If you've ever looked up film and digital camera lessons on YouTube, there's a high chance you've bumped into Kai Wong's top-of-the-game photography videos or even come across one of his videos featuring yours truly + a lego camera. Previously known for creating innovative content with a humorous bent for one of YouTube's most subscribed photography channels, DigitalRev, Kai quit his seven-year-long association with the Media House in 2016. After stepping down as the company's... read more ›
1.4K reads
Jul
28
Apr
12
Recently I joined photographers Ben Von Wong and Tim Tadder, along with hosts Walid Azami and Mathieu Young on Clubhouse to chat about "Things Photographers Spend Too Much Time Talking About". But this is not about photography widgets, lenses, and photo shoots. It's not even really specific to photography. This is about career choices. It's about following your heart. And of course - the title is tongue-in-cheek because it's actually about the stuff we don't... read more ›
473 reads
Mar
02
If you’ve been following me for any length of time, then you most likely know my M.O. by now: put your work out there early and often. Steve Martin famously said, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” But the other side of that is to have so much work out there that people can't swing a stick without hitting something you've made/written/built/produced/directed/etc. I talked about this with fellow sharing advocate, #cjLIVE alum, and all-around... read more ›
795 reads
Feb
22
People ask me all the time if there's one thing that's changed my life the most, what is it? No question it's the ability to learn quickly...new skills whether they be for life, hobby, or career... Life long learning is quite literally what has created anything I would consider a classic "success" in my life. SO... In today's episode of #cjRAW I break down my own learning process into 3 clear, easily repeatable steps. And then I go... read more ›
11.9K reads
Feb
03
Today on the show I have a dear friend and arguably the foremost living explorer on the planet: Mike Horn. I have had the incredible fortune of traveling to some really amazing places with Mike such as the South China Seas, around South Africa and the Amazon on the coast of Brazil. Some of my most inspiring and best moments of my life have been tagging along with Mike on his adventures. Mike is also... read more ›
575 reads
Jan
11
A lot of my breakthrough creative thoughts come to me when least expected. I've talked about "finding creativity" and "creative inspiration" all over the place... on podcasts like this and this (twice for example) or given a keynote on it here at SWSW. That said, I've also learned from an entire life in the trenches as an artist what DOESN'T contribute to them (abusing myself, bad head space, partying too much), but more importantly, what... read more ›
10K reads
Dec
30
One of my favorite things about the community we have around this show is the ongoing conversation not just between my guests, but with you, the listener. Whether it’s through my email newsletter, social media, or texting, the community we’ve built over 10+ years is real. This year, many of you asked for guests who are on their way up. Folks who have put what they've learned into action. Well, I could not think of... read more ›
1.6K reads
Dec
14
Give. Whether to yourself or to a fellow artist in need. Every photographer, director, painter, writer, creative, entrepreneur, whatever mold into which you fit (or don't) has basic needs. And thankfully, these needs are mostly free of charge. I've read 100 artist biographies, studied my own life and the creative LIVES of those around me and distilled some of the commonalities -- and the outliers -- for how and when, under what circumstance creatives kick... read more ›
4.4K reads
Sep
28
Here's the secret to getting out of a rut, to getting unstuck and breaking through that wall: Make. More. Stuff. No matter what's blocking you creatively, your best bet is always to just turn up the volume. MAKE. Can't make something good? Make something bad. Make something ugly. Make something crazy doesn't make sense. It doesn't matter what you make, only that you're taking action. Remember, you can't think your way out of a rut.... read more ›
450 reads
Sep
14
What I've learned over the years is that the truly remarkable people are not just masters of their craft, but a combination of craft + many other things that elevate their work. In fact, the best photographers I know, the best creatives, teachers, accountants, or --insert profession here--, are also entrepreneurs/intra-preneurs, authors, speakers, marketers, and more. We're ALL hyphens. Just as I started as a photographer, then learned skills to become a director, then a... read more ›
3.3K reads