Photography Xperiment Podcast Andrew Hellmich

Michelle Szpak of www.szpak.co.uk has been shooting for over 15 years and specialises in motorcycle and automotive photography. Not the classifieds type of car and bike phots, what Michelle creates are special, incredibly lit art pieces for her clients.

Her byline reads…

Unique, passion-fuelled professional Automotive photography of your pride and joy. Creating Artwork for your Walls that last a lifetime.

But it hasn't always been all about incredible images of beautiful motorcycles and fancy cars!

Michelle started with the idea of being a landscape and animal photographer before moving on to portraits – that was 12 years ago.

Then in 2013, she photographed her first motorcycle, and automotive photography has been the focus since.

The images our guest creates are works of art that require a fantastic imagination, expert lighting skills and an understanding of composition any photographer would die for.

You might be surprised at the lighting she uses to showcase the cars and bikes (examples below). Michelle shares techniques and more, including the business and sales side of her photography, in this interview. 

Big thanks to ImagenAI for sponsoring and making this episode possible. If you'd love to have your post-processing after every shoot done for you – in minutes and at super affordable costs (around 5c/image) you need to take a look at ImagenAI.



Here’s some of what we cover:



What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to read your feedback and comments. Was there something from this interview that struck a chord, inspired or motivated you?

Will you take any kind of action after hearing what Michelle had to share?

I've learned to be very confident with how much I charge for this because it's a very heavy process so I'm not scared of saying the price. – Michelle Szpak

Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Michelle or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below too.





I look at a vehicle a bit like a boudoir photographer would look a female body. – Michelle Szpak





If you understand light, you can create anything you want. – Michelle Szpak



Covid forced me to realize that if I take a day off the world does not fall apart. – Michelle Szpak



Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Michelle Szpak Website

Michelle Szpak on Instagram

Michelle Szpak on Facebook

Michelle Szpak on 500px

Free Photography Mindset Worskhop

Loxley Colour

Basics of Motorcycle Photography with Michelle Szpak – Facebook Live video





Thank you!

Thanks again for listening and thanks to Michelle for coming on and experimenting with a new and different format for this photography podcast and for sharing her thoughts, expertise, views and ideas.

I'm looking for the lines. I'm looking for the shapes.

Ashley Jones is the driving force behind Love Not Lost – an organisation supporting people in grief and helping people heal by connecting portrait photographers with families facing a terminal diagnosis.

Ashley, through Love Not Lost, is on a mission to revolutionise the way we heal in grief by preserving memories for those they love – at no cost to them.

Ashley and her husband have endured this same grief when they lost their beautiful daughter, Skylar.

Their friends gifted them a portrait session to help preserve her memories. At the time, Ashley didn't realise how powerful these photos would become. They gave her a way to hold onto her baby girl.

Big thanks to ImagenAI for sponsoring and making this episode possible. If you'd love to have your post-processing after every shoot done for you – in minutes and at super affordable costs (around 5c/image) you need to take a look at ImagenAI.

Here’s some of what we cover:



What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to read your feedback and comments. Was there something from this interview that struck a chord, inspired or motivated you?

Will you take any kind of action after hearing what Ashley had to share?

As we experience losses throughout our lives, we want people to feel loved and supported. – Ashley Jones

Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Ashley or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below too.





My hope with Love Not Lost is that we can kind of combat the pain cycle in the world by stepping in and really loving people even in the midst of their suffering. – Ashley Jones





When we can step in and love people, that's when the healing happens. – Ashley Jones



Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Love Not Lost Website

How Can I Love You Better Website

Love Not Lost on Facebook

Love Not Lost on Instagram

Love Not Lost on Twitter

Stefanie Finnemore

ImagenAI – artificial intelligent photo editing for professional photographers

ShootProof

WPPI Expo



Thank you!

Thanks again for listening and thanks to Ashley for coming on and experimenting with a new and different format for this photography podcast and for sharing her thoughts, expertise, views and ideas.

The thing about grief is that it's just love in another form. – Ashley Jones

Also, big thanks to ImagenAI for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! If you're looking for the easiest, cheapest, fastest way to replicate yourself in regards to editing your photography,

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area.

Damon Pijlman of www.studiodamon.com photographs weddings, portraits, families and commercial work. His Instagram bio says he's a Visual Storyteller who Documents inspiring couples worldwide.

His wedding photography was voted best in the Netherlands – 2014, 2015 and 2016.

He has countless awards – take one look at the images that earnt them, and I promise, you will be blown away. His work is fantastic.

It was his artist and painter father who taught him to observe carefully. But it was following the Foundation Workshop in 2013 where Ben Chrisman and David Murray changed everything about wedding photography for him.

I read in an interview where he was asked, what's the stupidest thing you've ever agreed to do? His reply… Setting up a Groupon beach portraits package … After 500 sessions, he says he was ready to kill himself.

In this interview, Damon shares how to survive and thrive with your photography business during the pandemic.

Here's some more of what we cover in the interview:





What’s on Offer for Premium Members

If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this interview – the full length and more revealing version where you hear the absolute best tips and advice from every guest.

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus special member-only interviews.

All you need to do is listen on the call, and just make them excited. – Damon Pijlman

You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. There are also FB live video tutorials, role-play interviews and special live interviews happening in the group. You will not find more friendly, more motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Seriously, that's not all.

In addition to everything above, you'll get access to and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.



