Summer School - A Photography + Creative Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Navigating Industry Challenges with Wedding Photographer Daniel Kim Feb 19, 2024

Show notes

Join us in this exciting episode of Summer School where Daniel Kim, an industry-leading wedding photographer, shares his unique approach to photographing intimate moments. We dive deep into his work philosophy, how he builds deep connections with clients, and his clever tactics to prevent creative burnout. Daniel also opens up about his journey in dealing with the intense demands of a competitive industry. This chat is packed with valuable takeaways, not just for photographers, but for anyone looking to build a sustainable business based on authenticity and passion. You won't want to miss it!

About Daniel Kim:

Daniel is a photographer who has one belief when it comes to owning and building a wedding photography business:

It's never about the business.

The art always comes first.
The business is just a byproduct of the art.

Find Daniel Online:

Instagram: @danielkimphoto
Website: www.danielkimphoto.com

Connect with Me:

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Show Notes: the-summerschool.com

Instagram: @summergrace.photo @the_summerschool

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My Summer Grace x G-Presets (discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL)

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Special Announcement for my listeners:

For 10 years, Evolve has been fostering the coolest experience in our industry. And trust me, they deliver. It's all about hands-on learning, extraordinary photo ops, and connections that spark inspiration, even for seasoned pros like me. So if you're ready to level up your photography game and have the best time while doing it, then let's make this happen together at Evolve Workshops.
Snag your $200 off now with the code SUMMER at evolveworkshops.org.

Don't miss out on creating memories and masterpieces with us where community truly is our superpower. See you at Evolve.

Building an Inspiring Community with Jamie Findlay Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

Come join me alongside Jamie Findlay, the visionary behind Evolve Workshops. For the past decade, Jamie has been tirelessly cultivating a vibrant community of photographers. Her mission? To shatter barriers between speakers and attendees, dismantling hierarchies and fostering an environment where inspiration and education flow freely.

Mark your calendars for Jamie's upcoming event in Santa Barbara, happening from April 21st to 24th, 2024. Featuring 12 exceptional speakers handpicked for their commitment to sharing actionable strategies with the community, this event promises to be nothing short of transformative. The event is also not just about pretty pictures. the styled shoots are designed to guide you through the art of crafting a breathtaking portfolio, utilizing techniques such as lighting, storytelling, posing and more.

Join Jamie in Santa Barbara and use my code SUMMER for $200 off your ticket.

About Jamie Findlay

Find Jamie Online:

Instagram: @evolveworkshops

@thelandlockedmermaid

Website: evolveworkshops.org

Connect with Me:

Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School!

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Show Notes: the-summerschool.com

Instagram: @summergrace.photo @the_summerschool

Shop My Products:

Become a Member of Summer School

My Summer Grace x G-Presets (discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL)

My Pricing Guide

Inside Scoop into the Music Industry from Creative Director Jacqueline Day Feb 07, 2024

Show notes

When music and visual artists collide, you have todays episode. Listen in on my conversation with Jacqueline Day, a music industry creative director. We chat about Jacquelines journey from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles, the power of networking, and the parallels between the music and wedding industries. Hear Jacquelines insights on balancing professional and personal life while maintaining authenticity in her work, dealing with Alopecia, and turning life's 'disasters' into growth opportunities.

About Jacqueline

Jacqueline Day is a creative director and visual artist working within music and entertainment industries. Starting at a very young age, she's gained a passion for translating an artist's sound and personality into compelling visual concepts. After spending almost a decade working in cities like Philadelphia and Nashville, she landed herself in Los Angeles, CA where she started her own company, Hera House.

Connect with Me:

Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School!

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Show Notes: the-summerschool.com

Instagram: @summergrace.photo @the_summerschool

Shop My Products:

Become a Member of Summer School

My Summer Grace x G-Presets (discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL)

My Pricing Guide

The Art of Albums & Elevating The Client Experience with Shaun Austin Gordon Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

Join me as I welcome Shaun Austin, owner of Kiss Books and all around - inspirational visionary. With experience from shooting over 500 weddings, launching a successful photography business, and authoring 'The Stack' Shaun shares a wealth of knowledge on todays episode!

