The Beginner Photography Podcast

#185 Last month I traveled to Nashville TN to attend the Imaging USA conference put on by the PPA. I was there for 4 days and meet some of the most amazing people including some past guests of the show, and new friends. I asked each photographer the same 5 questions to get their take on the industry and how to stand out past your photos.Resources:Vanessa Joy’s WebsiteVanessa Joy’s Off-Camera Flash BookBernie Griffiths WebsitePhillip and Eileen BlumeAtlanta Headshot Photographer Eric BernCandace Ashfords WebsiteLuci Dumas’s WebsiteGrab your free 52 Lightroom Presets athttp://freephotographypresets.com/Connect with Raymond! Go from Confused to Confident behind the camera with The Ultimate Photography Education Bundle - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/ Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#184 Today’s guest is Rob Tannenbaum a New York City Headshot and Corporate Event Photographer. A master photographer with more than 15 years of professional shooting experience, today we are going to talk about the world of headshot photography and how you can get started In This Episode You'll Learn:How Rob got his start in PhotographyHow studying for his Masters in Communication helped Rob become the photographer he is todayWhere Rob struggled most to learn photography and how he overcame itWhat is a headshotWho gets headshots and what’s the point of a headshotHow many photos Rob takes and delivers from each sessionThe importance of micro-adjustments when posingHow to get started with lighting headshotsHow to take acceptable headshots even if you’re using entry-level gearSome signs of what makes an amateur headshotHow to price headshotsHow Rob handles retouchingHow other photographers complicate the processAnd what questions to ask your clients to get the best resultsGrab your free 52 Lightroom Presets athttp://freephotographypresets.com/Connect with Raymond! Go from Confused to Confident behind the camera with The Ultimate Photography Education Bundle - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/ Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#183 Hope Taylor is a Charleston SC senior portrait photographer who has build quite a following with her signature look and client experience. Today I’m looking forward to talking about client experience, posing and attracting clients!In This Episode You'll Learn:What is Senior PhotographyHow hope got into photographing seniorsWhat Hope struggled with most behind the cameraPosing tips to help self-conscious teens feel comfortable and confidentHow to manage your fall schedule when everyone wants photosHow Hope delivers her photos to her clientsHow Hope makes her photos social ready to postWhat gear Hope brings to a sessionHow to market to seniorsHandling the Senior and Parent RelationshipHow to speak to a senior as an ideal clientAnd the Legalities of photographing and posing photos of minors onlineWhat to do if a client doesn’t tag you in their photos they upload.Resources:Charleston SC Senior Photographer Hope Taylor’s websiteGrab your free 52 Lightroom Presets athttp://freephotographypresets.com/Connect with Raymond! Go from Confused to Confident behind the camera with The Ultimate Photography Education Bundle - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/ Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#182 Martin Moore is a commercial product photographer for KOSS Headphones from Milwaukee Wisconsin who after 20 years as a mechanic left his job to become a full-time staff photographer. Today we’re going to chat about leaving your job and following your passion.In This Episode You'll Learn:The unconventional start Martin got in photographyWhat it was about photography that got Martin so excited while working as a mechanicWhere Martin learned photographyHow Martin booked and shot his first weddingWhat about the technical side of photography is most challengingHow a commercial product photographer gets ready for a shootWhat its like working and shooting for a large companyHow much gear Martin uses and his most used piece of equipment during a shootWhat Matin heard being taught as gospel to beginners but in practice is’’t as importantPremium Members Also Learn:What you need to be valuable in today’s workforce as a photographerThe pros and cons of being a staff photographer vs a freelance photographerHow to get the attention of a company you want to work forWhy building a personal brand is so important even when working as an employeeResources:Martin Moore PhotographyMartin Moore on InstagramMartin Moore on YoutubeMartin Moore on TwitterGrab your free 52 Lightroom Presets athttp://freephotographypresets.com/Connect with Raymond! Go from Confused to Confident behind the camera with The Ultimate Photography Education Bundle - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/ Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#181 To be a photographer is to grow. Photography is as much a technical skill as it is a creative escape yet we fall hard in the trap of how much gear matters and how important certain aspects of photography are that we get lost and have a hard time finding out own path which leads to losing the creativity. Today I break down the 3 biggest lessons you need to learn in 2020 to grow as a photographer.Lesson 1: The Gear Does Not MatterWhen building the fundamentals it does not matter if you use a $25 camera or a $2500 camera. Your results will look the same. I would argue that the more you limit yourself when getting started the stronger the photographer you will be later on. You can see examples of my iPhone 3G camera photos below. Use what you have to Make more.Lesson 2: There Is No CompetitionCompetition seems everywhere. Coke v. Pepsi - AT&T v. Verizon - Ferrari v. Lamborghini. Sure each of these companies offer the same thing but they are all unique in the way they do it. There are a million other photographers out there, but some stand out, why? Because they are different, they don’t keep up with everyone else, they follow their passions and explore their creativity to create unique pieces. Don’t worry about others, do what feels right to you.Lesson 3: You Don’t Have To Be An Expert to StartAn expert is someone with the knowledge and know how to create something in just about any situation. That knowledge and know how comes from experience. You