This Week in Photo (TWiP)

In this interview, I'm joined by self-taught real estate Thomas Vargeletis. Thomas shares his journey to building and operating a highly successful photography business. He discusses how he automates his business, photography techniques, employee management, training, camera choices and more.

https://youtu.be/iD940Zn7fxk

In his own words...

Tom is the founder and CEO of TV Photography, a Massachusetts based real estate photography and videography company. Tom got his start in real estate after his military service. Working as a real estate agent listing properties, Tom decided to start taking high-quality photos for his listings after a few bad experiences with local photographers.

After the long and tedious work of learning how to conduct a photoshoot, he realized that this wasn't just going to be for his listings alone.

When he knew that he was ready, Tom built his real estate photography business from scratch. Ever since building this 6-figure photography business, Tom has developed a passion for sharing lessons learned from the years of practical experience, training, and trial and error. Tom is the host of the Full-time real estate photographer podcast and author of the full-time real estate photographer book.

You can find the book by searching for its name, or "Thomas Vargeletis" on Amazon, and you can find the podcast here, or by searching the name on your favorite podcasting app.

In this interview I chat with globetrotting photographer Curtis Jones. We discuss his adventures and learnings while traveling around the globe and taking amazing photographs. You'll find out how exactly he prepares for a photography adventure where he may not have access to the typical niceties that we city-dwellers likely take for granted. What does he pack? What does he leave behind? What if he gets sick? It's all here.

http://www.curtisjonesphoto.com

https://youtu.be/nnnxOWimqpc

About Curtis…

It takes a certain personality to appreciate the details of a climate rarely inhabited by people.

Curtis Jones has spent most of his career saturating himself in the polar regions of the planet, dividing his residency between Newfoundland and Nunavut, Canada.

Over the last decade, his adventurous lifestyle has taken him across the Gobi Desert by kite buggy, on a 2300 km unsupported traverse of the Greenland Ice Cap, Antarctica, and a lifetime of climbing and exploration worldwide. Working for both the private and public sector, he has documented work for environmental initiatives, literacy, Canadian National Parks, climate change and tourism in the Canadian Arctic.

Collaborating with world-class athletes, production teams, and local cultures and communities, he has built his career delivering a personal view of the raw, wild, and often untamed. His work has been seen in National Geographic Adventure, Canadian Geographic, The Globe and Mail, Huffington Post Canada and more.

Between commercial clients, he is often seen leading photography workshops in the polar regions of the Earth, sharing his appreciation for adventure with others. A collector of interesting stories, Curtis is rarely seen far from a camera, tent, or a good punchline.

Skylum CEO Alex Tsepko on the potential of artificial intelligence in photography, and the future of Skylum. We have a candid and frank conversation about competition, features, and his overall philosophy and vision for Skylum.

Grab a copy of Luminar 4 here.

https://youtu.be/ILTZteYZmLk

We discuss:

* Possible rebrand to "Luminar"* Explosive growth - 3X!* Sky replacement updates* Layer free object-oriented post-processing driven by AI* Adobe as an ally or competition?* How does Luminar fit in with other workflows (Adobe, Capture One, Affinity Photo)* Luminar wants to help "change reality".* When will we see mobile versions?* Will Skylum develop audio and video apps?* Future of Skylum

Face enhancement examples

Sky replacement examples

Grab a copy of Luminar 4 here.

Lensbaby founder and CEO Craig Stong discusses his new light-bending tech OMNI, designed for capturing unique effects, in-camera. OMNI - the creative filter system from Lensbaby.

Craig answers questions about how many photographers are using Lensbaby products in their daily work, and how pros are using this new system.

https://youtu.be/-eaOo3RDM9o

About Lensbaby, in their own words…

"For over 15 years, Lensbaby has been making in-camera creative effects lenses and tools to help photographers and videographers find their visual voice and stand out from the crowd. Shooting through objects can add something distinct and special to your work, but after witnessing the difficult nature of doing this handheld – we knew there had to be a better way! With the release of OMNI, we’re extending our pursuit of in-camera creative effects to those who don’t shoot with Lensbaby lenses and optics."

