Scott and Marco have a special last #Mirrorless show of 2016 for you. Marco had the chance to interview Zack Arias for our mirrorless show at the Gulf Photo Plus Berlin event. Zack is a highly regarded and internationally famous commercial and portrait photographer based in Atlanta, Georgia.

• How the image quality of mirrorless cameras convinced him to drop his full frame DSLR gear for good.

• How and when he uses his mirrorless camera over his digital medium format Phase One camera for his jobs.

• What he thinks about the new Fuji GFX mirrorless medium format camera.

• Leaf shutter vs. focal plane shutter in medium format cameras and why the price of each technology needs to be put into account.

• Zack’s thoughts on the more or less neglected portable flash systems from mirrorless camera manufacturers.

• Zack has published a new e-book for photographers who are or want to get into the business of photography. Zack shares his experiences, successes and mistakes that he made in his career as a photographer. The e-book “Get to Work” is currently on sale for $25 and can be purchased on his website here: http://dedpxl.com/product/get-to-work/

• You can find Zack's website and portfolio here: http://beam.zackarias.com/index And his Twitter account is: @zarias

• We have a Photofocus Mirrorless Flickr group that is open to our listeners and photos taken with all mirrorless camera brands. If you want to join just let us know through the "request invitation" button on the group and drop us a quick line there. We'll add you to the group then. And please ask for the invite via the web browser and not via the Flickr App. The invite process via the app has not been working reliably.

• We have picked our monthly featured photographer and image from our Photofocus Mirrorless group.Our monthly Photofocus Mirrorless feature photo and photographer of the month is: Paul Carmody with his image "At Piazza Italia"

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Mirrorless episode of the Photofocus podcast, Scott and Marco will discuss the news from the mirrorless camera world related to innovations, trends, gear and accessories. And they will introduce mirrorless camera manufacturers by interviewing the respective managers of those manufacturers. And they invite pro photographers who make their living working with mirrorless cameras to share some tips and tricks on their workflow.

The PhotoFocus InFocus Interview Show FOR DEC 21ST, 2016. I’m your Host Rod Harlan.

This month we have a special show honoring the life and wisdom of Master Commercial Advertising and Fine Art Photographer and Abundant Educator Jim DiVitale. Jim sadly passed away December 13th after a brave battle with cancer and the entire industry, including his many many friends, will miss him dearly. In today’s show we’ll be listening to 2 Jim DiVitale interviews, each of them just stuffed full of golden nuggets of information, that if we listen to Jim, will make us all better at both our craft and our business.

But first I want to thank our 4 sponsors that make it possible for us to bring you these 2 interviews without commercial interruptions. It’s really great that their are companies like:
HDRsoft - makers of Photomatix
Athentech – makers of Perfectly clear
Drobo - with their storage devices protecting our livelihood
and B&H - who bring quality gear at such great prices

…that there are companies like these that understand the importance of shows like this. So thank you to them.

And with that, I want to start our show with photographer Kevin Ames interviewing Jim just this past June 2016 for a show called Photography is Life. In the interview you will get a taste of all that Jim has accomplished in his life, along with how he got started in the industry, the early days in the film advertising industry, his move to digital as one of the early pioneers, doing things right the first time (which was his personal mantra) and keeping long term clients satisfied for decades upon. Let’s listen as Jim shares in his own words about his fascinating life.

______________

This next interview comes from a long talk I had with Jim at PhotoshopWorld in Sept of 2012. I first met Jimmy D, as I used to call him, thru Scott Kelby back at PhotoshopWorld in 1999. What I loved about Jimmy was that that no matter how much he knew or how smart he was, he was always after more knowledge. His thirst for knowledge about a subject he was curious about had no bounds. From the first day I met him until the last time we spoke he was always asking me about video production or video editing, or motion graphics, or video codecs or new software advances… and when he wasn’t asking he was SHARING such great knowledge about his craft, giving insight and great tips & techniques to anyone who asked.

As a freelancer and small business owner, I always jumped at the chance to pick Jimmy’s brain about how I could improve my business. He was always quick to share the latest techniques as well as tried and true business principles that had worked for him for decades. In the interview you are about to hear, Jim DiVitale shares marketing tips and tricks he used to pay the bills, set himself apart from other photographers, and continue making his business a success. You’ll learn from this interview not just how clever Jim was, but also how much hussle he had in his day to day work life. Like all great businessmen, Jim worked at it day in and day out, but he did it all with poise and grace that set him apart from the norm. Here’s Jim in his own words…

___________________________

Well that’s the end of our special InFocus Interview show for Dec 21st 2016, spending time with our dear friend Jim DiVitale. While he will be missed he will not be forgotten. To see any of Jim work or to read, watch or listen to any of his training, all you need to do is just Google his name. He did a great job of making sure his SEO was always on point.

Each week we have new and dynamic podcasts for you here at Photofocus, so make sure you tune in every week. I’d love to know what you thought of the show and you can always give me Feedback @RodHarlan on Twitter or in the comments section on the Photofocus podcast post page for this episode.

Until next time, this is Rod Harlan encouraging you to get out there and Be Creative!

• Get to know an inspirational photographer: This month Scott introduces you to Neil Leifer (born 1942). Neil is an American photographer and filmmaker mainly known for his work for Sports Illustrated and Time magazine. Neil has captured some of the most iconic sports photos of our time. Most of you will know his famous photo of Muhammad Ali after he poses over the knocked out Sonny Liston in 1965. Neil Leifer has 170 of his pictures published on the cover of Sports Illustrated and 40 cover photos for Life magazine. Check out his amazing work on his website at http://neilleifer.com

• Scott and Marco discuss the recently published list of the 100 most influential images of all time curated by TIME magazine. What make these photos so influential and how did the photographers overcome the technical limitations of cameras at that time? Check out these 100 amazing photos here: http://100photos.time.com

• Do you always need the latest and greatest camera gear in order to take amazing photos and what can you if you can't or don't want to invest too much money into your photo equipment?

• Learning the fundamental techniques of photography (like in the analog and manual focus film days) may enable you to make older cameras much longer while still taking amazing photos.Just look at the old iconic work of master photographers.

• There are fairly inexpensive software solutions out there that can yield pro results in post processing. We discuss a few alternatives.

• Marco's photo book of the month pick is: Road to Seeing by Dan Winters ( http://www.danwintersphoto.com/BOOKS/4/thumbs-caption ). In this book, Dan shares his personal road to seeing, how he started with photography and his philosophy. This is a highly inspirational book with many photos and illustrations to go along with the writing. Here are 3 quotes from the book that give you an idea of the content:

1. "I make it a habit to approach every picture as though it were my last."
2. "The “Why” precedes the “How.” This, I believe, should be the goal of all art."
3. "The soul of the image is ultimately the only relevant issue when viewing a photograph."

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Inspiration episode of the Photofocus podcast, Scott and Marco will discuss the art, history and motivation in photography that often gets lost in today's media rich world. Slow down, look closer and put more intent into photography to increase your creativity and final results. And simply spread the pure love of photography.

Ron Pepper and Scott Bourne discuss how to fix focusing problems with lenses, as well as autofocusing when you don’t expect too. They also cover a lens cleaning regimen as well as the benefits of joining a camera manufacturers Pro services.

Scott Bourne and Richard Harrington answer viewers photography questions.

Q&A Podcast Questions

#1 From David Keneipp Manhattan Beach CA

Question about exposing to the right. I still use my Nikon DSLR for some things, but I've lately been shooting more with my Fuji X-E2 because of the film simulations that can look great right out of the camera. I often shoot JPEG+RAW in case I need some bigger adjustments in post. I know shooting to the right (i.e., overexposing) will give me more data, but doesn't that defeat the goal of trying to get the JPEG to look right without additional processing? Maybe I'm comparing apples and oranges here. I hope you can get me sorted out.

#2 From Kevin Miller Las Vegas

My son and I want to have a short photo outing and are planning to go to Page Arizona toward the end of February. We will probably be there two days. I remember you have talked about photographing the slot canyons there. Can you give us some advice as first time visitors to that area?

#3 From Stephen in the Philippines

I'm writing about Graduated ND Filters. Due to the advent of HDR, Bracketing Techniques, the “Digital Graduated filter" in Adobe LR and the overall power of the RAW file, do we still need Graduated ND filters when photographing landscapes?

#4 From Robbie in San Francisco

This is for Scott. How fast does the shutter speed need to be to guarantee sharp birds in flight. Do you shoot in SHUTTER PRIORITY mode to guarantee the shutter speed you want when shooting BIF?

#5 From Bruce in Brigham City, UT

I like the old-fashioned vignette effect that portrait artists used on almost every portrait in the 50s and 60s. But is this too old fashioned to use today? I noticed Lightroom has a preset for this.

#6 From Duke in Melbourne, FL

I use Macs along with Photoshop & Lightroom but am thinking of switching to Windows 10 because I am not happy with Apple’s new direction. The question I have is how painful would that switch be? I subscribe to CC. Can I just add that to a new Windows machine and if so how do I delete it from my Mac before I sell it on Ebay?

#7 From Kendra in Chicago, IL

This is probably the stupidest question ever but I don’t know who to ask but you guys. If I change my camera’s diopter does that change how the camera focuses by a corresponding amount?

#8 From Sophia in Redding, CA

When I look at my images in Lightroom and Photoshop they seem to be very noisy even if I shoot at (what I consider to be) very low ISOs. Am I doing something wrong?

#9 From Bob in Houston, TX

How do you decide what to include in a photo and what to leave out - more to the point - how do you know what is distracting in a scene?

#10 From Sam in Ft. Worth, TX

Talking about composition - in your opinion, what is more interesting in a photo - patterns or breaks in patterns?

#11 Oleg in Sydney, Australia

I am interested in portraiture but am confused about the difference between standard portraiture and “environmental” portraiture. Can you explain the difference?

#12 From Ross in Weed, CA

I live in the mountains and I find it hard to express the scale of the mountains I photograph. They seem so big in some of my friend’s photos but rather normal in mine. Is it a matter of lens choice/perspective?

In this renewed, reinvigorated episode of The Mind Your Own Business Podcast, Scott Bourne and guest co-host Chamira Young discuss the most common myths about running a photography business.

Specific topics of discussion include the following MYTHS:

• When you decide to go pro, all you'll be doing is taking photos.
• You have to be cheaper than your competition down the street.
• Everyone is your client.
• You have to do everything yourself.
• Your gear is what makes a photographer great.

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We'd also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future?

Scott and Marco discuss these new products and mirrorless topics on this episode of the Photofocus #Mirrorless Show :

• This show starts with a discussion about the announced sales price of the Olympus OM-D EM1 II, which will be $-US 2000. Is this price fair for a top of the line m4/3 mirrorless camera?  Price and information on the camera can be found on the Olympus official website here: http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/e-m1-mark-ii.html

• Olympus has also announced their Pro service in the US. For US-$ 100 photographers of Olympus pro gear and cameras get express service on repairs, complementary equipment loan for extended repair times, priority phone support and a warranty extension. You can read about the program and exact terms on the Olympus website here: http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/proadvantage?ref=CJ

• Leica has announced an update to their Leica T camera system. The new Leica TL has some improvements over the previous version and will cost US-$ 1700. You can find out more about this camera on Leica's website here: nhttps://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-TL/Leica-TL-System

• Leica has also announced a limited version of their "sharpest standard lens in the world". The Leica APO-SUMMICRON-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH lens is now available in a red anodized version. It is a limited offering planned only for 100 copies of this lens. The regular black or silver version is around US-$8000. The limited red version will be around US-$9.000. You can find out more about this lens and other limited collectors gear from Leica on their M special editions website here: https://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/Leica-M-Special-Editions

• Adobe has just announced a new tether plugin for the Fujifilm X-T2 camera. Fujifilm X-T2 owners will soon be able to shoot tethered to Adobe Lightroom using a new plug-in that will be sold for US-$ 79 through the Adobe Add-ons website. The plugin allows X-T2 photographers to tether their camera via USB and preview the image in live view and control the camera settings. The captured images are then imported directly into LightRoom. Here is the news release from Fuji regarding this tether plugin: http://www.fujifilm.com/news/n161031.html. Unfortunately, this plugin will not work on Fujis other Pro camera, the X-Pro 2.

