Foto Podcast

Michael talks with North London–based photographer Phil Sharp about transforming a studio session into a collaborative experience. Phil traces his path from assisting and high-street portrait studios to scrappy New York musician shoots, then back to London, where actor headshots became a place to make pictures that feel alive. He breaks down his sessions, featuring natural light, bold colors, and playing music, so the sitter can stop overthinking. He also explains why he works until the image is genuinely there. They dig into trust, vulnerability, and why “do nothing” can be the most human direction of all.🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS* 🌐 philsharp-photo.com* 📸 Instagram: @philsharp* 📸 Foto: @philsharpThank you to our sponsor State Film Lab! If you’re in the US, consider State Film Lab for your film processing and scanning needs.Reminder: We’d love for you to join us on Foto as we publicly build a new photo-sharing app for the world. Foto is available on Apple and Android. Direct links are on our website fotoapp.co Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

Michael talks with Ed Templeton about the through-line from 1990s skate culture to a lifetime of painting and photography: DIY zines, doing your own board graphics, and learning to work with chance. Ed traces his path from Orange County/Huntington Beach to turning pro by 1990, discovering photobooks (Nan Goldin, Larry Clark), and realizing he had insider access to a tour-bus world most photographers never see. They dig into failure, risk, and why he prefers to shoot candidly while walking instead of stopping to ask.🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS* 🌐 ed-templeton.com* 📸 Instagram: @ed.templeton* 📸 Foto: @edtempletonThank you to our sponsor State Film Lab! If you’re in the US, consider State Film Lab for your film processing and scanning needs.Reminder: We’d love for you to join us on Foto as we publicly build a new photo-sharing app for the world. Foto is available on Apple and Android. Direct links are on our website fotoapp.co Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

Michael talks with editor and writer Bill Shapiro about leading LIFE magazine, launching LIFE.com, and what the internet has done to curation, attention, and trust in images. They cover the craft of photo essays, the changing business models behind visual journalism, how archives and sequencing shape meaning, the risks and realities of AI imagery, and Bill’s ongoing work championing photographers and helping them make books.🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS* 🌐 Blue Photo Collective: BluePhoto.co* 📸 Instagram: @billshapiro* 📸 Foto: @billshapiro* 🌐 Article by Bill on Alex Harris - Alex Harris Returns to New Mexico* 🌐 Article by Bill on Richard Sharum - To Live and Die in DallasThank you to our sponsor State Film Lab! If you’re in the US, consider State Film Lab for your film processing and scanning needs.Reminder: We’d love for you to join us on Foto as we publicly build a new photo-sharing app for the world. Foto is available on Apple and Android. Direct links are on our website fotoapp.coBelow are some projects for which Bill served as an editor. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

Photographer Jon Moore joins Michael to talk about his move from Tennessee to Portland, working across the rural Northwest, and creating images that document human-affected landscapes.We cover his early film studies at Watkins College, work as a studio manager and camera operator, and his weekend photo trips through Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and beyond. Jon shares stories from photographing ghost towns, tavern regulars, and roadside characters, plus lessons from Stephen Shore and Alec Soth.He discusses his deliberate, tripod-based approach, the Pentax 6×7 he was gifted, and why subject, light, and composition matter more than gear. Jon also previews his upcoming book, A Storm that Needed a Mountain, with its hand-embroidered cover and imagery of changing landscapes in Goldendale, Washington.🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS* 🌐 Website: jonrmoore.com* 📸 Instagram: @doomstache * 📸 Foto: @doomstache Thank you to our sponsor State Film Lab! If you're in the US, consider State Film Lab for your film processing and scanning needs.Reminder: We’d love for you to join us on Foto as we publicly build a new photo-sharing app for the world. Foto is available on Apple and Android. Direct links are on our website fotoapp.co Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Michael talks with photographer, educator, and editor Alex Harris, whose work explores memory, place, and the evolving nature of storytelling. Alex was a founding member of the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. He’s also the author of 20 books, including River of Traps (a Pulitzer Prize finalist), The Idea of Cuba, and Our Strange New Land — a project exploring Southern independent film sets, recently exhibited at the High Museum of Art.Alex shares how his early work in New Mexico shaped the way he sees, how teaching has influenced his practice, and why he’s drawn to projects that unfold slowly over time. They talk about the space between truth and fiction, the role of editing, and how personal storytelling has changed his relationship to photography.If you’re interested in long-form projects, quiet observation, and images that live beyond the moment, this is a thoughtful, reflective episode with one of the most respected voices in American documentary photography.🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS* 🌐 Website: alex-harris.com* 📸 Instagram: @ourstrangenewlandThank you to our sponsor State Film Lab! If you're in the US, consider State Film Lab for your film processing and scanning needs.Reminder: We’d love for you to join us on Foto as we publicly build a new photo-sharing app for the world. Foto is available on Apple and Android. Direct links are on our website fotoapp.co Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Michael talks with photographer Brian Finke about developing a personal style and sticking to it. Brian is known for his bold, colorful work and for delving deep into specific worlds — from flight attendants and bodybuilders to law enforcement and drag races on the US-Mexico border.They discuss how he finds his projects, what drives his curiosity, and how he balances personal work with editorial and commercial assignments. Brian shares how he builds trust with people while keeping full creative control, and why it’s important for him to follow his instincts, even when things get weird.🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS* 🌐 Website: brianfinke.com* 📸 Instagram: @brianfinke Thank you to our sponsor State Film Lab! If you're in the US, consider State Film Lab for your film processing and scanning needs.Reminder: We’d love for you to join us on Foto as we publicly build a new photo-sharing app for the world. Foto is available on Apple and Android. Direct links are on our website fotoapp.co Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Michael talks with Nina Berman, a documentary photographer, filmmaker, and professor whose work interrogates the relationship between power, militarization, and the American experience. Over a career spanning three decades, Nina has consistently focused her lens on systems of violence and their aftermath, from war zones to police training grounds to the staged patriotism of political spectacle.A Guggenheim Fellow, two-time World Press Photo winner, and professor at Columbia Journalism School, Nina is also the author of three major books: Purple Hearts – Back from Iraq, Homeland, and An Autobiography of Miss Wish. Her photographs have been exhibited in venues such as the Whitney Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.In this conversation, she discusses how her work has evolved from portraits of wounded veterans to broader investigations into how militarized thinking permeates everyday American life. She reflects on the ethics of long-term documentary work, the emotional cost of sustained witnessing, and why photography remains a vital civic act.This is a powerful episode with one of the most uncompromising voices in American documentary photography — a conversation about courage, clarity, and using your camera to look directly at the systems that define our time.🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS* 🌐 Website: ninaberman.com* 📸 Instagram: nina_bermanThank you to our sponsor State Film Lab! If you're in the US, consider State Film Lab for your film processing and scanning needs.Reminder: We’d love for you to join us on Foto as we pubiclly build a new photo-sharing app for the world. Foto is on Apple and Android. Direct links are on our website fotoapp.co Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Michael sits down with photographer Betina La Plante to discuss her instinct-driven approach to portraiture and the significance of connection in her work. Betina shares how she discovered photography, why she avoids overplanning, and how being fully present with her subjects enables her to capture something deeper and more genuine.They discuss her early inspirations, how her background shaped the way she sees, and why she embraces simplicity—both technically and emotionally—in her images. This is a conversation about listening, navigating a moment intuitively, and trusting the creative process.🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS* 🌐 Website: betinalaplante.com* 📸 Instagram: @betinalaplante* 🖼️ Foto: @betinalaplante * 📖 Inspiration: Irving PennThank you to our sponsor State Film Lab! If you're in the US, consider State Film Lab for your film processing and scanning needs. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Michael sits down with NYC photographer Jean Andre Antoine to talk about his long-running Polaroid portrait series, his start in analog photography, and how the scarcity of instant film has become a constraint that fuels his creativity. They also discuss what it means to be present, how photographing strangers daily has shaped Jean’s understanding of people, and the deep emotional highs and lows of working in the street.🔗 Resources & Links* 🌐 Jean’s Website: jeanandreantoine.com* 📸 Instagram: @jaaphotos* 📍See him on the street: Prince Street, NYC — between Broadway and Crosby* 📰 NY Times Article on Jean❤️ Thanks to our Sponsors! State Film Lab - A wonderful place in Lousville, Kentucky to get your film developed and scanned! High-quality scans at a reasonable price point.MUSEA Lab - Museum-Quality Printing, Matting, Framing, and Albums Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of the Foto Podcast, we sit down with Maine-based photojournalist and documentary photographer Greta Rybus, whose work blends deep observation, human empathy, and a reverence for nature. Greta shares her journey from growing up in Idaho to working as a full-time freelancer in Maine, covering everything from environmental stories to the opioid crisis to long-term projects rooted in land and community.We talk about her approach to photographing complex issues with compassion, the emotional challenge of pairing photography with writing, and why she believes slowness, curiosity, and presence are more important than ever in storytelling. Greta opens up about her personal project documenting Nash Island’s wild sheep and the people who care for them, and how that work reflects her larger values around sustainability, collaboration, and finding other ways to live.This episode is a calm, reflective deep dive into what it means to build a photographic life around care—for people, for place, and for story.