#453 In todays episode of the podcast, I chat with family film photographer Rachel Larsen Weaver about her photographic journey, the value of perseverance, choosing to shoot on film, and the power of finding your own artistic vision in a raw and authentic style.

THE BIG IDEAS

• Embrace Your Unique Style: Your photographic journey may start with struggles, but embracing your own style can lead to a raw, authentic aesthetic that sets you apart.
• Value Perseverance: Through perseverance and continuous self-improvement, you can shift your focus from simply pleasing others to pursuing your own artistic vision.
• Find a Mentor: Finding a mentor who aligns with your work and provides valuable guidance can significantly boost your confidence and help you grow as a photographer.
• Capture Authentic Moments: Transitioning to shooting film can allow you to capture imperfect, raw moments with honesty and intimacy, providing a new level of depth to your photography.

Resources:
Follow Rachael Larsen Weaver on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rachel.larsen.weaver/

Learn What Camera Settings to Use in our free guide!
https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Sign up for your free CloudSpot Account today at www.DeliverPhotos.com

Connect with Raymond!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Get your Photo Questions Answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#452 In today's episode of the podcast, we explore how to build a captivating photography portfolio in the digital age, focusing on showcasing your best work, building a professional identity, and the transformative power of a well-curated portfolio.

THE BIG IDEAS

• Showcase Your Best Work: Select images that distinctly reflect your talent and style. Focus on quality, impactful work that resonates with your niche. Regularly refresh your collection.
• Build a Professional Identity: Establish your unique artistic vision and credibility through a portfolio that demonstrates both your emotional depth and technical skills.
• Transformative Power of Curation: Continuously refining your portfolio not only tracks personal growth but also enhances your professional opportunities and adapts to trends.
• Presentation Diversity: Present your work across various platforms to ensure accessibility, from digital galleries and physical portfolios to social media, each telling your unique story.

Resources:
Download your free Portfolio building workbook - https://beginnerphotopod.com/portfolioworkbook

Learn What Camera Settings to Use in our free guide!
https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Sign up for your free CloudSpot Account today at www.DeliverPhotos.com

Connect with Raymond!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Get your Photo Questions Answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#451 In today's episode of the podcast, I chat with photography Michael Rababy about curating images to create a compelling collection for his book California Love: A Visual Mixtape. He will walk you through honing your unique photographic voice, and questioning the impact of social media on your photography journey. You'll gain insight into creating meaningful art, developing a personal photographic voice, and navigating the complexities of the modern photography landscape.

THE BIG IDEAS

• Developing Your Photographic Voice: Explore the significance of creating a unique photographic voice.
• The Impact of Art on Your Life: Understand how life experiences and art influence your creative process.
• Curating Compelling Visual Content: Discover the process of curating a powerful collection of photographs.
• Navigating the Modern Photography Landscape: Gain insights into the challenges and opportunities in the current photography environment.

Resources:
Michaels book, California Love: A Visual Mixtape

Learn What Camera Settings to Use in our free guide!
https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Sign up for your free CloudSpot Account today at www.DeliverPhotos.com

Connect with Raymond!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Get your Photo Questions Answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#450 In today's episode of the podcast, I chat with Brian Leahy, a successful high-end wedding photographer, who emphasizes the importance of building relationships with clients and industry professionals. We discuss the impact of AI, networking, and pivoting to a new photography niche.

THE BIG IDEAS

• Importance of Building Rapport: You'll learn that knowing your clients and industry partners by name can significantly impact your success.
• Transitioning and Niche Specialization: Discover how pivoting to a new photography niche can be fulfilling and profitable.
• Networking Impact: We explore how networking can lead to opportunities and provide more value than the quality of your work.
• Understanding Client Needs: Learn that creativity, while important, may not always be the top priority for clients, especially at high-end events.

Resources:
Visit Brians Wedding Photography Website - https://www.brianleahyphoto.com/
Follow Brian on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/brianleahydestinations/
Brians new Luxury Travel website - https://www.brianleahydestinations.com/home

Learn What Camera Settings to Use in our free guide!
https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Sign up for your free CloudSpot Account today at www.DeliverPhotos.com

Connect with Raymond!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Get your Photo Questions Answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#449 In todays episode of the podcast, you'll learn how to evolve your taste as a photographer. By defining, cultivating, and evolving your taste, you will gain clarity and confidence in your creative pursuits, setting yourself up for success.

THE BIG IDEAS

• Define Your Taste: Recognize that your initial inclination may not be what truly inspires you. Find photographers who resonate with you, and learn from their work.
• Cultivate Your Taste: Surround yourself intentionally with sources of inspiration that align with your creative vision. Identify what truly speaks to you in photography.
• Evolve Your Taste: Embrace change and allow your taste to transform as you gain more knowledge and experience in photography. Be open to evolving your creative style.
• Practice with Intention: Develop a deliberate approach to your photography. Instead of aimlessly capturing scenes, set parameters for your shoots and measure success based on meeting those goals.

Learn What Camera Settings to Use in our free guide!
https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Connect with Raymond!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Get your Photo Questions Answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#448 In today's episode of the podcast, I chat with photographers Seth Miranda, Rachael Boer, and Carl Caylor who share their insights on getting out of creative ruts, capturing emotions, and overcoming technical perfectionism. You'll learn how to find inspiration, connect with clients, and balance technical proficiency with emotional impact in your work.

