On this episode of the podcast documentary filmmaker Joe Salinas talks about what it was like growing up as a skateboarder in a small town in Texas, his years as a touring musician, how he ended up working as a corrections officer and in gang intelligence in the prison system for years, and how acting would finally lead him to his current roll as a filmmaker.  Although Joe was influenced at an early age by skateboard films like the Bones Brigade and John Hughes films at his local two screen theater, it wouldn't be until years later that he would find his way into the world of directing and getting behind the camera himself.  He spent his early years chasing the dreams of fame and rock and roll, but when he was forced to mature a bit faster than most by having a child and getting married at a very early age, he soon found himself in a career path he would have never dreamed of.  It would be years later, on the suggestion of a friend, that Joe would give acting a try and suddenly find himself as a character in national commercials and on the sets of films like Machete.  During that time he realize he tended to hang out with the crew more than the actors and became fascinated with filmmaking.  Before long he was directing and filming music videos for some of the musicians he had toured with earlier and getting the chance to even meet some of his heroes to work with them as well.  Since 2014 Joe has been working on a documentary film about the iconic and influential punk band The Big Boys.  During our conversation we get to talk about the process of making that film and when the world will finally get to see it, how he got hooked up with companies like Vans, Black Magic cameras, and Goal Zero, a very honest look at his experience with years of sobriety and advice he gives to to others who might be battling addiction, and how the first step of making a film is to just start doing it.   To Learn More About Joe Salinas Visit: https://www.joesalinasfilms.com And Follow Him on Instagram at  https://www.instagram.com/joesalinasfilms/ To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary, or to donate to the podcast Visit: http://www.visualrevolutionary.com  

Photographer, writer, conservationist, National Geographic explorer, and many other titles, Becca Skinner joins the podcast to talk about how she went from aspirations of a life in climbing, to chasing adventures behind the lens, to settling down in a sustainable lifestyle in the mountains of Montana.  Growing up in Colorado to a family of climbers, Becca was no stranger to living an outdoor lifestyle and adventures into the mountains, but it was when a tragic accident with her uncle happened and she decided to move to Wyoming to help out her aunt, that her life would really begin to revolve around climbing and the pursuit of adventure.  It would be this life of adventure that would soon lead her to photography and working with companies like the North Face.  After getting accepted for a grant to go document post Katrina New Orleans while still in college, Becca began to settle into a groove of writing and taking pictures and before long was honored to receive a National Geographic young explores grant.  During our conversation we talk about what it's like to be a young creative working with an organization like National Geographic, living a rural sustainable lifestyle and our mutual love for gardening barefoot, the transition from adventure photographer to visually showcasing a more accessible journey, how she became an ambassador for Orvis, and our thoughts on putting too much of your identity into one passion.   To Learn More About Becca Skinner Visit: http://www.beccaskinnerphotography.com And Follow Her on Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/beccaskinner/ To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary and to find out how to support the podcast visit: http://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow on Instagram At: http://www.visualrevolutionary.com  

Photographer, entrepreneur, and mastermind behind the Plotaverse Troy Plota joins the podcast to talk about how he went from being a sought after photographer in the fashion world and running a top dollar studio, to becoming a tech entrepreneur and creating what would become known as the plotagraph.  From his earliest beginnings as a beach kid in Florida, Troy had a love for photography.  After convincing his Dad to give him his camera so he could use it in a school class, Troy fell in love with the creative possibilities that the still image brought him and the access his camera provided.  We talk about how that humble yearbook start grew into a hugely successful photography career, working with magazines like Vanity Fair and GQ and shooting advertising campaigns that many dream of.  Although Troy came up in the professional world of shooting medium format film, he was a quick adopter of the possibilities that the digital format could offer and before long became known as one of the go-to photographers who truly understood digital technology.  He continued to constantly try and evolve as the technology did the same and was soon experimenting with early VR technology which would lead him to finally making the decision to step into his most current roll as a tech entrepreneur.  During our conversation we talk about what the future of photography might look like, the roll that animated motion art might have in commercial work, and the advice he would have given himself all those years ago when he first had the idea of trying to make it as a working photographer.   To Learn More About Troy Plota and the Plotaverse Visit: https://www.plotaverse.com To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary or to help Support the show Visit: http://www.visualrevolutionary.com  

