Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast

Immersive Set Building & Storytelling Portraits with Heather Harvey | Texas School Off the Record   Host Cris Duncan interviews creative set-building photographer Heather Harvey about creating immersive, interactive portrait sessions that use foreground, middle ground, and background to help clients feel part of the story. Harvey shares how building a portable foam fireplace for at-home Santa sessions during COVID sparked her theatrical approach to props, texture, detail, and believability, using inexpensive materials like insulation foam, hot knives, hot glue, and house paint. She explains how set building evolved beyond Santa into personal and client storytelling, sometimes connected to healing and legacy, including an example of making couture from trash bags. Harvey discusses creativity as often a knowledge barrier, her inspiration from theater set building, repurposing everyday items, and her goal of teaching others. She previews her weeklong Texas School 2027 class (April 25–30), covering inspiration, color theory, set building, lighting, photographing, and Photoshop, and shares where to find her work online. https://texasschool.org/story-telling-and-set-building/   Website: heatherharveyphotography.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/@heatherharvey_photography  Bio: Heather Harvey is a creative set-building photographer specializing in fine art portraits that blend storytelling, imagination, and visual artistry. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for crafting immersive environments, she transforms each session into a unique, visually rich experience that brings her subjects’ stories to life.   00:00 Meet Heather Harvey 00:54 What Immersive Sets Mean 01:28 Defining a Set 02:20 COVID Sparked Set Building 03:43 Foam Fireplace Build 05:52 Detail and Believability 07:31 Beyond Santa Stories 11:17 Trash Bag Couture 12:36 Client Story Consultations 14:31 Healing Through Images 16:53 Unlocking Creativity Tools 21:49 Favorite DIY Materials 26:57 Budget Friendly Set Design 28:04 Teaching at Texas School 31:58 Class Experience Highlights 33:17 Where to Follow Heather 33:37 Final Thanks and Registration   Most photography workshops give you a quick splash of ideas, and then you’re right back in your studio, totally on your own. Texas School is built differently. It’s an entire week where you don't just scratch the surface—you master your craft under one world-class instructor. You're surrounded by a community of creators and entrepreneurs who are all actively building, sharing ideas, and pushing each other to level up. You don’t just leave with new skills; you come home re-energized, with a thriving business and a true creative family that wants you to win! With 30+ world-class classes, hands-on learning, and the best gear deals of the year, you’ll sharpen your craft in lighting, posing, business, and more. Stay sharp. Stay inspired. Stay ahead—join us at the 2027 Texas School of Professional Photography for a week of growth, connection, and unforgettable fun! Texas School 2027 is April 25-30, 2027 Learn more at Texasschool.org #learnphotography #txschool #dfwphotography #photographyeducation #texasschool

Richard Sturdevant on Art, Photoshop Mastery, AI as a Tool, and Teaching at Texas School   Host Chris Duncan interviews artist and photographer Richard Sturdevant on Texas School Off the Record about his 35-year creative journey from traditional art, graphic illustration, and airbrushing to photography and Photoshop compositing. Richard shares lessons from working in corporate creative environments, learning to communicate visual ideas through mockups, and building confidence by mastering tools. He recounts a pivotal moment when a client’s gift helped keep his studio open, leading to major success including shooting 350+ seniors and earning recognition such as a Range Finder cover and multiple awards. He explains how he uses AI for commercial elements and as a learning reference for lighting, while keeping personal art fully his own. Richard outlines how his Texas School class uses repetition, a full composite project, and recorded videos to help students learn to see and create with confidence.   https://texasschool.org/fine-art-composites-a-journey-into-the-world-composites-using-advanced-photoshop-skills/   Website: sturdavinci.