• DJI has just announced the new Phantom 4 PRO drone. The drone comes with an updated 20 MP sensor, mechanical shutter and “almost” 12 stops of dynamic range camera. On the video side, the new camera is capable to shoot a 4K/60P video with H.265 video compression. The drone can fly up to 45mph maximum speed and has up to 30 min flight time and FlightAutonomy that will also avoid uneven ground or water when landing. The drone retails for US-$ 1500 and you can find out more about this drone on the DJI website here: http://www.dji.com/phantom-4-pro

• The Belgian manufacturer CMOSIS (they make some of the sensors for Leica) has announced a new 48MP sensor with global shutter. The sensor is a bit larger than a 35mm full-frame sensor because it is not 3:2 but 4:3 aspect ratio. The new sensor is also designed to record 8K video at a rate of 30fps. The sensor can increase the dynamic range of its output by recording alternate row of pixels at different exposures. The pixels are recorded at one time instead of sequential rows. This technology can be a game changer once it trickles down to more consumer grade cameras. You can find out more about this sensor on CMOSIS's website here: http://www.cmosis.com/products/product_detail/cmv50000

• We have a Photofocus Mirrorless Flickr group that is open to our listeners and photos taken with all mirrorless camera brands. If you want to join just let us know through the "request invitation" button on the group and drop us a quick line there. We'll add you to the group then. And please ask for the invite via the web browser and not via the Flickr App. The invite process via the app has not been working reliably.

• We have picked our monthly featured photographer and image from our Photofocus Mirrorless group.Our monthly Photofocus Mirrorless feature photo and photographer of the month is: Paul Henni with his image titled "Shadowy"

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Mirrorless episode of the Photofocus podcast, Scott and Marco will discuss the news from the mirrorless camera world related to innovations, trends, gear and accessories. And they will introduce mirrorless camera manufacturers by interviewing the respective managers of those manufacturers. And they invite pro photographers who make their living working with mirrorless cameras to share some tips and tricks on their workflow.

The PhotoFocus InFocus Interview Show FOR NOV 21ST, 2016. I’m your Host Rod Harlan.

This month we have a bit of a BRITISH INVASION with 2 Inspiring Interviews with well-known movers and shakers in the Photographic industry from the United Kingdom.

We’ll start with Robert Vanelli interviewing Tim Wallace about the business of Photography including the licensing of your images and the importance of building a relationship with each client.

Then we’ll finish with Levi Sim interviewing Dave Clayton about being a graphic designer and desktop publisher, the story of how he got involved with Scott Kelby and PhotoshopWorld, and about photographers adding a new tool like InDesign to their tool belt to add income to their bottom line.

• Get to know an inspirational photographer: This month Marco introduces you to Lewis Hine (1874 - 1940). Hine was an American sociologist, teacher and photographer. In 1908 he left his teaching position to become the photographer for the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) and documented child labor to aid the NCLC's lobbying efforts to end child labor. Take a look at some of the images that he took during that time here: http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/ Hine and his moving photos certainly played a big role in bringing public awareness to this issue and helped to end this practice. Unfortunately he never really received the recognition for his work that he deserved while he was alive.

• Scott and Marco discuss the Gulf Photo Plus event in Berlin and Seattle that they have attended and talk about the Gulf Photo Plus organization ( https://gulfphotoplus.com ) and their great efforts for teaching and inspiring the photography world.

• Zack Arias shared a 90 years old photography quote by Edward Weston, that is amazingly current today.

• Scott and Marco talk about how Joe McNally sets up a photo shoot and share some of his photography related stories.

• Marco shares his thoughts on shooting portraits with wide angle lenses instead of classic portrait focal length.

• Next, they talk about the amazing work of Gregory Heisler and how simple some of his concepts are that produce amazing work. Take some inspiration for future photo projects from some of Gregory's approaches.

• Scott's photo book of the month pick is: Avedon at Work - In the American West ( https://utpress.utexas.edu/books/wilave ). Richard Avedon was best known for his portraits of famous people. But he set out in 1979 to start to photograph ordinary people of the American West. The book that resulted from this project was a milestone in American photography and probably Avedon's most important body of work. As the original book can only be found as a high-priced collector item, Scott picked the book about making that book.

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Inspiration episode of the Photofocus podcast, Scott and Marco will discuss the art, history and motivation in photography that often gets lost in today's media rich world. Slow down, look closer and put more intent into photography to increase your creativity and final results. And simply spread the pure love of photography.

Ron Pepper and Scott Bourne discuss panoramic photography, the new Ricoh Theta SC 360 degree camera, and the use of various lenses for this style of photography.

Scott Bourne and Frederick Van Johnson answer viewers photography questions.

Q&A Podcast Questions

1. From James in Sacramento, CA

I want to buy a new camera because I want to start making professional photographs. But I noticed several of the portfolio shots posted by Photofocus authors are made with older cameras. Is it possible a five year old DSLR is good enough for “pro” work?

2. From Patti in San Diego, CA

Which is more important in acquiring autofocus? The body or the lens or both?

3. From Arnold in Boston, MA

I have a paid assignment (my first) involving travel photography to another country. I need a guide or a helper who knows the language and customs of the area to help me get the coverage I need of the area. Any idea on how to find one?

4. From Tommy in Lancaster, PA

When I look at my images on the back of my DSLR on the LCD am I seeing a JPEG or the RAW file?

5. From Annie in Prescott, AZ

I have to make photographs of my son’s fourth grade class. Do I need to worry about re-touching such portraits?

6. From Henry in Paris, France

Why do photographers who shoot video always use ND filters?

7. From Willy in Toronto, Ontario

What do you say to models in order to relax them? Some of the people I photograph are so uptight when I make their portrait that it ruins the picture and I need some advice on how to calm them down.

8. From Chris in Oklahoma City, OK

I use a calibration tool on my Mac monitor. Do I need to mess with this on my iPhone and iPad too?

9. From Kevin in Santa Fe, NM

I know you’ve covered this before but with all the changes in Photoshop (now Creative Cloud) can you recommend that photographers start out with Lightroom and then decide if they need Photoshop or just bite the bullet and get both?

10. From Ken in Atlanta, GA

I hear that on M43 cameras, your depth-of-field is doubled meaning f/2 is really f/4. Does that impact how much light hits the sensor?

11. From Larry in Kokomo, IN

Regardless of what cameras/lenses you’re using now, if you had to start all over and had all the budget you wanted, what camera system would you buy and why?

12. From Al in Garden City, New York

This is for Scott: I've listened to you for many years and have learned so much from you. I have often wondered but never heard from you directly on how and when you decided to concentrate on bird photography. What is it about the subject of birds that made you devote so much of your time and energy towards them?

Get the show here or get it on iTunes — Don't forget to post a review on iTunes.

In this renewed, reinvigorated episode of The Mind Your Own Business Podcast, Scott Bourne and Skip Cohen discuss effectively showing your work -- both online and in print -- which is one of the basic ways you can get paid as a professional photographer.

Specific topics of discussion include the following:

• Your gallery is one of your most valuable pieces of real estate on your website. Make it easy for people to find.
• Your business card is your first opportunity to show your work.
• 6x9 inch postcards with 2-3 of your best photos on it are a wonderful leave-behind tool and mailer piece.
• Very practical strategies to approach local businesses in your area to generate business. Go to where your target audience is.
• Only show your BEST of the best of your work. It should be your most impressive, "wow" work.
• Use your own images on your own holiday card as a marketing tool.
• The concept of pop-up galleries to display your work.
• You never know what opportunities will arise if you are relentless at showing your very best work.
• Using your phone to show your images is not enough.
• Adobe Portfolio is a powerful, simple way to display your images.
• On your website, make your images take top priority, and provide a way for people to get in touch with you.
• Your images have to be outstanding. It's not about quantity, but quality.
• Show work you can reproduce, not just the "lucky shots"

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We'd also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future?

Scott Bourne & Marco Larousse discuss these new products and mirrorless topics on this episode of the Photofocus #Mirrorless podcast:

• Scott talks about the features of the new Panasonic mirrorless G80 / G85 micro 4/3 camera and compares it to some competing cameras. The camera is priced at US $899 and you can find out more about this camera on Panasonic's website here: http://shop.panasonic.com/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/lumix-interchangeable-lens-ilc-cameras/DMC-G85KBODY.html

• Marco shares his experience with the Fuji X-Pro 2 firmware 2.0 update that came out recently. The update gave the camera some autofocus updates that are already implemented in the Fuji X-T2 as well as some bug fixes.  Aside from the Firmware update for the camera, Fuji also announced firmware updates for many of their XF lenses. Marco has given the new firmware a spin and got improved results on some very difficult lighting situations on his latest photo project "Life in a tube" that you can check out here: http://www.marcolarousse.com/blog/2016/10/18/life-in-a-tube.

• You can download the firmware updates directly from the Fuji website here: http://www.fujifilm.com/support/digital_cameras/software/fw_table.html

• Leica has announced a new option for their Leica Q full frame mirrorless camera (Type 116). You can now buy the Leica Q in Titanium gray. Changes over the regular black version are: The top and bottom plate of the camera will be “Titanium Grey” instead of black, the distance scale markings will be red instead of the usual yellow and the strap will be made of a different material. You can find out more about this camera on Leica's website here: http://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-Q/LEICA-Q

• Sony just announced their new flagship APS-C mirrorless camera called the Sony a6500. This camera is announced only 8 months after Sony announced the a6300, the previous flagship model. And while many features and specs stayed the same, Sony did add a larger buffer, in-body-5-axis stabilization and a touch enabled screen. The camera body will retail for US $1398 or €1699. You can find out more about this camera on Sony's website here: http://www.sony.com/electronics/interchangeable-lens-cameras/ilce-6500

• Ricoh has just released a new version of their very popular and easy to use 360° panorama camera. The new Ricoh THETA SC is a slightly stripped down version of the top of the line THETA S camera. In comparison to the THETA S the new THETA SC does not offer an HDMI port and the Full HD 360° video is limited to 5 minutes of recording time. The 8GB built-in memory can store up to 1600 images and the new SC comes in 4 colors. The SC's list price is $299 and you can find out more about this camera on Ricoh's THETA360 website here: https://theta360.com/en/about/theta/sc.html

• Lensbaby has announced the Trio 28 which is a unique creative 3 in 1 lens created specifically for mirrorless cameras. It offers similar effects to the Lensbaby Twist, Velvet and Sweet optics in one lens. To switch between the three lenses you simply have to rotate the lens. The lens is a 28mm fixed f3.5 lens with a distance scale on the manual focus dial. And the lens is, of course, manual focus only. The lens is available for Sony E, M4/3 and Fuji X mount and it is priced at US $279,95 or €299,90. You can find out more about this lens on Lensbaby's website here: http://lensbaby.com/product/trio-28/

• We have a Photofocus Mirrorless Flickr group that is open to our listeners and photos taken with all mirrorless camera brands. If you want to join just let us know through the "request invitation" button on the group and drop us a quick line there. We'll add you to the group then. And please ask for the invite via the web browser and not via the Flickr App. The invite process via the app has not been working reliably.

