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In the preview of his Photo Imaging CONNECT keynote, Stuart MacDonald — magician, filmmaker, entrepreneur — explores how LEAN principles, continuous improvement, and ruthless clarity transformed a faceplant into standing ovations, a win on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and a top-10 finish at the world championships.

MacDonald takes us through the nerve-wracking world of competitive magic, where originality is mandatory, time limits are tight, and the smallest defect can collapse the illusion. He breaks down how continuous feedback revealed hidden waste on stage, why a candelabra beat a single candle for instant story logic, and how standardized, travel-ready props removed friction from his global tour. We dig into 5S for creatives—everything in its place, every time—and the unglamorous decisions that protect attention when the lights hit.

MacDonald’s 100-runs-in-30-days practice loop shows how tiny upgrades compound into confidence and clean execution, even when things go sideways. If you’ve ever felt torn between art and process, this conversation proves structure is rocket fuel for creativity.

Register today for the Photo Imaging CONNECT conference at www.photoimagingconnect.com

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Mediaclip
Mediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.

Independent Photo Imagers
IPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.

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Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau
Announcer: Erin Manning

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If you think great industry breakthroughs happen on a show floor, think again. We sat down with Dscoop’s Peter Van Teeseling and Chris Hyde to unpack how a trust-first, member-led community is helping HP print businesses grow faster through intentional connections, candid playbook sharing, and events designed for action, not spectacle.

We trace Dscoop’s 20-year arc from a “crazy idea” to a global network of 23,000+ users across 100+ countries, then dive into what makes Dscoop Edge Rockies different from a typical trade show. Instead of hard sales, the Solution Showcase pairs running presses and software with consultative partners who focus on solving real production and marketing problems. The education slate is driven by member demand and what’s coming next: AI-driven workflows, automation, data-powered personalization, smarter pricing, and team culture. You’ll hear why hallways matter—and how DScoop now engineers that serendipity with the Explorer Circle, small-group “fire starter” sessions led by seasoned operators who guide first-timers and veterans toward the right people, faster.

We also look ahead to Edge Rockies and the return to Europe with Edge Slovenia in Ljubljana. Expect the same high-density networking, equipment on the floor, and region-aware sessions—plus a compact, walkable city that keeps the community in constant conversation. Along the way, we take on the tired “print is dead” narrative and explain why dumb print is fading while smart print surges. Think variable data with premium finishing, on-demand manufacturing, e-commerce integration, and sustainability as strategy. New owners without legacy constraints are entering the space, and veterans who shed old habits are leading the mark

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Mediaclip
Mediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.

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Independent Photo Imagers
IPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp.

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Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau
Announcer: Erin Manning

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What if the best product designer is the one you barely notice? We sit down with Mediaclip CEO Marion Duchesne to explore how photo and product personalization is moving from heavy, time-consuming builders to fast, elegant flows that deliver a finished result in a single action. From early DVD slideshows to Flash and now a cloud-native, API-first platform, her team’s throughline is simple: clean UX, strong templates, and conversion-first design that helps people actually buy what they create.

Duchesne explains why Mediaclip refused to build a shopping cart and instead integrated deeply with Shopify and WooCommerce. That focus unlocked speed for retailers and micro-merchants as social and email now drop shoppers straight into the builder. We dig into AI without the hype: Connectors that let brands choose where intelligence adds real value—autofill that reduces friction, layout suggestions that feel human, and cross-sell that shows your design on apparel, wall art, or gifts without extra effort. The conversation also tackles a surprising growth driver: insecurity fueling nostalgia. When life gets uncertain, people reach for physical keepsakes, and that emotional pull is driving double-digit growth across long-tail catalogs.

Duchesne discusses generative AI’s place in print. Younger buyers may embrace stylized or aspirational images, while keepsake buyers still value authenticity. Home decor emerges as a clear use case—custom art tuned to your space and palette. Under the hood, compliance and trust are nonnegotiable, with GDPR, WCAG, the European Accessibility Act, and ISO 27001 shaping global readiness. On the production side, advances in apparel and local fulfillment point t

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Mediaclip
Mediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.

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Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Independent Photo Imagers
IPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp.

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Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group, The Dead Pixels Society.

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Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau
Announcer: Erin Manning

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What does it take for a family photo lab to thrive across three generations and multiple technology upheavals? We sit down with David Buchbinder of Alkit to trace an unvarnished journey from New York City retail counters to a lean, volume-first lab that ships in three days. Buchbinder walks us through the hard calls: expanding into Kodak-branded stores, then cutting overhead and rebuilding around photo printing workflow

Prints are steady, but specialty items—buttons, magnets, acrylic blocks, framed and mounted prints, canvas wraps—drive bigger carts when studios use modern platforms to reach parents by text and email. Buchbinder explains why Alkit refused to build proprietary software and instead partnered with GotPhoto, PhotoDay, and Captura, keeping focus on color, quality, and fulfillment while ensuring one-stop support. That choice unlocked direct-to-home ordering, faster cycles, and less friction for photographers juggling schools, sports, dance, cheer, and preschool.

