The Photographer's Problem: A Narrative Podcast

After over a decade spent working as a wedding photographer and earning features in BRIDES, Style Me Pretty, Junebug Weddings, Magnolia Rouge, and more, Angela Shae chose to walk away from photography. After a year sabbatical, Angela organically started helping other photographers and creatives with their social media when she saw the need for easy content creation and Instagram marketing. Her new company Social Templates Co. was born. When she’s not building social templates for photographers, you’ll likely find her on the beach in Orange County with her husband and three boys. On the pod, Angela shared how her new business was born and the excitement and challenges of creating a revolutionary tool for photographers. About Angela: After over a decade spent working as a wedding photographer, weekends full of destination shoots, thousands of hours spent building her photography business and earning features in BRIDES, Style Me Pretty, Junebug Weddings, Magnolia Rouge, and more, Angela chose to walk away from photography. Being a young mom to two boys, while building a business — burnt out, exhausted and running on a cocktail of adrenaline, stress, and anxiety left her looking for a calmer lifestyle. After a year sabbatical, Angela organically started helping other photographers and creatives with their social media. With deep understanding of the industry, Angela realized the huge need for easy content creation and Instagram marketing. Out of sheer need, her new company (@socialtemplates.co) was born. A community of creatives, where members have access to high-quality, done-for-you social media resources, saving them time and taking the stress out of content creation. Links: http://socialtemplates.co/ https://www.instagram.com/socialtemplates.co/ Get Narrative Select for Free: https://narrative.so/select

About Katy: With a blend of intricacy and genuine emotion, Katy Carl crafts bespoke photographic experiences that evaluate life's most cherished moments into works of art. Her approach is rooted in building authentic connections with her clients, ensuring that every moment captured reflects that. With over 250 weddings documented, she brings seasoned expertise and a hands-on approach. On our podcast, “The Photographer’s Problem,” she talks about entering the world of fashion photography, the freedom of outsourcing, and finding inspiration in others’ ambition. Links: http://katycarl.com/ http://www.instagram.com/katyycarl Get Narrative Select for Free: https://narrative.so/select

Named “One of the world’s best wedding photographers” by Looks Like Film in 2020, Miles Witt Boyer knows his stuff. He also knows a thing or two about partnering successfully with brands, as he is an official Fujifilm global ambassador. Based in Arkansas, his team is made up of his wife, Melissa, and full-time shooter Jared Fincher. He joined us on the pod where he discussed the importance of integrity in brand partnerships, reflected on the past decade (successes and cringe moments), and explained why he bases all his decisions on serving the people. Links: https://www.mileswittboyer.com/ https://www.instagram.com/mileswittboyer/?hl=en Get Narrative Select for Free: https://narrative.so/select

Ulices Del Toro has made a career out of his love and passion of being behind a camera. He has photographed weddings for over 15 years and has diversified by adding videography to create promotional work for small businesses and ad campaigns. He also works full-time as a videographer and video editor in Southern California. Ulices and his wife have two boys and enjoy camping, road tripping, traveling and spending time together as a family. He chatted with us about his multifaceted career, winning an Emmy, and always being ready for what comes next. About Ulices: Ulices Del Toro is a wedding photographer and videographer living in Southern California. Ulices has been photographing weddings for over 15 years and has diversified his business by adding videography to his business to create promotional work for small businesses and ad campaigns. He also works full-time as a videographer and video editor. He has managed to make a career out of his love and passion of being behind a camera. Ulices and his wife have two boys and enjoy camping, road tripping, traveling and spending time together as a family.  Links: http://www.deltorophoto.com/ http://www.instagram.com/deltorophoto Get Narrative Select for Free: https://narrative.so/select

Molly Rose is an Interior and Architectural Photographer based in Charleston, South Carolina photographing homes and hospitality concepts throughout the South East & West Coast regions. Her work contributes to legacy-building portfolios for designers and architects. She has been featured in Dwell, House Beautiful, Luxe, Ocean Home, and various online publications. Molly also offers mentoring and online resources to other photographers. We caught up to get her unique insights into the world of interior and architectural photography and the challenge of operating her business on two coasts. About Molly: I turn three-dimensional spaces into two-dimensional visual escapes. You may have seen my work in Dwell, House Beautiful, Luxe, Ocean Home, or various online publications. How we get there? That's your magic, baby.I believe that the work my designers and architects put into designing homes should earn them marriage therapy certificates. Interior design and architecture are vocations of empathy and generosity: no one else considers how much neck support a new mother will need in her armchair during a midnight feeding; no one else thinks about having dimmable lights over the kitchen nook that are bright enough for homework and low enough for a romantic dinner while the kids are out doing who-knows-what. That's what I photograph. Those micro-decisions, those intimate details of living that make your work so special to you...and to your clients.I live in Charleston, South Carolina with my husband Zach, our Boykin Spaniels Bravo and Bonnie Belle, and our cat Nuke. Though Charleston is home, I split my time between Orange County, California and South Carolina. Links: https://mollyrosephoto.co/ https://www.instagram.com/mollyrose.photo/ Get Narrative Select for Free: https://narrative.so/select

