The Beginner Photography Podcast

#372 On this episode of The Beginner Photography Podcast, I speak with Mark Fox who shares his journey from humble beginnings to being a successful nature photographer, documenting the Amazon jungle. We talk about facing self-doubt in photography and how to overcome it, provide tips on planning photo trips, and emphasize the importance of personal development in photography. Mark also discusses in...

#371 On this episode of The Beginner Photography Podcast, Raymond Hatfield interviews art history lecturer Kim Beil about the history of popular American photography. Kim shares insights on the evolution of photography from its experimental origins to the emergence of aesthetic training. The conversation delves into the development of anti-halation plates and the intentional manipulation of Polaro...

#370 On this episode of The Beginner Photography Podcast, join host Raymond as he speaks with fantasy portrait photographer and retreat organizer Liza Roberts. Liza shares her journey towards using photography as a tool to capture her creative vision instead of experimenting with it. The discussion revolves around using failure as an opportunity to learn, not giving up despite disappointments, and...

#369 On this episode of The Beginner Photography Podcast, we hear the inspiring story of how Martin Moore left his job working on cars to pursue photography full-time, using the company he did a commercial shoot for as a reference. The guest for this episode is Martin Moore, a former mechanic turned full-time commercial product photographer. He discusses the challenges of leaving your day job and...

#368 On this episode of The Beginner Photography Podcast, we dive into the dangers of needing to be a master photographer when starting out. Focusing solely on the negatives of your work and the positives of others' work can lead to a feeling of inadequacy and discourage you from progress. The Photography Manifesto, a ten-part series by the host Raymond Hatfield, aims to provide useful inform...

#366 Urban Street Photographer Steve Rolfe he was inspired by a book of Street Photography, which provided the fuel for his creativity.. He explains how, with his own figures, he began to capture stories of the world around him. Finally, after having some of his work published, he decided to leave his job in 2014 and go professional. Host Raymond Hatfield also talks about what captivates him in ce...

#365 On this episode of The Beginner Photography Podcast, we talk about the importance of being familiar with your camera and quickly changing certain settings for capturing unexpected moments. I discuss the usefulness of presets in editing and experimenting with different photography styles, including the concept of film recipes. Additionally, I'll give tips on accessing camera settings and...

#364 On this episode of The Beginner Photography Podcast, host Raymond Hadfield interviews fashion and lifestyle photographer Amanda Thomas. They discuss Amanda's journey into photography, her use of unconventional lighting techniques, and the importance of emotional engagement in photography. Amanda also shares tips on collaboration and preparation for shoots, drawing from her experience wit...

#363 Michael Collins is a member of the Beginner Photography Podcast Community and today shares his photography journey from picking up a camera to capturing amazing wildlife and birds in flight! THE BIG IDEAS Start Before You’re Ready: Don’t wait for mastery to begin—dive in, learn as you go, and let early mistakes fuel your progress. Embrace Community Support: Surrounding yourself with an encour...

#362 In today's episode of the Beginner Photography Podcast, Casey Fatchett shares tips on how to be a bad wedding photographer. He talks about some of his own photography mistakes, such as his flash going out mid-wedding and his camera dying the day before a wedding he was scheduled to shoot. He also offers advice on what photographers can do to ruin a couple's wedding day. Casey Fatche...

#361 Anna Harvingston is an Erie PA based documentary family photographer. Anna gets into her journey beginning with basics of photography like camera settings, taking portraits of her children, and how she experienced the difficult challenge of learning photography. She also talks about getting picked as one of the eight photographers chosen for Hulu's new photography competition show, Expos...

#360 On this episode of The Beginner Photography Podcast, we continue the ten-part Photography Manifesto series by tackling the third rule: Moment matters most in photography, not camera settings. I encourage you to focus on capturing life's moments and define a moment as subject matter, timing, and composition. I also share the 3 step process to capturing better moments. I provides examples...