Photographer, instructor, and Sigma ambassador Meg Loeks joins the podcast to talk about how she reinvigorated her passion for photography with the birth of her first child and how, as her family grew so did her desire to archive their daily existence and find her voice as a photographer.  It would be her ability to capture those everyday moments in an artful way that would soon lead her to working with companies like Sigma and Profoto and building a loyal social media following.  During our conversation we talk about how to create art out of the everyday moments most tend to overlook, some of the tricks she uses when working with small children, how she manages to stay inspired to want to create so frequently, and the advice she gives to others who want to archive their lives and chase the dream of photography.   To Learn More About Meg Loeks Visit: http://www.megloeks.com/ulim86xgglgiqipoq5zlyjwsib4wqy And Follow Her On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/meg_nlo/ To Help Support the Podcast or Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: http://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow on Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/    

Lifestyle/advertising photographer, and all around nice guy, Jake Stangel joins the podcast to talk about growing up as a creative kid in the suburbs of Maryland and the early influence photography had on his life.  It was an 8th grade general art class that Jake discovered a passion for photography that would set him down a path to enrolling at NYU's Tish school and continuing his education in fine art and photography.  But after growing up in a small town, Jake was overwhelmed by the energy and life that New York City offered and soon realized he was interested in more than just taking pictures.  He switched his studies to focus more on economics and marketing, but after a while found that he needed to find a balance in his life that could also include photography and creativity.  Before long he was working as an assistant and taking the hard earned path that so many before him have traveled, moving up the ranks in the competitive world of photography.  After graduation, he decided he had had enough of New York and needed to re-ground himself closer to nature and moved to Portland where he would begin building the photography career he has become known for today.  During our conversation we get the opportunity to discuss the ever challenging pursuit of finding the right work/life balance, the dangers of comparing yourself to other photographer's images and work ethic, and the importance of establishing and nurturing relationships throughout your career and treating others as you would want to be treated.   To Learn More About Jake Stangel Visit: https://jakestangel.com To Learn More about Visual Revolutionary and To Donate to the Show Visit: http://www.visualrevolutionary.com  

Award winning celebrity and people photographer Corey Nickols joins the show to talk about how he created a name for himself in one of the most competitive genres of photography, while also sharing a very honest and compelling story of overcoming his battle with bipolar disorder and how he continues to nurture a healthy mind with a healthy diet. Growing up in a rural area of California, Corey always felt like an outsider to what was around him.  Although he found photography at a very early age, it would be punk rock that would finally bring him a tribe of his own and the comfort in expressing himself.  That expression would soon lead him to studying photography at Brooks university and chasing the dream of becoming a pro and moving to LA.  Unfortunately graduation came on the heels of the collapse of the economy in 2008 and Corey was forced to get creative in his hustle and how to go about forming his portfolio.  It would be a creative personal project, and a great story of finding models from a retirement home, that would get him noticed by Emmy Magazine and start him on the path of working with some of the biggest name celebrities in the business.  During our conversation we talk about the importance of community, how he feels about the current state of celebrity work and social media, why so many celebrity photographers work with props, and the advice he gives to others chasing their dreams of becoming a professional photographer. To Learn More About Corey Nickols Visit: https://www.coreynickols.com If You Enjoy The Show and Want to Help Out The Cause Visit: http://www.visualrevolutionary.com/donate/  

Adventure, Travel, and Lifestyle Photographer Quin Schrock (aka: @everchanginghorizons ) joins the show to talk about the journey that brought him from a soon to be CPA, to traveling the world non stop with a huge Instagram following and an ever expanding photography portfolio.  As we dive through Quin's past, we talk about his desire to want to stand out and go against the grain at an early age and how that would become a lot of the foundation for a future in creative expression and travel.  Although Quin had built a reputation for non conformity, he soon found himself studying business at college and getting married at a fairly early age. When his young marriage didn't work out, he decided to set out on a bucket list trip to Machu Picchu before settling down to work in accounting.  That trip that would change the course of his future.  Before long, Quin was working as a counselor at a wilderness survival camp and met a girl that would set out on an epic road trip with him, introduce photography into his life, and help create the opportunity for Quin to start an inspiring social media feed dedicated to his travels. During our conversation we talk about how he developed his style of photography, the trips and locations that have inspired him the most, the intersection of photography and social media, and how to nurture a relationship with your audience and stay true to your brand.   To Learn More About Quin Schrock Visit:  http://www.everchanginghorizon.com To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: http://www.visualrevolutionary.com ***And help support the podcast by donating to the show At** http://www.visualrevolutionary.com/donate/  