THE BIG IDEAS

• Getting Out of Creative Ruts: Embrace new projects and perspectives to find inspiration and motivation.
• Connecting with Clients: Focus on capturing genuine emotions and adapting to your client's energy and personality.
• Overcoming Technical Perfectionism: Prioritize emotional impact while also valuing technical growth and learning from competition.
• Finding Inspiration: Seek education, connect with industry professionals, and embrace AI technology for creative growth.

Resources:
Follow Seth on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeN4SYppmjT8j69WAuGxOuA
Follow Rachael on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rachaelboerphotography/?hl=en
Follow Carl on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carlcaylor/?hl=en

Learn What Camera Settings to Use in our free guide!
https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Sign up for your free CloudSpot Account today at www.DeliverPhotos.com

Connect with Raymond!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Get your Photo Questions Answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#447 In today's episode of the podcast, I chat with product photographer Kelly Lawson about her journey from healthcare to photography, navigating the struggles of being a beginner, and unlocking the potential of photography to revolutionize her career and creative passions. We cover practical approaches for securing your first client, marketing, pricing, and understanding the psychology of photography.

THE BIG IDEAS

• Unlocking Your First Client:  Begin by showcasing your product photography, tag companies in your work, or offer free shoots for photo credits to secure your first client
• Business Savvy: Develop a diverse portfolio for product, lifestyle, and commercial photography. Choose pricing that covers expenses and leaves profit.
• Mastering Light and Angles: Understand and control light, use natural light, and optimize positioning to flatter the product in photography.
• Target Audience and Emotions: Focus on appealing to the target demographic in commercial photography and convey emotions and perspectives in product photos using camera angles.

Resources:
Follow Kelly on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kellyslawson/
Check out Kelly's Website - https://kellylawson.ca/

Learn What Camera Settings to Use in our free guide!
https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Sign up for your free CloudSpot Account today at www.DeliverPhotos.com

Connect with Raymond!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Get your Photo Questions Answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#446 In today's episode of the podcast, I chat with photographers Vanessa Joy, Daniel Norton, and Mary Fisk-Taylor at Imaging USA 2024 and  learn about their approach to staying creative in photography. You'll learn about cultivating genuine emotions in your photography, networking tips, and finding inspiration beyond the lens.

THE BIG IDEAS

1. Cultivate Genuine Emotions: Build connections and capture authentic emotions to create impactful and meaningful photographs.
2. Networking Tips: Learn the value of networking at photography events and how it can benefit your journey as a photographer.
3. Finding Inspiration: Discover the importance of seeking inspiration beyond photography to fuel your creativity.
4. Staying Creative: Explore ways to overcome creative ruts and stay inspired in the art of photography.

Resources:
Follow Vanessa Joy on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@VanessaJoy
Follow Daniel Norton on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@DanielNortonPhotographer
Follow Mary Fisk-Taylors on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/maryfisktaylor/

Learn What Camera Settings to Use in our free guide!
https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Sign up for your free CloudSpot Account today at www.DeliverPhotos.com

Connect with Raymond!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Get your Photo Questions Answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#445 In todays episode of the podcast, I chat with underwater conservation photographer, Karim Iliya. Today you'll learn how photography can be a catalyst for conservation and an advocate for environmental awareness. As you listen, prepare to be transformed by a new perspective on the power of your photography.

THE BIG IDEAS

• Perspective: You'll learn that impactful photography goes beyond aesthetics, encouraging you to showcase the beauty and plight of nature and animals.
• Change: Embrace the responsibility to use your photography to evoke a love for nature, ultimately contributing to conservation efforts.
• Engagement: Understand that even as a beginner, you can contribute to conservation through your photography, changing how you perceive and portray nature.
• Adapting Technology: Recognize the potential for innovative VR technology in conservation storytelling and photography, pushing the boundaries of traditional methods.

Resources:
Follow Karim on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/karimiliya
Check out Karim's Website - https://karimiliya.com/about

Learn What Camera Settings to Use in our free guide!
https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Sign up for your free CloudSpot Account today at www.DeliverPhotos.com

Connect with Raymond!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Get your Photo Questions Answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#444 In today's episode of the podcast, I chat with photographers Taylor Jackson, Taylor Brumfield, and Cris Duncan at Imaging USA 2024 hosted in Louisville. In this lightning round style interview we discuss finding motivation, networking, balancing passion and patience, and the value of self-care and personal connections in photography.

THE BIG IDEAS

1. Balance Passion with Patience: Prioritize building your resume and portfolio over following your passion initially, and be patient in pursuing your passion.
2. Value Personal Connections: Personal interaction is crucial for growth in photography – seek support and attend industry events for connection and learning.
3. Transform Challenges into Triumphs: Overcome creative ruts by engaging in non-photography-related creative activities and forming genuine relationships with subjects.
4. Effective Marketing through Networking: Networking is a key marketing strategy in photography. Building meaningful connections leads to referrals and repeat clients.

Resources:

• Follow Taylor Jackson on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCdYgwZvHnXO8nkRrWl-mfA
• Follow Taylor Brumfield on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taylorrbee
• Check out Cris Duncans Website - https://www.cjduncan.com/

Learn What Camera Settings to Use in our free guide!
https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Sign up for your free CloudSpot Account today at www.DeliverPhotos.com

Connect with Raymond!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Get your Photo Questions Answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!