The PhotoTellers--Photography Podcast

At 18 years old, she found herself without a family. Soon thereafter, a scholarship brought her from her home in Brazil to the United States--alone. Four years ago, she photographed her first wedding. Now she photographs 50 weddings per year, and is an ambassador for Wescott and MagMod.

By most standards, the story of Cami Grudzinski could be considered a tragedy--unless you talk to Cami! Listen in and hear her vibrancy, gratitude, and enthusiasm for life . . . and how the pursuit of Photography changed everything for her!

"I got tired of people telling me what to do or not to do. I got tired of life bringing me all of these blocks on the road, and I decided to do what I wanted--to follow my heart." -Cami

What can you expect from Cami's conversation on The PhotoTellers?

• Her first photography job at Disney
• How she landed her first wedding 4 years ago
• Her encouragement for the Photographer who wants to be a better one
• How she's able to photograph 50 weddings per year--and how she doesn't get bored
• Why she's explored the painful parts of her life with photography, and the value therein
• Her advice to other single moms who are Photographers
• The legacy she wants to leave for her son

See Cami's work HERE. Or find her on Facebook HERE.

Cami mentions several educational resources. Find them here:

Jerry Ghionis

WPPI

David & Luke Edmonson's BEYOND CRAFT course

Adopt Me, David!

Roberto Valenzuela

Take a fake event created on Facebook, add in a very real location with real attendees, then drop Eric Pickersgill and an large format camera in the mix. What do you have? It's Eric's newest project, NO SHOW.

You may have heard of Eric from his previous project, REMOVED. It quickly went viral, led him to the TEDx stage, and international exhibits. In case you missed it, he was also a guest on The PhotoTellers last year.

"I like to make things that make people think, and make them question their use of Photography." -Eric Pickersgill

What can you expect from this conversation with Eric?

• What did he learn from a project that went viral, then a TEDx talk?
• The value of a photo agent & curator of your work
• How success can cripple your next project--and how to move forward
• When he arrived at the fake events, how did people respond when they realized the truth?
• Eric's worked with people who created fake events. What do they believe about themselves? Why did they do it?
• Impact of fake events on the real locations
• How does Eric decide what ideas to pursue?
• Hear the teaser for Eric's next project

Click the links above to see Eric's projects, or connect with him on FACEBOOK or on INSTAGRAM.

And you hear Eric rave about his Agent & Curator Julie Grahame. If you've wondered what someone like her could do for your career, contact her!!! She's offered a generous 20% off special for listeners of The PhotoTellers, so be sure to tell her you are one!

Her website: juliegrahame.com

Her email: [email protected]

And you can get to know her and her work by (you guessed it!) listening to her conversation previously published on this very show.

Finally, hear Eric's response when I ask him about the legacy he wants to leave for his new son:

"I'm hoping that he sees that my projects are an extension of the way I see the world, and what I really care about is connectivity and compassion and kindness, and people seeing each other and hearing each other. Learning how to listen. The social media world all about telling everything, and I think it is so much more important to just hear people.

"So I'm hoping that he looks back and says, 'My Dad was a sensitive artist who wanted to make the world a better place.' And maybe I was kind of obsessively curious about everything . . . . I hope that he finds it to be worth looking at."

Is your business appointment-driven? Do you wonder how to fill your calendar with clients? On today's episode of The PhotoTellers, host Bill Ramsey shares the specific strategy that has fueled his business for 10 years. What can you expect?

• Hear how his phone strategy was born from desperation
• How is the use of the phone a great way to honor your best clients?
• Answers to your objections about using the phone
• Creating demand, call to action, and the phone strategy

And if you stick around for the second part of today's show, you'll hear the new personal developments in Bill's life. You'll also hear HOW you can support your favorite podcasts (no money involved), and WHY a simple share makes a big difference.

REMEMBER:

1. If this information is valuable to YOU, it could be valuable to another business owner. SHARE IT WITH THEM!
2. Bill wants to hear your experience. Share it here in the notes, or email him directly.

This episode references several resources. Here are the promised links:

• Hear Bill's tumultuous journey in Photography on the 101st EPISODE
• Here's the blog where Bill shamelessly brags on his awesome son. Please share with others. http://firesidenetwork.com/carson/
• Jennifer Rozenbaum was a guest last year on The PhotoTellers. She's just finished her surgery and whipped the cancer that tried to hold her back. Send Jenn some love, prayers, well-wishes!
• Check out the brand-new show on The Fireside Network: INTENTIONALLY VICARIOUS. See if you're able to keep up with Todd Youngblood as he tries to have more fun than you or anyone else.
• If you haven't already, peek over at the wildly-popular show HAVING IT A.L.L. [also here on The Fireside Network]. Keep up with encouragement and life lessons from your host Matthew Bivens.

