This Conversation with Jed Taufer

Latest Episodes:

Julie Collins - Finding Your Co-Workers Mar 08, 2021

Show notes

Julie Collins is an award-winning portrait photographer and the artist behind Julie Collins Photography, based in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Julie is a Certified Professional Photographer through Professional Photographers of America and her studio specializes in family, newborn, and senior portraiture. Her images are characterized by bold color and authentic emotion. Candid “in the moment” photographs touch her heart deepest and what feeds her passion for storytelling through her lens. You can expect full service when working with Julie, including design consultations, in-person reveal sessions and installation of your wall art in your home.

Lynsey Weatherspoon - Something Greater Mar 01, 2021

Show notes

Lynsey Weatherspoon knows Something Greater is out there, and she’s determined to work hard to get it.
“Suddenly this camera, this thing, allowed me to move around the world in a certain kind of way, with a certain kind of purpose.” Carrie Mae Weems

Lynsey Weatherspoon’s first photography teacher was her late mother, Rhonda. Like her mentor-in-her-head Carrie Mae Weems, that first camera - a gift - delivered purpose. Her career includes editorial and commercial work that has been inspired and powered by her first teacher’s love and lessons.

The “blackqueergirl” is a photojournalist and portraitist based in Atlanta and Birmingham. Using both photography and filmmaking as tools to tell stories, Weatherspoon’s work has been featured in print and online in such publications as The New York Times, USA Today, NPR, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Time, ESPN and ESPN-owned The Undefeated.

As a member of a modern vanguard of photographers, she is often called on to capture heritage and history in real time. The Equal Justice Institute’s Bryan Stevenson. The National Memorial for Peace and Justice. The Legacy Museum. Ronnie the shoe repairman in downtown Birmingham. The people of the Gullah-Geechee Corridor. An entire family infected with and affected by a pandemic. Demonstrators with raised fists and sad, vulnerable eyes. The sons and daughters of history. The mothers of children who died making history. The majesty of Mardi Gras. The loving hands of family caregivers.

Lynsey Weatherspoon’s work has been exhibited at The African American Museum in Philadelphia and Photoville NYC. She is an awardee, The Lit List, 2018. Her affiliations include Diversify Photo, Authority Collective, and Women Photograph.

0:40 - About Lynsey

4:57 - A Hard Worker

6:05 - Honor

9:08 - Purpose

12:45 - A Generational Gap

17:42 - Success

23:27 - The Best is Yet to Come

27:59 - Canon Explorer of Light

30:37 - Legacy

Jai Mayhew - Methods and Motives Feb 22, 2021

Show notes

Jai Mayhew is a portrait & fashion photographer currently residing in St. Louis. Her work has been published internationally, featured in galleries and commissioned by public figures. Growing up in Germany, Jai was first introduced to portraiture in the form of romantic paintings and marble statues. This influence has evolved into the style she’s best known for - romantic, sensual and editorial. Jai is PRO EDU’s newest instructor and is excited for the launch of her ‘Luxe Portraiture’ tutorial in March 2021. When she isn’t in the studio, you can find Jai with her beautiful family, in the gym, or mixing an especially dirty martini.

0:40 - Empowering + Lifting Clients

4:57 - A Specific Questionnaire

7:35 - Vulnerability

16:30 - The Final Touches

23:16 - Methods + Motives

29:27 - Jai’s Tutorial

Cris Duncan - Moving Forward Feb 15, 2021

Show notes

Cris and Deanna Duncan have a passion for people. Their greatest joy comes in seeing others succeed. Cris is often labeled “Mr. CPP” as he is only one of a few PPA (Professional Photographers of America) approved CPP instructors and he often brags about his students’ passage rates. He’s the geek that loves the technical side of photography and his humor, wit and eye for detail have earned him a spot as an International Print Competition (IPC) juror. To balance Cris, Deanna brings the “softer” side of photography, but she geeks out on understanding personalties and bringing them out in front of the camera.

