The Wider Lens: Powered by Focus on Women

Join us today as we chat with Caydie McCumber, a photographer based in the bustling scenes of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Armed with a BFA in Photography from the California College of Fine Arts, she stands at the intersection of commercial advertising and editorial imagery, specializing in lifestyle, fitness, and portraiture. Her work embodies a seamless blend of the conceptual and commercial...

Join us for a captivating exploration of multi-disciplinary creativity with Darcy Hammer. With an innate ability to transform diverse materials into award-winning masterpieces, Darcy shares the intricacies of their journey across various fields. Developing an artful eye and refining hand skills over the years, Darcy reflects on the joy of creating conceptual stories for clients. Join us as Darcy u...

Today's guest is Janine Kalesis, a New York-based food stylist whose culinary passion has taken her from the kitchens of Queens to the forefront of food styling. With a background as a chef and a decade-long tenure in the restaurant business, Janine's love for food and diverse flavors shaped her trajectory toward mastering food and prop styling, recipe development, and culinary productio...

Step into the world of interior, architecture, and lifestyle photography with Lauren Taylor, our featured guest on this episode of Focus on Women. Lauren is a skilled craftsman behind the lens, creating inspiring images of real-life spaces and stunning details. From the bright, airy vibes of California homes to the modern and moody sophistication of New York studios and the playful warmth of renov...

Join us as we uncover the captivating story behind a visual storyteller based in the heart of Napa Valley, California. Meg Smith, known for her grace under pressure, seamlessly navigates between the glamorous weddings of Anne Hathaway and Jimmy Kimmel to the intense culinary battlegrounds of the Bocuse d'Or in Lyon, France.  Meg has not only captured the essence of Hollywood's elite but...

In this episode, we're joined by the talented Bee Berrie, an experienced food stylist and assistant making waves in Los Angeles. Hailing from the UK, Bee brings a unique blend of strong European culinary skills and commercial creativity to every shoot and project. As a twice-published recipe book author, Leiths culinary school graduate, and founder of an award-winning bakery, she effortlessly...

Join us for a fascinating episode as we explore the vibrant and diverse artistic journey of a multi-talented individual who wears many creative hats. Colby Cecca, whose primary focus is music, has seamlessly delved into modeling, wardrobe styling, writing, and acting. With a lifelong passion for the creative arts, they studied theater in college before diving into a music career that led to years...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Liz Teich , a seasoned New York-based fashion stylist, style creator, and mom of two. With over 15 years of experience styling campaigns for major brands like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Target, Liz has not only dressed celebrities like Tom Brady and Ashley Graham but also earned features in top publications like Forbes and InStyle. Beyond her impressive comm...

In this episode, we meet Carli Adby-Notley, a seasoned commercial photographer with over 15 years of experience. She's on a mission to blend her photography expertise with her passion for sparking conversations about female health, gender, and womanhood, often considered taboo. Living in Hampshire, UK with her family and a love for crunchy peanut butter and nature, our guest believes in the p...

In this episode, we delve into the world of branding and creative strategy with Alexi Drago . With a background spanning digital, traditional, and e-commerce landscapes, she has a remarkable ability to fuel growth and elevate brand awareness. They bring a unique blend of business acumen and creative finesse to connect brands with their target audiences through compelling visual and content-focused...

In this episode, we explore the world of visual storytelling with Julia Lea, a creative professional with over two decades of experience. Her deep curiosity and passion drive her unique approach to design, pushing the boundaries of traditional job titles and resulting in striking visual narratives that are as precise as they are powerful. Join us as she shares her secrets for turning ideas into ca...

Today we're catching up with a past guest, Hannah Soto! After earning a degree in photography from Columbia College Chicago, Hannah worked with an in-house production team and found her jam in becoming a freelance producer. With her unique perspective and natural tendencies toward leadership, she created her own company with a new approach called Grey House Productions. (You can learn more ab...

In this episode, we are privileged to host two remarkable figures from the entertainment industry, each with a unique story to tell. Amber Havens , whose journey began in children's theater, eventually led her to Los Angeles, where she attended a prestigious acting conservatory, embarking on a 30-year odyssey filled with diverse experiences across the entertainment business. With a passion fo...