AND FINALLY . . .

If you're a Photographer who wants to deeper explore the ART you can/could be creating, you owe it to yourself to give a look at the new class that Luke & David Edmonson are offering. Truly amazing! FIND IT HERE.

Who in the world needs a ONE HUNDRED Megapixel camera? Why? The camera is the Hasselblad H6D-100c Medium Format DSLR.

Surfing through a photography Facebook group last week, I stumbled across a guy who owns one, and actually earns a living with it. Full disclosure: When I see someone online talking about their newest gear/fanciest widget/shiniest new whatnot, my initial reaction is to tune out. "It's not about the gear," I chant in my head, "it's about skill meeting art."

This particular guy, though, I couldn't ignore.

I've known Photographer John Hartman for a few years now. Maybe you've heard him on The PhotoTellers discuss light painting HERE, or marketing for Photographers HERE. Aside from his time on the show, I've shared a couple of meals with John, so I knew two things:

1. John isn't the kind of guy to buy gear sheer for fun--he buys an INVESTMENT that he expects to show a (financial) return.
2. John isn't trying to "buy" his way into great photography. Some guys buy expensive stuff to compensate for weak work. Not John.

So I pinged John, 32 minutes later we connected on Skype. Today's episode is that conversation.

What can you expect from today's episode?

1. Obviously--John's opinion regarding the Photographer who can most benefit from this camera
2. Why John says it's actually not about the megapixels
3. The benefit of a 15 stop dynamic range
4. Important insight for the landscape Photographer
5. How John ran a test-run before he bought the camera
6. Is it difficult to handle such large files?
7. Can clients see a difference?
8. Why does John print so much on metal prints?

If you have questions for John, you want to see this camera in action, and/or you want to explore the world of light painting, join John's Fall tour of light painting workshops! Learn more by CLICKING HERE, and tell him that The PhotoTellers sent you.

You know that story of the penniless, underappreciated, unrealized "starving artist?" It's the story that somehow equates "great art" with "no money." It's time for that myth to die! Best-selling author Jeff Goins leads the charge in his new book, Real Artists Don't Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age.

This is an important conversati0n if you, or someone you love, is a creative trying to make a living with his/her art!

"For centuries, the myth of the starving artist has dominated our culture, seeping into the minds of creative people and stifling their pursuits. But the truth is that the world’s most successful artists did not starve. In fact, they capitalized on the power of their creative strength."

It's an honor to welcome Jeff Goins back on The PhotoTellers for his second interview. I was thrilled to receive a copy of his newest book a few months ago, and I read it intently (scribbling 16 pages of notes). Jeff therein paints glaring contrasts between the Starving Artist and the Thriving Artist. It required Jeff 100's of interviews and 100's of biographies to research, then write, and the world has spoken! Within 1 month of release, the book has hit best-seller status.

What can you expect to learn from our conversation?

• What makes Jeff qualified to write this book?
• Do you have to be ultra famous to be a thriving artist?
• Why did he write the book?
• Where did the starving artist myth come from?
• Martyrdom and the role of the starving artist myth

"Activity follows identity . . . . You live out the story that you believe." -Jeff Goins

Chapter 3 especially resonated with me, and Jeff and I spend a great deal of time on this topic: Apprentice Under a Master. Hear Jeff explain:

• Why is apprenticeship important?
• How to be a great apprentice--lessons from Michelangelo's days as the student.
• "The Case Study Strategy." How to get the approach a master, and how not to.
• Jeff's 3 not-to-do items for approaching a potential mentor.
• How Jeff blew his first meeting with Michael Hyatt.
• The formula for grabbing the master's attention: "Thanks for X, it helped me do Y. Now what about Z?"

"THRIVING ARTIST--What does it mean 'to thrive?' It means I get up everyday, I get to do what I love, I get to make my art. Yes, it's work, but it doesn't have to be drudgery. And I get paid for it!" -Jeff Goins

As the conversation draws to a close, you'll also hear Jeff's research on artists who work for free. If you're thinking that you need to give away your work for exposure, or a chance at paid work later, THIS IS IMPORTANT.