The OMNI Creative Filter System

Example Images

Colombian documentary photographer Juanita Escobar focuses on the lives of women who've settled along the Orinoco River.

Straddling the Colombian and Venezuelan border, the river is a symbol of the geographical divide, border conflicts, and numerous adversities that Juanita has found women, in particular, vulnerable too. In her long-term documentary series, she has been traversing the expanse surrounding, immersing herself in the lives of the women who now call it home.

https://youtu.be/Ui7Oxkl5mBo

Juanita focuses on two main themes of photographic research; gender and territory, in her exploration of human behavior and the environment. Her working method is rooted in ethnography, for 11 years she has been investigating in the Orinoquia where she’s also currently working on a project that has received the Magnum Foundation fund 2018.

In this interview Filipina author and photographer Xyza Cruz Bacani discusses her work documenting the under-documented plight of the migrant worker population in Hong Kong. Xyza has a book out covering the topic entitled "We Are Like Air".

https://youtu.be/OjiQdrMRw8M

Photographer Xyza Bacani

About Xyza

Xyza Cruz Bacani (b.1987) is a Filipina author and photographer who uses her work to raise awareness about under-reported stories. Having worked as a second-generation domestic worker in Hong Kong for almost a decade, she is particularly interested in the intersection of labor migration and human rights. She is one of the Magnum Foundation Photography and Social Justice Fellows in 2015, has exhibited worldwide and won awards in photography.

She is also the recipient of a resolution passed by the Philippines House of Representatives in her honor, HR No.1969. Xyza is awarded The Outstanding Women of the Nation’s Service in the field of Humanities, one of the Asia 21 Young Leaders (Class of 2018), the WMA Commission grantee in 2017, a Pulitzer Center and an Open Society Moving Walls 2017 grantee. She is one of the BBC’s 100 Women of the World 2015, 30 Under 30 Women Photographers 2016, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2016, Fujifilm ambassador and author of the book We Are Like Air.

Xyza at ThePhoblographer.com

The Phoblographer has posted a powerful article about Xyza and her We are Like Air project. Be sure to check it out over at ThePhoblographer.com. The site is an amazing resource for photographers of all types.

About Fujifilm North America Corporation (Fujifilm)

This interview is sponsored by Fujifilm North America

FUJIFILM North America Corporation (Fujifilm) is empowering photographers and filmmakers everywhere to build their legacies through sharing their stories. Grounded in its 85-year history of manufacturing photographic and cinema film, pioneering technologies in lenses and coatings, and driving innovation in developing mirrorless digital camera technologies, Fujifilm continues to be at the center of every storyteller’s creative vision.

Pushing boundaries in digital photography and filmmaking innovations, Fujifilm’s X Series and GFX family of mirrorless digital cameras and FUJINON lenses yield exceptional image quality for creators of all levels. Offering image clarity, advanced color reproduction technologies and a wide range of film simulations, Fujifilm’s family of mirrorless digital cameras delivers on fulfilling their intrinsic mission of capturing and preserving moments for generations to come.

With a Fujifilm digital camera at your fingertips, you can seize the moment, share your story and build your legacy. Learn more on their website.

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In this interview, Washington D.C. based photojournalist Michael A. McCoy discusses his work in raising awareness around Section 27 at Arlington National Cemetery. Section 27 is an often overlooked area of the famous cemetery where even in death African Americans were segregated. Michael's work is intended to shine a light on the section and also draw attention to some of the reasons why tours and other passers-by tend to overlook the section entirely.

https://youtu.be/BZATft4y4VE

Michael McCoy

5,000 African American soldiers and civilians have found their final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery. But their stories remain largely untold, and their existence feels almost like a secret.

"I have made it my job as a photographer to give a voice to the voiceless," Michael McCoy boldly states. Michael is an African American Veteran and documentary photographer. He knows first hand what it means to sacrifice for your country. Because of this, he's focusing his work on those that fell and paved the way for future generations. Not least, those whose selfless and brave contribution seems to be living deep in the shadows.

This interview is part of a collaboration between Fujifilm, The Phoblographer and This Week in Photo called Visual Momentum. For the companion written article, head over to ThePhoblographer.com.