Tune into our chat with Robin Greene, the founder of Holl and Artists , a new creative agency representing some awesome photographers/directors that include Ren Fuller who has also been on our show. Their motto - "We believe collaboration is the surest way through uncertainty. An ever-evolving media landscape merely promises new opportunities and different ways to tell our stories. " Lis...

Kelly Marshall is a New York-based photographer specializing in interiors, travel, and portraiture. Her commercial and fine artwork are interwoven as she explores inherent belief systems; how they construct our lives, our physical homes, and in essence, our everyday reality. She also is the director of an amazing feature-length documentary Birthing of A Nation - an afro futuristic account of the r...

Born in the former USSR, Ren Fuller found film first her senior year she attended summer school at NYU Film School. After graduating from NYU Film School, she changed her mind and moved to the Bay Area where she was introduced to Chez Panisse. Here, she discovered her love of food and decided to focus on photography.  Ren now lives in LA, enjoying the outdoors and shooting travel, lifestyle, food,...

Tune in to hear our chat with Maren Rossman of Anchor Artists. Maren is originally from the Bay Area, now based in MA for the past 20+ years. She is the founder and owner of the agency representing HMU artists, props, lay down, soft goods, and food & drink stylists, set designers, and art directors too. They are valued for their extensive experience, responsiveness, and candid communication. ...

Victoria Granof found her way to food styling over 15 years ago after being a pastry chef.  She has been a Cordon Bleu crew, a James Beard Award Finalist, and having the privilege to work side by side with Irving Penn for several years.  At the height of her career, she was given the opportunity to learn to become a director which is now her absolute passion. She is creative, funny, talented, and...

Tune in to our chat with Stacy Swiderski. Based in Philadelphia, Stacy is a Creative Consultant and photo agent with an extensive background in commercial photography, education, and consulting. She's worked with hundreds of photographers from around the globe during her time in the industry. She holds an MPS in Digital Photography from The School of Visual Arts and a BFA in Photography from...

Today, we're talking to Frances Baca , a creative director based in San Francisco. From reverse-publishing books to creating the perfect design workflow, Frances is sharing her tips, tricks, and experiences that led her to where she is today. Remember to stay safe and keep your creative juices flowing! --- Tech/Project Management Tools (*these are affiliate links) Buzzsprout * Airtable * 17ha...

Today's guest is Joanie Simon! Joanie is a food photographer, educator, and author with years of experience in the industry.  Learn even more about Joanie by visiting her website or checking out her YouTube channel ! Remember to stay safe and keep your creative juices flowing! --- Sponsored by BikiniLists: BikiniLists is a USA database launched over 10 years ago. The BikiniUSA platform has ov...

Tune into our chat with the incredible photographer and entrepreneur Leslie Andrews. Specializing in fashion and beauty photography and based in Atlanta, her niche is branding sessions for entrepreneurs and small businesses. She can and will make you feel like a queen for the day. She was an inspiration as a fellow businesswoman who is really rocking it and constantly innovating to stay ahead of t...

Tune into our chat with Devon Baverman , the Senior Director of Brand Visuals at Untuckit. She has 10+ years of experience focused on data-driven visual strategy, photo shoot execution, branding, creative problem-solving, design, and compelling storytelling for branded content (print, digital, social, OOH). We talk about her path to getting here and what she looks for in photographers and other cr...

Today's guest is Mariolga Pantazopoulos! Better known as MARIOLGA, she is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, who is now based in Boston.  Moving to New York City with limited English proficiency and selling her paintings to fund her journey, she pursued art school, eventually finding her calling in fashion merchandising and marketing. Throughout her career, María's talent for makeup flou...

Today's guest is Melissa Dunne! Melissa is an art director and stylist represented by Anchor Artists and based in Boston! She has pursued many creative endeavors that have led her to where she is today. Keep up with Melissa by following her on Instagram and by checking out her work on the Anchor Artists website ! Remember to stay safe and keep your creative juices flowing! --- Sponsored by Bi...