After Dark Photography Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

The photographers who come home with photos they love? They didn't just show up. They planned. 

In this episode, I'm walking you through the 2026 Milky Way season, month by month, including what to prioritize, when to practice, and how to set yourself up for the images you actually want to create.

Download the free PDF guide here as the companion to this episode:
https://www.kristinerosephotography.com/mwguide

This is part planning resource, part permission slip to approach the year with intention, whether you're returning after a long winter, chasing your first Milky Way photo, or somewhere in between.

Key Takeaways

The Season Has Three Distinct Phases: Early season (April through June), peak season (July and August), and late season (September and October) each call for a different mindset. Early season is for shaking off the rust and experimenting without pressure. Peak season is for creating the images you've been building toward. Late season is for savoring them.

Every Month Has Its Own Gift: April offers the wide arch of the Milky Way before it climbs too high. May gives you the most total shooting hours of any month. And September, my personal favorite, lets you shoot after dinner and still be home before midnight. Knowing what each month offers helps you plan for what you actually want.

August 12th Is a Date Worth Circling: This year, new moon falls on August 12th, which is also the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. It doesn't happen often. If there's one date to clear your calendar for in 2026, this is it.

Planning Doesn't Have to Be Complicated: Pick one or two target images for each phase of the season. Early. Peak. Late. Write them down. That's the start. Once you ask the question, you've already done more than most.

Conclusion

The season is already here. And the photographers who create images they love this year are the ones who thought about it before the clear nights arrived.

What does it really mean to be an artist today? In this eye-opening solo episode, let’s peel back the curtain on the often-unspoken systems of the art world. From art school degrees and gallery representation to grants, residencies, and direct-to-collector sales, I will offer an honest, reflective, and sometimes humorous look at the evolving ecosystem of how art is created, valued, and sold.

Key Takeaways:

• Photography is Art: Claiming your identity as an artist is the first step in seeing your work differently—and valuing it accordingly.
• Direct-to-Collector Sales Are the New Frontier: Artists no longer need to rely solely on galleries. Selling directly is now a viable, respected path.
• Understanding the Institution: The traditional art world—grants, residencies, commercial galleries, and biennials—still holds sway and comes with specific rules.
• Primary vs. Secondary Markets: Explains how art sales move from artist to collector (primary) and from collector to collector (secondary), and why it matters.
• Educational Pathways: A BFA may open doors in galleries, but success doesn't require formal education—especially as norms shift.
• Know Your “Why”: Are you in this for legacy, impact, income, or all three? Your goals determine which branch of the art world tree you climb.

Conclusion:

This episode is a deep dive into the broader art economy and your potential place within it. Whether you're just starting to monetize your photography or you're questioning your next move,  I encourage you to zoom out, explore the full landscape, and most importantly—ask yourself: What do I really want? Because understanding the system helps you play your game, your way.

If this episode sparks curiosity, don’t miss related episodes:

• Ep. 32 – Passion or Profit? You Decide
• Ep. 34 – Unlocking Your Success: Your Four Biggest Struggles
• Ep. 35 – Building Your Dream Photography Business
• Ep. 50 – Creating a Body of Work
• Ep. 51 – Top 10 Website Mistakes
• Ep. 52 – What It Takes to Make It

Visit afterdarkphotographypodcast.com for show notes, resources, and more ways to dive deeper.

As a photographer looking to build or improve your website, wouldn’t you like to know the 10 biggest mistakes photographers make when creating their websites? In this episode I explain why in the age of social media we need a website, avoiding perfectionism paralysis, and driving traffic to the website through various strategies. 

Episode highlights:

• Prioritize having a website that exists and functions rather than waiting for it to be perfect.

• Strategies for driving traffic to the website and curating portfolios to showcase the best and most relevant work.

• Websites mistakes around being responsive, mobile-friendly, and tracking analytics

Whether you're a seasoned photographer or just starting out, this episode provides actionable tips for improving your online presence and attracting more clients. 

Don't miss out on the opportunity to elevate your photography business by joining us for the upcoming website week event, where you can gain in-depth guidance and support to take your website to the next level. 

You can sign up here:
https://www.kristinerosephotography.com/websiteweek-2

In our latest episode we focus on the importance of a central theme or intention. A cohesive body of work not only enhances artistic expression but also opens doors for exhibitions and sales. It's a journey that allows for profound exploration of ideas.

A body of work allows photographers to embrace diverse experiences, connect with various communities, and explore different perspectives. This journey of intentional creation enriches both the artist and the audience, leading to a deeper, more meaningful connection through photography.

Episode Highlights:

• Find a common theme in your image collection for a cohesive body of work.

• Seek diverse experiences and perspectives to shape your photography.

• Progress through stages: imitation, exploration, consistency, mastery to develop a unique style.

• A clear theme offers boundaries and focus, streamlining creativity.

• Central theme and intention deepen the artistic and viewer experience.

Overwhelm and feeling stuck are common experiences that can hinder productivity and well-being. By questioning the reality of demands, examining thoughts and stories, and shifting language and thoughts, it is possible to overcome overwhelm. Similarly, acknowledging and accepting feeling stuck, identifying underlying fears, and taking imperfect action can help overcome the feeling of being stuck. Breaking tasks down into smaller, manageable steps and prioritizing rest and relaxation are also effective strategies. Remember, it's okay to take a break and believe in yourself to overcome challenges.