🔗 Resources & Links:* 📸 Greta’s Work: gretarybus.com* 📷 Follow Greta on Foto: @gretarybus* 🖼️ Instagram: @gretarybus* 🗞️ Read about her New York Times piece: “Meth Comes for Maine”* 🐑 Learn about Nash Island* 🫧 Check out her “Hot Springs” Book* ✍️ Substack newsletter: The Photosynthesist➡️ Download Foto on the App Store or Google Play — no ads, no crop, no chaos —just a thoughtful space for photography and community. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of the Foto Podcast, we’re joined by photographer and longform journalist Elliot Ross, whose thoughtful work bridges storytelling, ecology, culture, and human rights across the American West. From growing up on a remote farm in Colorado to assisting legends like Annie Leibovitz and Mark Seliger in New York, Elliot’s journey has taken him from the fashion world to remote caves, wheat harvests, indigenous communities, and ecological restoration zones.We discuss his powerful projects, such as A Question of Balance and Geography of Hope, which explore issues of water access, climate change, and the cultural histories intertwined with land and community. Elliot opens up about what it means to live a photographic life, how his camera connects him to people and place, and why he believes photography still matters in a world full of noise.This episode is a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation on photography, advocacy, and the quiet richness that comes from paying close attention to the world around us.Connect with ElliotWeb - elliotstudio.comInstagram - instagram.com/elliotstudioFoto - @elliotstudio Thanks to our Sponsors! State Film Lab and MUSEA. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of the Foto Podcast, we’re joined by New York photographer Angela Cappetta. A lifelong documentarian, Angela Cappetta's work captures the depth and nuance of everyday life with bold honesty and vibrant storytelling. Angela shares the journey from her earliest photos as a child to her years working under icons like Mary Ellen Mark and Arthur Elgort to her celebrated long-term project documenting a family on the Lower East Side.We discuss her first book, her love for flash photography, and why editing is one of the most emotional and essential parts of the creative process. Angela also opens up about the hustle of life as an artist, the grind of grant writing, what she’s learned from the publishing world, and how weddings became one of the richest visual playgrounds in her career.This conversation is packed with wisdom, humor, and truth bombs about photography, storytelling, and the reality of being an artist for the long haul.🔗 Resources & Links:* 📸 See Angela’s Work: angelacappetta.com* 📷 Follow Angela on Foto: @angelacappetta* 📬 Follow Angela on Substack: Angela Cappetta * 📷 Instagram: @angelacappetta_* 📚 Buy her book: Glendalis* 📥 Download Foto now on the App Store or Google Play – no ads, no videos, no crop, and a chronological feed that celebrates real photography. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of the Foto Podcast, we sit down with Michael Wriston, a Baltimore-based street portrait and long-exposure photographer whose work captures the soul of the city—one person, one building, one streetlight at a time. Michael shares how photography became a grounding force in his life during military night shifts and how it evolved into a way of deeply connecting with the world around him.We talk about the energy of late-night wandering, what it means to photograph lived-in neighborhoods, and the stories told by forgotten buildings and hand-painted signs. Michael’s work is all about seeing the beauty in what others overlook—and documenting it with empathy, curiosity, and respect.Whether photographing strangers on their stoops or exploring alleys at 2 a.m., Michael brings a calm, authentic presence to his work that shines through in every frame.🔗 Resources & Links:• 📸 See Michael’s Work: michaelwriston.com• 🖼️ Follow Michael on Foto: @mwriston• 📷 Follow Michael on Substack: Ten Minute Exposure • 📚 Mentioned in the episode: Wide Angle Youth Media, Baltimore Photo Space➡️ Download Foto on the App Store or Google Play — no ads, no videos, no crop, and a real chronological feed. Foto is photography how it should be—focused, intentional, and built around community. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of the Foto Podcast, documentary photojournalist Justin Hamel shares the incredible stories behind his work on the U.S.–Mexico border. From his early days exploring abandoned buildings in Pennsylvania to documenting the realities of migration, law enforcement, and energy production in Texas, Justin’s photography is grounded in empathy, persistence, and a commitment to truth.We talk about everything from how a devastating spinal cord injury reshaped his life and, work to the human cost of border policies, the rise in migrant deaths in the desert, and his long-term projects like Almost America, Camino de los Muertos, and Post Office Murals. It’s an honest, moving conversation about storytelling, advocacy, and the power of showing up with a camera.Resources & Links:• justinmhamel.com• Buy Prints• Follow Justin on Foto• Follow Justin on InstagramThe Foto Substack and Podcast is a community-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we sit down with Nick Gervin, a documentary photographer from Portland, Maine, whose raw and unfiltered work captures the unseen side of city life. Nick shares his journey from overcoming two traumatic brain injuries to using photography as a tool for recovery and self-expression. We dive deep into his decade-long project, Portlanders, his thoughts on documentary photography, the role of flash in his work, and how skateboarding shaped his visual style. Plus, we talk about his latest project, Mainers, where he’s expanding his lens beyond the city to capture the essence of his home state.If you love honest, compelling storytelling through photography, this episode is for you.Resources & Links:📸 Follow Nick Gervin: NickGervin.com | Instagram | Foto - nick_gervin📖 Check out his book: Portlanders 📷 Try Foto! Download Foto now on the Apple App Store and Google Play – no ads, no cropping, and a chronological feed that puts photography first!