Katie Levine photographed the fashion and celebrity scene in NYC and LA, interned for Annie Liebovitz and Vogue, and made a name for herself through her remarkable talent. Now residing in Phoenix, she’s helping individuals and businesses shine with the same star power that once lit up her celebrity shoots. Whether you’re looking for a new headshot, desire editorial-style personal or family photos, or are a designer looking to showcase your latest collection, Katie’s the one to bring your vision to life. She spared time out of her busy schedule to talk about pioneering FaceTime shoots, what she’s learned working with celebs, how going with her gut has helped her realize her dreams, and how she’ll never stop hustling. About Katie: Katie, a seasoned photographer with a background in fashion and celebrity photography from New York to Los Angeles, now calls Phoenix home. With over 16 years of experience, including training under Annie Leibovitz and working with industry luminaries, Katie excels in creating vibrant, authentic images that exceed expectations. Her dynamic style focuses on highlighting individuality and energy, capturing genuine moments that reveal the essence of her subjects. Beyond photography, Katie enjoys family time, travel, art, sports, and connecting with new clients to bring diverse visions to life. Follow her on Instagram for her latest work and subscribe to her newsletter for exclusive insights and offers. Links: https://katielevinephoto.com/ https://www.instagram.com/katielevinephoto/ Get Narrative Select for Free: https://narrative.so/select

Molly Grunewald is all about celebrating her clients, whether that’s through boudoir shoots, wedding photography, or mentorship. The self-professed ‘visual storyteller, dad-joke maker, reality tv show-watcher, taco-eater, adventure-seeker, champagne-drinker’ brings an unconventional breath of fresh air to her multifaceted photography business. Molly shares how she is evolving as a photographer and entrepreneur, the intricacies of boudoir photography, and the power of investing in yourself. Oh, and pizza tattoos (stay till the end for that one). Enjoy this candid discussion and find your own motivation to keep growing - as Molly says, there’s so much room to do whatever you want. Links: https://mollygrunewald.com/ https://www.instagram.com/mollgrune/ https://www.instagram.com/boudoirbymoll/ Get Narrative Select for Free: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.narrative.so/select

Dive into the world of Si Moore, distinguished film photographer and one-half of NZ-based Bayly & Moore. Si has over a decade’s experience capturing love stories around the globe, as well as various other intriguing creative endeavors. Dive into The Photographer’s Problem to learn from Si’s vast experience about social media’s impact, finding your true fans, and what the digital future holds for photographers. Links: https://www.sasmoore.com/ https://www.baylymoore.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sasmoore/ Get Narrative Select for Free: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.narrative.so/select

With a philosophy that ‘wedding photography should be a rad time not a bad time,’ Jonathan Suckling uses his infectious energy and humor to make every wedding an unforgettable experience. With banter, dive-rolling antics, and epic dance moves, Jonathan captures genuine, candid moments in his own unique way - and accidentally became Tik-Tok famous for it. He joins us from Auckland, NZ to chat about adulting, his viral video success, and passion for human connections and comedy. About Jonathan: Hey, I'm Jonny! I enjoy making people laugh, disappearing down Youtube rabbithole's and you've probably seen me dive-rolling through your tiktok feed - I'm that guy 😂. I also once got sucker punched by a 5 year old at a wedding. Links: www.tiktok.com/@jonathansucklingwww.instagram.com/jonathansuckling www.jonathansuckling.com Get Narrative Select for Free: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.narrative.so/select

Erin Hernandez-Reisner is an American Photographic Artist, Amazon bestselling author, and global speaker whose voice has been translated into 15 languages. She applies her perspective as an autistic artist who is hearing impaired with tetrachromacy to create art that continually explores different aspects of human connection. In this deeply personal and unconventional interview, she shares about healing from trauma, dealing with anxiety and social media, and why it’s so important to be honest with ourselves. Links: www.instagram.com/erinhernandezreisner www.facebook.com/hernandezreisner Get Narrative Select for Free: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.narrative.so/select