What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Damon shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below, let me know what your takeaways were, what you plan to implement in your business as a result of what you heard in today's episode.

It really was surprising that this happened. But the couples I didn't connect with very well, I still send them a voucher, and are one of our best couples. – Damon Pijlman

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Damon or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.



iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

Each week I check for any new iTunes reviews and it's always a buzz to receive these… for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they r...

Erick Danzer and Scott Wyden Kivowitz of www.imagely.com are two of the guys behind a new automated lab fulfilment for photographers with WordPress websites.

I asked both guys onto the podcast after reading about what could be a game-changing service for photographers who want to sell directly from their WordPress websites.

My first thought was – is this the end of services like Pixieset, Pic-time and Shoot-proof?

Erick Danzer is the man behind-the-scenes at Imagely. His focus is on ensuring Imagely gives back to the photography community through the Imagely Fund and other initiatives.

Scott Wyden Kivowitz who was interviewed for episode 274 of the PhotoBizX Podcast and is the Chief Community Officer at Imagely, a father, blogger, photographer and educator. He's the author of multiple photography books, and often educates photographers about WordPress via blogging and YouTube.

If the idea of doing away with a third-party print and file selling solution like Pic-Time, Smugmug, Photoshelter, Zenfolio, Shootproof, Cloudspot or Pixiset sounds attractive… it'll be worth listening to what Erick and Scott have to share.



Here’s some of what we cover:



What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to read your feedback and comments. Was there something from this interview that struck a chord, inspired or motivated you?

Will you take any kind of action after hearing what Scott & Erick had to share?

I often think of businesses being very simple but not always easy. – Erick Danzer

Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Scott & Erick or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below too.





Be excellent at whatever you're doing. – Scott Wyden Kivowitz







Without product excellence, you don't get off the ground. – Erick Danzer





If you want to succeed, you really need just two things. You need product excellence or service excellence… then you need good marketing. – Erick Danzer

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

NextGEN Pro Pricing Comparison – compare NextGen to other photography e-commerce solutions available with this handy tool

Imagely Website

Imagely Podcast

Imagely on Facebook

Imagely on Instagram

Imagely on YouTube

Imagely on Twitter

Imagely on Pinterest

Sell Photos on WordPress with Automated Print Fulfillment

Moving From Squarespace to WordPress

WHCC – White House Custom Colour

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Angie Connell of www.angieconnellphotography.com.au is arguably the most creative photographer I've interviewed for the podcast.

It's rare in the world of photography today to see something unique or to see a photographer creating something different from the norm.

In a social media run world where we are over saturated by imagery, it feels like an impossible task to be different, to find your specialty and stand out from the crowd.

At the same time, we're told to find what moves us as a person, as a photographer, an artist and focus on that. And if we do, if we let our unique voice come to the surface and shine through in our work, we will find we have no competition.

We're told, do this and we'll connect with our perfect clients who will be drawn to our vision and life as a successful creator will be assured.

The problem is… finding and recognising that unique voice and translating it to our work is tough.

Today's guest has done exactly this.

I've always tried to produce work that speaks to me and speaks to the subject and sort of infuse my humour in it. – Angie Connell

Her photography is unique, it's captivating, thought-provoking, inspiring, funny, quirky and just damn good.

She shoots conceptual pet photography for the quirky pet lovers in this world.

She's becoming more and more recognised within the industry by her peers and I have a feeling, she will become known around the world if she continues to produce the work she has been.

I'm talking about Angie Connell and I'm rapt to have her with us now.

Angie, welcome!

A big thanks to The Image Salon for sponsoring this episode of the podcast and making the show possible. If outsourcing your editing is something you're currently doing or considering, please put the guys at The Image Salon to the test… I think you'll be blown away! They service some of the biggest names in the industry including Fer Juaristi, Two Mann Studios, Gabe McClintock and Edwina Robertson to name a few.

 



Here’s some of what we cover:



What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to read your feedback and comments. Was there something from this interview that struck a chord, inspired or motivated you?

Will you take any kind of action after hearing what Angie had to share?

I have to always remind myself that sometimes my failures are not what other people would consider failures. – Angie Connell

Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Angie or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below too.





My personal work is more for me to try new things out and whether it succeeds or fails is always something to be seen. – Angie Connell







I struggle with perfectionism in my images a lot like I spend so much time working on an image that you'd become obsessed with the little details when the bigger picture is very much there. – Angie Connell





If you can't get what you want, then you have to work around that and sort of adjust the concept a little bit. – Angie Connell



Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Angie Connell Website

Oddball Tails

Oddball Tails on Instagram

a href="https://www.facebook.

Lawrence Scott of www.lspix.co.uk agreed to record this interview while driving from Glasgow to Edinburgh to go see the Castle and catch up with a bunch of Scotish photographers in one of their most beautiful cities. On the drive, it was difficult to talk business with so many stories from Lawrence about his early days as a crime photographer – some of which you'll hear in this episode.

We did get around to some photography business, life as a photographer based in Scotland, family, bookings, sales and more. I hope you enjoy the conversation/interview as much as I did when recording it.



Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Lawrence's Website

Lawrence's Facebook Page

Lawrence on Instagram



Follow up Questions for Dan

Thanks again for listening and big thanks to Dan for allowing me to record this interview at a moments notice and not running up the back of the track while trying to answer my questions with your full attention.

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!

That’s it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

Thanks and speak soon

Andrew