 ******Donate To The Podcast and Help Support the Show******** http://www.visualrevolutionary.com/donate/ Award winning action sports and commercial photographer Blake Jorgenson joins the show to talk about the life of a ski bum in Whistler in the 90s and how that evolved into a successful career in photography.  Growing up in Toronto, Blake was always inspired by art.  Painting and drawing kept him occupied and entertained in a place he didn't draw that much inspiration from.  But at the age of 16, when he went on vacation to British Columbia, he fell in love with the mountains and the lifestyle that existed around them and counted the days until graduation to make that dream a reality.  Blake tells us the story of those early years in Whistler and working as a tuner in the local ski shop and the scene that congregated in it each day. He soon lost the passion for painting and became much more fasciated by the immediate images he could produce with a camera and began documenting the exploding community and beautiful vistas around him.  Before long Blake began getting published and getting calls from companies that wanted to work with him.  But it would be winning the prestigious Pro Photographer's Showdown in Whistler that would quickly catapult him into the spotlight.  During our conversation we talk about the patience and the persistence needed to make it in the world of professional photography, the pitfalls of sometimes finding success before you are ready, how he feels about today's current excesses of visual content, and the advice he gives to others wanting to do what he does.   To Learn More About Blake Jorgenson Visit: https://www.blakejorgenson.com To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: http://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/  

Music, celebrity, and lifestyle photographer Drew Gurian joins the podcast to talk about the evolution of his career and how he went from first assistant under Joe McNally, to building his own successful brand and client base as a photographer.  From an early age Drew was drawn to photography and music, and before long started combining his passions by shooting live shows he was attending as well as playing drums in a band.  While studying photography and graphic design, Drew got the chance to intern with famed music photographer Danny Clinch and then with Joe McNally.  After finishing his undergrad, he became Joe's first assistant and spent the next 5 years traveling the globe and learning the ins and outs of running a successful photography business and dealing with a demanding shooting schedule.  After years of working at what many would consider a dream job, Drew made the decision to finally go out on his own and quickly began making a name for himself shooting with musicians, celebrities, and other movers and shakers.  Currently based out of Brooklyn, New York, Drew talks about taking the leap of going out on his own, how he began to develop his personal aesthic, trying to stand out in the New York market, dealing with some of the challenges of celebrity shoots, and how he hopes to grow as a photographer and businessman.   To Learn More About Drew Gurian Visit: https://www.drewgurian.com To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: http://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow on Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/  

Lifestyle, motorcycle, and automotive photographer Matthew Jones joins the podcast to talk about how he managed to create a recognizable aesthetic and grow a brand for himself by shooting what he was most passionate about.  He's become known for his editorial work with niche magazines like Iron and Air, as well as shooting big commercial projects with companies ranging from Harley Davidson to Infiniti USA. Growing up in Florida, Matt found photography at an early age through the world of skateboarding, but later in life it would help him escape some trouble he felt he was sinking into with a move to Georgia to study at Savanah College of Art and Design.  It was there that he would be begin to get a better grasp of photography and, against some of the advice of his professors, pursue the world of shooting automotive work.  After a quick whirlwind tour of the country with editorial jobs, a stint in LA, and a ton of well lit pictures of cars, Matt found the world of motorcycles and began to refine the overall look and feel of his work.  Since then, Matt has gone on to shoot commercial campaigns and editorial work and create a look that has set him apart in a very saturated world.  During our conversation we talk about how Matt sees his work continuing to evolve in the future, the love/hate relationship he has with social media, steps he takes on getting in the door with ad agencies and brands looking to hire the right photographer, and the advice he gives on shooting what you love.   To Learn More About Matthew Jones Visit: http://www.matthewjonesphoto.com To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: http://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow on Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/