Get valuable advice on how to add photo albums to your photography packages and enrich your clients experience. Shaun offers unique insights into overcoming sales fear and understanding the significant role of print services in today's digital age. He also discusses his upcoming speaking engagements at various events and his passion for forward thinking and education for photographers.

About Shaun

Shaun Austin Gordon is witty, loves deep conversations, and loves to dream of the future. He is married to his beautiful wife, and has 3 kids. On weekends you can find him headed to Nashville to see his favorite daughter, hitting the gym with one of his kids, or playing tennis with friends. Shaun photographed around 500 wedding over his 15 year career. He is the founder and Visionary at Kiss Books, but if he had any other job he would be an inspirational speaker. His wife refers to him as Shaun 2.0 now that he is dedicated to growth in his many roles such as a husband, dad, son, leader, and friend. Shaun is committed to becoming the best version of himself and if you want a good laugh ask him about his cartwheel experience.

Connect with Shaun

Kiss Books Website: kiss.us

Instagram: @shaunaustin

Connect with Me:

Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School!

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Show Notes: the-summerschool.com

Instagram: @summergrace.photo @the_summerschool

Shop My Products:

Become a Member of Summer School

My Summer Grace x G-Presets (discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL)

My Pricing Guide

Tackling The Entrepreneurial Stigma in Photography with Alora Rachelle Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, I am joined by Alora Rachelle, a seasoned wedding photographer and business strategist. Aloraa shares her journey from shooting weddings to becoming a business coach to others in the photography industry. She stresses the importance of systemizing, proper pricing, sales, branding and establishing a unique brand personality. Alora also discusses mastering mindset and portraying a stronger business perspective, rather than just focusing on the artistic side of photography. She provides insights about adopting the CEO mentality and the significance of personal confidence in sales and marketing.

About Alora

Alora Rachelle is a wedding photographer turned marketing strategist who believes marketing, and sales are the key foundations to to scaling a profitable business. In two years of going full-time, she took her business from $10,000 to $100,000 using the strategies she teaches.

Alora’s work has been published in several publications such as ELLE, The Knot, Channel 7 ABC News, Popsugar, etc. She is also the creator of The Wedding CEO, where she teaches wedding photographers how to raise their wedding rates & add additional streams of income so they can stop sacrificing their lives & spend their time freely

Find Alora

Join the Waitlist for Wedding CEO HERE

Connect with Me:

Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School!

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Show Notes: the-summerschool.com

Instagram: @summergrace.photo @the_summerschool

Shop My Products:

Become a Member of Summer School

My Summer Grace x G-Presets (discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL)

My Pricing Guide

⏩Try Imagen for Culling & Editing: Get 1500 edits for Free! ⏪

The Director's Spotlight: A Deep Dive Into Lighting in Filmmaking Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

With over a decade of experience, Drew the Director shares his expertise, discussing a range of topics, from the importance of understanding and controlling lighting to the role it plays in visual storytelling. Drew shares valuable tips and insights into the craft of lighting for both videography and photography. He also talks about his upcoming projects and shares personal anecdotes from his journey in the industry working with extreme sports, energy drink campaigns and more! This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the artform of lighting in visual media.

About Drew:

Drew The Director, is a commercial director and cinematographer renowned for his Hollywood-style lighting and innovative sound design. With nearly a decade of experience in the industry, Drew has honed his craft to deliver visually stunning and dynamic videos for brands across the board. His portfolio spans a diverse range of projects, including brand videos, music videos, fashion shoots, fitness films, event highlights, and captivating social media content.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Drew is an avid YouTuber, sharing his insights and experiences to educate and inspire a growing community of filmmakers and editors. He is currently in the process of developing a line of both digital and physical products, meticulously designed to empower creatives in the film industry. These products reflect Drew's commitment to excellence and his passion for making high-quality filmmaking accessible to a wider audience.
Find Drew:

Website: drewthedirector.com
Instagram/Youtube: @drewthedirector

Connect with Me:

Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School!

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Show Notes: the-summerschool.com

Instagram: @summergrace.photo @the_summerschool

Shop My Products:

Become a Member of Summer School

My Summer Grace x G-Presets (discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL)

My Pricing Guide

⏩Try Imagen for Culling & Editing: Get 1500 edits for Free! ⏪

Finding Your Roots & Unearthing Passion in Photography with Marisha Shanti Kelly Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, I welcome Marisha Shanti Kelly, a creative who travels the globe with her partner, musician Billy Otto, and shares holistic wellness practices she recently learned in Columbia. We discuss the ups and downs in our lives and careers, the power of social media in connecting people, the necessity of nurturing in-person relationships, the importance of understanding one's unique artistry, and the importance of looking after one's mental and physical health for sustained creativity.