Buchbinder also shares a pragmatic take on technology. The lab remains a silver-halide shop on Noritsu lines for quality and throughput, yet stands ready to pivot when the time is right. Meanwhile, the promise stays the same: everything produced in-house in Long Island and shipped within three days, even in peak season.

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Mediaclip
Mediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
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Independent Photo Imagers
IPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp.

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Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group, The Dead Pixels Society.

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Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau
Announcer: Erin Manning

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A 1938 basement lab that processed black-and-white alongside amateur rolls now runs a high-speed digital operation that can ship school orders in about two days. The Dead Pixels Society sits down with Richmond Professional Lab’s Ted Bullard and Josh Lewis to map the decisions that made digital not just viable, but superior, for volume photographers who demand both quality and speed.

Bullard recounts how Kodak’s consent decree opened the processing market and how Richmond leaned into professional work, long-roll film, and eventually early digital printers. Then Lewis pulls back the curtain on the operational engine: why fewer, faster machines beat a fleet of minis, how custom software gangs tens of thousands of orders, and why posting live turnaround times builds trust during peak seasons. They share into the Canon DreamLabo journey, HP ink and laminate advances, and the color fidelity and longevity that finally matched—then surpassed—silver halide expectations.

The volume landscape is shifting fast, with independents stepping in where a major player receded. That opens space for smarter products and sharper margins: yard signs, big head cutouts, layered graphics, and ship-to-home convenience that schools and parents now prefer. We talk data as a service—analyzing order content, sheet counts, and trends to raise average order value and cut waste—and why keeping photographers profitable is the lab’s north star. The path to growth through 2026 isn’t more schools; it’s deeper youth engagement across sports, dance, clubs, and anything families celebrate.

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Mediaclip
Mediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Independent Photo Imagers
IPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp.

Contact us at [email protected]

Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group, The Dead Pixels Society.

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Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau
Announcer: Erin Manning

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If your studio juggles spreadsheets, calendars, and three different apps just to run picture day, this conversation will feel like oxygen. The Dead Pixels Society sits down with Scott Rodgers and Peter Koop from Airstudio to unpack how a platform built by school photographers solves the messy middle of volume photography—linking CRM, senior bookings, staff scheduling, payroll, equipment, workflows, and e‑commerce integrations into one place.

We start with the pain: Homegrown tools and generic CRMs can’t handle the unique layers of school photography—schools as clients, parents as buyers, students as subjects—each with different needs and deadlines. Rodgers and Koop share how Airstudio centralizes everything from first contact and session reminders to school deliverables like PSPA exports and ID specs. With open APIs and data exchanges, it plays well with platforms such as GotPhoto, Captura, and Timestone, so you keep the storefronts you like while unifying the back office. The result is faster coordination, fewer errors, and a clear view of every job.

Using a gross contribution model, studios can see what each school truly costs after direct expenses, staffing, and workflow time—often revealing accounts that quietly drain resources. You’ll hear candid stories of running P&Ls on every account, cutting unprofitable schools, and seeing margins and morale rise. We also cover flexible senior booking paths for districts that won’t share contact data.

From cameras and laptops to backgrounds and batteries, Airstudio treats gear like real money—tracking assignments, repairs, condition photos, and even virtual “bags” nested inside vehicles to verify crews leave with everything they need. Add SOC 2‑focused security, encrypted school portals, and strict role permissions, and you’ve got a system that respects privacy while creating accountability

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Mediaclip
Mediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.

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Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp.

Contact us at [email protected]

Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group, The Dead Pixels Society.

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Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau
Announcer: Erin Manning

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A milestone worth pressing pause for: The Dead Pixels Society is marking our 250th episode with the most popular episodes of the year, from AI that actually helps you create less chaos to sales that feel like service instead of pressure. 

Ever found yourself frantically scrolling through thousands of photos trying to find that one perfect shot you know exists somewhere? This frustration sparked the creation of MediaViz AI when founder Troy DeBraal's business partner slammed his phone down in a restaurant after failing to locate a crucial photo of his son. "Why can't you build something that can keep track of all my good photos and get rid of all this junk?" he demanded – and a revolutionary AI photo curation platform was born.

What if everything you've been taught about sales is actually holding you back from extraordinary success? Marc Von Musser, sales expert and founder of Soar and Roar, challenges conventional wisdom with a refreshing perspective that could transform your approach to business.
 
Growing up as the son of a renowned photographer who captured 150 national magazine covers in a single year, Von Musser learned early that success comes not from transactions but from capturing essence and creating value.

Ever wonder how a school photo lab with 600,000 students a year keeps quality high when half the photographers are new each season? We sat down with Robert Ste-Marie, CEO of 36Pix, to explore Eva. This data-driven evaluation platform scores every image so managers can catch problems fast, coach with clarity, and tie rewards to real outcomes. No fluff—just the metrics that move sales: smiles, closed eyes, blur, glasses glare, face shine, and exposure repairability, according to the company.