• We have picked our monthly featured photographer and image from our Photofocus Mirrorless group. Our monthly Photofocus Mirrorless feature photo and photographer of the month is: Timothy Linn's photo titled: "Palouse Striped Terrycloth is the Best Striped Terrycloth"

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Mirrorless episode of the Photofocus podcast, Scott and Marco will discuss the news from the mirrorless camera world related to innovations, trends, gear and accessories. And they will introduce mirrorless camera manufacturers by interviewing the respective managers of those manufacturers. And they invite pro photographers who make their living working with mirrorless cameras to share some tips and tricks on their workflow.

The PhotoFocus InFocus Interview Show FOR OCT 21ST, 2016. With your Host Rod Harlan.

As always we have 3 Inspiring Interviews with well-known movers and shakers in the industry.

We’ll start with Chamira Young interviewing Scott Valentine about how Experimentation plays a role in artists finding their own style as well as pushing their own boundaries.

Then we’ll move to Levi Sim interviewing Corey Barker about being a designer and running his own business, his visual and design inspiration that comes from movies, and where other ideas and inspiration come from for him.

And we end with Robert Vanelli interviewing Daniel Gregory how to find inspiration for your work, the history of photography, the introspective side of photography that leads to creating work with intention.

• Get to know an inspirational photographer: This month Scott introduces you to the portrait photographer Don Blair better known as Big Daddy. (1925 - 2004). Don was a portrait photographer who was known for his attention to detail and was beloved in the industry. Scott was fortunate to have met Don and learned about lighting and posing from him.

• After some listener feedback, Scott and Marco decided to talk about light in photography in this show.

• Did you have your photography break-through moment and have learned to "see and read light"?

• Light the problem and also remember to subtract light when necessary.

• Expose for the main subject and add light to your subject in order to subtract light from the unnecessary objects.

• Marco shares an exercise that everyone can do at home in order to see how light position, angle and power can influence a faces appearance in a photo.

• Scott talks about lighting styles and the quality of light.

• Marco shares some info about the latest generation of strobes and small but flexible LED constant light sources.

• Marco's photo book of the month pick is: PICTURE PERFECT LIGHTING by Roberto Valenzuela To go along with our light in photography theme of this show. Roberto has created a truly original system for understanding and controlling light in photography. He discusses the universal nature of light and introduces the five key behaviors of light, which are essential to understanding in order to improve your knowledge of light. The book can be ordered at Rocky Nook for $39.99 ebook, 49.95 print or 59.95 for both: http://www.rockynook.com/shop/photography/picture-perfect-lighting/

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Inspiration episode of the Photofocus podcast, Scott and Marco will discuss the art, history and motivation in photography that often gets lost in today's media rich world. Slow down, look closer and put more intent into photography to increase your creativity and final results. And simply spread the pure love of photography.

Ron Pepper and Scott Bourne discuss the issues surrounding your light source, setting the appropriate white balance, and when to use a different white balance for a more dramatic image. They also address the difficulties of shooting with competing light sources.

Richard Harrington and Scott Bourne answer viewers photography questions.

Q&A Podcast Questions

1. From Jeremy in Grass Valley Oregon

I am shooting wrestlers and want to portray how tough these athletes really are so I actually want their blemishes and bruises to stand out in my photos. How do I accomplish this?

2. From Brandy in Santa Fe, NM

I am shopping for a flash. I keep seeing them rated based on “guide number.” Can you explain this please?

3. From Coup in San Mateo, CA

I only have one lens right now and am saving up for a telephoto lens. My digital camera has a feature called the “digital zoom” but some people say I shouldn’t use that feature. Can you tell me why?

4. From Phil in Benton, AK

I note that LR and other post-processing programs offer lens distortion corrections that are paired to specific lenses. Are these corrections trustworthy and/or is there a better way to do it?

5. From Derrick in St. Louis, MO

I heard Scott say something about exposing to the right. What does that mean and why would I need to do it?

6. From Xavier in Chicago, IL

I want to photograph sports but am not sure how to go about getting access. Do you have any tips?

7. From Norah in Arlington, TX

How important is it to prioritize competing focal points in my compositions?

8. From Diana in Flushing, NY

I know this is a real beginner’s question but what is LIVE VIEW and why would I use it instead of the regular viewfinder?

9. From Dave in Orlando, FL

My friends say there’s no need to make prints but every one of the serious photographers I’ve heard of say prints are still important. What do you two think?

10. From Amy in Bloomington, IN

Where do you find story ideas and things to photograph? Sometimes I struggle with what to shoot.

Get the show here or get it on iTunes — Don't forget to post a review on iTunes.

In this renewed, reinvigorated episode of The Mind Your Own Business Podcast, Scott Bourne and Skip Cohen discuss actionable ways to improve your photography business.

Specific topics of discussion include the following:

-Make sure you have a professional headshot of yourself up on your website, and in your marketing material.

-Proofread your material. This includes your website, business card, etc. The service Grammarly will help you with punctuation and proofreading, for example. Or, you could look for an English teacher, or an A student who’s passionate about writing. If you want to be a better writer, then read as well.

-Try not to be a gear hound. The gear does not make the photographer. Learn how to be a people-person. Also, consider renting or leasing gear and trying to make great pictures.
Publish your phone number for people to contact you. Also, if you put a form on your website, respond quickly. Time is off the essence when responding to potential clients.

-Listen to your clients, learn their vision, and learn what they’re really asking for. Don’t assume you understand. We’re in the problem-solving business above all. Learn empathy.

-Be consistent in blogging and staying in contact with your readership. Your website is about what you sell. Your blog is about what’s in your heart.

-Within your photography portfolio, focus on quality rather than quantity.
Learn how to use studio lighting.

-Have back up gear to every shoot. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.

-Avoid showing work that is technically above your skillset (as in, don’t create work you can’t duplicate). Don’t be a workshop photographer – as in, copying someone else’s set up.

-Avoid taking on “trolls”. Don’t engage them. You will never win. Winston Churchill once said, “If you throw stones at every barking dog along the way, you will never reach your destination.”

-Don’t spread rumors.

-Try to make the best photos possible. Perform at the highest level every time you make pictures.

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We'd also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future?

On this special "Photokina 2016" episode of the Photofocus #Mirrorless Show Scott and Marco discuss these new products and mirrorless topics:

• Marco shares his first-hand experience from the Photokina (the largest photography related trade show in the world) show floor and wrote three blog posts about it:

• Blogpost Day #1: https://photofocus.com/2016/09/21/live-from-photokina-2016-1/

• Blogpost Day #2: https://photofocus.com/2016/09/22/live-from-photokina-2016-2/

• Blogpost Day #3: https://photofocus.com/2016/09/23/live-from-photokina-2016-3/

• Fuji announced the development of the new 50 MPix GFX medium format camera. Marco had a first hands-on and talks about his impression. And he also managed to get his hands on the soon to be released XF 50mm f2 lens.

• Marco was also fortunate enough to get a 45-minute interview with Hasselblad's product manager Ove Bengtson and talked about the new 50 MPix medium format X1D camera, the target audience and the past, present and future of Hasselblad.

• Next up is Olympus and their just announced OM-D E-M1 Mark II camera and what the Olympus managers had to say about their new flagship camera that will start shipping in late 2016.

• Panasonic's biggest announcement was the development of the Lumix GH5 camera, that is due around March 2017 and will most likely set the new standard in terms of 4K and 6K video recording.

• Canon and Nikon were also at Photokina, but what did they show in terms of mirrorless cameras?

• Instax cameras are also mirrorless and were a hot and much-desired item at this year's Photokina.

• Marco shares more impressions and trends like functional photographer wear from COOPH, and thoughts about hot camera bags from Peak Design, Barber Shop and Compagnon.

• Marco will be at PopUp Gulf Photo Plus in Berlin on October 29th and 30th. He was asked to interview David Hobby and Zack Arias for the Photofocus podcast during the event. And we want to turn the questions that Marco is going to ask them to our audience. Do you have a photography related question that you would like to ask David or Zack? If so, just write it in the comments section below or contact Scott or Marco directly via the links provided at the end of the show notes. And please add to whom you would like the question to be addressed to.

• We have a Photofocus Mirrorless Flickr group that is open to our listeners and photos taken with all mirrorless camera brands. If you want to join just let us know through the "request invitation" button on the group and drop us a quick line there. We'll add you to the group then. And please ask for the invite via the web browser and not via the Flickr App. The invite process via the app has not been working reliably.

• We have picked our monthly featured photographer and image from our Photofocus Mirrorless group. Our monthly Photofocus Mirrorless feature photo and photographer of the month is: Amy Hoogerbrugge's photo titled: "March 3, 2016"

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Mirrorless episode of the Photofocus podcast, Scott and Marco will discuss the news from the mirrorless camera world related to innovations, trends, gear and accessories. And they will introduce mirrorless camera manufacturers by interviewing the respective managers of those manufacturers. And they invite pro photographers who make their living working with mirrorless cameras to share some tips and tricks on their workflow.

The PhotoFocus InFocus Interview Show FOR Sept 21ST, 2016, with your Host Rod Harlan. 

As always we have 3 Powerful Interviews with well-known movers and shakers in the industry.

We’ll start with Robert Vanelli interviewing Frank Doorhof about the importance of using story telling in his photography and his use of Adobe Photoshop as well.

Then we’ll move to Scott Bourne interviewing Troy Plota about his many decades of work as a commercial photographer shooting for catalogs as well as his new company Plotagraph that sells software that animates still photographs.

And we end with Chamira Young interviewing Fashion Photographer Lindsey Adler about her start in the industry, where she finds her passion for photography, and about finding your own personal photographic style.

On this inspiration episode of the Photofocus podcast Marco invited street photographer Valerie Jardin, to cover these topics on inspiration and street photography:

• Marco starts off with an announcement regarding the PopUp Gulf Photo Plus in Berlin on October 29th and 30th. He was asked to interview David Hobby and Zack Arias for the Photofocus podcast during the event. And we want to turn the questions that Marco is going to ask them to our audience. Do you have a photography related question that you would like to ask David or Zack? If so, just write it in the comments section below or contact Scott or Marco directly via the links provided at the end of the show notes. And please add to whom you would like the question to be addressed to.

• Get to know an inspirational photographer: This month Valerie introduces you to the American photographer and painter Saul Leiter (1923 - 2013). Saul is best known for his color photos of New York in the 40s and 50s of the last century. He along with Robert Frank and Diane Arbus influenced the 40’s and 50’s with his photography that was later coined as New York School of Photographers. Check out his work and be inspired by his images.

• What is the definition of street photography?

• How and why did Valerie and Marco get started with street photography?

• Why should someone start with street photography?

• Is street photography important for society?

• Can someone make a living with street photography?

• How to get started and what should one look out for in the beginning?

• Submit your best street photos to the Photofocus Flickr group for your chance to be picked as street photographer of the week by Marco: https://www.flickr.com/groups/1055501@N24/  And here you can see some of his picks from the previous month: https://photofocus.com/author/hamburgcam/

• Marco's photo book of the month pick is:  Street Photography - First Steps and Beyond by Valerie Jardin ($10 ebook). To go along with the main topic of this episode I pick this book by Valerie because it is a great street photography hands on guide for beginner and intermediate street photographers. And it is a good source of inspiration for those who want to get guidance to try out different styles of street photography. Here is the link to the ebook: https://gumroad.com/l/jGVpl

You can see more of Valerie's Work and find all the links to her social media accounts and workshop schedule on her website: http://www.valeriejardinphotography.com/

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Inspiration episode of the Photofocus podcast, Scott and Marco will discuss the art, history and motivation in photography that often gets lost in today's media rich world. Slow down, look closer and put more intent into photography to increase your creativity and final results. And simply spread the pure love of photography.

Ron Pepper and Scott Bourne tackle the problem of NOISE in your photographs, using both pre and post processing, and they discuss the Panasonic GX8 camera and it’s ability to auto-bracket. 

Richard Harrington and Scott Bourne answer viewer questions.

Q&A Podcast Questions

1. From Tim in Yakima, WA

I am new to digital photography and keep reading about certain cameras being “noisy.” While this may be a stupid question - what does that mean? Noisy?

2. From Cam in Queens, NY

I would like to get started with real estate and architectural photography. What camera lenses would you suggest I use for that purpose?

3. From Tom in Orlando, FL for Rich

I am shooting video with my Panasonic GH4 and keep hearing about shooting with a “Flat” profile. What is that and why is that important?

4. From Shawn in Las Vegas, NV

I want to practice my portrait photography and my family is sick of me asking them to pose. I want to hire some models but don’t have a big budget. Can you suggest ways of finding affordable models for photography?

5. From Kai in San Diego, CA for Scott

I know Scott used to use film back in the day so maybe he can tell me if I should invest in some old film. I have seen film on Ebay that is recently “expired.” Would it be safe to try this? The person is selling it pretty cheap and I like experimenting with film.

6. From Pyra in Bangalore, India

I have been shooting images that I want to convert to Black & White. I see lots of cityscapes with black skies but the images were made during the day. I like that effect. How do I get it?

7. From Anton in Burlington, VT

What is the difference between “cross type” autofocus points and non “cross type?”

8. From Tom in Apple Valley, MN

I want to use a small aperture to increase my depth-of-field, but I realize that by stopping down I increase the possibility of lens diffraction. What are the trade offs and other possible solutions to attain greater DOF without sacrificing image quality.

9. From Don in Phoenix, AZ

With the advent of accurate auto white balance do I still need to worry about using the eye dropper tool in LR/PS to set color balance in post?

Get the show here or get it on iTunes — Don't forget to post a review on iTunes.

In this renewed, reinvigorated episode of The Mind Your Own Business Podcast, Scott Bourne and guest host Chamira Young discuss actionable ways to improve your photography business.

Specific topics of discussion include the following:

• Don't base your pricing solely on what other photographers are charging. Be confident in your price and say it with authority.
  
  
• We need to be confident in ourselves as photographers. Even if your skill set is adequate with your camera, you still have to believe in yourself.
  
  
• Be sure of your craft and your position in the market through study.
  
  
• If someone says no to your pricing, that usually means you're talking to the wrong person.
  
  
• Your ideal client is NOT everybody. You need to target on your ideal client. If you're talking to someone who has the authority, the money, and the need for your services, then you're most likely talking to the right person.
  
  
• You have to make a connection with your clients. We're in the business of relationships.
  
  
• Analyze yourself honestly.
  
  
• "Hope" is not a business strategy.
  
  
• Up your personal game. Try to be the best you absolutely can. This will help the market overall.

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We'd also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future?

On this episode of the Photofocus #Mirrorless Show Scott and Marco will discuss these new products and mirrorless topics:

• Photokina is just around the corner. It will be held from September 20th to the 25th in Cologne, Germany. Marco will be there to find out what's the latest and greatest in the photography industry. And for those who are planning on going and don't have a ticket yet: Our friends at Hahnemuehle Fine Art paper manufacturer have given Marco a few day pass tickets to give away. Listen to the episode to find out what you have to do for your chance to get a free ticket.

• This year's PopUp Gulf Photo Plus will pop up in Berlin, Germany on the weekend of October 29th & 30th. The speakers will be David Hobby, Gregory Heisler, Joe McNally and Zack Arias. Marco will also be there, so let him know if you are also planning on participating. It's always nice to meet our Photofocus listeners.

• The Korean lens manufacturer Samyang announced another new lens for mirrorless cameras. Their newest lens is the Samyang 35mm F1.2 ED AS UMC CS lens. It is a manual focus lens made for APS-C cameras and will be shipped for Sony E, MFT, Fujifilm X and Canon mounts. The price info has not yet been released.

• Leica has released a 2.0 FW update for their Leica Q compact full frame 24 MPix mirrorless camera. This FW update is supposed to improve functionality and usability and can be downloaded from the Leica website: https://uk.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-Q/LEICA-Q/Firmware-Update-2.0

• Sony has also released a FW update for their a7R II full frame mirrorless camera. The FW 3.30 update is mainly a stability improvement update but it also implements support for radio controlled lighting systems and can be downloaded from the Sony website: https://www.sony.de/support/de/product/ILCE-7RM2

• Scott shares his first impressions on all of the m43 lenses that he has recently purchased for his Panasonic Lumix GX8 camera.

• Scott interviews commercial photographer and Lumix Luminary Bob Coates about his experience and history as a working pro who only shoots with m43 cameras.

• We have a Photofocus Mirrorless Flickr group that is open to our listeners and photos taken with all mirrorless camera brands. If you want to join just let us know through the "request invitation" button on the group and drop us a quick line there. We'll add you to the group then. And please ask for the invite via the web browser and not via the Flickr App. The invite process via the app has not been working reliably.

• We have picked our monthly featured photographer and image from our Photofocus Mirrorless group. The image we picked this month was taken by Nicolas Winspeare and is called "The Z"

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Mirrorless episode of the Photofocus podcast, Scott and Marco will discuss the news from the mirrorless camera world related to innovations, trends, gear and accessories. And they will introduce mirrorless camera manufacturers by interviewing the respective managers of those manufacturers. And they invite pro photographers who make their living working with mirrorless cameras to share some tips and tricks on their workflow.

With your new host Rod Harlan. In this episode Scott Bourne interviews Trey Radcliffe about a new line of camera bags, some new AuroraHDR News, and a bit about the History of Art. Then, Levi Sim interviews Matt Kloskowski about HDR and bracketing, combined with using the power of modern cameras to help you be more creative. Finally, we have Kevin Ames interviewing Drobo CTO Rod Harrison about the new line of Drobo models, the history of the company, and the difference between regular RAID systems and their Beyond Raid system.

Brought to you by HDRSoft, B&H, Perfectly Clear by Athentech and Drobo.

• Get to know an inspirational photographer: This month Marco introduces you to the advertising and documentary photographer Elliott Erwitt (born 1928 in Paris). Elliott studied photography and filmmaking in the US and was later invited to join Magnum Photo where he became president of Magnum from 1966-1969. Elliot is a very diverse photographer and he was not only successful in the commercial advertising field, he also managed to be highly regarded in the documentary and art photography community. Elliot is also an incredible street photographer with some iconic photos of humans and dogs. Please take some time to study his diverse portfolio and see that a photographer can become a master of many different genres of photography.

• Scott and Marco share their tips and thoughts on what a photographer should focus on to be inspired during a vacation.

• Vacations are a great opportunity to also take a break from your "normal" photography. Changing and simplifying gear can not only be a stress relief, it can also by an incredible inspiration push.

• Focusing on different genres and objects from your daily photography may not only pose a welcome challenge, but it may also help you to encounter challenges outside your comfort zone that help you learn new photographic skills.

• Find out why Marco thinks that your camera can become your best buddy when travelling the world on your own. And how it can help you meet new people.

• Without the pressure of a client requesting certain results, take the chance to simplify your workflow during vacations and see how far you can get by only shooting in jpg and trying to get the images "right" in camera. You may even challenge yourself to only shoot B&W jpg on your vacation, and Marco hast posted a "How to become a better B&W photography with the help of your camera." blog post here: https://photofocus.com/2016/07/28/become-a-better-bw-photographer-and-let-your-camera-help-you-with-that/

• And make the point of documenting even the ordinary moments of your vacation and upload your valuable memories to a photo book service within 7 days of your return from your vacations! Don't over process to make it too much work. Go with the vacation flow and simplify and use the jpg images. You and your loved ones will be very happy to hold a tangible book with those important images in their hands.

• Scott's photo book of the month pick is: On the iPhone by David Hume Kennerly To go along with our simplifying your photography theme of this show, this is a book of a Pulitzer Price winning photographer who captured the world with an iPhone.

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Inspiration episode of the Photofocus podcast, Scott and Marco will discuss the art, history and motivation in photography that often gets lost in today's media rich world. Slow down, look closer and put more intent into photography to increase your creativity and final results. And simply spread the pure love of photography.

Ron Pepper and Scott Bourne tackle the problem of WHEN to remove people from your shot and HOW to achieve that successfully.

Rich Harrington and Scott Bourne answer viewer questions.

Q&A Podcast Questions

1. From Jason via the Web

I have 16MP photos from a Fuji XT1 that I want to print 30” and that I will display in my home. Do I need to “up-res” them?

2. From Andy in Cle Elum, WA

I am deciding between a 16 and a 20mp camera. All other things being equal should I pick the one with the most megapixels?

3. From Michele in Rochester, MN

I want to build a photo studio. Should I paint the ceiling white, black, gray or a reflective color so I can manage the light?

4. From Justine via the Web

I like to shoot panoramic photographs using stitching methods you guys have suggested at Photofocus. I see some new cameras are coming out that have the ability to shoot panoramic images built in. Do these cameras do this as well as the stitching method?

5. From Hondo in Londonbury, CT

I have lots of camera gear. I struggle with how to store it when I am not using it. What do you guys do? Do you keep it in bags, boxes, closets, a safe, etc.?

6. From Chandra in Danbury, CT

This is for Scott. I noticed on Twitter that you posted a bird photo and someone asked you what camera and lens you used to make a photo. Do you think that the person asking that question believes that if they use the same camera and lens they can make that photo? Or do you think they want to know something else? I am puzzled.

7. From John in Sydney, Australia

This is for Rich. I have heard recently that people advise video shooters to capture video at a high frame rate and then slow it down to 24fps to “smooth” it out. Can you explain what that means and are there any super easy consumer level video editing programs that employ that function?

8. From Laurie in LA, CA

When making vacation or family photos is it better to use the camera’s built-in timed shutter release or to use an app on a phone you click in your pocket or otherwise hide from the camera?

9. From Molly in Trenton, NJ

Can you explain the advantages/disadvantages of using silver, v. white, v. gold reflectors?

10. From Roger in Pasadena, CA

My dad left me an old Sekonic handheld light meter. Is there any reason to hang on to gear like this? Is it needed or even useable in the digital age?

11. From Sophia in Franklin, TN

I want to start learning to edit photos on a computer. The only computer I have is six years old. How much computer do you need these days to take advantage of the best photo editing software?