🎧 Enjoying the podcast? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow photographers!Foto is a community-supported organization. To receive new posts and podcast episodes and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Michael Howard sits down with renowned large-format photographer and 2024 Guggenheim Fellow Lisa Elmaleh. Lisa shares her journey into large-format photography, her decision to trade Brooklyn for a remote cabin in West Virginia, and her powerful work documenting life along the U.S.-Mexico border. She opens up about the challenges migrants face, the humanity behind immigration, and how she builds trust through her thoughtful, slow photographic process. This is an inspiring conversation about art, empathy, and resilience.IMPORTANT UPDATE: This podcast was recorded in early January 2025. On the 20th of January 2025, thousands of people were devastated, that the legal path to asylum closed without further recourse due to executive order "Securing our Borders". The CBP One phone app is no longer functional. Thousands of people have nowhere to go because they cannot return due to cartel violence and other reasons, and many people will be in limbo indefinitely until something changes.🔗 Visit Lisa's Website - https://lisaelmaleh.com🔗 Check out Lisa's upcoming workshops - https://lisaelmaleh.com/workshops🔗 Deep Time Press Zine of Tierra Prometida - https://deeptimepress.com/Promised-Land-Tierra-Prometida-Lisa-ElmalehThanks for reading Foto! This post is public, so feel free to share it.Foto is a community-supported publication. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to support our work and receive new posts in your inbox. The Foto App is separate from our Substack. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we dive deep into the growing discussion about AI and its impact on photography. We cover the potential benefits of AI in visual recognition and image labeling, the ethical concerns surrounding AI-generated images, and the complexities of ensuring creators' rights and consent. With real-world examples and thoughtful analysis, we explore the technical and philosophical nuances of AI in image creation, how different groups view its role, and the ongoing legal and technical challenges. Join the conversation about the future of AI in photography and what it means for creators and users alike.Margaret Warren - imagesnippets.com00:00 Introduction to AI in Photography00:35 The Evolution and Scope of AI01:10 Machine Techniques and Computer Vision03:44 The Rise of Generative AI04:36 Ethical Concerns and Copyright Issues07:29 User Reactions and Digital Source Types09:21 AI in Everyday Photography11:32 Challenges in Identifying AI-Generated Images23:32 Legal and Regulatory Landscape45:43 Future Directions and Final Thoughts Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

Daniels' Website - https://shifter.media/Daniel Milnor, the Creative Ambassador for Blurb, delves into his journey from a photographer to his role at Blurb over 13 years. He discusses his unexpected entry into photography and his transition from traditional photography practices to embracing modern challenges and opportunities, such as AI and digital technology. The conversation spans topics from the impact of AI on the creative industry, ethical considerations, the value of unique work and storytelling, and the evolving models for creators in a rapidly changing technological landscape. Milnor also shares his views on the importance of curiosity, originality, and building personal ecosystems outside of traditional platforms like social media.00:00 Introduction to Dan Milnor00:50 Journey into Photography02:35 AI and the Photography Industry12:01 The Future of Photography and Creativity16:57 The Role of Story and Unique Work31:49 Curiosity and Inspiration33:13 Where to Find Dan Milnor Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the Foto Podcast! I’m thrilled to introduce Margaret Warren as a tech advisor here at Foto. Margaret has an incredible background in metadata, digital innovation, and image management, and today, we’re diving into how her expertise is shaping Foto’s future. We’ll be discussing everything from the role of metadata in preserving image context and discoverability to the importance of user control over data privacy and location settings. Margaret will also share insights on how these features can help build richer, more meaningful connections and support a thoughtful, engaging platform experience.Connect with Margaret in the following places:Visit Image Snippets - ImageSnippets is a Linked Data Annotation SystemFollow her SubstackFollow her on Foto (@mmz)Listen to the Foto Podcast on Apple and Spotify.Subscribe to the Foto Podcast here on Substack by clicking the button below. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

This Foto Podcast Episode is an update from Michael Howard on where Foto development stands as of April 2024. Michael discusses Foto's different funding strategies over the next 6-8 months and what new features will be released in the next 1-2 months.Subscribe to the Foto Podcast on Apple and Spotify.Foto Site - https://fotoapp.coFoto Substack - https://fotoapp.substack.com Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe