The PhotoTellers--Photography Podcast

Can "Going to Work" and "Living My Calling" be the same thing?

Have you ever considered the work you do, and asked yourself, "Is this really all there is? Can't I do something MEANINGFUL?" If so, this conversation is for YOU. In fact, this is the conversation that 87% of American workers need to hear.

Today's guest says, "YES!" And apparently, the message speaks loudly! Jeff Goins is the author of The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do. Within weeks of publication, the book hit almost every respected "Best Seller" list. "This is not the book I intended to write, it's the book that I was supposed to write." -Jeff Goins

WARNING: This is likely a conversation that you'll want to go back and re-listen. And as you think of the people in your world that need to hear it . . . send them the link! Share on your social media platform!

A few highlights from my conversation with Jeff:

If you'd like to take the book for a free test drive, and also tap into a few hundred dollars of free resources, CLICK HERE.

And if writing is your passion, or profession, Jeff is the guy to know about. [Notice how I used the Passive Voice AND ended that sentence with a preposition!] Connect with Jeff at his insanely popular site: http://goinswriter.com/

Finally: You'll hear Jeff mention a few authors and books (naturally). Click a link below and it can soon be yours. And surely you noticed the link to Jeff's book above, right? Good.

I mentioned to a few Photog friends that I'd interviewed Gail Nogle while at the Texas School of Professional Photography, and the consensus was the same:

"That girl TRULY loves Photography!"

"She is a TRUE Photographer: to her core!"

"Gail ALWAYS has her camera."

Listen in, and I think you'll hear her unmistakable passion for the craft. You'll also hear how her work ethic has taken her camera all over the world. As if that's not enough, you'll also hear:

Find more of Gail's work by clicking HERE. And if you ever get the chance to talk Photography with her, you'll find her enthusiasm infectious. You've been forewarned.

And thanks again for Texas School for providing this interview!

Part 2 of my conversation with Tim & Bev Walden proves to be as rich as the first. If you missed the first on, START HERE.

Today the Waldens explore

Again, this is a conversation that will require a sharpened pencil and an eager notepad. Learn more about Tim & Bev, how they're helping other Photographers, and pick up a free tidbit every Tuesday by CLICKING HERE.

And the resources that they discuss at the end of the conversation? Find them below.

You're welcome.

That's what I have to say about this, and the following conversation, on The PhotoTellers. You're welcome.

Very few people in the portrait world have impacted more Photographers than Tim & Bev Walden. Today you'll hear part 1 of my conversation with 2 great people.

If you want to be a top-knotch Photographer, listen in! If you want to operate a top-knotch business, listen in! These 2 conversations, while light-hearted and funny, are filled with heavy wisdom. Get your pencil ready!

For what shall you prepare thyself? Glad you asked . . .

And that's all for THIS EPISODE. You'll notice that I abruptly end the conversation . . . stay tuned for the next episode where I finish my talk with Tim & Bev Walden.

In the meantime! Find out what the Waldens are doing to serve other Photographers by clicking HERE.

And we mention the conversations with David Trust of PPA and also Mike Hanline of White House Custom Color Lab. Click their names to go back to those.

Lastly, some of the Walden's favorite resources. You'll hear about these in the next conversation, but here are the links now to the books they'll mention.

Have you ever wanted a Personal Assistant? Even better--how about one that's FREE?

Every Photographer who earns a living at the craft is somewhere along the sliding scale of:

Where are you?

Do you have a system in place to help with your taxes, your billing, your schedule, your customer relationship tasks (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.)?

Today's conversation, compliments of The Texas School of Professional Photography, features Cori Rae of StudioCloud. In a few short minutes, she'll explain WHY Studio Cloud exists, and HOW it could change the way you operate your business. And did I mention "FREE?" Not "free for 30 days," but "free." Listen in for yourself.

And go look for yourself! Find StudioCloud by clicking HERE.

And have you read THE book for business owners? It's a classic, and I recommend it HIGHLY (not just me, but so does the brilliant Bev Walden . . . you'll hear that soon).

Thanks again to the Texas School of Professional Photography! If you haven't noticed, at least one of the weekly posts here is because of the School. Click the logo below to see what's happening!

Harold Ross has spent 25 years in Photography doing work that very few people understand. So it's forgivable, then, if you're like me. You look at his work and say, "I don't understand! How does that image have so much depth & richness?"

Today on The PhotoTellers, you'll begin to understand. You'll also hear:

You can see more of Harold's work by clicking HERE. And snag some of his free educational resources by finding his blog HERE.

Harold mentions Lenswork Magazine. If you're interested in seeing a beautiful publication, click below. 

Photographer: How can your business earn you the lifestyle you want, without keeping you so busy you can't enjoy it?