12. From Jenny in Dallas, TX

I have been shooting for about two years and am starting to get pretty serious about photography. How long should I wait before starting to think about building a portfolio?

In this renewed, reinvigorated episode of The Mind Your Own Business Podcast, Scott Bourne and Skip Cohen discuss actionable ways to improve your photography business. In this particular episode, they discuss how to distinguish yourself from the competition by providing excellent Customer Service to your clients.

Specific topics of discussion include the following:

• You don’t have to be the best photographer in town, or have the highest end gear, but you can choose to build relationships with your customers.
• It’s about being nice and listening to your customers.
• You can develop a great reputation for your business even if you mess up – make sure you come back and deliver great Customer Service in order to fix potentially negative situations.
• It’s how you handle your mistakes that separates you from your competition.
• When you make a mistake, admit that you’re wrong without assigning blame on the customer, even if you believe they are at fault. Move on to solving the problem for them in order to make them happy with your service.
• The internet is powerful, and word (positive or negative!) about your business travels fast.
• Empathize. Remember to listen twice as much as you talk. Handle things quickly.

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We'd also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future?

On this episode of the Photofocus #Mirrorless Show Scott and Marco will discuss these new products and mirrorless topics:

• Scott talks about his trip to Photoshop World in Las Vegas with his mirrorless camera.

• Sigma has announced pricing and availability of the sd Quattro camera. The body only will be a competitive $799 (US). A unique feature of this camera is the 'Super-Fine Detail' mode that combines 7 exposures into one high dynamic range image.

• Samyang Optics have announced the global availability of the long-awaited autofocus lens: Samyang AF 50/1.4 FE. It is made for Sony E mount Mirrorless cameras with full frame sensor size. The lens will be globally available from August, and the suggested retail price is EUR 579 (approx. $600 US).

• There is another new 50mm f1.4 lens for Sony - this one is made by Zeiss. The Zeiss Planar T* FE 50mm F1.4 ZA lens. This full-frame fast prime features an 11-blade aperture for circular out-of-focus highlights a.k.a. Bokeh, even as you stop down. This lens will retail for $1.500 US.

• Fujifilm has released a fix for their last firmware fix that caused problems for some users after the lens firmware upgrade of the XF 90mm f2 and the XF 16-55mm f2.8 lenses. The fix for the fix can be downloaded here: http://www.fujifilm.com/news/n160712.html

• Fujifilm has also updated their lens roadmap, adding there new lenses that we should see in the future: XF 23mm f2 R WR, XF 50mm f2 R WR and XF 80mm f2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro.

• Fujifilm has also launched an updated Instax printer. The new Instax SP-2 is faster and has a better resolution for the credit card sized Instax mini prints. The Printer can be used with most smartphones or directly with Fuji X-cameras and will retail for about $200 US. Scott also shares his Instax mini experience from the past and Marco adds a few wishes for a future Instax printer.

• The Fuji X-Pro 2 will get an FW update later in the year. It should boost up AF speed to that of the unreleased, top of the line Fuji X-T2 camera. And it also fixes some parallax correction issues on the OVF.

• We cover the announcement and discuss the features of the Fujifilm X-T2. And we take a close look at how it compares to the X-Pro 2 and which camera is the better deal for the money.

• We have a Photofocus Mirrorless Flickr group that is open to our listeners and photos taken with all mirrorless camera brands. If you want to join just let us know through the "request invitation" button on the group and drop us a quick line there. We'll add you to the group then. And please ask for the invite via the web browser and not via the Flickr App. The invite process via the app has not been working reliably.

• We have picked our monthly featured photographer and image from our Photofocus Mirrorless group. The image we picked this month was taken by Jim Harvey and is called Made in China

• Marco has reserved two free spots for our listeners for a sponsored street photography day and photo walk in Hannover, Germany on August 27. Contact him if you want one of these spots.

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Mirrorless episode of the Photofocus podcast, Scott and Marco will discuss the news from the mirrorless camera world related to innovations, trends, gear and accessories. And they will introduce mirrorless camera manufacturers by interviewing the respective managers of those manufacturers. And they invite pro photographers who make their living working with mirrorless cameras to share some tips and tricks on their workflow.

In this episode of the InFocus Interview Show, our guests discuss HDR photography, how they use Photomatix Pro in their workflow, and more!

We have four great interviews in today's episode. They are as follows:

1. Chamira interviews Bob Lussier. In their discussion, they chat about:

• How Bob uses his HDR to document abandoned textile spaces and equipment
• How he captures the essences of the buildings he shoots
• How he uses Photomatix in his workflow.
• The evolution of HDR.

2. Chamira interviews Colin Smith. In their discussion, they chat about:

• Colin's early exploration into HDR via 3D work.
• His early illustrative HDR style, and its evolution into a cleaner, more natural style
• How he's using HDR with his aerial photography
• How he uses Photomatix in his workflow for his bracketed shots
• The process of finding your own style
• Incorporating a sense of mystery in our image

3. Levi interviews Matt Kloskowki. In their discussion, they chat about:

• The importance of making a good photo
• How composition plays a role
• How far we choose to push HDR style
• How creativity and artistry play a role in making pictures.

4. Levi interviews Richard Harrington. In their discussion, they chat about:

• HDR as it applies to black and white photography
• HDR as it applies to panoramic photography
• Hand-held HDR vs shooting off of a tripod
• Time-lapse photography and batch processing

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We'd also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future?

• Get to know an inspirational photographer: This month Scott introduces you to the American documentary photographer Dorothea Lange (1895 - 1965). She is best known for her documentary photography during the great depression (1929-1939). Her most famous image "Migrant Mother" (1936) is one of the most exhibited images in history. Dorothea's work had a great impact on modern documentary photography. Her images gave the poor and forgotten a face and her work for the FSA from 1935-1939 is iconic for that time.

• Scott and Marco share their thoughts on why printing your image is so important - especially in today's digital world.

• Marco interviews Travis Mc Connaghy from the US office of the oldest German paper manufacturer Hahnemuehle (founded in 1584)

• In the interview, we cover printers, ink, paper, calibration, software settings and icc profiles. And all of this is today a lot less complicated than many may think!

• Good paper manufacturers like Hahnemuehle supply icc profiles and instructions on how to get the best results with their paper and your pro-grade ink jet printer.

• After the interview Scott and Marco share more thoughts on their experiences with printing and strongly urge you, the audience to take action and print more of your work. It may be a life changing experience for your photography.

• Marco's photo book of the month pick is: Fine Art Printing For Photographers by Uwe Steinmueller. This book is great for anyone who wants to find a consistent printing workflow.

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Inspiration episode of the Photofocus podcast, Scott and Marco will discuss the art, history and motivation in photography that often gets lost in today's media rich world. Slow down, look closer and put more intent into photography to increase your creativity and final results. And simply spread the pure love of photography.

In this episode of the Problem Solving show, Scott Bourne and Pepper discuss the problems photographers face. They also offer solutions to help solve these problems.

In today's episode, they discuss the importance of having the right tool for the job.

Specific topics of their discussion include the following:

• The concept of being "polycamerous"
• Working with various camera systems
• Taking 360 panoramas with the Ricoh Theta
• The lightweight, high quality Lumix cameras
• Fuji cameras as a "serious compact" system
• The ways that Canon and Nikon are upping their game
• Choose the camera that's the best solution for the given situation you are in
• Taking into account the weight of your camera body and lens
• Feeling free to add gear to your list without feeling like you're "cheating" on your camera brand
• Switching to a less professional-looking camera in order to better blend into your surroundings
• Sometimes the smaller camera is the better camera for particular jobs

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We'd also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future?

In this renewed, reinvigorated episode of The Mind Your Own Business Podcast, Scott Bourne and Skip Cohen discuss marketing tips to improve your photography business. In this particular episode, they discuss how to make the most of photography trade shows. This includes what to look for, how to invest your time wisely, what to do, and also what not to do.

Specific topics of discussion include the following:

• Plan ahead and determine your budget

• Build an action plan for when you get back (follow-up)

• Make a list of your gear, or gear you would like to have, and plan to visit those vendors at the trade show.

• The concept of “storm-trooping” at trade shows

• Pick courses/classes at trade shows that will help you bump up your skillset and improve your weak skills.

• For portfolio reviews at trade shows, consider taking your worst work so that the reviewers can help you problem solve. Don’t try to show off. Instead, try to improve.

• At the end of each day of a trade show, make notes and catalog the business cards that you collected, so that you can properly follow up later.

• Be practical: wear comfortable shoes, and bring your business cards.

• Bring your “persona”

• Be helpful

• Know your spending power in advance

On this episode of the Photofocus #Mirrorless Show Scott and Marco will discuss these new products and mirrorless topics:

• We talk a bit about listener feedback that we have received on last months "mirrorless manufacturer repair service quality" topic. And we have found at least one official mirrorless pro service claim in one country.

• Hasselblad has just announced the first compact mirrorless medium format camera. It is called the Hasselblad X1D and has a 50 MPix CMOS sensor (44mm x 33mm) that works at a native ISO range from ISO 100- 25600. We discuss the cameras features, lens options and price. And we give our initial thoughts on the announcement of this camera.

• Panasonic has announced a new Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 12mm f1.4 lens. The lens offers the classic 24mm field of view for m4/3 cameras. Scott has ordered this lens along with a new Panasonic GX8 and he'll talk about his experiences in a future Photofocus mirrorless show.

• We share some news regarding Olympus and Panasonic. There are potential supply shortages and product delays caused by the negative effects of the Kumamoto earthquake on April 14th, 2016.

• Fujifilm has released a bunch of new firmware updates for many of their X-cameras and lenses. These updates mainly fix bugs regarding manual focus errors and some improvements on OIS image stabilisation issues.

• Adobe has released an update to Lightroom 6.6 / CC 2015.6 that improves overall performance and added new cameras and lens profiles  for these mirrorless cameras: Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II, Leica M-D (Typ 262), Nikon COOLPIX B700, Panasonic DMC-GX85 (DMC-GX80, DMC-GX7MK2). The CC version also received new features.

• Scott answers two listener question regarding the quality difference and usage situations of the mechanical- vs. the electronic shutter. And if the Lumix GX8 in-body image stabilisation needs to be turned off when used on a tripod?

• Marco answers a listener question regarding the choice of a wide angle lens for street photography and environmental street portraits. The listener asked specifically about the Fujinon XF 14mm f2.8 vs. the Fujinon XF 16mm f1.4 lens.

• We now have a Photofocus Mirrorless Flickr group that is open to our listeners and photos taken with all mirrorless camera brands. If you want to join just let us know through the "request invitation" button on the group and drop us a quick line there. We'll add you to the group then. And please ask for the invite via web browser and not via the Flickr App. The invite process via the app has not been working reliably.

• We have picked our monthly featured photographer and image from our Photofocus Mirrorless group. The image we picked this month was taken by Patrick Gorden and is called Lets rock!

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Mirrorless episode of the Photofocus podcast, Scott and Marco will discuss the news from the mirrorless camera world related to innovations, trends, gear and accessories. And they will introduce mirrorless camera manufacturers by interviewing the respective managers of those manufacturers. And they invite pro photographers who make their living working with mirrorless cameras to share some tips and tricks on their workflow.

This weeks show we here from Levi Sim who gets a chance to sit down with Mark Toal.

