
F-Stop Collaborate and Listen
This photography podcast takes you well beyond camera gear each week with weekly interviews and panel discussions with professional photographers, industry insiders, enthusiasts, and hobbyists alike. Our candid but laid-back conversations deeply explore the craft of photography and psychological drivers relating to creativity, motivation, inspiration, and workflow. We also discuss social media, photography business practices, marketing, sales, and hot topics impacting photographers from all genres, with a particular focus on landscape, nature, and wildlife photography. The show is hosted by Matt Payne, a professional full-time nature photographer and the co-founder of the internationally renowned photography competition, the Natural Landscape Photography Awards. Matt is also a mountaineer, climbing the highest 100 mountains in Colorado. Matt leverages skills he gained in pursuit of his Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology to dig deeply into the hearts and minds of his passionate guests, revealing secrets and inspiration in every episode.
Latest episodes

Jun 30, 2025 • 1h 15min
428: Carrie Giordano - Photographing Baseball's Greatest Moments
In this episode of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with acclaimed sports photographer Carrie Giordano, one of the team photographers for the LA Dodgers and LA Rams. Carrie shares her fascinating journey from falling in love with photography in her Ohio childhood, through early burnout, to discovering her passion for sports photography in Los Angeles. She discusses the unique challenges, adrenaline, and emotional highs of photographing high-stakes professional sporting events like the World Series and championship parades, as well as the technical and logistical demands of the fast-paced environment. Carrie also highlights how her background in landscape photography shapes her creative vision, offers practical career advice for aspiring sports photographers, and opens up about balancing the demands of career and motherhood.
Watch on YouTube
Links:
Carrie Giordano on Instagram
Mountain Light by Galen Rowell
Moab Photography Symposium
Carrie's Feature in Time Magazine for Kids
My OnLandscape Article on Torsten Pull
Support the podcast on Patreon

Jun 23, 2025 • 1h 4min
427: Elevate Your Photography at the Horizons Photo Conference
In this episode of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," host Matt Payne talks with the team behind the Horizons Photography Conference, including guests Martha Montiel, Nic Stover, and Shanda Akin. They discuss the unique aspects of this new photography conference taking place in Durango, Colorado, emphasizing the importance of in-person connections in a digital-heavy world. The event is designed to foster community and creativity among photographers of all levels. The team highlights the thoughtful selection of speakers, including both seasoned names and emerging voices, who are set to bring fresh perspectives to attendees. They also touch on the logistical challenges of conference planning and how they’ve crafted an experience that’s both affordable and inspiring. If you’re interested in attending, they offer a special discount for podcast listeners. The episode promises insights into creating genuine photographic connections and the value of being physically present in such environments.
Watch on YouTube
Links Discussed:
Horizons Photography Conference (use code PAYNE100)
Horizons Speakers
Nic Stover's Nature Photography Classes
Shanda Akin
Martha Montiel

Jun 16, 2025 • 1h 18min
426: Ashley Petefish - An Influencer for Public Lands
In this episode of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," host Matt Payne talks with Arizona-based photographer and conservation advocate Ashley Petefish, known as "Ashley Goes Hiking" on Instagram and Threads. They explore the intersection of photography, public lands, and conservation ethics. Ashley shares her journey growing up in Arizona, deeply rooted in its landscapes, which fueled her passion for protecting these areas. They discuss the commodification of public lands through social media, the ethics of geotagging, and respecting indigenous lands. Ashley highlights her work with organizations like the Oak Creek Watershed Council and suggests practical ways photographers can contribute to conservation efforts, challenging influencers to leverage their platforms for positive environmental impact.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SQzFGaLppD8
Links:
1. Ashley Petefish on Instagram
2. Arizona Site Steward Foundation
3. Oak Creek Watershed Council
4. Visit Bend
5. Wayne Suggs' Rock Art Photography
6. Muench Workshops
7. Matt's Print Course
8. Support the Podcast on Patreon

Jun 9, 2025 • 58min
425: Mark Handy - Why I Quit Landscape Photography
Mark Handy, a former landscape photographer who operated a successful gallery, opens up about his shift to a career in private equity focused on family life. He shares why he left photography, highlighting the emotional toll of travel on his family and the lessons learned from harsh experiences, including gallery embezzlement. Mark reflects on the camaraderie he misses, the balance between personal fulfillment and family duties, and finding joy beyond the lens. His journey serves as an honest reminder of the sacrifices artists often face.

Jun 2, 2025 • 1h 21min
424: Andrew Cameron - Unlock the Power of Documentary Photography
In this episode of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with Andrew Cameron, a photographer with a diverse background in theater, video production, and documentary photography. Andrew shares his journey from directing corporate videos to pursuing his passion for documentary photography, focusing on impactful stories from industrial, social, and humanitarian sectors. They delve into the challenges and changes in the creative industry, discussing the democratization of creativity by tech companies and the role of photography in addressing social issues. Andrew emphasizes the importance of storytelling in photography using a simple model of "know, feel, do" to create compelling narratives, and he sheds light on balancing creative passion with sustainability. The episode also explores the impact of social media, the evolving landscape of documentary work, and Andrew’s efforts in coaching and writing to support his artistic endeavors.
Links & Resources:
Andrew's book, Making Documentary Photography
Arthelper
Support the podcast on Patreon
Matt's Print Course on Patreon
Photographer's Mentioned - Jose Sarmento Matos; Nick Danzinger

