So you want to be a photographer: Transform your skills and build a profitable photography business

When Gina recently had 48 hours in Vegas she didn’t waste a second. Despite Gina’s mantra that “What goes on in Vegas stays in Vegas” … Valerie manages to quiz her about everything from location scouting to securing talent. She also reveals her secrets to shooting her signature “rat pack” shots right in the heart of Sin City and confesses all about why she got no sleep. Importantly, Vegas is all about the capturing the characters AND the lights so Gina spills about the challenges you face when shooting in low light – and how to overcome them. With behind the scenes stories and images, this is a great adventure into the heart of Vegas.  Hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com. #ginachallenge #lowlight Read the show notes. Connect with Gina, Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You take them at weddings, schools, family gatherings, cast shots, staff photos and more. We’re talking about groups photos. But how do you ensure your group shots don’t look like a lineup of criminals or a boring cluster of people? In this episode, Gina and Valerie discuss a step-by-step process on how to create dynamic groups shots that really shine. Gina reveals her “go to” poses for ensemble shots such as the “90120”, the “Reservoir Dogs”, the “Cartier-Bresson”, the lineup and the “just act casual”. We discuss how you can direct a group, whether there are 5 or 50 people, how to coordinate everyone, how to ensure no one is closing their eyes and how to ensure you image is balanced. And much more! Hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com. #ginachallenge #group Read the show notes. Connect with Gina, Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are some dream photo destination – and Cuba is certainly one of them. With its nostalgic architecture, retro cars, and faded glamour, Gina’s recent trip to Cuba resulted in amazing images, a brush with the authorities, and a series of inspiring characters. In this episode, Valerie quizzes Gina on why she went to Cuba, how she prepared for the trip, the portable gear and lighting she took with her, and what hair-raising adventures she had along the way. Gina also dissects some of her favourite Cuban shots including how she set the shots up, what she left to chance and which lighting styles she used.  Hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com. #ginachallenge #retro Read the show notes. Connect with Gina, Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Capturing a great “character portrait” takes skill, timing and connection. It also needs the right mix of smart composition, meaningful props and a knack for storytelling. In this episode, Gina and Valerie discuss the three “recipes” that will help you take an awesome character portrait every time. In Gina’s unique style, she explains how to determine what KIND of portrait you can achieve, how to embellish or simplify the image, and how to choose an environment that will really make your character portrait shine. Hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com. #ginachallenge #character Read the show notes. Connect with Gina, Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you’re photographing people of a certain age, this can sometimes be challenging. Not every person wants a “character” shot, lines and all. And certain types of lighting can be very unflattering. Plus not everyone looks like a supermodel! So how do you take really flattering shots of older people? Apart from the technical aspects, people over a certain age sometimes also have insecurities about their looks or particular parts of their body. In this episode, Gina and Valerie discuss what you need to do to take kickass shots of older models. Hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com. Read the show notes. Connect with Gina, Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all love a bargain. In this episode, Gina and Valerie reveal how you can get free stuff to help with your photography. That means models, makeup artists, and stylists who will work for free. Together, you can create some amazing shots. You’ll also learn about getting free locations. And where you get also find awesome free resources and tools to help you learn more about photography (apart from this cool podcast of course!).  Hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com. Read the show notes. Connect with Gina, Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If Gina was ever reincarnated, she would come back as MacGuyver. That’s because she’s been on so many photography jobs where she’s needed to improvise and get out of tight spots – often because of factors outside of her control. So she’s developed a knack of MacGuyvering everything from temporary boom and light stands, lens holders, all kinds of diffusers and much more. Often, she’s had to use everyday items that you can simply find in the house or your car. In this episode, Gina explains to Valerie her top MacGuyver hacks. It’s well worth a listen because you may just need to improvise on your next shoot. Hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com. #ginachallenge #MacGuyver Read the show notes. Connect with Gina, Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your shots are good but you can take them to the next level when you have the right apps and post-production software. ALL professionals do work in post-production so this isn’t cheating, it’s bringing out the best in your photography. Whether you are an amateur or a professional, when you have rights apps and post-production software, you can create artistic effects with your images that make them really unique. But which ones should you use? Gina and Valerie discuss the post-production tools that Gina can’t live without, what she uses them for and how YOU can use them in your photography. Hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com.#ginachallenge #youcompleteme Read the show notes. Connect with Gina, Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you have the right mentor, you can fast track your photography at a rate of knots. But how you do know what kind of mentor is actually going to help your photography shine – and what kind of mentor you should avoid? Mentors don’t grow on trees. So Gina and Valerie discuss the best way to find a mentor - whether that’s in your own town, one that you admire from afar, or one that can mentor you virtually. But it’s not just about finding a mentor. Once you have one, what’s the best way to get the most out of your mentoring relationship? Remember that it needs to be a two-way street if you want your mentoring relationship to go beyond one cup of coffee. So what do YOU need to do to be a good mentoree and really improve your shooting style? Hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com.#ginachallenge #grasshopper Read the show notes. Connect with Gina, Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you’re shooting portraits, it can be easy to focus on the posing and the location. But what about the lighting style? Which is the best lighting style to achieve the look you want? Get these classic “go to” lighting styles under your belt, and you’ll always have a solution regardless of who you’re photographing. From moody and gritty, to Rembrandt lighting, Gina and Valerie discuss the four styles you MUST know make your portraits picture perfect. Hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com. #ginachallenge #rembrandt Read the show notes. Connect with Gina, Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.