BPP 101: Rob Andrew - Making Food Look Irresistible

Rob Andrew is a food and lifestyle photographer from San Diego. Today he talks about the art of making food look delicious, how to light it, important food styling tips, and how I can up my Instagram game! 

In This Episode You'll Learn:

  • How Rob got his start in photography

  • How a mentor helped Rob jumpstart his career

  • How Rob transitioned from photographing products to food

  • What Food Styling is

  • How to find your cheeseburgers "good side"

  • Simple tips to make your place look better

  • How long it takes to photograph a cheeseburger

  • Does Rob Instagram his food

  • How to create a compelling image from a subject with no emotion

  • How much creative freedom Rob has in his food photography

  • A $2 piece of gear that Rob uses at almost every shoot

  • Why lighting is so important when it comes to photographing food

Resources:

Memorable Quotes:

  • Sometimes Daylight and a window is all you need for great food photos

  • My average food edit is about 5 minutes

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BPP 100: Callum Pinkney Returns! Mega Celebration!

Callum Pinkney is a Toronto Wedding Photographer and co Creator of the Beginner Photography Podcast. Today he returns to share what he has been up to and how taking a 6-month road trip has improved his wedding photography

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In This Episode You'll Learn:

  • Where Callum has been for the past year and a half

  • How Callum got his start in photography

  • Why story is so important to Callum

  • What simple techniques you can use to take better photos

  • How to add more context to your wedding photos

  • How to not get burnt out createily

Resources:

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098: Ryan Schembri - Master Wedding Story Telling

Ryan Schembri is the youngest recipient of the Austrailian Institute of professional photography's "Master Photographer" award. He is a Canon ambassador, wedding and portrait photographer who has shot all around the world he is also an educator and advocates to fellow photographers to help them grow their skills and knowledge about the world of photography

In This Episode You'll Learn:

  • How Ryan got into the photography business so young

  • Ryans first mentor and what he was taught

  • Ryan's main goal for the day when he shows up to every wedding

  • How to build a relationship with your clients

  • Why Ryan thinks wedding photography is the hardest form of photography

  • How Ryan was taught to read light for 2 years before taking a photo

  • How to deal with less than ideal lighting conditions

  • What Ryan see new photographers missing out on and how it set him up for success

  • How to determine the most important story to tell of the wedding day

  • The biggest shifts in wedding photography he has seen since watching the wedding photography of his fathers day

  • How to keep your photography fresh

  • How to cultivate a philosophy of your photography

  • Simple mistakes Ryan sees amateurs making when judging photography competitions

  • What inspires Ryan to be better at lighting

Resources:

Memorable Quotes:

  • What I do as a photographer is irrelevant. The people and their story is what matters

  • Great moments in life are meant to be created

  • Stop looking for light and start looking for shadow

  • The shift between highlight and shadow is what creates depth

  • Most amateurs underexpose their photos. I don't know why.

  • Expose for the highlight. If your subjects face is underexposed your lighting is wrong.

  • Often times people make photography overcomplicated. It's really simple.


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097: Mark Silber - The Secrets to Creating Amazing Photos

Today's guest is known around the world to many budding photographers for his constant thirst for photography education. An author, his last book "Advancing Your Photography: Secrets to Amazing Photos from the Masters" taught us how to take your photos past "point and shoot" his NEW book "The Secrets to Creating Amazing Photos: 83 Composition Tools from the Masters" dives deeper into one of my favorite subjects Composition. You remember him when he came on the podcast back in interview 065, today I'm excited to welcome BACK Marc Silber!

In This Episode You'll Learn:

  • What composition is

  • How Marc defines composition

  • What Marc sees happening to most photographers over and over

  • How to learn the language of composition

  • Marcs favorite compositional tools

  • What to look for in your everyday world to add interest in your photographs

  • The power of pre visualization

  • Where to get started using composition

  • How to use composition for portraits

  • How lighting can affect/create composition

  • What wrong piece of information Marc hears new photographers being taught

  • How to spice up your iPhone photos

Resources:

Memorable Quotes:

  • Composition is where you place your subject to the most ascetically pleasing place within your frame

  • Once you understand your camera, there are only two things you need to control. Lighting and Composition.