May 26, 2025 • 1h 8min
423: Guido van de Water: Creativity, Resilience, and Photography
In this episode of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," host Matt Payne speaks with Guido van de Water, a Dutch landscape photographer and YouTuber. Guido shares his transformative journey from a career in the automotive industry to becoming a full-time content creator after being diagnosed with a severe medical condition. The conversation delves into how photography became a means of healing and finding purpose for Guido, emphasizing resilience and creativity. He discusses his approach of not pre-planning images and his focus on capturing unique visions in mundane landscapes, largely using telephoto lenses. The episode also explores Guido's YouTube channel's growth, which began as a legacy project for his children and has evolved into a supportive community space connecting with others who face similar personal challenges.
Links Mentioned:
Check out Guido's YouTube Channel
Arthelper
Support the podcast on Patreon
Matt's Print Course on Patreon
Photographers Mentioned: Will Goodlet, Christian Irmler

May 19, 2025 • 1h 16min
422: Zoe Hiljemark - Public Relations and SEO for Photographers
In this episode of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne interviews Zoe Hiljemark, a PR and marketing strategist specializing in helping photographers. They discuss the importance of PR, SEO, and blogging in building a photographer's brand and attracting clients. Zoe emphasizes the changing landscape due to algorithm updates and AI-generated content, and she outlines common PR mistakes photographers make, such as being too broad in their media approaches. She also shares insights on how SEO is crucial for online visibility and talks about how PR can complement blogging to enhance a photography business. Zoe provides actionable steps for photographers to boost their marketing efforts and improve their online presence.
Resources/Links:
Support the Podcast on Patreon
Learn more about Zoe's PR Services
Arthelper
SERanking
Matt's Print Course

May 12, 2025 • 1h 10min
421: Greg McCown - Electrifying Lightning and Storm Photography!
In this episode of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," host Matt Payne interviews storm and landscape photographer Greg McCown, delving into his passion for capturing epic desert storms and lightning. Greg, who balances photography with a career in real estate, discusses his meticulous approach to storm chasing, which involves extensive location scouting and using multiple cameras to maximize capture opportunities. The conversation covers Greg's strategies for teaching storm photography workshops, his experiences with weather patterns, and his use of technology like lightning triggers, his expert camera settings for lightning, and he shares personal stories that highlight the excitement and unpredictability of storm photography.
Watch on YouTube
Resources / Links:
Support the Podcast on Patreon
GAIA GPS
Pivotal Weather
Radar Scope: Apple / Android
Satsquatch
FLM Tripods | Matt's Tripod Recommendation - use code HOUSEOFPAYNE for 10% off thru Oct 1, 2025!
Stepping Stone Lightning Trigger
Sony A1-2
Nikon D850
Storm Photo Tours
Recommended Photographers: John Sirlin, Sean Parker, Danilo Faria, Donna Ruthruff, Lori Bailey

May 5, 2025 • 1h 2min
420: Greg Vaughn - The Art of Photography Guidebooks
In this episode of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," host Matt Payne sits down with accomplished photographer Greg Vaughn to discuss his journey in photography, ethics in location sharing, and the nuances of workshop teaching. Vaughn, known for his photography guidebooks on Oregon and Washington, talks about how he chooses locations carefully to preserve sensitive environments. They also explore challenges like maintaining a balance between publicizing beautiful places and preventing environmental degradation. Vaughn shares insights from his career, which spans over four decades, emphasizing the importance of business skills in photography and the value of having a love for teaching when leading workshops.
Check out the episode on YouTube
Resources Mentioned:
Greg's books - Photographing Oregon & Photographing Washington
Muench Workshops - please email me if you're interested in joining me!
NANPA
Arthelper
Support the podcast on Patreon
Photographers Recommended: Dewitt Jones, Laurent Martres, Tom Kirkendall
Greg is a photographer, traveler, writer, and photo educator. During his 40+ years as a full-time pro, Greg has worked in multiple photographic genres, including years as a freelance commercial and editorial assignment photographer in Hawaii. He was the campaign photographer for two of Hawaii’s governors and was the official photographer of the Ironman Triathlon in Kona. Greg is a proud alumnus of the University of Hawaii, earning a degree in Zoology at the advent of the 1970’s Ecology movement.
Greg is now based in Eugene, Oregon. He and his wife/partner/soulmate Penelope love living in the Pacific Northwest, travel as much as possible, and especially enjoy exploring Mexico.
Greg’s photos have been published by National Geographic, Backpacker, Sierra Club, Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and many other travel, conservation, and lifestyle magazines and websites.

Apr 28, 2025 • 1h 13min
419: Jason Bradley - From Outdoor Photographer to Wild Eye Magazine
In this episode of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," host Matt Payne interviews Jason Bradley, who discusses the collapse of Outdoor Photographer Magazine and the launch of his new publication, Wild Eye Magazine. Wild Eye is designed to fill the void left by Outdoor Photographer but aims to differentiate itself by not including gear reviews or basic how-to articles. Instead, it focuses on high-quality, curated portfolios in landscape, nature, wildlife, and underwater photography with a strong emphasis on conservation. Jason also runs a unique fine art print lab specializing in premium metal prints, which he describes as superior to typical metal prints in color and detail. The episode touches on the importance of community in photography, the challenges of managing multiple projects, and offers advice for photographers looking to get published. Jason also provides a special subscription offer for listeners.
Resources Mentioned on the Podcast
Wild Eye Magazine (use the code FSTOP for a huge discount)
Jason Bradley's Print Services
Jason's Lightroom Live Videos
Arthelper - an awesome AI tool for artists
Support the podcast on Patreon
Recommended Photographers: Joe Platco, Bob Talbot, Jon McCormack