So you want to be a photographer: Transform your skills and build a profitable photography business – Details, episodes & analysis

In this final episode, we pay tribute to Gina Milicia and the impact she has made on photographers around the world.

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Ok, we get it. You love shooting with daylight. And either you think that learning to use flash is hard or you think it’s not the look you’re after. The reality is that mastering flash will not only improve your photography by leaps and bounds, it gives you much greater flexibility, enables you to shoot in the most challenging situations and provides you an edge in the way you create your images. San Francisco-based photographer Luci Valentine used to be in the same boat. But she’s now embraced flash photography - and she did it in a week. She discusses: her past life as a publicist for bands like  Snoop dog, Nine-inch nails, Dr Dre and No Doubt, how she overcame her reluctance to shoot with flash, the benefits of embracing the selfie, the garage lighting project, shooting high volume headshots of female leaders, attracting new clients vs chasing new clients, the positive benefits of giving, the amazing success of the front steps project, her flower photography, the benefits of personal projects and much more.

Gina and Valerie hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets at GinaMilicia.com. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process.

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Email Gina and Valerie news@ginamilicia.com 

Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.com

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Top photographers reveal their tips that could change the way you shoot. We chat with: Sean Tucker about  selecting authentic subject matter that is meaningful to the photographer and why seeking honest critiques and ignoring social media praise is a game-changer. Also street photographer Julia Coddington on how to get close to people in street photography and by close I mean uncomfortably close. And Joel Grimes shares an inspiring story about dealing with rejection and how he nearly let an Art Director steal his dream of becoming a world-class advertising photographer. This advice could change your life! 

Gina and Valerie hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com.

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Email Gina and Valerie news@ginamilicia.com 

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Gina shares her honest review of Luminar which, if you haven’t seen it yet, is like filters on steroids. To be fair, it’s a lot more than that. Luminar can be used as a stand alone app or as a plugin to Photoshop or Lightroom. You’ll discover what you can do with Luminar and Gina shares some smart hacks where you can incorporate it into your workflow. Gina and Valerie also discuss strategies you can start using today to improve your confidence as a photographer.

Gina and Valerie hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com.

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Email Gina and Valerie news@ginamilicia.com 

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Meet Romain Thiery, an amateur piano player who started  learning piano at the age of 5 and started photography 10 years ago, that hobby turned into a passion and, eventually, a profession the day he found a forgotten piano in an abandoned castle in south of France. Romain Thiery believes the piano to be, in his own words, « deeply rooted in the depths of our culture » and sought to explore the instrument from an original angle. He made his life’s mission to combine his two biggest passions and set out to find abandoned mansions around Europe where old pianos had been left behind. The series that emerged from Thiery’s work is called « Requiem pour pianos » and has catapulted the photographer name into notoriety among tastemakers and art connoisseurs around the world. In recent years, he has won international photography awards at various competitions and festivals.

You’ll discover: how he started in photography, how his love of photographing pianos in abandoned locations evolved, the process of finding pianos in abandoned locations, what it feels like to walk into those abandoned homes, how he lights and shoots his images, the opportunities that have been created as a result of this project, and much more. 

Gina and Valerie hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com.

Read the show notes

Email Gina and Valerie news@ginamilicia.com 

Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.com

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What does it take to be a great second shooter at weddings? And if you’re the primary photographer, what do you need to consider when working with a second shooter. In this episode, we chat to Dallas photographer Misha Wynn, who shares her tips on how to become a great second shooter for newbies and how to work with second shooters as a photographer.

You’ll discover: how Misha got started, how long before she turned a profit, what is a second shooter, why hire one, why be one, the difference between shadowing, assisting and second shooting, your pre-game plan so you don’t get in each other’s way or miss important shots, and much more.

Gina and Valerie hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com.

Read the show notes

Email Gina and Valerie news@ginamilicia.com 

Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.com

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How to get better at headshots, portraits, shooting wildlife and much more. This week, we answer common listener questions so that you can improve your photography and workflow.

Gina and Valerie hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com.

Read the show notes

Email Gina and Valerie news@ginamilicia.com 

Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.com

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Sometimes, you don’t need a fancy camera to take stunning images. You can take jaw-dropping shots with a camera that fits into the palm of your hand. We’re talking about your smartphone. Meet Emil Pakarklis, an expert in smartphone photography. You’ll discover: the biggest advantages of using a smartphone over DSLR or mirrorless, common mistakes, how to take amazing night photos, taking control of focusing and exposure, burst mode or live mode, workarounds for average flash, best editing apps and more.

Gina and Valerie hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com.

Read the show notes

Email Gina and Valerie news@ginamilicia.com 

Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.com

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Meet Cam Neville. Cam is a documentary photographer based in South East Queensland. He has been nominated for the worlds richest photographic competition, The Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize, five times – reaching the finals twice.

His long term project 'Into the Fire' has received international acclaim and been featured on BBC UK World.

Can was also voted in the Best 100 Wedding Photographers Worldwide 2015 +2016. We chat to Cam about what it’s like to be a photographer while working as a volunteer firefighter, how he turned a personal project into a book, how to photograph meaningful and authentic portraits, his portrait shooting technique. 

Gina and Valerie hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com.

Read the show notes

Email Gina and Valerie news@ginamilicia.com 

Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve wondered how you can use Photoshop to transform your images or give them some extra pop, you’ll love this interview with Arron Nace. Founder of Phlearn and guru of all things Photoshop, you’ll discover tips and workflows that will take your images to the next level.

Born and raised on the quiet island of Kauai, Aaron Nace would be the first to tell you that his upbringing was anything but ordinary. Despite the obvious perks of Hawaiian life, he would eventually move with his mother, father, and two brothers to North Carolina.

Aaron studied at North Carolina State University and obtained a degree in Industrial Design. Graduating from college, he thought his path was clear to one day becoming an automotive or furniture designer -- that is until a six-month-long trip to South America transformed his life forever. It was during this time that he fell in love with photography and its power to both facilitate and share adventures. In 2011, Aaron founded PHLEARN to bring creative education to anyone around the world.

Gina and Valerie hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Find out more at ginamilicia.com.

Read the show notes

Email Gina and Valerie news@ginamilicia.com 

Visit GinaMilicia.com | ValerieKhoo.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.