Connect with Michael at: https://michaelamccoyphotography.com

Section 27

Memorial Day

In this interview, Washington D.C. based photojournalist Michael A. McCoy discusses his work in raising awareness around Section 27 at Arlington National Cemetery. Section 27 is an often overlooked area of the famous cemetery where even in death African Americans were segregated. Michael's work is intended to shine a light on the section and also draw attention to some of the reasons why tours and other passers-by tend to overlook the section entirely.

5,000 African American soldiers and civilians have found their final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery. But their stories remain largely untold, and their existence feels almost like a secret.

"I have made it my job as a photographer to give a voice to the voiceless," Michael McCoy boldly states. Michael is an African American Veteran and documentary photographer. He knows first hand what it means to sacrifice for your country. Because of this, he's focusing his work on those that fell and paved the way for future generations. Not least, those whose selfless and brave contribution seems to be living deep in the shadows.

This interview is part of a collaboration between Fujifilm, The Phoblographer and This Week in Photo called Visual Momentum. For the companion written article, head over to ThePhoblographer.com.

Connect with Michael at: https://michaelamccoyphotography.com

Section 27

Memorial Day

In this interview I'm joined by Gustavo Fernandez to discuss his move into corporate event photography. We discuss his move away from weddings and portraits and how this new business model has given him his life back and allowed him to enjoy his photography.

https://youtu.be/oIcYC-JHTuA

 

About Gustavo

Based in San Francisco, Gustavo Fernandez is the businessperson’s photographer. He captures the excitement and energy of corporate and organizational events and creates perfect headshots.

Gustavo started his photography career over 11 years ago under the tutelage of Bambi Cantrell quickly becoming her go-to second shooter as he built his own business. He took those learnings and shared them several times on the stage at WPPI (Wedding & Portrait International conference). Slowly he started getting referred to business clients by his preferred vendors and quickly realized the benefit of the corporate work. Today he calls companies like J.P. Morgan, NASDAQ, Visa, and Google his clients and is looking forward to what the future holds.

When he’s not working, he’s giving back to the community: serving non-profits The Guardsmen, Children International, and Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Gustavo Fernandez is a full-time photographer based in San Francisco. He went from shooting weddings/portraits to now exclusive corporate events and headshots for corporations like JP Morgan, Nasdaq, Forbes, etc. All built via a referral-only business and taking care of his clients. He is all about building a recurring business model of working with companies every year vs having to find 30-40 new clients every year (weddings/portraits). All built with old school or what he calls "back to the basics" like picking up the phone or returning emails in a timely manner, etc.

A free resource from Gustavo: Top 10 ways to develop your corporate photography business.

Website: http://www.gustavofernandez.comFacebook Business Page: https://www.facebook.com/gustavofernandezphotographerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gustavofernandez

Rob Knight discusses his move from Lumix to Olympus. We also discuss his decision to shoot with the m4/3 system during his frequent trips down to Costa Rica to lead photography workshops.

Travel and Nature photographer Rob Knight has been a professional artist for nearly thirty years. He’s been a photographer for more than half of that time and an educator since 2009. Rob has been using mirrorless cameras since before they were cool, and he has been teaching and writing about this technology for years.

Rob is a Tenba Visual Artist, and GNARBOX Pro ambassador. He is an Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop Lightroom, and he was a finalist for the National Association of Photoshop Professional’s “Photoshop Guru” award for photography in 2008 and 2009. Rob has published two books, Snapshots to Great Shots: LUMIX GX7 & GM1 and The Pocket Guide to the LUMIX LX100, and his work has been featured in Nature’s Best Photography magazine.

Rob is best known for his destination photo workshops, his easy-going teaching style, and his informative critiques. Rob enjoys teaching in a classroom setting, but he loves teaching and exploring with students on location. Rob began leading photo workshops in 2009 with a focus on nature and wildlife photography. Some of his favorite locations are Costa Rica and Grand Teton NP.

Rob's links:

http://www.robknightphotography.com

http://instagram.com/rob_knight

https://www.facebook.com/robknightphoto

https://twitter.com/robknightphoto

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robknightphoto

https://www.youtube.com/user/Robknightphotography