustaining a long-term career in the industry.

Episode Highlights

2:21 Meet Heather

12:39 Behind the Scenes of an Olympic Shoot

20:20 Heather’s Filmmaking Journey

30:30 How She Comes Up with Ideas

38:02 Securing Funding

42:26 Pre-Production Process

47:29 Production Process

53:17 Handling Burnout

1:04:23 Post-Production Process

1:08:27 Final Creative Process

1:12:44 Distribution Process

1:19:56 Advice for Women in Filmmaking

🔗 CONNECT WITH Heather Mosher

📸 Instagram | www.instagram.com/heathermoshermedia

💻 Website | www.heathermosher.ca

🔗 CONNECT WITH MARSHAL

📸 Instagram | www.instagram.com/marshalchupa

💻 Website | www.marshalchupa.com

👥 Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/marshal-chupa-99a7921a8

📄 SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT

Visit the website for the transcript and highlights from the conversation - www.shotlistpodcast.com

🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST

This podcast is all about helping emerging cinematographers, photographers, and directors navigate the challenges of making a life and a living behind the lens. From workflow to personal growth, creative vision to marketing, finances to production—every episode is packed with a wide range of topics to support visual storytellers in their pursuit of building a business and growing a career they are proud of.

🎧 LISTEN FOR FREEApple Podcasts | https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/3m5203Y5yQ7wNXQhZBOmNV?si=f46bc0e937bf40c1RSS | https://anchor.fm/s/5cb2e948/podcast/rss

🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, I’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on the bottom of Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show 👊 https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800

📱 GET IN TOUCH

You can also drop me a DM instagram @marshalchupa or email [email protected]

In this episode, Marshal speaks with Tucker Anderson, Cinematographer and Founder of Element Filters. Tucker shares his journey from humble beginnings in a small ski town to building a successful film career working in Vancouver and L.A. He reveals his unique approach to networking and landing clients, offers tips for building a portfolio from scratch, and how the pandemic and his search for better ND filters inspired him to create his own company, Element Filters.

Episode Highlights

2:11 How Tucker Started

9:54 Building a Portfolio from Scratch

12:34 Key Business Lessons

14:51 Client Outreach Processes and Systems

18:56 How to Stand Out

27:56 Cycle of Feast and Famine

30:12 Element Filters Explained

49:27 Advice to Newcomers

🔗 CONNECT WITH Tucker Anderson

📸 Instagram | www.instagram.com/tuckeranderson

📸 Instagram | www.instagram.com/elementfilters

💻 Website | www.tuckerkanderson.com

💻 Website | www.elementfilters.com

🔗 CONNECT WITH MARSHAL

📸Instagram | ⁠www.instagram.com/marshalchupa⁠

💻Website | ⁠www.marshalchupa.com⁠

👥 Linkedin | ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/marshal-chupa-99a7921a8⁠

📄 SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT

Visit the website for the transcript and highlights from the conversation - ⁠www.shotlistpodcast.com⁠

🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST

This podcast is all about helping emerging cinematographers, photographers, and directors navigate the challenges of making a life and a living behind the lens. From workflow to personal growth, creative vision to marketing, finances to production—every episode is packed with a wide range of topics to support visual storytellers in their pursuit of building a business and growing a career they are proud of.

🎧 LISTEN FOR FREEApple Podcasts | ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800⁠Spotify | ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3m5203Y5yQ7wNXQhZBOmNV?si=f46bc0e937bf40c1⁠

🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, I’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on the bottom of Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show 👊 ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800⁠

📱 GET IN TOUCH

You can also drop me a DM instagram @marshalchupa or email ⁠[email protected]

In this episode, Marshal interviews filmmaker Ian Coll, who shares his journey to breaking the six-figure mark and the significant changes he made in his lead generation process. Ian discusses his approach to discovery calls, follow-up methods, and client proposal strategies, along with handling price objections by understanding the true reasons behind them. He emphasizes the importance of being a problem solver who genuinely cares about clients' issues to stand out in the creative industry, offering valuable tips and strategies to elevate your sales game.

Episode Highlights:

3:39 Ian's Humble Beginnings

5:57 Getting Drawn into Videography

9:03 Ian’s Breakthrough Moment

12:58 Lead Generation Strategies

22:16 Referrals, Discovery Calls, and Follow-Ups

34:44 Handling Price Objections

39:53 Sales Calls and Cold Calling

50:10 Closing Deals

1:00:00 Solving Clients’ Problems

🔗 CONNECT WITH Ian Coll

📸Instagram | www.instagram.com/iancollmedia

💻Website | www.cedarsprucefilms.ca

🔗 CONNECT WITH MARSHAL

📸Instagram | www.instagram.com/marshalchupa

💻Website | www.marshalchupa.com

👥 Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/marshal-chupa-99a7921a8

📄 SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT

Visit the website for the transcript and highlights from the conversation - www.shotlistpodcast.com

🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST

This podcast is all about helping emerging cinematographers, photographers, and directors navigate the challenges of making a life and a living behind the lens. From workflow to personal growth, creative vision to marketing, finances to production—every episode is packed with a wide range of topics to support visual storytellers in their pursuit of building a business and growing a career they are proud of.