When not traveling the country teaching, Cris and Deanna are at home in Lubbock, Texas operating C j Duncan Photography where they specialize in family, senior and commercial photography. In their 18 year career the Duncan’s have photographed numerous portraits, weddings, commercial assignments and even two Presidents. Cris currently serves at the President of the Texas Professional Photographers Assoc. The Duncans’ are both Master Photographic Craftsmen, CPPs and the founders of Find Your Focus Photographic Education and have one daughter.

0:40 - Mr. President

2:57 - What We Don’t Know

5:53 - The Top Dog

9:06 - Importance of TPPA

16:31 - Image Competition

22:20 - Moving Forward

31:11 - A C+ Student

Kahran and Regis Bethencourt - Our Mission Feb 08, 2021

Show notes

World renowned child photographers, Regis and Kahran Bethencourt are a husband and wife duo and the imaginative forces behind CreativeSoul Photography. The pair gained global recognition with their AfroArt series. The collection, which showcases the beauty and versatility of afro hair, was conceived as a way to empower kids of color around the world. The couple recently authored their New York Times best selling coffee table book, “Glory” which brings to life past, present, and future visions of black culture. With more than eleven years of working with hundreds of children, families and brands, they specialize in child and lifestyle photography while incorporating authentic visual storytelling.

0:40 - A Bit of an Agenda

2:40 - Web Designers

10:02 - Taking The Leap

15:47 - Growing The Business Together

20:34 - Complimenting One Another

24:17 - Working With Your Spouse

28:02 - Our Mission

38:45 - Canon Explorers of Light

Spanki Mills - Bold Feb 01, 2021

Show notes

Spanki Mills lives life on her own terms. From Spanki: Hey y’all. I’m just a girl named Spanki. Yep, that’s my real name…long story short, it was a dads nickname (Spanky from the Little Rascals), my mom was clearly so blinded by love she wasn’t thinking and in the end there was a baby girl who looked like her dad… named SPANKI!

I am an ENFP and an enneagram 7…so what does that mean? It means at 40 something I am still trying to figure out who I am..join me on my journey!

I am a mother to four…yes Lord please have mercy on me…FOUR teenagers! Which leads me to express my love and crazy desire to travel…it is how I cope with stress, I fly as far away from it as possible! I am a multifaceted entrepreneur running a few businesses because any smart business owner knows not to put all their eggs in one basket. I am a photographer, an educator in the photography industry, I work on home design and just started offering online design consults. I also work for the leading anti-aging haircare company in the world helping women change the health of their hair while creating financial freedom. My heart hungers for helping women just like you let go of the expectations you put on yourself, I am here to offer a hand to help you crawl out of societies box of the “perfect woman” because believe it or not…you already ARE!

I am so glad you are here to help me journey through the busy life of a creative mind that has more balls in the air than hands to catch them, who has a heart that is so full of love it aches for her growing kids and a sense of humor while navigating her mid-life crisis.

Sarah Petty - Go Boutique Jan 25, 2021

Show notes

Sarah Petty, MBA, is a highly-acclaimed speaker, best-selling author of Worth Every Penny, and photography business teacher, inspiring thousands to use the boutique model to build their dream business. Her expertise is based on 20+ years of helping build the Coca-Cola brand, meeting client goals at a top regional advertising agency, and building her own photography studio in Springfield, Illinois. PPA named Sarah Petty Photography one of the most profitable studios in the USA (just five years after opening). Sarah has mastered the science and art of making marketing simple, actionable, and fun— without sacrificing time for the most important thing in life: family.

Go Boutique Live is a 3-day virtual spectacular for boutique photographers who want to inject joy, purpose and freedom into their photography businesses (and their families’ lives, too). This event will show you there’s a better way to be a professional portrait photographer, where you can truly make the income you want and still put your family first. Here’s a preview of what you’ll discover at GO Boutique Live: how to shoot for, price and service a $3,000 order; how to sell wall art without being pushy; how to elevate your brand so boutique clients FIND you and INVEST more with you; and so much more! The event is LIVE February 23-25, 2021. Get your tickets at goboutiquelive.com or apply for a scholarship at goboutiquelive.com/scholarship.