He'll then give 2 words of help for the artist who is struggling to create a viable livelihood from their art.

What legacy does Jeff want to leave? That's in there, too. [It was an in-depth conversation!]

And then . . . dear reader . . . the conversation turns dark. It involves a public argument between Jeff Goins and Jon Acuff regarding the best Batman ever. I won't type out the harrowing, sordid details. You'll have to listen yourself. One of them is obviously a sensible, upstanding fellow. The other guy might be okay, but shouldn't be watching Batman. #JesusJuke #JonAcuffNeedsHelp.

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If you'd like to connect with Jeff, find him ON TWITTER. Also find him online at GOINSWRITER, or TRIBEWRITERS.

After you buy Real Artists Don't Starve, go to DON'T STARVE to snag your free bonuses.

2 other persons of interest from today's episode:

Photographer JEREMY COWART

MICHAEL HYATT. Grab every offer that Hyatt extends, and listen to his podcast. His podcast is the one show that I have 100%, EVERY SINGLE TIME, found EVERY EPISODE a home run. I'm not exaggerating. The guy is brilliant.

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If you're struggling with work that's meaningful, or you're unsure what you're meant to do in your vocation, find my previous conversation with Jeff Goins here.

Photographer Doc List joins The PhotoTellers again to discuss his Austin Bodies Project. Doc's project has grown from a personal project to a central part of his business--not to mention his own showing in an art gallery.

If you missed my first conversation with Doc, it's a great reminder how a community of Photographers can make you a better one.

Today, though, it's all about his work on The Austin Bodies Project.

Hear Doc's perspective on:

• The value of a personal project: personally and professionally
• Regarding the bodies in front of the lens: "It's not about perfection, it's about celebration."
• "Decide if this [your own project] is an investment, or for fun."
• Advice for avoiding bumps in the road in your own project
• The powerful impacts from a few of the sessions
• The #1 reason to attend TX School

Doc mentions the Make a Vet Sweat organization. If you're intrigued, LEARN MORE HERE.

And if you'd like to see some of Doc's other work, FIND IT HERE.

Mary Fisk-Taylor and Jamie Hayes are unapologetic: "Everything we do in the studio is geared toward making money." 

Jamie is the guy who has always and only worked in Photography. Mary is the former client, now business partner and Photographer. Together they're Hayes & Fisk Photography. Mary and Jamie specialize in highly-personal wedding photography, portraiture, and commercial projects.

They also take time to train other Photographers in the business and craft. If you're a portrait Photographer who wants to earn more money, you need to grab a pen and paper for today's conversation! Here's what you can expect:

• How they dovetail shooting and sales
• Photographing for the sale
• The key to a great sale=engagement
• Steps to a great consultation
• Effective scheduling for profit--making the photographer and the client happy
• How is sales a part of marketing?
• 4 categories of products to sell--and where to put the product you want to sell
• Partnership marketing & why it's so important. How to do it effectively.
• Their TX School class: understanding lighting, technical excellence, streamlining lighting & shooting

"If your photography looks like everything in your marketplace, the only thing your client can shop you on is PRICE." -Jamie Hayes

At one point in the conversation, I ask Mary about the present-day effectiveness of partnership marketing. Does it still work when it seems like everyone is a "photographer?" Here's a clip of her answer, and a tremendous example to follow:

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MARY: "It used to be a lot easier, and I think a lot of us are working harder than we've ever worked. But this is the key: as professional photographers--and I'm not being rude--but the true professional photographers; what I can bring to the table, and what I can sell is something nobody else can. So maybe it's not as easy anymore to just go in and say, 'Hey, take my cards and share this,' but I go in with an opportunity for them to be successful as well.

So I go into the XYZ Children's Boutique, I can say, 'Hey, this is what we can do. You need social media presence, you know my portraits are beautiful, and you know your clients come in. I send clients to you all the time to buy clothes here, because they're perfect for my portrait work. So what we're going to do is: Every time we photograph your clothing, I'm gonna send those images to your social media coordinator. You're gonna be able to share those on your social media, on your website, and we're gonna have beautiful new and constant images filtering through your social media.'

What that store doesn't have is beautiful images of their clothing . . . . But boy, if on a weekly basis I can send 2, 3, 4 beautiful images over to XYZ Boutique--they're loving me!"