Mr. Walter Eagleton joins The PhotoTellers today and relays the one piece of advice that unlocked the secret (thank you, Greg & Lesa Daniel).

You'll also learn:

All this you'll hear in context of Walter's newest endeavor:  ARTISTIC GOURMET ADVENTURES! Think: Photography, France, Gourmet Cooking, Private Chateau . . . .

Start your daydream NOW, and see more of Artistic Gourmet Adventures by clicking HERE.

And see Walter's photographic work by clicking HERE.

And on a final, personal note . . .

At the end of the conversation you'll hear me invite Walter to my home for a fabulous gourmet meal. I'm such a fantastic, thoughtful host, I actually invite guests into my home and then expect them to cook for my family. Be it now unequivocally known that I am the worst host ever. And unashamed.

Walter's menu for the simple little meal he whipped up--all while training my 13 year old as the sous chef:

Many years ago, Walter made omelets at our home in Arkansas. Since then, my kids have clamored for more. Being the guy he is, Walter graciously awoke early to feed my minions. My 9 year old girl wrote Walter a thank you note, pictured here:

So I hereby decree a new hashtag for all friends of Walter--and note Bella's spelling so you don't get it right wrong:

#OmleteFlippinGuy

"I put my camera down at the last minute and delivered her baby." -Kathy Drake Dabbs

This month, Kathy Drake Dabbs celebrates the 20th birthday of her photography studio! When I asked her about the fondest memory from those years, she gave me the quote above. How did she end up in that situation? Take a few minutes to listen.

Are you a Photographer who finds him/herself giving away too much work--and therefore struggling to maintain a viable business? Kathy knows how you feel, and speaks directly to you.

You can see some of Kathy's beautiful work below, and you can see more of what she's doing by clicking HERE.

Special thanks to The Texas School of Professional Photography for sponsoring this episode. If you haven't done it yet, click the logo below to see the line-up of top-tier instructors coming in 2016. If you're a portrait Photographer, you owe it to yourself to at least CONSIDER a week of fun, friends, and education at TX School.

The first time Laurie Rubin looked through the viewfinder of a borrowed camera, she realized "This is what I want my world to look like." Once you look into the world she's seeing, you'll also love the look. Laurie has followed her camera around the world, into the sky (literally), and even into the Smithsonian.

What can you expect from today's conversation?

Laurie kindly shares a wealth of resources to help you hone your craft

Learn how your trips to the local zoo are invaluable practices for photographing in the wild. You CAN prepare for the moment that you don't expect.

Learn to trust and heed the inner voice that tells you to stop, slow down! Discover how that voice led Laurie to the Smithsonian.

Discover the role of photographic contests in your own improvement

If you're like me, the conversation moves faster than your pen. Therefore, I've included links to the resources Laurie mentions.

DJI.COM   . . . let your camera start looking down on the world.

NIK SOFTWARE

VIEWBUG

500PX

SKYPIXEL

MACPHUN

KELBYONE  . . . if you have a photography-lover in your world, check out the Amazon link below to Scott Kelby's insanely popular--and practical--box set of digital photography how-to books.

LUCIDLANDSCAPE.COM  . . . my buddy Raynor Czerwinski who has created some killer images from Iceland

THE ARCANUM

FIND YOUR FOCUS workshop. And catch my conversation with Cris Duncan, Founder of Find Your Focus by clicking HERE.

You'll find more of Laurie's recommendations on the Amazon links below. One of the KEY RESOURCES, though, is Laurie HERSELF! Stay in touch with her:

ON HER WEBSITE          |          ON SKYPIXEL          |          ON 500PX

Every politician or contestant on a dating show will espouse "the importance of the family." Yet so many portrait photographers will NOT--when it comes to the work they create!

Are you a portrait photographer who is intimidated by the prospect of photographing a large family group? If so, you might be neglecting one of the most lucrative photography assignments on the market! [Don't believe me? Listen to the conversation with Don MacGregor; link below. Incidentally--Don happens to be a mentor of Elizabeth--today's guest.]

Trey & Elizabeth Homan from San Antonio, TX, join The PhotoTellers today . . . and it's about time! They're 2 dear friends, and they have a mountain of help to share with he/she who will listen. What can you expect from this conversation?

You'll also hear about some AMAZING Places their camera has taken them--and how YOU, Photographer, can discover the places you should visit and photograph.

Have you wanted to escape to Italy?! Here's how you can!

And an EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT! Trey and Elizabeth are soon-to-be-published Authors! If you're scared of posing families, help is on the way. Amherst Media is publishing the book with 60 families, with camera info, and the story of the image . . . written by the Homans. PRE-ORDER your book by clicking the link below!