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/Richard_sturdevant Bio: Richard Sturdevant M.Photog., M.Artist, MEI, Cr., Hon.EA-ASP Bio Richard’s fluid combination of photography with fine art skills stems from his original artistic roots and his portraits certainly reflect that. Trained in all types of media, Richard is one of our members that utilize digital painting in combination with his photography to create his fine art portrait style. This work has earned him high praise within the photographic community. Richard is a member of WPPI, PPA and ASP. He holds the titles of WPPI Master, PPA Photographic Master, PPA Master Artist, and PPA Photographic Craftsman. He is the recipient of the following top awards. Award Highlights: 400 print case He also made history with PPA at SWPPA District competition in September 2010 for the highest print case ever scored in the USA, Receiving a 100 print score on all four of his prints. He also scored 4 – 100’s at WPPI. Grand Imaging Winner: First and Second year Overall Grand Imaging Award (GIA) Winner for 2011 and 2012 with best print in PPA 22- 100 print scores in competitions over career Gia Finalist for first 10 years World Cup Finalist 2014 2 Time PPA Grand Imaging Awards Overall winner 15 Time PPA Diamond Award Winner 4 Time Double Diamond Award Winner 4 Canon Par Excellence Awards 16 Fuji Masterpiece Awards 15 Kodak Gallery Awards Kodak Grand award WPPI 5 Time PPA Imaging Excellence Award Multiple first, second place Awards in WPPI 16x20 competition With over 35 years’ experience as a creative artist, Richard brings a unique eye to the world of photographic education. Sharing knowledge and experience with others in the industry is something he enjoys. As part of his commitment to helping others learn and succeed, he has launched his own brand of educational materials to photographers, graphic artist, designers, and artist nationwide. As an artist, educator and international judge, Richard has dedicated his photographic knowledge to both his clients and his fellow photographers.   00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:17 Early Art Career Roots 03:03 Airbrush Breakthrough 04:43 Teaching and Video Hustle 06:21 Custom Bikes and Fine Art 07:28 Going Digital and Studio Leap 08:38 Business Saved by Faith 10:17 Awards and Humility Lessons 13:06 Corporate Communication Tips 16:11 Directing Models with Confidence 17:48 Spec Work and Protecting Ideas 19:38 Creating for the Soul 20:12 Research Driven Faith Art 20:58 Pitching Visual Ideas 21:23 Raw Impact Over Words 23:22 Artistic Choices For Clients 25:04 Painting Made Photoshop Better 26:04 Using AI As Reference 30:16 AI Limits And Quality Control 32:54 Texas School Class Approach 36:48 Teaching Philosophy And Passion 39:05 Helping Students Learn To See 41:37 Final Invite And Wrap Up   Most photography workshops give you a quick splash of ideas, and then you’re right back in your studio, totally on your own. Texas School is built differently. It’s an entire week where you don't just scratch the surface—you master your craft under one world-class instructor. You're surrounded by a community of creators and entrepreneurs who are all actively building, sharing ideas, and pushing each other to level up. You don’t just leave with new skills; you come home re-energized, with a thriving business and a true creative family that wants you to win!   With 30+ world-class classes, hands-on learning, and the best gear deals of the year, you’ll sharpen your craft in lighting, posing, business, and more. Stay sharp. Stay inspired. Stay ahead—join us at the 2027 Texas School of Professional Photography for a week of growth, connection, and unforgettable fun! Texas School 2027 is April 25-30, 2027 Learn more at Texasschool.org #learnphotography #txschool #dfwphotography #photographyeducation #texasschool    

How to Build a Scalable “Media Day” Engine for High-End Sports Volume Photography | Angelo McComas On Texas School Off the Record, host Cris Duncan interviews Angelo McComas, founder of Ohio-based AMAC Photo, about shifting traditional school sports picture day into a scalable “media day” that delivers an agency-level experience. McComas explains how modern teams need engaging, ready-to-use content for social media and season-long storytelling, not just standard portraits for parents and yearbooks. He details how to execute high-volume sessions with production-quality, locked-in lighting, efficient pose progressions, and even multiple sets to meet time constraints while elevating athlete confidence and excitement. McComas also discusses positioning the studio as a strategic partner to boosters and teams by checking multiple boxes—banners, posters, sponsor assets, and special-night content—creating an “indispensable” moat. The episode previews his Texas School 2027 class, “The Media Day Engine,” sponsored by PhotoDay.   