  • When shooting portraits, less is more

child looking out window
golden hour beach silhouette
slow shutter carousel in paris

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096: Ryan Brenizer Finding and Fueling your creativity

Ryan Brenizer is an NYC Wedding Photographer with a long list of credentials. Starting out as a newspaper editor who was given a camera he eventually grew and worked his way into weddings where he focuses on standing out and telling the best story possible.

Ryan Brenizer is an NYC Wedding Photographer with a long list of credentials. Starting out as a newspaper editor who was given a camera he eventually grew and worked his way into weddings where he focuses on standing out and telling the best story possible. Probably most known to other photographers for his Brenizer Method of shooting today we talk about creativity, style, and lighting. 

In This Episode You'll Learn:

  • How many weddings Ryan Brenizer shoots in a year

  • How Ryan shot 5 weddings in a row

  • How Ryan Brenizer got his start in photography

  • How Ryan and his wife has joined forces to create a photography business they love

  • What is the Brenizer Method

  • How Ryan Brenizer developed the Brenizer method

  • Why is it so important to develop a photography style

  • Why shooting manual might not be the most important skill for beginners to learn

  • How Experimenting in your photography will push you forward

  • Why Ryan Brenizer envies new photographers

  • Where Ryan finds inspiration

  • What piece of information Ryan Brenizer thinks beginners should ignore

Resources:

Memorable Quotes:

  • The Important thing to learn as a photographer, is to learn how your camera sees

  • For good photography pre visuilization is critical

  • Everytime you put a new lens on your camera, you are putting on a new set of eyes

  • (Things evolve all the time) I've changed my Lightroom workflow like 3 times this week

  • The photo I am taking is a reflection of what looks good to me at that time. However if you look at 10,000 photos of mine, it becomes a self portrait

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wedding-portrait-under-the-stars
new-york-library-wedding-papers-thrown-in-the-air

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095: Jerry Ghionis - Wedding Photography Masterclass

Jerry Ghionis is one of the top 5 wedding photographers in the world, WPPI Grand Master, Inventor of several photography lighting tools, Nikon ambassador, Educator, Author, and Philanthropist, I am incredibly grateful to be talking to Jerry Ghionis

In This Episode You'll Learn:

  • Why Jerry dropped out of formal photography education

  • Jerry's 7 Do or Die photos to shoot after the wedding ceremony

  • The simple mindset shift Jerry made to push himself to create better images

  • The problem Jerry sees with the incoming generation of wedding photographers

  • How to get started with and understand lighting

  • How to photograph the Taj Mahal

  • Jerry teaches some advanced posing methods

  • Why Jerry started teaching photography to others

  • The importance of honing in your style

  • Why Photography competitions are so important for your growth

Resources:

Bride groom blue wedding reception
Bride with jewel crown looking out the window
Bridal dress at the bottom of golden staircase

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094: Making Your Photography Stand Out

Youtube Cover Photo by Flickr user Jonathan Leung

Standing out as a photographer is the best way to differentiate yourself from your competition but standing out can be difficult. How do you stand out? What can you do to stand out? Can I just pick something right now? Standing out with your photography is the best way to separate yourself from your competition. There are a lot of ways to stand out as a photographer and today I talk about how you can find your unique thing that makes you stand out. 

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093: Josh & Meg Souder - Stop Posing and Start Playing

Meg and Josh Souder are the Nashville Wedding and Engagement Photographers behind Love Is A Big Deal. They are also the creators of the Unposed Field Guide. A collection of prompts for photographers to get their couples or families comfortable in front of the camera quickly.  