Levi and Mark discuss who is Mark and his background. How he got started. They then dive into the importance of practice and originality and even carrying your camera. The highlight is hearing Mark's experience photographing Muhammed Ali and they tie it all in by sharing what it means to take advantage of opportunities. 

Then Pamela sits down with Larry Tiefenbrunn who is behind the Platypod Pro and Platypod Max that has been getting rave reviews from every direction. Learn about the Kickstarter, the buzz, unique ways of using the product and much more.

• Get to know an inspirational photographer: This month Marco introduces you to the professional "socially engaged documentary photographer" Sebastião Salgado. Sebastião's documentary work has been published in many top-tier magazines and exhibited in some of the world's most famous photo galleries and museums. Many will know his photos of the firemen working on the oilfield fires in Kuwait. He has also published multiple books such as "Workers" or "Genesis". Sebastião has documented many conflict-torn regions in the world and over time changed his focus to look at the beauty of nature with his photography. He and his wife started a stunning environmental project to reforest the rainforest in his home region in Brazil about 20 years ago. There is also a fantastic documentary movie about Sebastião's life as a photographer that is called "The Salt of the Earth" and that is really worth watching.

• Marco explains why current events (a.k.a. tornado) changed the plans and topic for this episode of the inspiration podcast to "protecting your precious visual memories in today's digital world".

• Choosing and handling your memory cards in the field.

• Create a second layer of backup when on the road such as WD My Passport Wireless or Drobo Mini.

• Image management and drive strategy for safe storing your images at home / in your office (RAID, NAS, Time Machine etc.)

• More onsite and offsite backup options for redundancy and real backup. Remember, redundancy is not automatically backup!

• Protecting your onsite cloned drives from fire and water with a document safe like this.

• Offsite options via online backup services, a second NAS etc.

• Scott's photo book of the month pick is: America from 500 Feet II by Bill Fortney. Scott is still picking up this book regularly and is very impressed with the images that Bill took with an ultralight plane in the 1990's.

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Inspiration episode of the Photofocus podcast, Scott and Marco will discuss the art, history and motivation in photography that often gets lost in today's media rich world. Slow down, look closer and put more intent into photography to increase your creativity and final results. And simply spread the pure love of photography.

Problem solving podcast with Scott Bourne and Pepper

They go into depth on issues you have probably faced and used their knowledge and experience to get great images. 

Great location however, conditions aren’t ideal, what are your options? Pepper and Scott go into issues such as light, dynamic range, composition and post processing to help you utilize the less than ideal images to find great images. Then they follow up with a question from the last show regarding density filters and shooting the moon.

Several of your questions get answered on this months Q&A with Scott Bourne and Richard Harrington.

Q&A Podcast Questions

1. From Brian in Alberta, Canada

What is a stepping motor lens (Canon) and how is one of these different from Canon’s USM lenses?

2. From Ann in Seattle, WA

What are some of your favorite photography books?

3. From Mike in Tampa, FL

I know that this is easy for some people but I am new at photography and am interested in learning the best way to convert a color photo into B&W.

4. From Justin in Anchorage, AK

Have you ever used a monopod rather than a tripod and if so why and what are the advantages?

5. From Henry in London, UK

Are those panos you can make with your smartphone any good? Do I still need to use my DSLR and stitch or will the phone pics work?

6. From Chandler in Brooklyn, NY

What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying a battery grip for your camera?

7. From Jane in Evansville, IN

My father got into bird photography after attending a seminar with Scott Bourne. I know he doesn’t have a long enough lens and has talked about teleconverters. I also know they come in two sizes, 1.4 and 2X. Is there a reason to pick one over the other and can you use the two together at the same time?

8. From Elliot in Fayetteville, AR

I am interested in knowing if there are alternatives to Lightroom and/or Photoshop that you would consider good enough to use as a replacement for one or both. I am not necessarily thinking of switching but want to do some research just in case.

9. From Joe in Topeka, KS

I’ve heard you both talk about neutral density filters. I get that they are used to darken a scene but I guess I don’t know why you would want to do that.

10. From Oliver in Cheyenne, WY

What is the advantage of setting my DSLR’s backbutten focus to acquire AF over the half-press shutter method?

11. From Marvin in Pittsburgh, PA

I have seen some cool shots of cars at night with long trails from their headlights and tail lights. How do I get that effect and do I need any special gear for that?

12. From Jeff in Houston, TX

I want to photograph zoo animals and then possibly create paintings from those photographs. Do I need to get any special permission from the zoo to take pictures and then turn them into paintings?

In this renewed, reinvigorated episode of The Mind Your Own Business Podcast, Scott Bourne and Skip Cohen discuss marketing tips to improve your photography business. In particular, they discuss the following topics:

• Paying attention to detail allows you to create a great experience for your clients.

• Respect your work enough to package it well. Give your work the presentation it deserves. This communicates to your client how high end you are.

• Make it a point to go out to high end stores and observe how they package their product. Examples include stores like Tiffany & Co, and jewelry stores that sell Rolex watches.

• The little things absolutely count, such as dressing the part or wearing a tie. This applies to writing as well, such as emails and brochures. Proofread your work.

• Make everyone who walks into your studio feel like a rock star.

• Sending flowers to brides that book you is one example of treating a client like a rock star.

• It’s about relationship building. Do research on your clients and find out how you can make them happy.

• Disney and Nordstrom’s are great examples of companies that go above and beyond when pleasing their customers.

• Every detail you get right is another stepping stone towards closing the deal and helping your clients protect their memories.

• Your goal is to exceed client expectations, especially because photography is largely a word of mouth business.

On this episode of the Photofocus #Mirrorless Show Scott and Marco will discuss these new products and mirrorless topics:

• Marco returned from an assignment to Oslo and Copenhagen and instead of using train & plane, he traveled by cruise ship and shared a short photo essay that he captured with mirorless cameras.

• Leica launched the M-D (Type 262) digital rangefinder camera with no rear LCD screen. Scott and Marco discuss the pros and cons of the concept of this camera.

• Sony is one of the biggest image sensor manufacturers for the photographic industry. They announced that their sensor plant in the Kumamoto region in Japan will resume production after an earthquake shut it down on April 14th of this year. This is good news as a longer shut down could have delayed the release of new camera models and lead to shortages of current models, too.

• Canon announced the EF-M 28mm f3.5 macro IS STM with two controllable built in LED macro lights for it’s mirrorless M cameras. It offers a true 1:1 reproduction plus a 1.2x super macro mode and will retail for only $299 USD.

• Fujifilm announced the Fujinon 2x Teleconverter XF2X TC WR that will work with the XF 50-140mm f2.8 and XF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 lenses and that will allow for a maximum equivalent field of view of up to 1,219mm in full frame comparison. The TC will slow the lens aperture down by 2 stops (f5.6 for the XF 50-140mm and f9-11 for the XF 100-400mm) and it will also disable the phase detection autofocus on the longer of the two zoom lenses.

• Fujifilm also introduced a new LH-XF23 square metal lens hood for the XF 23mm f1.4 lens that can be purchased separately as accessory.

• Scott shares his ordeal with a broken camera and the Fuji US repair service and raises the question if the lack of Canon or Nikon style pro service offers may be the biggest caveat for pros who would want to switch to mirrorless cameras? Please share your service experiences from mirrorless camera manufacturers with us. And let us know if anyone of them offers a pro service similar to Canon's CPS or Nikon's NPS?

• Scott is looking for a new interchangable camera from a different brand to switch to. Please share your serious suggestions and tell us why this could be a good mirrorless camera for Scott?

• Scott and Marco answer a listener question regarding focus peaking settings for more accurate results with less spill outside of the critical focus area.

• We now have a Photofocus Mirrorless Flickr group that is open for our listeners and photos taken with all mirrorless camera brands. If you want to join just let us know through the "request invitation" button on the group and drop us a quick line there. We'll add you to the group then. And please ask for the invite via web browser and not via the Flickr App. The invite process via the app has not been working reliably.

• We have picked our first featured photographer and image from our Photofocus Mirrorless group and the image is taken by Guy Vanhulle and the image is called B16 - 79 TTT - Trying to Tango

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Mirrorless episode of the Photofocus podcast Scott and Marco will discuss the news from the mirrorless camera world related to innovations, trends, gear and accessories. And they will introduce mirrorless camera manufacturers by interviewing the respective managers of those manufacturers. And they invite pro photographers who make their living working with mirrorless cameras to share some tips and tricks on their workflow.

This weeks episode Pamela sits down with Chris Smith of Out Of Chicago and they discuss how fun, inspiring and creative the conference with a new announcement of a new conference. Then Chamira has another interview from the floor of WPPI from earlier this year. 

Pamela Berry/Chris Smith

Who is Chris?

What is Out of Chicago?

How did Out of Chicago come about?

Author of Photographers guide to Chicago

Who is coming to Out of Chicago?

The out of Chicago App and information it provides

Announcement of new conference 

What are the classes like?

Going means to be inspired

How can you find out about the conferences?

Chamira Young/ Sprouts Studio

What is Sprouts Studio?

Tips on managing the ratio of business verses behind the camera

Tips on making the transition from hobbyest to Pro

What’s the most important thing to focus on?

What kills your business?

What it’s like to have a system?

More in depth detail on the software of Sprout Studios

• Get to know an inspirational photographer: This month our guest Monika Andrae introduces you to the award winning fine art and commercial photographer Susan Burnstine. Susan is represented in galleries across the world and has also written for several photography magazines, including a monthly column for Black & White Photography (UK). Take the time to look at her very creative work that she mainly creates with self made cameras on analog film.

• Why is analog photography all of a sudden a thing again and can shooting film help with your creativity and make you a better photographer?

• We discuss the different analog cameras that are available today (new & used) like instant film (formerly known as Polaroid), 35mm, medium format and large format and what makes each of them unique.

• Choosing the right analog film for your mood or vision. B&W, color negative or slide film.

• Developing options (self develop or sending it to a lab) and briefly look at the scanning options for a hybrid analog/digital workflow.

• We bust the myth that shooting film is so extremely expensive and digital photography seems to be for free.

• We also discuss that shooting a roll of film only once a month can be beneficial to you and actual work created, even if you think that you have no time for analog photography and shooting digital is so much faster to create work.

• Marco's photobook of the month pick is: The Film Photography Handbook - by Chris Marquardt and Monika Andrae. Anyone who wants to expand their knowledge on analog photography and is seeking advice on how to get started shooting film - either for the first time or after a longer break- will find all the essential information in a modern, structured and creative way.

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

For more information on Chris Marquardt follow him on Twitter: @chrismarquardt

For more information on Monika Andrae follow her on Twitter: @nahlinse

About this show:

On the monthly #Inspiration episode of the Photofocus podcast Scott and Marco will discuss the art, history and motivation in photography that often gets lost in today's media rich world. Slow down, look closer and put more intent into photography to increase your creativity and final results. And simply spread the pure love of photography.

A brand new podcast featuring Pepper and Scott Bourne. This new episode discusses all about 360 photography. 

Who is Pepper and what does he do?

How to capture 360 degrees? What gear?

Do you need to use a rectilinear lens?

Using a Gigipan?

What is a RICOH THETA S camera? 

Where can you post panoramas? round.me

How do you shoot the moon?

Tips for shooting the moon and problems to overcome

How does software like HDR soft work when you bracket for a moving object like a moon?

How to find Scott & Pepper?

This month's PhotoFocus Q&A podcast has a special guest. While Rich is out on assignment, Rick Sammon joins Scott Bourne to answer your questions.