About Marisha:

Marisha Rosalska is a young creative polymath from Byron Bay Australia. An internationally respected photographer, she focuses in the spaces of music, fashion and lifestyle.
At just 24 years of age, Marisha has shot professionally at iconic music festivals such as Lollapolooza (Berlin), Sziget (Budapest), and Haydays festival (Tasmania) and captured artists such as Foals, Confidence Man and Easylife.

Rosalska states “I don’t just take pictures, I tell stories. I create art. I intention to bring the observer into a deeper remembering of themselves.”

Find Marisha:
Website: joharahfilm.com

Instagram: @joharahfilm
Instagram: @marishashantikelly

Connect with Me:

Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School!

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Show Notes: the-summerschool.com

Instagram: @summergrace.photo @the_summerschool

Shop My Products:

Become a Member of Summer School

My Summer Grace x G-Presets (discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL)

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Embracing Artistic Freedom in Wedding Filmmaking with Mark Brown Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

Join me as I chat with filmmaker Mark Brown. Mark shares his journey from impulsively attending a workshop to becoming an established wedding filmmaker, detailing his thought process, mistakes, and learnings throughout his career. He provides valuable insights into his creative process, choice of equipment and discusses the evolution of his work over time. A deep dive into his unconventional approach to wedding videography reveals his philosophy of capturing genuine moments instead of staged performances. My favorite part of the conversation was on self-investment and the freedom of being unapologetically yourself, having the right team, and tips for aspiring artists round off a stimulating discussion.

About Mark:

Mark Brown is a storyteller & documentarian, working with vintage movie cameras and Kodak film. He is one of the first to bring Super 8 to the wedding world, and continues to inspire with his award winning style and 'Somewhere' workshops, which introduces photographers and filmmakers to motion picture format. Previous wedding clients include Guy Ritchie, Kate Mara and Jamie Bell.

Find Mark:

Website: markbrownfilms.com

Instagram: @markbrownfilms

Connect with Me:

Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School!

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Show Notes: the-summerschool.com

Instagram: @summergrace.photo @the_summerschool

Shop My Products:

Become a Member of Summer School

My Summer Grace x G-Presets (discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL)

My Pricing Guide

Stories from our Intimate Wedding Journey Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

In todays episode, Jake and I share the details of our intimate Vegas wedding and answer questions from our Instagram followers that have been piling up since our wedding day. We chatted about some of our untraditional wedding choices from having a super intimate Las Vegas wedding, floral arrangements with mushrooms to reading our vows during the ceremony. We also share a couple of the hiccups we encounted including our experience with Airbnb during our wedding reception. To listen to the episode we recorded before our wedding day, head back to episode 4!
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Connect with Me:

Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School!

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Show Notes: the-summerschool.com

Instagram: @summergrace.photo @the_summerschool

Shop My Products:

Become a Member of Summer School

My Summer Grace x G-Presets (discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL)

My Pricing Guide

Building a Sustainable Photography Business with Outsourcing Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

In my first solo podcast, I discuss outsourcing as a photographer. I share the keys to strategic marketing, making informed outsourcing decisions, and setting up your dream team. Discover how outsourcing can free you from the nitty-gritty, allowing your creativity to take precidence in yoru business. I spill the beans on my personal experiences, from pivoting marketing strategies to fine-tuning my team. The key takeaways are around strategic outsourcing, mindset shifts for a fulfilling business, and envisioning a future where work isn't a chore but a source of joy.

If you're ready to build a thriving and sustainable wedding photography empire, this episode is your blueprint. Tune in now and learn how to give yourself more time to do what your passionate about, while leaving the tasks that you can outsource, out of mind.

Connect with Me:

Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School!

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Show Notes: the-summerschool.com

Instagram: @summergrace.photo @the_summerschool

Shop My Products:

Become a Member of Summer School

My Summer Grace x G-Presets (discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL)

My Pricing Guide

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