In this interview you'll learn:

  • How Meg and Josh fell into photography

  • Whats more important than megapixels when it comes to photographing your couples

  • How Meg and Josh learned to not pose and focus on the experience

  • How coming from a non photography background helped Meg and Josh be better photographers

  • An easy way to start posing if your you're just getting started

  • How to avoid getting burnt out as a photographer

  • The biggest differences between photographing couples and families

  • How Meg and Josh get their couples comfortable right away

  • Why the technicals should be secondary to your photography

Resources:

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092: Kat Carney - Getting into Adventure Photography

Kat Carney is an outdoor adventure photographer working with brands like British Airways, REI, and Powerbar. Today she talks about how she got her start in photography and transitioned into adventure photography and how you can too!

In today's episode you'll learn:

  • All about Kat's home on wheels, Hooper

  • How Kat first got interested in Photography

  • How Instagram helped launched Kat's career

  • The importance of networking and making connections

  • The one thing more important than your photography to booking gigs

  • What gives Kat butterflies before each shoot and how she gets over it

  • How Kat protects her gear while out in the field

  • How long it takes Kat to truly figure out how to show off a new sport through photos

  • How Kat carries her gear along with her clothes, and water in a small backpack

  • How Kat makes money as an outdoor adventure photographer

  • Why being proactive is the best way to grow and establish yourself

  • Kat's editing workflow out in the field

  • Why cloud backup can be great, when it works

Resources:

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091: Bernie Griffiths - The Business Side of Photography

Today's guest is photography business coach, Bernie Griffiths. Coming from a working class family in England, Bernie Griffiths has owned a wedding and portrait business for over 40 years. While he still photographs weddings and portraits his passion is now teaching and consulting with photographers, to help them fast-track their businesses.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

  • How Bernie got his start in photography

  • How much Bernis bought a photography studio for

  • What Bernie learned as the head photographer for a cruise ship

  • The importance of marketing

  • The power of a competition box

  • The definition of selling and the key to conquering your fear

  • How raising your prices will get you more clients

  • Bernies soft sale method

Resources:

090: Courtney Slazinik - Click It Up A Notch

Today's guest is Courtney Slazinik. An ex-teacher who turned photographer who now runs the popular photography blog Click it up a Notch which Huffington post named one of the top 5 blogs for momtographers.

In Todays Interview You Will Learn:

  • The moment Courtney decided to pursue photography

  • How breaking her first camera was the catalyst to growing her skills

  • What mistakes Courtney sees new photographers making most

  • Courtney's views on breaking the rules in photography

  • The unconventional way Courtney started her photography blog, Click it up a Notch

  • How to know when to upgrade to a new camera body

  • The wrong piece of advice that Courtney hears beginners being taught most

  • The importance of lighting and seeing it in different places-

Resources:


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089: The Power of Photography Anticipation

Thumbnail photo by Katii Bishop

In this episode, I tackle the topic of Anticipation in your photography. Anticipation has several meanings in photography. You can anticipate a moment or anticipate the results of a new camera technique. 

In This Episode You'll Learn:

  • What anticipation is in terms of photography

  • What anticipation looks like at different levels of growth from beginners to intermediate

  • Why anticipation should never end

  • What I anticipate as a professional photographer

  • The difference between excitement and anticipation


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088: Ryan Welch - 16 Year Old Wedding Photographer?

Ryan Welch is a South Wales Wedding Photographer who started shooting weddings at 16 years old. He has grown his career exponentially since then and has gone off to start Freedom Edits. A photo outsourcing company that lets you regain time back into your life. Today he shares tips on how he dealt with being so young getting started, how he grew his business, and why he started a new business that gives time freedom back to photographers. 

In This Interview You'll Learn:

  • How Ryan got started shooting wedding so young

  • The biggest hurdles Ryan had to overcome when shooting weddings

  • Why Ryan got fired from his only job

  • How much gear Ryan brought to his first wedding

  • How much gear you need for your first wedding

  • Why Ryan started shooting weddings

  • How Ryans mindset has shifted since starting wedding photography

  • The B.S. Ryan hears from other photographers

  • Mistakes that Ryan made early in his career

  • How many weddings Ryan shoots a year and how he's able to do it!