Jamie Hayes - Using Fear as a Tool Jan 18, 2021

Show notes

Jamie attributes the success of their studio, along with business partner Mary Fisk-Taylor, to their sound management and business skills combined with their love and passion for photography. His commitment to creating priceless portraits, wedding albums and commercial imagery has earned him an extremely loyal clientele as well as a sterling reputation in the state of Virginia. Their business savvy and creative marketing concepts have enabled them to establish an extremely profitable and fulfilling portrait and wedding gallery. As a PPA Approved Business Instructor and PPA Approved Photographic Instructor, Jamie offers informative and motivational programs to working photographers.

Jamie has participated in several state, regional, national and international conferences giving both full-day and week long classes. As an affiliate PPA juror, he has the pleasure to judge several international print competitions throughout the US. He is a proud member of several professional photography organizations, including: Professional Photographers of America (PPA), Virginia Professional Photographers Association (VPPA), The Society of XXV and the International Society of Portrait Artists.

Jamie has been honored with many awards on both state and national levels. His achievements include the Kodak Gallery Elite Award of Excellence, numerous Kodak Gallery Awards of Excellence, PPA Loan collections, multiple ASP Regional Medallion Awards, SEPPA Distinguished Awards, Best Wedding Albums VPPA, Best of Category, Fuji Masterpiece Awards and the VPPA Photographer (Highest Print Case) several times as well as one of the Top Ten Photographers for the entire state of Virginia. Jamie earned the distinguished honor of ASP Fellow in January of 2018 as the 122nd photographer in the world to earn this degree. Jamie shares his simple lighting concept applying a down to earth and easy formula for lighting any subject indoors or outdoors.

Accomplishments:

Photographic Craftsmen Degree Master of Photography Degree Imaging Excellence Degree Approved Photographic Instructor Approved Business Instructor Member of The Society of XXV

Scored a perfect 100 in SEPPA competition using film

4 for 4 in PPA Loan Collection (2 wedding albums and 2 prints using film ) Kodak Gallery Elite

Award 1st place

16 Kodak Gallery Awards 14 Fuji Masterpiece Awards

4 VPPA Photographer of the Year Awards 4 ASP State Awards 2 ASP Regional Awards

2 Top 10 PPA Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards 8 PPA Charities Legacy Award PPA Affiliate Juror

PPA Directors Award Recipient

Certification Committee Member

Speaker Selection Committee Member

PPA Charities Dream Studio Giveaway Committee Member PEC Committee Member

VPPA Print Salon Chair

Lara Jade - No Dream Too Big Jan 11, 2021

Show notes

Born in Staffordshire, England. Lara Jade first picked up a camera at the early age of fourteen - influenced by self-portraiture and conceptual photography. Growing up with the rise of social media and digital techniques enabled Lara to see the bigger picture of an international industry. After graduating college she made the move to London, where she naturally felt the transition to fashion photography. A couple of years later - she embarked on her first trip to New York and never looked back.

Lara enjoys creating timeless and emotive imagery. She is inspired by feminine strength, unique beauty and lasting style.

She currently resides in Brooklyn, New York with her husband James and regularly travels for assignments, working between NY, LA and London.

Lara also enjoys teaching & speaking at photography conventions and runs her own photography education business Lara Jade Education. Her love of education has been recognized by some of the largest brands in photography and most recently she was named a Canon Explorer Of Light.

An Unforgettable 2020 Jan 04, 2021

Show notes

Well everyone, here we are. 2020 is behind us. And now 2021 lays outstretched before us. We’ve called this episode An Unforgettable 2020…for obvious reasons, I hope. I just wanted to say thanks for listening these past few years. This last one was…well, it was something else. This next one, I hope is much, much better for all of us. We’ve put together some of our best clips from this past year. I hope you enjoy them. Again, thanks for listening. And Happy New Year.

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