Summer School - A Photography + Creative Podcast

Should wedding photographers put their prices on their website? In this episode, I'm breaking down the pros and cons of pricing transparency, why I personally choose to list a starting price, and where I think photographers get it wrong. Plus, a few life updates, my recent dive into the commercial photography world, and why I'm always looking for new ways to grow creatively and in business...

Does photography gear actually matter? I think it does, just not in the way most people think. In this episode, I'm sharing why the cameras and lenses you use can impact your creative style, how certain gear has actually helped me book clients, and why more expensive doesn't always mean better. Connect with Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Become a Member of Summer School ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Hey everyone! I'm sharing some photography opinions I've completely changed my mind about over the years. From Instagram marketing and destination weddings to camera gear, editing styles, and what success actually looks like as a photographer, we're talking about the things I used to believe and why I see them differently now. Plus, a little life update from another busy week of travel...

After speaking at an analog photography conference in England, I’ve been thinking a lot about what actually makes photography conferences worth attending. In this episode, I’m sharing my experience at Elevate, what conferences look like from a speaker’s perspective, why I think their value goes way beyond education, and what I’d want to see from photography events in the future. Connect with Me: ⁠...

AI has become one of the most debated topics in photography, so I’m sitting down with Narrative founder James Broadbent to ask some of the questions photographers are actually thinking about. We talk about the environmental impact of AI, image privacy and security, whether AI is taking away from creativity, and the difference between using AI to replace your decisions versus using it as a tool to...

I’ve never paid for ads to book a wedding. In this episode, I’m breaking down how I’ve built a thriving wedding photography business through Instagram, referrals, networking, vendor relationships, and simply making sure people know what I do. If ads aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other ways to get your work in front of the right people. Connect with Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Become...

This week I’m sitting down with Jonathan to get VERY nerdy about photography. We’re talking film, weddings, scanning, creative burnout, and going way too far down creative rabbit holes. Jonathan shares how wanting a better way to scan film turned into building his own automated film scanner, plus we talk about photographing weddings (including mine!), cameras failing at the worst time, and finding...

Hey everyone! In this episode, I’m answering your questions about film photography, marketing, networking, growing a photography business, motherhood, getting into education, and building a career that you love. We’re getting into a little bit of everything and talking about what I’ve learned along the way. Connect with Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Become a Member of Summer School ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Is film photography actually a scam? In this episode, I’m breaking down the real costs of shooting film, why clients still want it, and how to add film to your photography packages without losing money. I also share how I personally price film, why it’s baked into my packages, and whether I think film is still worth offering in 2026. Connect with Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Become a Member of...

I’m so excited to sit down with Jonathan Canlas, founder of the Find Lab, and someone who has been shooting, teaching, and advocating for film photography for decades. We talk about his journey with film, the cameras and film stocks he loves, shooting for yourself, experimenting creatively, and why photographers need to stop looking at everyone else’s work if they want to find their own voice. We...

Hey everyone! I'm taking you behind the scenes of photographing a multi day wedding and everything that goes into it. From travel, packing, and testing gear to working with a second shooter, building relationships with your clients, and why 12 hours sometimes still isn't enough, I'm sharing what these weekends really look like and why they're some of my favorite weddings to photogr...

In this episode, I'm talking about the biggest marketing mistakes I see photographers make and how to fix them. We cover why social media shouldn't be your only marketing strategy, how to become more memorable, why networking matters, and simple ways to book more of the right clients. Connect with Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Become a Member of Summer School ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Su...

Hey everyone! In this episode, Peyton shares practical advice on growing a photography business through networking, word-of-mouth marketing, and collaboration. We also talk about balancing creativity with business, hosting retreats, working with other photographers, and simple ways to create more authentic images by letting go of perfection. Meet Peyton: Peyton Hayez is a photographer who refuses...

Hi everyone! I'm so excited for this episode because I'm sitting down with Nirit and Amir, the founders of Pic-Time, to hear the story behind one of photography's favorite platforms. We talk about how Pic-Time got started, some of my favorite features, what goes into building software creatives actually love, and the lessons they've learned growing a company that's stayed true...

Hi everyone! I'm so excited for this episode because I'm sitting down with Nirit and Amir, the founders of Pic-Time, to hear the story behind one of photography's favorite platforms. We talk about how Pic-Time got started, some of my favorite features, what goes into building software creatives actually love, and the lessons they've learned growing a company that's stayed true...

In this episode, I'm sharing six practical ways to elevate your wedding photography, including how I use flash, pose editorial group photos, find better light, anticipate candid moments, and create more artistic images throughout the wedding day. Connect with Me: Join us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Summer Camp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Become a Member of Summer School ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Film photography has completely changed the way I shoot weddings, and in this episode I'm sharing everything you guys always ask me about it. We talk about how I got started shooting film, the cameras I use, how I work it into a wedding day, how I price it for clients, and why I think film has shaped my style more than anything else. Connect with Me: Join us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Summer Camp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this episode, I sat down with Kara Mercer, whose career has taken her from photographing weddings to working with tourism boards, hotels, designers, and brands all over the world. We talk about what it looked like to make the jump into commercial photography, how she built a career beyond weddings, and the realities of motherhood, entrepreneurship, and reinventing yourself as a creative along t...

In this episode, I'm sharing a new creative project I've been obsessed with lately: cyanotypes. We talk about what cyanotypes are, how to make them, and why diving into something completely outside of my photography business has been such a refreshing creative reset. I also share the story behind Solar Studios, a new venture combining vintage clothing, cyanotype printing, and making things...

This week on the pod, I sat down with wedding photographer and creative powerhouse Landon Hawkins. We talk about using creativity and props to create more intentional imagery, standing out in a saturated industry, and the importance of queer advocacy and representation within the wedding world. Meet Landon: Landon is a queer wedding photographer known for creating cinematic, story driven imagery t...

This week on the pod, I’m recapping Summer Camp and talking about how much this experience grew and evolved from the first camp I ever hosted. From the styled shoots and film lab, to the food, counselors, field day, surprise art gallery, and overall experience - this year felt incredibly intentional and immersive in the best way. I’m also sharing behind-the-scenes lessons on hosting a photography...

This week on the pod, I’m sharing my thoughts on scaling as a photographer and the different paths that can come with it. We talk about luxury weddings, associate teams, education, legacy clients, hybrid business models, and figuring out what kind of growth actually fits the life you want. I also share a few personal updates while getting ready for Summer Camp and settling into a new season of lif...

In this episode, I’m sharing a shift in how I think about branding - from “personal branding” to world building . I talk through how your brand is shaped through every interaction, from social media to your client experience, and what it looks like to stay consistent across all of it. If you’ve been feeling like you’re blending in, this will help you start thinking about how to build something peo...

This week on the pod, I’m so excited to be chatting with Jada and David about going from wedding photography to building full conceptual sets and creative worlds. We get into burnout, personal projects, and what it actually looks like to pivot and start creating the work you actually want to be known for. Meet Jada + David: Jada and David are a married couple and creative duo. Together, they combi...

This week I’m talking with Chris Denner about staying true to yourself as a photographer and not getting pulled into industry trends. Chris shares why “weddings shouldn’t be content machines,” how trends are leading to everyone creating the same images, and why leaning into what makes you different is what actually sets you apart. Meet Chris: Nice to meet you, I’m Chris Denner. I’m a crime-fightin...