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Did you enjoy this episode? Tell Mary & Jamie on TWITTER or FACEBOOK.

Special thanks to this episode's sponsor:

Are you a Photographer looking for practical, proven tips to improve your marketing? Especially if you're new in business, and you want effective--not expensive--tips, today's conversation on The PhotoTellers is for you! Grab a pencil and paper . . . this is a quick conversation.

My guest is a third-timer here on the show. He's Mr. John Hartman, and he's spent over 33 years teaching Photographers how to market their businesses. If his name sounds familiar, you may know him as the Light Painting Guy. Find those conversations HERE and also HERE.

Here's one of my favorite parts of my conversation with John:

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JOHN: If you're going to spend money on institutional advertising, you probably are well-off enough in your normal marketing business to be able to do this "image advertising." But that kind of advertising is NOT designed to bring in business. And a lot of people who are new to marketing; that's their mindset about marketing: "Well, it's a waste of money." Well, marketing is only expensive if it doesn't work. So if you if you invest one dollar, and you get 10 back, then how many dollars should you invest?

BILL: As many as you can!

JOHN: As many as you can borrow--that's right. So that's how you want look at marketing: not as another expense, like the light bill, but as a way to drive business. And there really are only two ways to drive business. One is through marketing, and the other is through innovation. If you're not an innovator, if you're not a marketer; you don't have a photography business, you have an art gallery.

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What might you learn from today's episode? Glad you asked. Here are a few teasers:

• Barriers to Photographers being effective marketers
• The danger--and ultimate failure--of being an "also" or a "me too"
• The best way for a family photographer to earn new clients
• John's experience being a member of an art cooperative
• The value of the physical print to advertise yourself
• How to break into a new market
• Advertising is different than marketing! Neglect this at your own peril
• "Marketing is only expensive if it doesn't work." How much should you invest?
• The effective silent auction offering that doesn't limit you to one client

This is only the tip of the iceberg! If you want to see more of John's helps for Photographers, hop over to JHARTMAN.COM.

Almost 2 years ago, I interviewed Photographer John Hartman about his newfound love of light painting. [Find that conversation HERE.] One year later, I checked in to see how his passion had progressed. Turns out, his passion has grown . . . and become financially lucrative.

He's in year 43 of professional photography, and he now says, "I'm having more fun making photographs than I've ever had in my life." Why? He gladly explains on this episode of The PhotoTellers. He also discusses:

• How he gets inspiration from amateurs. Why are they often better than working pros to show off creativity?
• How he's developed a niche for light painting people's "toys"
• Why is Light Painting so challenging? Why does he love it? What is the "psychological advantage" to this kind of work?
• The greatest answer to "What project do you REALLY want to do?"

Intrigued to see more? See more of his before and after work HERE.

If you'd like to connect with John, and see some of what he's offering to Photographers, find that HERE.

Finally: John specifically mentions three resources he loves. Here they are:

500px.com

Marco Grobe

Joey Lawrence

Special thanks again to this episode's sponsor. Click the logo to see what you're missing.

Photographer Laurie Klein has spent over 40 years in the business, written 3 books, and studied with Ansel Adams. How does she describe her work?

"I am a nature photographer. I just happen to put people in landscapes."

As if that's not unique enough, most of her work is infrared.

Today's conversation on The PhotoTellers is inspiring, challenging, and helpful. What can you expect? Here are just a few teasers:

• Laurie's answer when I ask, "What would surprise people about Ansel?"
• Her love affair with Photography, "my oldest relationship."
• Advice for finding a mentor--the tension between emulating someone else and being true to yourself
• The collaboration between her, nature, and her model
• Who should NOT come to her workshops
• A story of her own healing moment during a session
• "I want to do more healing work through Photography." What does she mean?

We discuss 2 of Laurie's images during the show. Here's a quick blurb about one of them, and Laurie's explanation why she photographs the female form:

LAURIE: To me, photography is a mirror, and that's how we work out things. So I work out body image, I work out being a mom, being pregnant, being all these things that we are as women. And we're very strong. This photograph--look at the muscles on this woman! WOMEN: they are soft and vulnerable and at the same time strong and epic.

Be sure to scroll down to see the 2 images we discuss.

At this point, I know what you're thinking. "Bill, how can I see more of Laurie's work? Where can I find the help she's giving other Photographers?" Brilliant questions!

Click HERE FOR HER WEBSITE, and HERE FOR "TEA WITH LAURIE" videos.