Summer School - A Photography + Creative Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Wedding Photography & Creating On Youtube: A Chat with Magic Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

Hi everyone! This time, I’m sitting down with Magic - a wedding photographer and YouTube creator whose personality and branding are just as memorable as his work. We talk about how he built a global wedding photography career, what pushed him onto YouTube, and how he’s grown a community of 50,000+ creatives.

Meet Magic:

Magic is a destination wedding photographer with over 12 years of experience. He's built Magic Wedding Photographer, a YouTube channel with 45,000+ subscribers that educates professional wedding photographers through gear reviews, technical tutorials, and business strategy.A former Sony Ambassador for 7 years, Magic has evolved from high-volume wedding work to building a comprehensive photography education business. His "Enter the Dragon" philosophy teaches photographers to attract ideal clients through authentic self-expression rather than generic marketing.Based in Poland with his wife Zuzia and four children, Magic serves growing wedding photographers worldwide who want to book better clients, improve their craft, and build sustainable education-focused businesses.

Connect with Magic:

Website: ⁠www.magicweddingphotographer.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magicweddingphotographer

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

The Truth About Shooting Analog in the Wedding Industry with Brjánn Batista Bettencourt Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I sit down with Brjánn Batista Bettencourt - a Toronto-based photographer and cinematographer known for his analog and Super 8 work - to talk about what it actually looks like to shoot film in the wedding industry today.

Brjánn shares how his journey from photojournalism to weddings, his skateboarding background, and his Portuguese-Canadian roots shaped the way he tells stories. We dive into why he’s so committed to analog, what Super 8 brings to a wedding day, and the realities (and challenges) of shooting film for clients in a digital-heavy industry.

Meet Brjaan

Brjánn (Brian) Batista Bettencourt is a Toronto-based photographer and cinematographer whose work lives at the intersection of documentary truth and nostalgic longing.

Brjánn’s career spans photojournalism, editorial portraiture, and motion-picture work, with tenures at the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and Country Music Television, where he photographed renowned artists such as Shawn Mendes, Shania Twain, Dierks Bentley and Florida Georgina Line. His analog film work has been featured by CBC and placed him on the cover of PhotoLife Magazine for his work with Kodak Ektachrome.

Today, Brjánn works internationally across weddings, editorial assignments, and long-form personal projects, drawing inspiration from his coming of age experiences in the skateboarding community and duality of cultures as a Portuguese-Canadian. He lives in Toronto with his wife and collaborator, photographer and designer Ryanne Hollies.

Connect with Brjánn:

Stay tuned for a potential Super 8 workshop happening in 2026!

Website: www.3bphoto.ca

Instagram: @brjann.c0m

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

AI, Lighting, and Composition: With Wedding Photographer Lukas Piatek Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

This time I’m joined by photographer Lukas Piatek to talk about AI, lighting, and composition - three things shaping photography right now. We break down the AI tools worth using, how to elevate your images with stronger light, and why developing your own style matters more than following trends.\

Meet Lukas:

Lukas Piatek is a destination wedding and elopement photographer known for his cinematic, emotive imagery and work across more than 30 countries. Based in Germany, and splitting his time between Europe and beyond, Lukas captures weddings with a raw, storytelling approach that blends editorial elegance with genuine emotion. Lukas is also the creator behind Meridian Presets, used by thousands of photographers worldwide to achieve natural, film-inspired tones. Alongside his photography work, Lukas mentors creatives in SEO and brand strategy, helping photographers elevate their online presence and grow sustainable businesses.

Connect with Lukas:

Website: www.lukaspiatek.com

Instagram: @lukaspiatekphotography

Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/lukaspiatek

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 Magic of Instant Film: Professional Polaroid Photography with Ryan Shaver Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

Hi everyone! Today I’m talking with Bay Area photographer Ryan Shaver, who shoots exclusively on Polaroid. We get into how he built a business around instant film, what makes the medium so different to work with, and how he’s carved out a unique spot in the industry.

Meet Ryan:

Ryan Shaver is a Polaroid photographer based in the San Francisco Bay Area who stands out in the professional photography world for shooting exclusively on Polaroid. After completing his graduate research paper, Predictive Processing for Artificial Intelligence & Cognition, Ryan leaned fully into instant film as a way to preserve memories with honesty and imperfection.

In 2022, he bet that people would eventually grow tired of the overly polished look of AI-generated imagery and crave something real. He went all in on a niche few pursue due to its high costs and challenges, landing his first client within a year. Since 2023, Ryan has photographed weddings, portraits, and major corporate events — including a recent donors event at the Exploratorium — and now also serves as the Creative Director for Siempre Golden clothing brand.

Connect with Ryan:

Corporate Holiday Party Season is coming up, and Ryan is still taking bookings!

The first ten people to book a wedding package next year, if they drop the code "SUMMER", will get 10% the total negotiated package price.

Website: ⁠shaver.film

Instagram: ⁠@shaver.film

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

Life Updates: Moving, Workshops, and Family Sessions Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

This week, I’m catching you up on what’s been going on lately -our move back to the Pacific Northwest, settling into a new routine, and how I’ve unexpectedly started shooting more families. After years focused on weddings, it’s been a refreshing change that’s been teaching me a lot!