We caught up with wedding photographer Ryan Browne this week. He and his wife Heidi are the creators of New York-based studios Forged in the North and After It All. He tells us about growing into two distinct studios, supporting his shooters, and balancing all that with family life while expanding into aerial photography. About Ryan: Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, Ryan had an affinity for creating with his hands from an early age. Grandson of a woodworker and son of an architect, its in Ryan's blood to build things from scratch. He attended college near his hometown in Illinois, studying Architecture and Sustainable Design. After working as an architect in New York City, he left to pursue photography and filmmaking full time in 2012. Ryan's work embodies his continual pursuit to design within a constrained set of parameters, most often, the landscapes he flies over with his camera. He would call himself an urbanist with an affinity for nature, but his friends would make fun of him for sounding pretentious. Currently residing in Brooklyn NY, Ryan satisfies his desire for exploration by traveling the world with his wife Heidi, who is a wonderfully talented fashion and beauty commercial photographer. Links www.forgedinthenorth.com www.instagram.com/forgedinthenorth Get Narrative Select for Free: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.narrative.so/select

Wedding and elopement photographer Benj Haisch is the trailblazer of adventure elopements. An accidental trendsetter, he doesn’t believe in chasing trends for long-term success. Instead, he commits to his style of capturing candid images that resonate with couples for a lifetime while indulging his love of the Pacific Northwest landscape. He talks about how adventure elopements became a thing, how he has created a consistent, sustainable business of 17 years, prioritizing mental health, and balancing it all with a family. About Benj: I’m a big fan of morning walks for coffee with my family, the great outdoors, hiking, good music, sunny days, last minute trips, and apple products. I love Jesus, my wife, my son Oslo, film cameras, teaching, playing music, traveling, experiencing new cultures, my family, and helping others. As a husband, I firmly believe in marriage and want to do my best to capture all that it means to get married and to celebrate that with you through photography. Also, I throw more references to The Office, Seinfeld, and Star Wars into casual conversation than you thought humanly possible. Links: www.benjhaisch.com/ www.instagram.com/benjhaisch Get Narrative Select for Free: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.narrative.so/select

LA based photographer Summer Grace joins us this week. She discusses the challenges of mailing film for development, recounting stories of lost and miraculously recovered rolls, the financial considerations of film photography, weighing the cost of each shot and the desire for accessible, pocketable cameras. Getting into the weeds on the balance between professional commitments and personal creative fulfillment & emphasizing the importance of inhaling fresh creative air. About Summer: Summer Grace is a photographer based out of LA & the PNW who travels all over, and specializes in storytelling and editorial styles on both digital and film. She loves all things thrifting, art, her fiancé Jake, and her pup Indigo. As well as the art of photography, she has and has always had a big love for entrepreneurship and helping others grow their business.  Links: www.instagram.com/summergrace.photo/ www.summergracephoto.com/ www.tiktok.com/@summergrace.photo Get Narrative Select for Free: ⁠⁠⁠www.narrative.so/select

Whether shooting intimate weddings or taking people on landscape photo tours in the Faroe Islands and Nordic countries, professional photographer Chris Zielecki does it all with a sense of adventure. Based in Hamburg, Germany, he's ojn this weeks episode talking about his unique perspective and the many avenues of his photography business. About Chris: Chris, the photographer behind Sturmsucht, is not only a wedding photographer from Hamburg, but also an adventurer who has dedicated his heart to the far north. His images are characterised by the untouched beauty of Nordic landscapes, inspired by high mountains, forested valleys, rugged coastlines, endless summer evenings and the darkness of gathering storms. His work is aimed at individualists and adventurers who appreciate profound and authentic photography - and who like to do things differently from the masses. With his past in the IT world, Chris brings a keen eye for efficient processes and optimised workflows, and in his private life he is intensely concerned with the influence of a healthy mindset and a holistic approach on his life and work. Links: www.instagram.com/sturmsucht ww.sturmsucht.de Get Narrative Select for Free: ⁠⁠www.narrative.so/select

Creating a niche in photography isn’t simple, but elopement photographer Cat Ekkelboom-White has the process dialed in, while building a life she loves and how she helps others do the same. She shoots adventure elopements in the Austrian Alps, on her terms. In this episode she discusses the impacts of over-tourism on popular photography sites and the value of hiring local photographers, advocating for sustainable practices and responsible tourism in her home area, as well as ethical business principles in the industry. About Cat: Cat Ekkelboom-White is an elopement photographer, and hiking guide, living in the Alps. She has created a superniche that exclusively works with adventure-loving couples in her adopted home in the Austrian Alps & Dolomites. She's also a certified coach, supporting other creatives on their journey to build sustainable businesses around their desired lifestyles. Links: Education www.adventureweddingacademy.comhttps://www.instagram.com/adventureweddingacademy Photography www.wildconnectionsphotography.comhttps://www.instagram.com/wildconnectionsphoto Podcast www.open.spotify.com/show/32wkUZGIr06efrzoLNaj2d?si=f4a41ee182944abc Get Narrative Select for Free: ⁠www.narrative.so/select