don’t gain experience unless you actually do something, practice. You have more access to gear with whats in your pocket than ANYONE just 20 years ago. Make what you have work to gain the experience and grow into the photographer you want to be. Grab your free 52 Lightroom Presets athttp://freephotographypresets.com/Connect with Raymond! Go from Confused to Confident behind the camera with The Ultimate Photography Education Bundle - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/ Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#180 2019 has been a fantastic year for the podcast. I learned a lot about photography through the interviews I had with photographers, and so did you!I took the top 10 most downloaded podcast interviews of 2019 and reached out to you the listeners for your biggest takeaways and shared them here in this 2019 wrap up episode.The top 10 most downloaded interviews of 2019, in numerical order, areValerie JardinNick ChurchAndy MumfordMark HemmingsSara BlancoMarc SilberChris OwensDan MilnorDave MazeHannah ChiaGrab your free 52 Lightroom Presets athttp://freephotographypresets.com/Connect with Raymond! Go from Confused to Confident behind the camera with The Ultimate Photography Education Bundle - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/ Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#179 Congratulations on your new camera! You are about to embark on a long and fulfilling journey into the world of photography. You are full of hopes and momentum to start taking great photos and I am here to help you get there.But with all the buttons and dials on your camera, you may be feeling overwhelmed. So today I’m going to help you get started with your new camera!It all comes down to just 3 settings that will control every image you take.ISOApertureand Shutter Speed.Today I break down what each one does and how you can use them to get the photos you dream of taking! Resources:5 Essential Pieces of Photography Gear for Beginner PhotographersGrab your free 52 Lightroom Presets athttp://freephotographypresets.com/Connect with Raymond! Go from Confused to Confident behind the camera with The Ultimate Photography Education Bundle - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/ Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#178 Setting goals can be a difficult task. Well, setting goals isn’t difficult but setting goals that stick is a difficult task. We know this because 83% of new years resolutions are broken by February. Therefore the problem to solve is how to set BETTER goals. Today I share my 9 steps process for setting photography goals that stick.Step 1: Realize you need to make a changeYou can only make change when you WANT to change.Step 2: Figure out WHERE you need to make a changeAsk yourself “What feels broken” “What do I need help with” because where you feel the most pain you can make the most growth.Step 3: Set More Epic GoalsDon’t set goals too crazy or too simple. “Book 60 weddings” when you have never shot a wedding is crazy. “Learn Photography” it too simple. Create a goal thats in between.Step 4: Write down your goals and make it seenWhen you physically write out your goals on paper you’re 43% more likely to achieve them. When you post them somewhere you see them every day you increase that chance exponentially. My goals are posted above my computer.Step 5: Make Baby stepsMake baby steps that it will take to achieve your goals to keep the momentum going.Step 6: Make a challenge out of itWhen you turn your goals into a game you’re more likely to keep up with the baby steps. Write them down on a calendar and mark them off every day.Step 7: Check in with your goalsSet a date on your calendar quarterly to check in with your goals, re assess, and plan for the next quarter for new goals.Step 8: Hang out with people who are also moving forward“You are the sum of the 5 people closest to you” When you spend more time with photographers doing great things, you will elevate your skills and desire to do great things. Nowhere is that more important than when you go from hobby photographer to making money with your camera. Surrounding yourself a group of others dedicated to growing their business and making money is the key to quick growth.Become a premium member and get access to the premium members facebook group to surround yourself with like-minded hungry photographers! Step 9: Simulate what your life would look like after you hit your goalsAchieving your goals both planning and motivation. Picturing your life after you achieve your goals will give you the motivation you need to keep going!Grab your free 52 Lightroom Presets athttp://freephotographypresets.com/Connect with Raymond! Go from Confused to Confident behind the camera with The Ultimate Photography Education Bundle - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/ Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#177 Today is the state of the podcast address. I share how the podcast grew in 2019 and some of the biggest takeaways for new photographers.Connect with Raymond! Go from Confused to Confident behind the camera with The Ultimate Photography Education Bundle - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/ Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#176 Throughout all of 2019 I ended every episode with a reminder to focus on yourself. A Reminder that we are all artists and in a world of youtube videos telling what camera gear to buy, blogs showing exactly where our lights should be places, and facebook posts telling us why we are doing it all wrong, that sometimes we need to step back and do what WE want to do. Explore what we want to explore. Today I chat with 3 members of the Beginner Photography Podcast Facebook group who I personally saw substantial growth in their work in 2020. I want to know what they did and how they focused on themselves to grow their skills. Special shoutout to Kimberly, Saul, and Jim for sharing with you all.Become a premium member by December 18th and get your first month for free!Click Here to Learn more about the premium membershipGrab your free 52 Lightroom Presets athttp://freephotographypresets.com/Connect with Raymond! Go from Confused to Confident behind the camera with The Ultimate Photography Education Bundle - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/ Thanks for listening & keep shooting!