Beyond the Image Podcast

Once considered the pinnacle of photographic achievement, shooting for magazines has drastically changed. In this episode of Beyond the Image , I'm pulling back the curtain on what the editorial landscape really looks like today—shrinking budgets, sponsored content replacing original stories, and the loss of creative control that once made editorial work so fulfilling. So the big question: Is it s...

On the surface, shooting celebrities or high-profile athletes seems like a golden ticket to a stronger portfolio. But here's the truth:  it's not the name—it's the image . In this episode, I break down the myth that photographing celebrities or athletes will instantly elevate your brand. I share stories from my own career—including a high-caliber shoot with first-round NFL draft pick Beanie Wells,...

After photographing over 800 magazine covers and producing countless brand campaigns, James Patrick knows the one thing that separates pros from pretenders: being prepared. In this episode of Beyond the Image , James opens up his on-location camera bag and breaks down the exact gear he brings to every shoot—and why it earns a spot. From the two camera bodies that serve distinct roles to the lenses...

Here are proejcts I was convinced would make (or break) my career as a photographer. The truth is - they didn't do either. This is about the culmination of our efforts. https://jamespatrick.com/

I recently experienced one of the worst, if not THE WORST, attempts at marketing and busienss develiopment from a photogarpher I think I have ever seen. But what I did about it may shock you even more. This episode is all about client relationships. How to establish them. How to build them. and most importantly - how to maintain them. https://jamespatrick.com/

Last week we hosted our annual photo marketing roundtable here at The Hive Studios in Phoenix, Arizona. At this event, a handful of creative professionals (photographers and videographers) sat around together to discuss ideas, strategies, complications and breakthroughs in their business as business owners. Through the course of this discussion - there were 5 main areas that were brought up as imp...

Peerspace is a brokerage site used for short-term rentals for photo shoots, video productions, events, podcasts, meetings and the like. Historically, Peerspace made their revenue by taking a percentage off of every single booking done through their website. However, recently Peerspace has instituted a bidding system which allows location managers to pay to have their spaces ranked higher in the si...

There is one mistake that I've seen photographers, videographers and creatives make over the course of my 20+ year career. This mistake is often what separate photographers who build sustainable and thriving businesses versus those who continue to have peaks and valleys and often find themselves struggling to bring in new business. For those in Arizona - we are hosting a photo marketing roundtable...

Let's face it - if you expand the timeline long enough - you're going to find there is quite a fair amount of toxicity within the photography community. From jealousy to envy to downright aggressive competition - no one is immune from it. So let's break down the actual sources behind the toxic traits of so many creatives and how we can navigate it better as a community. https://jamespatrick.com/

I want to be clear, right off the top, that I have personally made every single one of these mistakes myself in my 20+ year career. The goal is not to shame photograpehrs for making the mistakes that all of us have made - but to shed light (that is a well-placed pun) on these misconcepts, misunderstandings and mistakes so that we can continue to learn and improve on our craft as creative professio...

You were asked by a client to bid on a project and either intentionally or unintentionally they did not give you all of the information you need to accurate prepare an estimate that fully reflects your services and value. Bluntly - you underbid. So what do you do? In this episode of the Beyond the Image podcast, host James Patrick deconstructs how to prevent this scenario from happening to begin w...

Photographers - there are two types of clients we need to STOP chasing. Clients who don't have money. Clients who don't want to spend money. Instead - let's focus on how we find clients who do have the purchasing power and purchasing assets to support our creative endeavors. https://jamespatrick.com/

Social media was never particularly easy - but it sure was a lot simpler. The way to achieve engagement has completely shifted (and we've lost count how many times that has happened). In this episode of the Beyond the Image podcast - we dive into what needs to happen on your social channels now based upon how audiences are consuming content. https://jamespatrick.com/

If all you are sending a prospective client is an estimate sheet - then you are drastically under-selling yourself as a creative. In this episode of the Beyond the Image podcast - I dive into my strategy for crafting and desgining well curated proposals that I send to clients when bidding. https://jamespatrick.com/

In today's episode we answer the question "should photographers niche?" YUP! Yup they absolutely should! In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick dives into why photographers should carve out their specialty and unique selling proposition as well as unpacking the biggest fear they have when it comes to niching down. If I niche down, then I won't get hired for other work again! The r...

In this episode we answer the question; should photographers also provide video services to clients? Overwhelmingly yes! Without question. Either they need to learn how to construct and deliver video files - or it is important for them to form a partnership with a videographer to offer their services to clients. Client demand for video assets has only been increasing exponentially. In order for a...

I've been hired to do a handful of gigs over the last three decades with zero experience. Everything from selling wedding rings to modeling for an off campus student housing complex. But what is even more intense is the fact that I built a photography career over 20 decades having no prior experience. That I built a podcast from the ground up never having spoken into a microphone before. That I cr...

As traditional print media scrambles to find firm ground despite crumbling atrophy - the thing I was still so excited about and hopeful for as a creative was the rapid emergence of unique, fresh, bold and innovative independent publishers.   Sure, independent publishers have smaller budgets (if any) and the audiences are certainly a bit more finite. But also, there is far less overhead, the audien...

In more than 20 years as a photographer, I've had a few photoshop controversies. There have been times my work was accused of being over-edited (it wasn't) and there were times I even got fired because I refused to edit work beyond what I was comfortable with. The reality is that it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is art. The abundance of photo editin...

I honestly thought that just by owning a pack of color gels that my photography career would immediately be transformed and I would instantly be more creative, professional and respected. Spoiler alert - all I learned at first was that I didn't know squat about how to use gels effectively. In this episode I talk about the steps I personally took to actually learn how to use gels from lighting back...

As a creative, dealing with difficult clients is inevitable. From unrealistic Photoshop demands to impossible shoot conditions, I've seen it all. But sometimes, the problem isn't the client—it's us. In this episode, I dive into real-life client horror stories, unpack when the client truly does suck, and discuss the critical times when they have every right to be frustrated. Whether you're a creati...

I am delighted to be joined by the Art Director of Phoenix Magazine, Mirelle Inglefield who I had on the podcast back when we first launched the show. In this new conversation - we dive into a behind the scenes look at the entire production of the latest issue of the magazine, The Top 100 Dishes of Arizona, which I was grateful enough to photograph the cover. From the initial conception of the mas...

I've been looking over my contracts that I send out to clients prior to a commercial campaign and have honed in on two specfic areas that are non-negotiables for me as a professional photographer. In 20+ years of business, these two sections are vital to reduce client confusion, add clarity to project deliverables and eliminate lost revenue of work we would have done without additional pay. https:...

I get asked (a lot) about my recommendations for lighting equipment. For most of my career, my answer has always been "just buy whatever you can afford." And more than two decades into my career, my stance on that has not changed. Get what you can afford and you will find ways to make it work. Also, gear does not make the photographer nor improve the shot if not used correctly. That being said - I...

The photography industry is evolving rapidly, and 2025 promises groundbreaking changes! In this episode of the Beyond the Image Podcast, host James Patrick breaks down his top 10 predictions, highlighting key trends shaping the future of photography. Discover how AI-enhanced portraits, vintage aesthetics, and mixed-media film are transforming creative expression. Learn why commercial campaigns wit...