Jonathan Zoeteman is a Canadian lifestyle, portrait, and travel photographer who shares his passion for supporting other creators through the Socality creative community and as a Canon Ambassador. He chats with Kyle about the creative process and the importance of community, authenticity, and continual growth. About Jonathan: Jonathan Zoeteman is a Canadian (Calgary, Alberta based) lifestyle, portrait, and travel photographer drawing inspiration from film, narrative, and creative expression. His work focuses on emphasizing and capturing feeling, emotion, and story, while exploring the relationships between individuals and the world around them. His subjects range from friends, artists, musicians, couples, and models to destinations, fashion, and more. Along with commercial, editorial, and lifestyle photography, Jonathan is passionate about building community and supporting other creators with the development of spaces, events, education, and workshops through the Socality creative community and as a Canon Ambassador though the Canon Creator Lab program. Links: www.instagram.com/jonathanzoeteman www.instagram.com/socality Get Narrative Select for Free: www.narrative.so/select

Chris & Ruth are a renowned husband and wife duo based in Mallorca, Spain. When lockdowns began they saw en opportunity to lean further into their entrepreneurial and creative spirit using an already existing brand trait to create an entire new business and view themselves as more than just wedding photographers.⁠ About Chris & Ruth: We are a husband and wife photographer couple and we firmly believe in marriage! To capture the magic between two Lovers.. that’s our gift! We’re blessed to live our dream and travel the world together while capturing the best days of your lives and making friends all around the globe. We love weddings and we love to travel and most of all we love destination weddings and adventurous elopements. To meet different people from different countries and cultures and celebrate together is awesome. We love life and the moments when we get the feeling of freedom and the possibility to enjoy it. Links: https://chrisandruth.com http://instagram.com/chrisandruth http://instagram.com/crownofthevagabond Get Narrative Select for Free: https://narrative.so/select

With 18 years as a wedding photographer in Cancun, Citlalli Rico has shot over 600 destination weddings. Her passion and experience capturing couples’ stories have made her a world-class wedding photographer. She chats with Kyle Wilson about the changes she’s seen in the industry, her personal journey, and valuable lessons learned along the way. About Citlalli: Citlalli Rico is a Mexican artist and photographer passionate about nature, arts, and education. She has been documenting weddings since 2006 and 17 years after sharing her experiences with photographers, trying her best to help keep raising the bar of the wedding photography industry. She's been invited to conferences and workshops worldwide and was part of the mentor team of the Foundation Workshops in the USA, Mexico & Europe. Citlalli belongs to several international Photography Associations, including Fearless Photographers, ISPWP (International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers), This is Reportage and Inspiration Photographers. She was awarded top 10 wedding photographers in Mexico by the Magazine Visit Mexico, Fearless Photographers of the Year in 2011, Top Ten Storytellers of the World in 2021 by This is Reportage, and several more. Citlalli Rico's home is in Cancun, Mexico. She has documented, besides her sister, over 700 hundred weddings. Citlalli travels worldwide for lectures, conferences, and workshops. Links: https://citlallirico.com/ https://www.instagram.com/citlalliricophotography/ https://www.facebook.com/citlalliricophotography https://www.domestika.org/es/courses/912-fotografia-de-boda-sesion-de-pareja/citlallirico Get Narrative Select for Free: https://narrative.so/select

In this episode, professional photographers Kyle Wilson and Henry Tieu discuss the importance of SEO in the photography industry. They emphasize the role of backlinks in enhancing a website's ranking and recommend SEO Edge, a mobile app for tracking keyword rankings. They also discuss the ethical considerations of sharing intimate wedding photos, agreeing on the importance of discretion even though they legally have the right to use these images. About Henry: Hi, I am Henry Tieu, an elopement and intimate wedding photographer based out of Seattle, Washington. My background in the Cardiac ICU inspires my passion for capturing moments and preserving them in the most artful forms. Photography has allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and connect with people in ways I never thought would be possible. Links: https://www.henry-tieu.com/ https://www.instagram.com/henrysdiary/?hl=en Get Narrative Select for Free: https://narrative.so/select