#359  In Today's Episode of the podcast I chat with... Headshot Photographer Gary Huges, who shares actionable strategies for maintaining profitability in your photography business, from client acquisition to managing job costs. You will discover how to align your business practices with your passion for photography, ensuring a sustainable and fulfilling career path. What You'll Learn: P...

#358 On this episode of The Beginner Photography Podcast, the importance of ethical decision-making in photography is explored. Host Raymond Hatfield and guest Savannah Dodd delve into the personal and contextual factors that contribute to ethical decision making, and the impact of sharing a photograph. They discuss the lack of clear-cut ethical guidelines and provide tips for cultivating ethical...

#357 You have photo questions, I want to answer them for you here on the show. Whenever you have a question about photography, day or night, 24 hours a day 7 days a week, head to https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa , and send me your questions. After shooting for more than a decade and interviewing 300+ world class photographers, its time to share some of that practical information with you! THE BIG I...

#356 This podcast follows Harry Skeggs, a fine art wildlife photographer, to discuss the impact and importance of photography in preserving the world. He motivates listeners to take a tool in their hands to influence the world and bring awareness to issues near and far. He shares his story of not knowing the value of photography until he was forced to have time for himself due to an accident, and...

#355 On this episode, I interview photographer and educator Heather Lahtinen about how to tackle the feelings of overwhelm that come with learning photography. Heather explains how she became an unintentional wedding photographer and eventually made the transition to going full-time. THE BIG IDEAS Overwhelm Is a Choice: Feeling overwhelmed is normal, but it’s often a self-imposed barrier. Flip the...

#354 On this episode of the Beginner Photography Podcast, host Raymond Hatfield interviews Anja Poehlmann, a documentary family life photographer. They discuss how shooting every day can affect both creativity and personality. Anja also shares how digital cameras have made shooting easier since she moved to Hawaii for a 6-month internship. She created a website as a way to document her life in her...

#352 Today I cover Photography Manifesto Rule #2, To Be A Half Way Decent Photographer You Must Dedicate All of Your Available Time To It. That this does not mean focusing on it 24/7, instead I urge you to keep a photographical eye on in-between moments.  THE BIG IDEAS Story and Emotion Matter Most: Great photos are built on the ability to convey stories and emotions, not just technical perfection...

#351 In this episode I delve deep into the importance of making mistakes and how it can help photographers develop their skills faster. I share how Huy Nguyen, one of the most talented wedding photographers shares his wisdom surrounding the knowledge vs wisdom paradigm and learning through practical experience. Through this, Raymond tries to encourage listeners to take risks, make mistakes and not...

#350 Mica McCook is an Austin based food photographer. Mica recollects her journey to becoming a photographer which had begun in 2015 when her then-boyfriend encouraged her to take up photography as a business. On receiving payment from her first gig, she realized she could turn it into a career. Mica shares how she began her journey as a photographer by experimenting with different types of photo...

#349 You have photo questions, I want to answer them for you here on the show. Whenever you have a question about photography, day or night, 24 hours a day 7 days a week, head to https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa , and send me your questions. After shooting for more than a decade and interviewing 300+ world class photographers, its time to share some of that practical information with you! Todays Ph...

#348 Gary Pope is a self-proclaimed Geeky Wedding Photographer. We discuss the importance of niching down when marketing yourself and why it’s important to find the right audience in order to better align with your goals. Gary shares his story of learning how to use his camera for YouTube videos and taking photos for a whole year before he realized he loved wedding photography. THE BIG IDEAS Find...

#347 Stephanie Robinson is a Denver-based wedding and elopement photographer and a member of the Beginner Photography Podcast community. Growing up, Stephanie had an affinity for photography and was encouraged by her dad who, like her, was a photography enthusiast. After having her own Covid wedding, Stephanie decided to take the plunge into professional photography and left law school, where she...

#346 Today we are chatting with birth photographer Tavia Redburn and we get real technical about what you need and what you need to know before shooting your first birth session! In this episode Tavia talks about how she got interested in photography and the experiences that led her to becoming a birth photographer. She teaches beginners the technical aspects of the craft and encourages them to pr...