How do you break out of creative ruts? On today's episode I take a question from Aaron, who feels uninspired and unable to progress as a photographer. My answer, applicable to any problem or craft, comes in two separate parts. First, personal style: the number one challenge I see with portfolio reviews is a lack of a consistent theme and vision in the work. Developing a distinct personal style is the foundation of what this... read more ›
Jun
01
May
24
Have you ever felt like you're running in place professionally? I know I have. After finishing college and starting a photography business I had to navigate this issue myself. I was always doing something, wearing all types of hats, but I wasn't seeing the results. In this episode, I go deep into my story to address one of the most critical elements of being a successful professional, no matter the discipline: where to place your... read more ›
May
17
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May
12
One of the most common stories I hear is, "I'm not ready yet." You have a dream, a goal, an ambition, but without the connections, skills, or resources it feels out of reach. Social media makes it easy to see others' success without showing the REAL stuff. Late nights, blood, sweat, tears… the messy middle doesn't make the highlight reel. This mindset undermines our confidence and inhibits creativity. Chances are, you do have what... read more ›
May
10
A few weeks ago a shared a conversation on Clubhouse with photographers Ben Von Wong and Tim Tadder and I received a lot of positive feedback. If you're not familiar with Clubhouse, it's new social audio platform. It's currently still in beta, so access is still limited. So grateful to be able to record a couple of these and share them out so you can listen in. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe Today I'm... read more ›
May
05
It's no secret that 2020 has shifted how we do business. Businesses, creators, artists and remote workers had to adapt and innovate in new and expanding ways, accelerating innovation, technology and the internet. Ordering take-out, banking, and even counseling online was no longer a nice-to-have, it was do or die. One person on the front lines of that evolution is my good friend Harley Finkelstein, president of Shopify, where he is building, championing, and helping... read more ›
May
03
Seems like the more I listen, the more I hear people talking about the gear, the business of what we're doing, the widgets. Let us not forget the simple love of what we do. Listen to the Podcast Subscribe I understand why there’s so much rhetoric in our industry. There is the common stereotype that most creative people aren’t good business people. There is fear. Something like gear, tools and tactics are easier to... read more ›
Apr
26
Got a note the other day from an aspiring photographer. He wanted to know what it takes to become a pro. I thought--very pragmatically--that it's really not complicated. HARD maybe, but complicated, no. And this applies to so many FILL-IN-THE-BLANK things you aspire to be: 1. Declare yourself as that thing. That's what you ARE in life. You're not a student, not a finance-guy-slash-part-time-photographer, not a part time anything. You're a photographer, or entrepreneur, or... read more ›
Apr
21
If you've been honing your creativity for awhile, you might have come across The Artist's Way, by legendary author Julia Cameron. Her work resonated with me in more ways than one, including helping myself and millions of others work to cultivate creativity and grow my craft. Julia joins me on today's show to talk about her life journey, upcoming book, The Listening Path, and the heart-warming backstory behind her bestselling creation, The Artist's Way. The... read more ›
Apr
19
Even at our most creative moments, we could go further if it were not for that little voice inside our head. And that little voice puts up roadblocks. Sometimes those roadblocks are real, but more often those roadblocks are completely constructed from nothing but irrational fear or the most basic of actions. Perhaps knowing that other people share many of the same silly roadblocks--and even knowing what some of them are--will help us all move... read more ›