🎧 LISTEN FOR FREEApple Podcasts | https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/3m5203Y5yQ7wNXQhZBOmNV?si=f46bc0e937bf40c1

🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, I’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on the bottom of Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show 👊 https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800

📱 GET IN TOUCH

You can also drop me a DM instagram @marshalchupa or email [email protected]

In this episode, Marshal interviews Bryan Sheffield, an Executive Producer at Wonderful Machine with a successful background in photography. Bryan specializes in guiding photographers, both new and seasoned, through complex pricing situations with clients. They explore valuable tips for creating quotes, common pitfalls in contract writing, and how Bryan and Wonderful Machine can assist photographers with pricing and negotiation on their next project. If you're eager to master the art of pricing and negotiation, this episode is a must-listen.

Episode Highlights:

2:40 Bryan's Story

6:04 What Does an EP's Day-to-Day Look Like?

8:41 Pricing in General as a Photographer

13:09 Pricing One Job from Another

22:06 How to Charge a $100,000 USD Creative Fee

24:14 Understanding Usage and Charging

25:45 Common Mistakes When Negotiating or Creating Contracts

36:22 Tricky Situations: Firm Bid and Variables

40:31 Wrapping Up a Job

46:25 Setting Your Creative Fee

55:26 Software for Estimates

58:43 Clients Who Set Their Own SOW

1:04:07 Learning More About Wonderful Machine

🔗 CONNECT WITH Bryan Sheffield💻Website | https://wonderfulmachine.com/

🔗 CONNECT WITH MARSHAL

📸Instagram | www.instagram.com/marshalchupa💻Website | www.marshalchupa.com👥 Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/marshal-chupa-99a7921a8

📄 SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT

Visit the website for the transcript and highlights from the conversation - www.shotlistpodcast.com

🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST

This podcast is all about helping emerging cinematographers, photographers, and directors navigate the challenges of making a life and a living behind the lens. From workflow to personal growth, creative vision to marketing, finances to production—every episode is packed with a wide range of topics to support visual storytellers in their pursuit of building a business and growing a career they are proud of.

🎧 LISTEN FOR FREEApple Podcasts | https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800

Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/3m5203Y5yQ7wNXQhZBOmNV?si=f46bc0e937bf40c1

🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, I’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on the bottom of Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show 👊 https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800

📱 GET IN TOUCH

You can also drop me a DM instagram @marshalchupa or email [email protected]

In this episode, Marshal speaks with Israel Rivera, a photographer, director, and DOP with a rich career spanning back to the film days of the 70s. We'll explore how his love for photography shaped his life, as well as the highs and lows he experienced on his journey, including the struggles of leaving his conventional life and family business behind.

This episode is packed with valuable insights as Israel shares advice on how to start building good relationships, how to deal with feast-or-famine periods in the industry, and the essential skills photographers need to succeed. Tune in to hear Israel's exciting stories about making a life and living behind the camera for more than 20 years.

Episode Highlights:

3:20 Getting to know Israel1

3:31 Israel's First Job in the Industry

15:10 Transitioning Into Photography

19:39 Building Good Relationships

22:52 Getting Interested in Motion Works

26:47 Insight Into Owning Gears

34:30 Dealing with Opportunities

42:17 Creating Work for Yourself

44:25 2,000 vs 200,000 Photographer

46:38 Skills Needed by Photographers

48:35 Dealing with Pushbacks

51:23 Feast-or-Famine Periods in the Industry

55:39 Advice to Younger Self

🔗 CONNECT WITH Israel Rivera

📸Instagram | @israelrivera

💻Website | www.israelrivera.com

🔗 CONNECT WITH MARSHAL

📸Instagram | www.instagram.com/marshalchupa

💻Website | www.marshalchupa.com

👥 Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/marshal-chupa-99a7921a8

📄 SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT

Visit the website for the transcript and highlights from the conversation - www.shotlistpodcast.com

🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST

This podcast is all about helping emerging cinematographers, photographers, and directors navigate the challenges of making a life and a living behind the lens. From workflow to personal growth, creative vision to marketing, finances to production—every episode is packed with a wide range of topics to support visual storytellers in their pursuit of building a business and growing a career they are proud of.

🎧 LISTEN FOR FREEApple Podcasts | https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800

Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/3m5203Y5yQ7wNXQhZBOmNV?si=f46bc0e937bf40c1

🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, I’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on the bottom of Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show 👊 https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800

📱 GET IN TOUCH

You can also drop me a DM instagram @marshalchupa or email [email protected]