Episode Highlights:

• Understanding the two components of overwhelm

• Techniques for overcoming overwhelm in your photos and business

• Taking imperfect action and techniques for actually getting in to action

• How to get out of being “stuck” and what truly keeps you stuck

When you finish listening, I'd love to hear your biggest takeaway from today’s episode. Come join us in the facebook group for this podcast where we chat about the episodes and all things night photography.

Despite the cold weather, there are still plenty of opportunities for night sky photography in winter. Planning and researching based on your location is important, and software like Stellarium can help you figure out where and when to see different celestial objects. 

We talk about opportunities for tracked and untracked photography, planning your shots, execution, and things to keep in mind when the weather can be extreme.

Episode highlights:

1. Moon photography opportunities
2. Orion and winter Milky Way compositions
3. Deep-sky targets
4. Cold weather considerations

If you need a dose of inspiration to get you out and shooting during the cold winter months this is it! Happy shooting.

Today, I want to talk about my goals and plans for the year 2024. I believe that setting intentions and being intentional are key to achieving our desired outcomes. 

One of the frameworks I follow for goal setting is the SMART framework. It helps me stay focused and accountable. I like to plan my year month by month, with one main goal for each month. This way, I can break down my goals into manageable tasks and stay on track.

Episode Highlights:

Documenting goals and creating a plan: It's crucial to write down our goals and create a roadmap to achieve them. By doing this, we can stay organized and have a clear direction. I personally find it helpful to have a visual representation of my goals and progress.

Revenue goals and adjusting them: As a business owner, setting revenue goals is important. However, it's essential to know our numbers and adjust our goals if necessary. This flexibility allows us to adapt to changing circumstances and make informed decisions.

Having a clear endgame and strategic goals: To streamline and grow our business, we need to have a clear endgame in mind. This means having a long-term vision and setting strategic goals that align with it. 

In this episode, I also shared my goals for each month of the year, including a platform switchover, a website week challenge, re-recording course content, hosting the Stella Nova conference and more!

As we wrap up, I want to encourage you to take the time to clarify your own goals for the year 2024. Whether you plan on a monthly or quarterly basis, outline both your professional and personal aspirations. 

Remember to document your journey and reflect on your achievements throughout the year. And most importantly, find moments of connection and joy in your pursuit of your goals. Craft a fulfilling life and take care of yourself.

In this episode, I take a deep dive into my year, reflecting on my goals, accomplishments, and the lessons I've learned along the way. Join me as I share my experiences, challenges, and the impact I've had on others.

Episode Highlights:

Setting Goals and Achieving Them-

• Throughout the year, I set quarterly goals and worked tirelessly to achieve them. From launching my business class to creating the Shoot to Sell Society, I pushed myself to a place I didn’t think I could get to.

Overcoming Challenges and Expressing Gratitude-

• Despite facing obstacles like a forest fire and flooding near my home, I practised resilience. I learned the importance of celebrating accomplishments and expressing gratitude for the opportunities that came my way.

Taking Risks and Making an Impact-

• By starting the Shoot to Sell Society and teaching others about business, I stepped out of my comfort zone and experienced vulnerability. In return I got to witness the positive impact I had on the lives of others.

Key Questions for Reflection:

• What was something you wanted to work on this year? Did you make progress?
• What was something you could have done better this year?
• Did you learn something new?
• Did you take a risk?
• Did you have an impact on someone elses life?

As I reflect on this year, I am filled with gratitude for the support of my audience and the opportunities that came my way. I encourage you to embrace authenticity, create meaningful work, and put good into the world. By doing so, we can look back on the year with pride, knowing that we have made a positive impact on others.

This is what we've been waiting for. How it all comes together and gets us our final image.

The first step in that is understanding our ISO and how that is the same and different with digital cameras (vs ASA films speeds of yore) and how it contributes to our overall exposure.

As promised, here is the ISO scale, in FULL stops, as I told you in the episode:
ISO 100
ISO 200
ISO 400
ISO 800
ISO 1600
ISO 3200
ISO 6400
ISO 12800
ISO 25600
ISO 51200
ISO 102400
ISO 204800

The real star of our show is the histogram, and if you can get that concept in an auditory manner here on the podcast then I dare say you are laughing when it comes to putting it into practice!

I might not have mentioned equivalent exposures in this blurb because I want you to actually listen to the podcast... so, just forget I said anything about them and get listening!

P.S.
I would love for you to sign up for my free Your First Milky Way Photo training here if you haven't already:

https://kristinerosephotography.com/yourfirstmilkywayphoto

Part 3 should be a breeze after getting through Part 2: Aperture. 

I do this on purpose actually, give you the setting and control that takes some mind wrangling to wrap our heads around and then let you breeze through this episode that is all about our Shutter Speed. 

Shutter Speed is synonymous with motion, though when we're shooting at night the rules are a wee-bit different than what we're used to during the day.

The biggest thing we need to pay attention to with our shutter speed is blur due to camera instability or settings (and whether or not we want it)

As promised, here is the shutter speed scale, in FULL stops, as I told you in the episode, full seconds are denoted by " after the number:
30"
15"
8"
4"
2"
1"
1/2
1/4
1/8
1/15
1/30
1/60
1/125
1/250
1/500
1/1000
1/2000

I would love for you to sign up for my free Your First Milky Way Photo training here if you haven't already:
https://kristinerosephotography.com/yourfirstmilkywayphoto