https://photoday.com/   https://texasschool.org/the-media-day-engine-elevating-volume-ti-into-high-yield-sports-production/   Website: https://amacphoto.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/https://www.instagram.com/amac.photo Bio: Angelo McComis, founder of AMAC Photo, is an Ohio-based sports photographer who built his studio on a simple belief: picture day should be one of the most memorable experiences of the season. While exceptional portraits are the lasting keepsake, the real product is the excitement, confidence, and energy athletes feel in front of the camera. By blending creative vision with operational precision, Angelo has developed practical approaches that help studios streamline operations, elevate the athlete experience, and build stronger, more profitable businesses. He enjoys sharing those ideas through workshops and industry education, helping fellow photographers create picture days that athletes remember long after the photos are delivered.     00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:50 Media Day vs Picture Day 03:32 Social Media Drives Change 05:45 Scaling the Experience 08:34 Who Is the Client 10:38 Becoming a Strategic Partner 13:23 Building a Content Catalog 17:07 Competitive Moat and New Standard 19:24 Pricing and Multiple Revenue Streams 21:51 Making Volume High End 25:07 Texas School Class Preview 26:31 Final Thanks and Wrap Up     Most photography workshops give you a quick splash of ideas, and then you’re right back in your studio, totally on your own. Texas School is built differently. It’s an entire week where you don't just scratch the surface—you master your craft under one world-class instructor. You're surrounded by a community of creators and entrepreneurs who are all actively building, sharing ideas, and pushing each other to level up. You don’t just leave with new skills; you come home re-energized, with a thriving business and a true creative family that wants you to win!   With 30+ world-class classes, hands-on learning, and the best gear deals of the year, you’ll sharpen your craft in lighting, posing, business, and more. Stay sharp. Stay inspired. Stay ahead—join us at the 2027 Texas School of Professional Photography for a week of growth, connection, and unforgettable fun! Texas School 2027 is April 25-30, 2027 Learn more at Texasschool.org #learnphotography #txschool #dfwphotography #photographyeducation #texasschool    

Photoshop Must-Knows: Selections, Layers, Remove Tool & AI Workflow (with Michael Collins) Cris Duncan of the Texas School of Professional Photography interviews instructor Michael Collins about practical, beginner-to-intermediate Photoshop essentials and how his workflow has evolved. Collins explains his process of opening RAW files in Bridge and Camera Raw for basic exposure and color work before moving into Photoshop, noting Camera Raw and Lightroom share the same development engine. He emphasizes setting up a personalized workspace, learning selections and masks to target edits without affecting the whole image, and working in layers for non-destructive editing, including smart objects. Collins highlights newer tools like Select Subject/Background and the AI-powered Remove Tool for quickly deleting distractions such as signs, wires, and people, plus newer transform and “harmonize” capabilities for compositing. They discuss AI as both a tool and a threat, touch on Adobe Firefly video creation, and preview Collins’ hands-on Texas School 2027 class.   Michael Collins has been a professional photographer for over 30 years and has served on the board of directors for the Professional Photographers of California becoming President in 2007-2008.  Michael is a PPA Master Craftsman,  has earned the Professional Photographers of California Service Award (with 19 additional bars), the California Master Degree, Fellowship Award, Business and Arts Degree, Evans-Kingham and National Award in California. He also won the PPC People’s Choice Award in 2013 and Professional Photographers of Idaho Peoples Choice Award in 2022.  In 2023 he was elected to the PPC Hall of Fame.   He has written several articles, published in both photographic and law enforcement magazines.  He has hosted an On-Line Photoshop Program (Photoshop Party) for the last four years, having created over 200 episodes on various topics related to Photoshop.   