  • What Ryan would tell himself about photography if he had to start all over

  • Ryan's thoughts on going to school for photography

Resources:

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086: Allie Siarto - The Wine Tasting Experience

Today's guest is Allie Siarto. A wedding and lifestyle photographer from East Lansing Michigan. She is also the host of the Photo Field Notes Podcast where she focuses on business growth by interviewing other successful photographers. Allie shares some great tips on how to deliver an experiences that will blow your clients away!

In this episode you'll learn:

  • How Allie left her corporate job to pursue photography

  • What Allie learned while working at a big ad agency

  • How Allie booked her first wedding client

  • The importance of becoming a photography apprentice

  • The first lens Allie bought for her camera

  • Tips on how you can improve your client experience without spending money giving away gifts

  • Why Allie was terrified to photograph her co workers

  • The steps that Allie took to become a photography assistant

  • Why getting feedback on her photos was a pivotal moment for her growth

  • How Allie closed down her photography studio only to open it back up and make it more successful than ever!

  • The advice Allie would give herself if she could start all over

  • What Allie looks for when hiring on another photographer

  • What Allie asks the parents of the couples after every wedding

Resources:

bride-groom-kissing-cherry-orchards
laughing-engagement-winter-warmth
Bride-groom-in-tall-grass-dunes-lake-michagan

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085: Jordan Younce - Getting Started with Real Estate Photography

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Jordan Younce is a Real Estate photography out of North Carolina and host of the Road to Full Time Podcast. Today he shares so much on the world of Real Estate photography, how to get started, how to make money, and what to shoot. 

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

  • How Jordan got into Real Estate photography

  • The passion Jordan finds in Real Estate photography

  • What Jordan looks for when he shows up to a new house to photograph

  • Where Jordan Learned Real Estate Photography

  • How Jordan used the internet to book his first real estate photography gig

  • How you can get started in real estate photography

  • What gear you need to start shooting Real Estate photography

  • The most important lesson Jordan learned while shooting

  • Why real estate photographers have such a hard time getting started out

  • The power of curiosity

  • What Jordan did on a family beach vacation that grew his real estate photography

  • How to work with real estate agents

  • How to get inspiration in real estate photography

  • How you can build your real estate photography portfolio for cheap!

Resources:

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084: Matthew Jordan Smith - High Profile Celebrity Portraits

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Matthew Jordan Smith is a Celebrity, Fashion, and Beauty photographer with over 30 years of experience. Photographing everyone from Hallie Berry, Mandy Moore, Tyra Banks, Samuel l Jackson, Oprah, and my personal favorite, Jeff Goldblum, it goes without saying that he is a master at his craft. And luckily for you, he is also an author and educator. Today I'm incredibly lucky to be talking to Matthew Jordan Smith!

In Today's Interview You'll Learn:

  • How Matthew got his start in photography

  • How Matthew got his first paid gig

  • How Matthew built relationships with magazines and editors

  • How Matthew dealt with Imposter Syndrome

  • How Matthew transitioned from fashion photography to beauty and celebrity photography

  • How Matthew handled photographing his first celebrity

  • Tips on how to visualize an important photoshoot

  • How using pintrest can create a vision for your photoshoot

  • Why a reshoot is never an option

  • Why communication is the key to a successful photoshoot

  • How you can stay relevant regaurdless of your gear

Resources:

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082: Mark Gee - Shooting for the Stars!

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Todays Guest is Mark Gee. A New Zealand astrophotographer whos work second to none. In 2013 he won the prestigious AstroPhotographer of the year award, His work is so good that NASA has shared it!

In This Interview You'll Learn:

  • The type of astrophotography Mark shoots

  • The challenges of astrophotography

  • Simple mistakes Mark sees new astrophotographers make

  • What settings Mark uses as a base to start shooting the stars

  • Why New Zealand is so great for astrophotography

  • What you need to look for in a sturdy tripod

  • How to make money with landscape/astrophotography

  • The best time of year to shoot astrophotography

  • Why the colder months are better for photographing the stars

  • The most important piece of gear you need to start shooting the astrophotography

  • How to start shooting the stars

Resources

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