What does it really take to build a creative career that lasts—from film backs

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Mediaclip
Mediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
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Independent Photo Imagers
IPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp.

Contact us at [email protected]

Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group, The Dead Pixels Society.

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Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau
Announcer: Erin Manning

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Ever wonder how a “boring” photo of a metal part could move a seven-figure sale? Gary Pageau of the Dead Pixels Society sits down with veteran photographer Kirk Voclain to unpack four decades of pivots, from a cereal‑box Instamatic to seniors that paid the bills, then into commercial, industrial, and real estate work that sells outcomes, not megapixels. Voclain’s story is part grit, part curiosity, and entirely practical: market directly when gatekeepers want kickbacks, promise ROI to businesses who must buy, and turn every shoot into downstream print revenue with albums, cards, and smart lab integrations.

He also digs into the moments that changed his trajectory: a teenage wedding that proved passion can pay, a decision to bypass school-volume politics, and a 2016 read of the curve when senior orders softened. Voclain lays out how he reframed photography as a business asset—product images that drive revenue, corporate visuals that recruit, listings that convert—and how he kept margins healthy by bundling design, using pro labs for direct fulfillment, and charging real money for files. His guide for the next generation is refreshingly blunt: avoid debt, make gear pay for itself, and price for the value you actually deliver.

You’ll also hear how he bridged film and digital by testing, showing clients one perfected digital image per session, and letting demand justify the switch. And because creativity doesn’t stop at the studio door, Voclain shares the spark behind "Double Exposure," his new spy thriller where a photographer’s access becomes the ultimate cover. It’s a reminder that the camera isn’t just a tool—it’s a passport to places, stories, and careers built on seeing what others miss.

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Mediaclip
Mediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Independent Photo Imagers
IPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp.

Contact us at [email protected]

Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group, The Dead Pixels Society.

Leave a review on Apple and Podchaser.

Are you interested in being a guest? Click here for details.

Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau
Announcer: Erin Manning

Have an idea or tip? Send us a text!

Ever wonder how a school photo lab with 600,000 students a year keeps quality high when half the photographers are new each season? We sat down with Robert Ste-Marie, CEO of 36Pix, to explore Eva. This data-driven evaluation platform scores every image so managers can catch problems fast, coach with clarity, and tie rewards to real outcomes. No fluff—just the metrics that move sales: smiles, closed eyes, blur, glasses glare, face shine, and exposure repairability, according to the company.

Ste-Marie walks us through why manual folder dives fail at scale and how Eva creates a near-real-time feedback loop without slowing down shoots. Robert explains how studios can weigh different criteria by job type, link images to individual photographers via camera IDs or filename rules, and compare each shooter against company benchmarks across the season. The result is a clear, fair picture of performance that turns training into revenue: raise smile rates, cut reshoots, and reduce contract risk.

Ste-Marie shares surprising insights from live data—like how much expression variance exists between photographers on similar jobs—and how those findings shape better onboarding and coaching.

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Mediaclip
Mediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Independent Photo Imagers
IPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp.

Contact us at [email protected]

Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group, The Dead Pixels Society.

Leave a review on Apple and Podchaser.

Are you interested in being a guest? Click here for details.

Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau
Announcer: Erin Manning

Have an idea or tip? Send us a text!

Taxes drain more profit than most owners realize, and that single fact changes how we build, run, and sell a creative business. The Dead Pixels Society sits down with accounting expert Tanya Lawrence to map out the moves that protect cash today and increase valuation tomorrow—without drowning in jargon or guesswork.

She starts with the foundation: Choosing the right tax treatment as your company evolves. Lawrence explains why an LLC is a legal shell, not a tax status, and how to time a shift from sole proprietor to S corporation as profits grow. From there, we dive into bonus depreciation and asset strategy for studios, labs, and print shops—how to expense gear in the year you buy it, when to spread deductions, and why leasing isn’t a shortcut to bigger write-offs. She also walks through a crucial point for anyone planning an exit: buyers and banks focus on the last three years, so a business needs clean books that show profit while still using assets and intangibles to optimize taxes.

The conversation gets practical fast on compliance and audits. Bank statements aren’t enough; receipts prove purpose. We share simple systems for digital receipts, the 75-dollar rule, and the pitfalls of vehicle deductions when personal use overlaps. We also reframe your website and SEO as intangible assets to amortize, not just marketing spend—especially relevant for photo retailers and labs whose storefronts now live online. On cash flow, Lawrence breaks the P&L myth and shows how principal payments and owner draws drain cash, even when profits look strong. For seasonal operators, we outline a multi-account setup that moves peak revenue out of sight and keeps the lights on in the slow months.

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

Mediaclip
Mediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Independent Photo Imagers
IPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp.

Contact us at [email protected]

Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group, The Dead Pixels Society.

Leave a review on Apple and Podchaser.

Are you interested in being a guest? Click here for details.

Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau
Announcer: Erin Manning