What’s the best lens for bird photography?

How much processing do you do on your images?

Do you have one, most important tip for people photography?

Can you share some good - and bad - travel stories?

What’s the biggest mistake folks make when coming on a workshop.

Rick, you say your speciality is not specializing. Why?

What’s the hardest part of writing a book?

Rick and Scott, do you use Lightroom more than Photoshop, or vice versa? And why?

Rick, why do they call you The Godfather of Photography?

In this renewed, reinvigorated episode of The Mind Your Own Business Podcast, Scott Bourne and Skip Cohen discuss marketing tips to improve your photography business. In particular, they discuss the following topics:

• Only show the type of photography work that you want to get. Make sure the right type of work is in your portfolio, and only include your best work.
  
  
• Take what you've learned from workshops, and make sure you can replicate that work on your own.
  
  
• You can't "fake it 'til you make it" with photography.
  
  
• If you get the chance, take a workshop with Clay Blackmore, Tony Corbell, or Bobbi Lane in order to watch what they do with light. Learn how to control your environment with lighting.
  
  
• Learn how to be proficient and persistent in the photographs you make. Learn how to make a photograph on purpose.
  
  
• If someone doesn't hire you because of your style, price, etc, there's a strong chance that you're talking to the wrong person.
  
  
• Be sure to do your research on your ideal clients so you know who they are. Market in ways that show your prospects who you are and what you do. Know the demographics of your audience.
  
  
• Consider creating an awesome leave behind, such as an impressive, well-made postcard, or a business card. Physical products leaves an impact. It leaves an impression, and shows that you will go the extra mile, and also that you care about quality.
  
  
• PicMonkey.com is a great resource for creating awesome colleges to show off your work, which you can then get printed at your printer of choice.
  
  
• Make sure to put your phone number on your marketing pieces so that potential clients can easily reach you.

On this episode of the Photofocus #Mirrorless Show Scott and Marco will discuss these new products and mirrorless topics:

• Scott found some info that Canon may actually step up their game in the mirrorles segment.

• Marco gives a fairly thorough hands on review of the new Fujifilm X70 compact camera that he has been working with for a month now. He shares a lot of hands on experiences about what worked well and what does not work so well. And Marco gives some solid firmware improvement wishes that the Fujifilm marketing and product engineering team should take a close look at. In the end, Marco gives his thumbs up or thumbs down verdict on this camera.

• In an interview with Panasonic North Americs manager Tom Curley, Marco finds out some interesting information about Panasonic and the cooperation with Leica. And there are plenty of informations regarding current Panasonic cameras and what their particular strength are. You can find out more about Panasonic Lumix cameras on their website at LumixLounge.com or follow them on Twitter @LumixUSA

• Scott closes the show with some of his own thoughts on Panasonic Lumix cameras.

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Mirrorless episode of the Photofocus podcast Scott and Marco will discuss the news from the mirrorless camera world related to innovations, trends, gear and accessories. And they will introduce mirrorless camera manufacturers by interviewing the respective managers of those manufacturers. And they invite pro photographers who make their living working with mirrorless cameras to share some tips and tricks on their workflow.

This weeks Photofocus Podcast for the Photofocus InFocus Interview Series. This show Pamela sits down with Commercial Photographer Clay Cook as he discusses his path to photography and how working non profit has changed both his professional personal life. Then we find Chamira who interviews Ryan Grove from 17hats with inspiration on how creative professionals can find a balance in doing the business side while still having that passion and love for what brought you in the world of creativity in the first place.

Pamela Ann Berry/ Clay Cook

Who is Clay Cook and the type of Photographer is he?

What does an editorial photographer do?

How did Clay get into photography?

Prior life before photographer

Funny failure stories when learning photography

How has his design background helped with photography

What keeps that passion and excitement going for photography?

What is Clay’s internship program?

Why start out as an assistant?

Gear talk

Clay’s non profit work

How has doing non profit work affected Clay personally?

How has doing non profit work affected his professional work?

Where can you find Clay Cook online?

Advice on growing as a photographer

Chamira/17hats

Who is Ryan Grove?

The gap in being a photographer due to the business side

Learning the business side when you are a creative professional and still have fun.

Tips on being successful

What is the greatest need of photographers?

Why the company started?

Protect your heart and mind

Step 1 to getting your business back on track to something you love to do again

your system will determine your success

Where can you find 17 hats?

• Get to know an inspirational photographer: This month Scott introduce you to the professional nature photographer John Shaw. John's work has been published in National Geographic, National Wildlife, Outdoor Photographer and many other publications. John has photographed every continent, from the Artic to the Antarctic, from Provence to Patagonia. John has also published many books and leads workshops.

• Improving ones vision and finding some motivation to go out and make good photos is a desire that we hear often from our students. So we give some tips to our audience on what they can do to archive this.

• We discuss the direct benefits of spending more time with the gear that you have rather than focusing on the gear that you want to have next.

• Studying and closely looking at published photos from photographers that you admire can teach you a lot about vision and execution of creating a great photo.

• We talk about the advantages of making the conscious decision to reduce your gear whenever possible. There are more benefits than just weight to work with a single prime instead of a long zoom lens in many situations.

• Find a manageable personal project that makes you pick up your camera regularly and with intent.

• We also discuss the benefits that go along with printing your work.

• Marco's photobook of the month pick is: Gregory Heisler - 50 Portraits. Anyone who wants take a powerful portrait photo should read this book.

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We would also love to get your feedback. Is there anything that you want us to cover on the show in the future? And we would appreciate if you could take a short moment to rate or to post a quick review on iTunes for us.

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

About this show:

On the monthly #Inspiration episode of the Photofocus podcast Scott and Marco will discuss the art, history and motivation in photography that often gets lost in today's media rich world. Slow down, look closer and put more intent into photography to increase you creativity and final results. And simply spread the pure love of photography.

This weeks Photofocus Podcast you get to hear Richard Harrington and Scott Bourne answer your questions in the Q & A show. Once a month Rich and Scott take your questions and dive into discussions that help you learn and grow as a photographer.

Q&A PODCAST

1. I hear the terms Global and Local Adjustments discussed by photographers.  Could you give examples of each?

Ross

2. I have an Epson printer that I use to make 8x10” prints of my portraits. Do I have to use Epson paper/inks or can I use others?

Tim

3. I hear that if you stop down to a lens smallest aperture (f/22 in my case) that the image may not be as sharp as it would be if you shoot at f/16. Can you elaborate on that?

Mike

4. Is it better to have a zoom lens that is push/pull or one that uses a ring that you twist to zoom in or out?

Alice

5. I see people making these beautiful sunset photos with very saturated colors. When I make sunset photos the colors are muted by comparison. What am I missing?

Frank

6. What is the best way to change lenses so I don’t hurt my camera or the lens?

Joe

7. My friend has a camera with image stabilization built into the camera body. I have a camera that doesn’t offer that feature but instead offers that as an option in the lens. Can you explain pros and cons of each?

Linda

8. Which is the best color space to use when working in Photoshop? Adobe RGB or sRGB? 

Matt

9. Have you ever used extension tubes and do they harm image quality?

Carly

10. What exactly is a neutral density filter and do I need one?

Addie

In this renewed, reinvigorated episode of The Mind Your Own Business Podcast, Scott Bourne and Skip Cohen discuss marketing tips to improve your photography business. In particular, they discuss the following topics:

• The photography industry has changed in the last 5-10 years ago. Today photographers share their personality, and sell more on who they are, what they believe in, and where their heart is. The don't get new clients based on their awards, accolades, and gear.

• Justin and Mary Marantz: The wedding couple that has one of the best promo videos Scott has ever seen.

• It's not as important today that you can expose a certain photograph as it is that you can understand your clients' emotions and feelings.

• You have to be able to answer the question: WHY do you take photos? People don’t buy what you do. They buy why you do it.

• A change in the last few years: Every consumer, because of the internet, has the ability to go out and meet dozens of photographers on their computers. So how will you make yourself different? Your client is looking for trust.

• Your website is about what you sell. Your blog is about what’s in your heart. And your Bio/About section talking about your “why” is the gateway to both.

• It’s up to the photographer to educate the prospect as to why that photographer is the best choice for that prospect. This involves communication and marketing.
• Roberto Valenzuela is insanely successful, in large part due to the fact that he is constantly practicing his craft. Discipline is important. Practice the fundamentals. Practice with your camera. “It’s not that practice makes perfect. It’s that perfect practice makes perfect.”

• Marketing mistake to avoid: forgetting to put your heart into your About Page. Your website, your blog, and your social media presence are your most valuable pieces of real estate. Remember who your target audience is. Stop thinking that you need to show a lot of photos in your gallery. Only show your best “wow” images.

On this episode of the Photofocus "Mirrorless Show" Scott and Marco will discuss these new products and mirrorless topics:

• Marco takes a closer look at the partially overlooked Fujifilm X70 compact camera. Does it offer more camera than you may think?
• Scott shares his first hand experiences from WPPI camera show in Las Vegas. He played with the new Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f4-6.3 lens, the new Sigma sd Quattro H, the Leica SL with the new Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-SL 90-280mm f/2.8-4 and shares his initial impressions about them.
• A quick look at the new Nikon DL 18-50, DL 24-85 and DL 24-500 premium compact cameras.
• Fujifilm shared some info on their current and future products.
• Scott breaks some big news about his experience and future with the Fuji XF 100-400mm R LM OIS WR f4-5.6 lens
• Scott also tested a few expensive leather camera straps from Photocircle and 4V design.
• Marco and Scott go a bit into detail about the Fuji X-Pro 2 and their first experiences after a few weeks of real world usage with it.

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We'd also love to get your feedback. What do you want us to cover on the show in the future?

For more information on Scott Bourne follow him on Twitter: @ScottBourne

For more information on Marco Larousse follow him on Twitter: @HamburgCam

This weeks Photofocus Podcast for the Photofocus InFocus Interview Series. This show Pamela sits down with Brad Moore, former assistant to both Scott Kelby and Joe McNally we we dive into his growth and advice to other photographers trying to navigate the road of building a career. Then we tap into Chamira Young who speaks with Collages.net on how we as photographers can improve how we present ourselves online to our clients and potential clients.

Pamela Berry/ Brad Moore

What brought Brad into photography?
How he became assistant to Joe McNally and Scott Kelby?
Learning from mistakes
Travel tips
How being an assistant is so valuable to growing your career?
Should you attend conferences?
Being genuine when you network
Put what you’ve learned to use
Advice about being a photographer and learning other aspects of the craft
Gear & Gadget talk
What inspired getting into Concert photography?
Tethered workflow on portraits

Chamira Young/ Chantel Corrin from Collages.net

Presenting yourself as a photographer
Importance of looking your best online
Advice on overall design tips for your website
Tips on how to best share photos with clients
Tips on making in-person sales easier
Keeping in touch with clients after a shoot
What is collages.net and where to find them?

Scott Bourne and Richard Harrington sit down to answer your questions:

 1: from Jan in San Diego

 My Dad used to shoot film and looking at his old prints there were obvious signs of film grain. Current digital photography seems to be all about “noiseless” images. I would like to get the look that my Dad got from film. Is there something wrong with that?

 2: from Susan in Houston, TX

 I am building a portfolio and I have limited work to pick from because I have only been seriously pursuing photography for two years. Is it okay to use the same model in different shots in the port - or how about shots from the same location?