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

Directing, Shooting, and Dreaming Bigger with Tiana Michele Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

This week I’m joined by New York based photographer and director Tiana Michele, whose creative journey perfectly blends art, risk-taking, and reinvention.

We met at Nikon’s Creator Camp in Utah, and I was instantly drawn to her work and the way she tells stories through both photo and film. In this episode, we dive into how she transitioned from weddings to directing short films, the beauty of collaboration, and what it really looks like to keep evolving as an artist.

Meet Tiana

Tiana is a Sierra Leonean-American photographer, director, and writer based in New York City. She has a BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography. She began taking photos in 2020, during the pandemic after taking a break from dance immediately after graduating. She works with film and digital format and much of her personal work is inspired by things happening in the world around us with an emphasis in feminism, fashion, movement, and things she has dealt with personally as a third culture woman of color. Her most recent notable work in film is her directorial debut Manspread.

Connect with Tiana:

Website: tianamichelephoto.com

Instagram and TikTok: @bytianamichele

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

Concert Photographer & Camera Creator: A Chat with Christina Demertzi Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

Hi everyone! This time I’m joined by Christina Demertzi - a Berlin-based concert photographer who went from teaching to touring with major artists. We chat about life on the road, finding creative flow in the chaos, and her newest project, the Dem Camera, a screen-free digital camera designed to make photography fun again.

Meet Christina:

Christina Demertzi is a Berlin-based photographer, content creator, and founder of demcams. After starting her career as a secondary education teacher, she made a bold leap into the creative world and has since built a name for herself capturing unforgettable moments on stage and behind the scenes with international artists. With over three years of experience in music photography, Christina’s work spans tour documentation, social media storytelling, and viral reels that have reached millions of viewers. Beyond photography, she is passionate about empowering creatives and has currently founded demcams, a screen-free digital camera. Her journey combines artistry, entrepreneurship, and resilience, inspiring others to turn their passions into thriving careers.

Christina is currently working on DemCams, a reusable, screen-free digital camera that instantly transfers photos to your phone. It’s designed to bring back the magic of capturing moments without distractions—no screen, no endless retakes, just authentic memories you can relive later.

Connect with Christina:

Website: www.christinademertzi.com

Instagram: @christinademerzi / @demcams

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

From Creator to Educator: Finding Your Voice with Noella Andres Oct 14, 2025

Show notes

Hi friends! Today I’m sitting down with one of my good friends and absolute powerhouses in the education space, Noella Andres. Noella has helped launch so many incredible educators and is known for her innovative take on business and photography education.

Meet Noella Andres:Noella Andres has been in the photography game for over 20 years. Chasing love stories, and eventually finding her real passion: helping other photographers grow wildly successful businesses of their own. These days, she's all about marketing, brand partnerships, and business coaching, guiding photographers as they step into their next big thing, whether that’s launching a course, building passive income, or levelling up their visibility. She’s part strategy nerd, part hype girl, and fully invested in helping creatives find freedom in their business (and have a little fun doing it).Connect with Noella:

Join the waitlist for her new podcast: JOIN

How to use your email list to attract clients: DOWNLOAD HERE

Launch checklist: DOWNLOAD HERE

Website: noellaandres.com

Instagram: @noellaandres

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

Life Updates and Live Q+A Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

Hi everyone! It’s just me this time. I wanted to catch you up on some big life changes, new creative chapters, and what’s next for both me and Summer School. I’m also answering your questions from recent workshops, chatting about pricing, diversifying income, building community, and staying creative online.

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

AI for Creators and Professionals: Practical Insights with Nathaniel Reagan Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

AI for Creators and Professionals: Practical Insights with Nathaniel Reagan

Hey everyone! In this episode I chatted with Nathaniel Reagan, co-founder of Spirit Camp, to talk about how AI and creativity intersect. From shifting his perspective as a skeptic to becoming an advocate for intentional use, Nathaniel shares how AI can act as a mirror of our intentions - helping us work smarter without losing our voice or values.

We cover everything from the environmental impact of AI, to the difference between thoughtful and careless use, to practical tools like Whisper Flow and Claude that can make everyday work more efficient.

Meet Nathaniel:

Nathaniel Reagan is an AI educator, co-founder of AI Learning Labs, owner of Key13 Studios, and co-founder and transformation practitioner at Spirit Camp Retreat Center with his partner Julian. A longtime entrepreneur, he became an AI power user out of necessity while balancing multiple ventures. With 20 years of experience—from NGO development work in Mozambique to marketing roles at major New York agencies serving healthcare and biotech clients—he brings both strategic and hands-on expertise to AI education. Nathaniel teaches through real-world applications, showing creators and professionals how to use AI for everything from presentations to business planning. He’s passionate about ensuring AI is used consciously and believes big-hearted humans should guide how technology transforms our world.

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Connect with Nathaniel:

Instagram: @ailearninglabs_

Threads: @ailearninglabs_

X: Ai_LearningLabs

TikTok: @ai.learning.labs

Facebook: AiLearningLabs

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