Instagram.com/Michaelcollins5150 www.collinsfoto.com https://texasschool.org/photoshop-zero-sixty-in-a-week/ 00:00 Meet Michael Collins 02:00 Workflow Raw to Photoshop 02:40 Camera Raw vs Lightroom 04:01 Must Know Photoshop Basics 05:24 Selections and Masking 09:08 Remove Tool and Shortcuts 14:33 Layers Made Simple 16:40 AI Tool or Threat 18:47 Remove Clutter Fast 23:52 Firefly and Generative Bar 26:12 Texas School Class Details 29:31 Wrap Up and Thanks   Most photography workshops give you a quick splash of ideas, and then you’re right back in your studio, totally on your own. Texas School is built differently. It’s an entire week where you don't just scratch the surface—you master your craft under one world-class instructor. You're surrounded by a community of creators and entrepreneurs who are all actively building, sharing ideas, and pushing each other to level up. You don’t just leave with new skills; you come home re-energized, with a thriving business and a true creative family that wants you to win!   With 30+ world-class classes, hands-on learning, and the best gear deals of the year, you’ll sharpen your craft in lighting, posing, business, and more. Stay sharp. Stay inspired. Stay ahead—join us at the 2027 Texas School of Professional Photography for a week of growth, connection, and unforgettable fun! Texas School 2027 is April 25-30, 2027 Learn more at Texasschool.org #learnphotography #txschool #dfwphotography #photographyeducation #texasschool #adobe #photoshop  

Greg & Lesa Daniel on the Commission Portrait Model: Designing First, Selling Art, and Serving Luxury Clients   Host Cris Duncan interviews portrait artists Gregory and Lesa Daniel about the business model they’ve built over 47 years, including a major shift in the early ’90s from high-volume, travel-heavy wedding work to a gallery-style, commission-based portrait approach influenced by the art and interior design worlds. They explain the difference between “speculation” (photograph first, sell later) and commissioning (design the wall portrait and product first, then create the image), emphasizing that the class is primarily about business mindset, pricing, and being known for a standout product—not just mixed media embellishment. They address common student mindset blocks (not having luxury clients, needing a studio, lacking confidence), discuss relational marketing and time value for affluent clients, and share how their Texas School class evolves yearly. Their class runs April 25–30, 2027.   Website: gregorydanielportraits.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/_gregorydaniel Bio:   Gregory Daniel, Hon, M. Photog., Cr., CPP, F-ASP Lesa Daniel Cr. Titusville, FL, USA gregorydanielportraits.com Greg and Lesa Daniel are a nationally recognized husband-and-wife team whose portrait work — and the business behind it — has become a benchmark in modern portrait photography. Greg holds the Master of Photography and Craftsman degrees and the F-ASP Fellowship. He is a member of the Cameracraftsmen of America — one of the most selective organizations in professional photography. Lesa specializes in client relationships, wall portrait consultations, and closing — built on genuine connection, not technique. Together, they operate studios in Indialantic and Titusville, Florida, living out the very model they teach   00:00 Meet Greg and Lisa 01:00 Building a New Model 03:26 Leaving Wedding Burnout 04:42 Commission vs Spec Sales 06:34 Designing for the Wall 09:02 Student Mindset Blocks 13:56 Raft Ride vs Product 15:19 Knowing Your Client 19:44 Relationship and Time 23:21 No Need to Paint 25:53 Class Roadmap and Details 26:49 Evolving the Curriculum 28:03 Sign Off and Links     Most photography workshops give you a quick splash of ideas, and then you’re right back in your studio, totally on your own. Texas School is built differently. It’s an entire week where you don't just scratch the surface—you master your craft under one world-class instructor. You're surrounded by a community of creators and entrepreneurs who are all actively building, sharing ideas, and pushing each other to level up. You don’t just leave with new skills; you come home re-energized, with a thriving business and a true creative family that wants you to win!   With 30+ world-class classes, hands-on learning, and the best gear deals of the year, you’ll sharpen your craft in lighting, posing, business, and more. Stay sharp. Stay inspired. Stay ahead—join us at the 2027 Texas School of Professional Photography for a week of growth, connection, and unforgettable fun! Texas School 2027 is April 25-30, 2027 Learn more at Texasschool.org #learnphotography #txschool #dfwphotography #photographyeducation #texasschool