 3: From Tom in Oklahoma City, OK

 How necessary is a photography degree in order to succeed in the photo business? 

4: From Robbie in Hilo, HI

 I photograph kids and my competitors all soften the children’s skin in post. I think that it looks unnatural - I don’t see the need with children who already have perfect skin. But the competition has created an expectation with their work that has me second guessing what I do. What would you do?

 5: From Tony in St. Louis, MO

 I use a color calibration tool on my computer monitor - should I use on my iPad?

 6: From Sandy in SLC, UT

 Why use a color checker card v. just an old fashioned gray card?

 7: From Elliot in NYC, NY

 I want to use a softbox but I only have a standard Canon flash unit. Is there a way to mount a standard camera flash inside a softbox?

 8: From Sam in Yakima, WA

 I am a beginning street photographer - what lenses would you recommend in terms of focal length and aperture?

 9: From Peter from Inver Grove Heights, MN

 What is the exposure triangle? As a beginner is this something I need to learn?

 10: From Anderson from Elko, NV

 What’s your advice regarding memory cards? Do you recommend the big cards, the fast cards or both? Are the more expensive high-end cards worth the money?

On this episode Scott and Marco discuss news and product announcements and give their initial feedback on what they think about these new products and mirrorless topics:

• Marco's first impressions looking at a preproduction Fujifilm X-Pro 2
• Scott's first impressions on his new FUJINON XF100-400mm F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR tele zoom lens
• The new Olympus PEN-F retro micro 4/3 camera 
• A look at the first sample photos from the Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 300mm 1:4.0 IS PRO lens
• A discussion why someone would switch from a DSLR to a mirrorless camera
• Some advantages of mirrorless cameras
• Some disadvantages of mirrorless cameras

Marco is curating a weekly street photo of the day for the Photofocus.com website. If you want to have a chance that your photo gets picked, just add you best street photos to the Photofocus Flickr group here: https://www.flickr.com/groups/photofocus/

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We'd also love to get your feedback. What do you want us to cover on the show in the future?

For more information on Scott follow him on Twitter @scottbourne

For more information on Marco follow him on Twitter @hamburgcam

Perfectly Clear for Photoshop or Lightroom is all about saving you time so you can focus on doing what you love best. Get a free trial of the award winning plug-in here.

The HDR Learning Center. Check out new ways to use High Dynamic Range photography to make compelling images. Free tutorials and posts to get results. Produced in partnership with HDRsoft

Arizona Highways Photo Workshops. For more than 30 years, Arizona Highway Photo Workshops has been committed to helping photographers find inspiring destinations, quality education and spectacular images. Get more information (and enter our contest) at http://www.ahpw.org/FindIt/

lynda.com Learn photography anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace—from bite-sized tutorials to comprehensive courses. Try lynda.com free for 10 days by visiting lynda.com/PhotofocusPhotofocus Podcast December 25, 2015 —  Chris Hershman and Bryan O'Neil Hughes

This week we catch up with two amazing artists making an impact on the industry.

First we hear from Corey Barker who dives into advice for those getting started and shares insight with his upcoming projects. Next Levi sits down with Matthew Jordan Smith who inspires everyone around him.

Corey Barker

Corey is an education and curriculum developer of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP), an award-winning designer and illustrator, the executive producer of PlanetPhotoshop.com, and a regular contributor to Photoshop User magazine. He is also a featured instructor at the Photoshop World Conference & Expo and is an Adobe MAX Master Instructor. He teaches the Photoshop Down & Dirty Tricks seminar tour and has produced numerous DVD training titles on Photoshop and design for Kelby Training. Corey recently co-authored Photoshop CS4 Down & Dirty Tricks with Scott Kelby and was a contributing author for 3D in Photoshop: The Ultimate Guide for Creative Professionals. Corey holds a BFA in Illustration from the Ringling School of Art & Design in Florida.

Corey and Pamela catch up about:

Favorite apps for inspiration
Favorite apps for inspiration
How to remember those creative ideas
Corey’s upcoming book
Sneak peek idea from the book
Upcoming training with Corey
advice on learning your craft
AR, VR, 3D technology talk
up and coming designer inspiration
Where can you find Corey?
www.photoshopmasterfx.com/
Matthew Jordan Smith

Matthew Jordan Smith is an American photographer based in Los Angeles. He has photographed some of the most famous people in the world – including the President of Iceland, Oprah Winfrey, and the richest man in the world, Carlos Slim. He is best known for his portraits of celebrities, actors, and models. His client list include Olay, Pantene, Revlon, Sony Entertainment, HBO and Showtime. His celebrity clients include Angela Bassett, Tyra Banks, Queen Latifah, Aretha Franklin and many more.

Mathew Jordan Smith and Levi discuss:

What is his speciality?
How did Mathew start with photography?
How he loves to teach?
There are no secrets
Building relationships and why that is so important.
What is Matthew working on?
Future American President book.
What everybody wants?
Where can we catch up with Matthew?

This is our first episode of the Photofocus Inspiration show. This show will air once a month on the 14th of each month. The show is hosted by Scott Bourne and Marco Larousse.

On the new “Inspiration Show” of the Photofocus podcast Scott and Marco will discuss the art, history and motivation in photography that often gets lost in today's media rich world. Slow down, look closer and put more intent into photography to increase you creativity and final results. And simply spread the pure love of photography.

Perfectly Clear for Photoshop or Lightroom is all about saving you time so you can focus on doing what you love best. Get a free trial of the award winning plug-in here.

The HDR Learning Center. Check out new ways to use High Dynamic Range photography to make compelling images. Free tutorials and posts to get results. Produced in partnership with HDRsoft

Arizona Highways Photo Workshops. For more than 30 years, Arizona Highway Photo Workshops has been committed to helping photographers find inspiring destinations, quality education and spectacular images. Get more information (and enter our contest) at http://www.ahpw.org/FindIt/

lynda.com Learn photography anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace—from bite-sized tutorials to comprehensive courses. Try lynda.com free for 10 days by visiting lynda.com/PhotofocusPhotofocus Podcast December 25, 2015 —  Chris Hershman and Bryan O'Neil Hughes

Photofocus Podcast February 7th, 2016— Questions & Answers with Rich Harrington & Scott Bourne

Thanks for all the great questions you’ve been sending in to the Photofocus podcast.  This week Rich Harrington and Scott Bourne tackle some great topics to help photographers. Remember, you can post those questions by sending us a note here at Photofocus.

The Question and Answer Podcast

• New podcast updates and changes
• What is responsible for autofocus speed? Camera or Lens?
• Getting started shooting video: advice on editing video as a beginner. 
• What’s the best focal length for portraits and headshots?
• 85mm, 100mm or something else?
• Starting out in photo editing, do you recommend Photoshop Elements, Lightroom or something else?
• I’m switching from Sony to Fuji and I’m looking to sell my used gear, What’s the best way to sell used photo gear?
• I have expensive fast lenses, but if I’m shooting mostly studio work, is there a reason why I would need fast glass?
• Do you have to shoot with a DSLR camera to be a pro?
• Latest gear gadget talk 

This is our first episode of the Photofocus Mirrorless camera show. This show will air once a month on the 28th of each month. The show is hosted by Scott Bourne and Marco Larousse.

On the new "mirrorless show" of the Photofocus podcast Scott and Marco will discuss news and information about the increasingly popular mirrorless camera market.

On this episode Scott and Marco discuss news and product announcements and give their initial feedback on what they think about these new products:

• The long awaited Fujifilm X-Pro 2
• Fujifilm X70 (the little brother of the X100?)
• Fujifilm X-E2s (a new camera or only a firmware update?)
• FUJINON XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR tele zoom lens that Scott has been eagerly waiting for.
• Fujifilm EF-X500 flash
• Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 300mm 1:4.0 IS PRO lens
• Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 4-6.3, 100-400 mm Asph. Power OIS lens

Marco is curating a weekly street photo of the day for the Photofocus.com website. If you want to have a chance that your photo gets picked, just add you best street photos to the Photofocus Flickr group here: https://www.flickr.com/groups/photofocus/

Please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe via iTunes. We'd also love to get your feedback. What do you want us to cover on the show in the future?

For more information on Scott follow him on Twitter @scottbourne

For more information on Marco follow him on Twitter @hamburgcam

Perfectly Clear for Photoshop or Lightroom is all about saving you time so you can focus on doing what you love best. Get a free trial of the award winning plug-in here.

The HDR Learning Center. Check out new ways to use High Dynamic Range photography to make compelling images. Free tutorials and posts to get results. Produced in partnership with HDRsoft

Arizona Highways Photo Workshops. For more than 30 years, Arizona Highway Photo Workshops has been committed to helping photographers find inspiring destinations, quality education and spectacular images. Get more information (and enter our contest) at http://www.ahpw.org/FindIt/

lynda.com Learn photography anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace—from bite-sized tutorials to comprehensive courses. Try lynda.com free for 10 days by visiting lynda.com/Photofocus

This week we catch up with two photographers.  First Levi Sim sits down with photographer Dave Black to talk about Light painting and sports.  Then Pamela sits down with Michael Bonocore to dig into his photography and some practical advice.

Dave Black

We welcome back Dave Black to the show for an interview with Vanelli.  Dave is a freelance photographer for over 30 years.  His   work has primarily centered on the sports industry for such publications as Sports Illustrated, Time, Newsweek and the award-winning TV show Sports Century on ESPN. He's covered events like the Masters, Kentucky Derby, National Football League, NASCAR and extensive work regarding the United States Olympic Committee, Olympic athletes and coverage of twelve Olympic Games. 

• What kind of photographer is Dave?
• What is Light Painting?
• What is fun about Light Painting?
• Does Dave do composite work and why?
• What to bring when light painting
• Subjects and human element within landscape image
• Tips on focusing in the dark
• Who influenced Dave in his work?
• Where to find Dave?

Perfectly Clear for Photoshop or Lightroom is all about saving you time so you can focus on doing what you love best. Get a free trial of the award winning plug-in here.

The HDR Learning Center. Check out new ways to use High Dynamic Range photography to make compelling images. Free tutorials and posts to get results. Produced in partnership with HDRsoft

Arizona Highways Photo Workshops. For more than 30 years, Arizona Highway Photo Workshops has been committed to helping photographers find inspiring destinations, quality education and spectacular images. Get more information (and enter our contest) at http://www.ahpw.org/FindIt/

lynda.com Learn photography anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace—from bite-sized tutorials to comprehensive courses. Try lynda.com free for 10 days by visiting lynda.com/PhotofocusPhotofocus Podcast December 25, 2015 —  Chris Hershman and Bryan O'Neil Hughes

This week we catch up with a photographer and a Lightroom expert.  First Levi Sim sits down with guru and photographer Terry White to talk Lightroom, gear, gadgets, and portfolios.  Then Pamela sits down with Zach Sutton to dig into his start in photography and some practical advice.

Terry White

• What is Terri’s role with Adobe?
• What he’s an expert in?
• Favorite things for photographers within Lightroom
• How long has Terry been with Adobe and what he did before Adobe?
• How has Adobe shaped Terry’s personal & professional work?
• How does Terry approach his personal work?
• You don’t have to have portfolio worthy images every time you shoot.
• What gear does Terry travel with?
• What is Terry’s favorite gadget that came out this past year? http://www.dxo.com/us/dxo-one
• Where can you find Terry?