Shutterbug Life podcast
by Lynford Morton
Shutterbug Life is a weekly podcast for enthusiast and aspiring professional photographers. Through a series of discussions, expert interviews, and photo challenges, the podcast helps photographers through every stage of their photography journey.
Episodes
-
How to improve your photography composition
When you spend years teaching photography, you start to spot trends. And there was one frustration so many photographers used to bring to me. Well, maybe two. First, when they saw something interesting and pressed the camera shutter, what showed up on the back LCD screen looked nothing like they...
-
How to choose the right subjects for better photos
Taking better photos sometimes boils down to choosing better subjects. It should seem obvious but a boring subject often leads to a boring photo. But how do you choose better subjects? That's what we'll discuss today. If you are wondering which lens you should buy next, I have an ebook that walks...
-
You already have everything you need to be a photographer
You already have everything you need to be a photographer Note: This is a replay from episode 32. I thought it was worth a revisit. Jim didn't want to admit what his girlfriend already knew. I met them both last week, and early in the conversation they asked what I did. When I told them I taught...
-
10 ways to improve your photography skills
10 ways to improve your photography skills with the gear you already own If you are out looking for new gear thinking it will help you improve your photography, I'm here to tell you stop! Save your money. I'm willing to bet that you already have all the gear you need to improve your skills and...
-
The one lens that should be in every camera bag
In the world according to Lyn, there is one lens that should be in every camera bag. Today I'll tell you about it, and why I think it is such a good deal for you. If you are wondering which lens you should buy next, I have an ebook that walks you through everything you need to know about camera...
-
Preparing for a photo walk
Preparing for a photo walk With the World Wide Photo Walk approaching, I thought I'd share some tips on preparing for a photo walk. Whether you are going out on World Wide Photo Walk or doing another photo walk, try these tips for a great experience. Ultimate Guide to Camera Lenses — If you are...
-
8 Questions for great photos
8 Questions for great photos Can you walk into any situation and find the best photo and create something interesting? In today's video, I have eight questions, or eight decisions, that will lead you that point. These questions take you from reading the light, to composition, choosing the right...
-
Guess who is back?!
Hi there Shutterbugs, guess who is back?! After a hiatus, I'm reviving this podcast feed with a reboot of the Shutterbug Life podcast. This time you are getting the audio version of a new YouTube channel I launched, so you can follow me here and at the YouTube link below. As before, I will be...
-
We've moved!
Hi there, this is Lyn from the Shutterbug Life podcast, and you must be thinking…this is a blast from the past. Well I’m back to let you know that I’ve launched a new podcast and invite you to join us. It’s called the EOS Photographer podcast and we will cover a lot of the same kinds of topics we...
-
101 - Creating a marketing system to help you show, share, or sell your photos
Several months ago, I got a call from a potential client. She worked in the marketing department of a camera manufacturer and wanted help creating a marketing plan for them. We talked about a coaching program that would help her conduct the market research for her plan. "Have you done this kind…
more -
100 - How to sell your images online
Sitting on the floor in a room full of pictures, I let out a heavy sigh and began the tedious job of sorting the image packages into envelopes. My Dad and I had just picked up the prints from a high school prom shoot we completed, and now we had to prepare them for our clients. There was no…
more -
099 - Take the shot. Don't take the shot. Today
I've got some more advice for you that doesn't have anything to do with f-stops or apertures. I'm not weighing in on DSLRs vs mirrorless or Canon vs Nikon. Today we are ignoring all the typical photography topics yet sharing some timeless advice. Here are three decision points that all...
-
098 - Comprehensive guide to photographing cathedrals and churches
With all due respect, we know that churches and cathedrals are places of worship, but they also are incredible structures to photograph. The architecture, light, and history all provide opportunities for you to photograph. Those same characteristics also create challenges for many photographers.…
more -
Why you should show your prices on your photography website
Several years ago, I followed up on what I thought was a great lead for my photography business. I crafted a warm introductory email and requested that we schedule a phone conversation. Then came the response that totally deflated me. "Just send your prices." Like many photographers, that was the...
-
097 - How to stay motivated with your photography
He had a different reason for asking, but we were looking for the same result. "How do you keep photographers motivated to keep shooting?" asked a camera industry salesperson. "It seems photographers aren't shooting as much. "How do we address that?" This got me thinking about a problem we are…
more -
096 - How to build your own photography website
In the Squarespace Super Bowl ad, John Malkovich is screaming into the phone at his namesake. John wants to launch a website, but the hard part is not in creating a website. It is in getting his name. You know the message coming will be this...The easy part in creating a website will be creating…
more -
095 - Which lens should I buy next?
It doesn't matter if you have been shooting for two weeks or 20 years, most photographers are constantly mulling the question, 'which lens should I buy next?' Your frustration only gets worse when you find that there seems to be an endless supply of options. Even within the same brand, you can…
more -
When do you need a model release
When do you need a model release? That's the latest question I received from one of our listeners: "What guidance can you give us regarding releases? Both for people (for instance, if they are potentially identifiable) and locations (for instance, trademarked property, federal property)? I seem…
more -
094 - Learning how to learn photography with Joe Edelman
If you are learning photography now, I have good news and bad news. The good news is…you have a wealth of information availability to your in just about every form. Here’s the bad news. You have a wealth of information available to you in just about every form. How do you sort through it all?…
more -
093 - Street photographer's guide to photographing a public events or demonstration
Peering out the window of a coffee shop, I saw a very familiar process unfolding. People were arriving with big signs. I saw what looked like costumes, and over time a small crowd started assembling. In Washington, DC, that usually means a protest is about to start. It also means prime…
more -
092 - Publishing & getting paid for your travel photos
It’s always cool seeing your best images on your blog or social media, but for a real rush, imagine seeing them in the glossy pages of a national travel publication. Even better, imagine getting paid to place them there. I'll tell you how your can publish your travel photos in this episode.…
more -
091 - Shaping the photography of a city without taking a photo
If there was ever such a thing as a photography impresario, Heather Goss would be it. She curates images. She creates photo gallery shows. She runs an online photography community. She just celebrated 10 years organizing a citywide photo contest. She edits a major photography blog. She organizes...
-
090 - Setting up your new camera
Did Santa bring you a new camera body for Christmas? Maybe you want to take advantage of some down time to reacquaint yourself with your existing camera. You’ll want to listen to this episode and take some notes. We are setting up your new camera or resetting your old one. Listen to the podcast
-
089 - Creating holiday photographs your family will love
I was struggling through Christmas portraits, but I did not have the Christmas spirit. My boys were young then, between 2 to 10 years old. I thought I would have them take Christmas portraits, but just as I was getting started, one of them got a giggle fit. Then just like a virus it spread.…
more -
088 - Meet with Top Photographer's Roxy Rodriguez
What's it like to be on the first and only photography reality show? There are only five people who can answer that question, and today I am talking with one of them. Roxy Rodgriguez made a splash on Top Photographer with her unique point of view and signature shooting style. In fact, by the end…
more -
087 - The so what factor that helps you create amazing photos
The world is overflowing with boring pictures, and if you don't want to contribute another one to the pile, ask one more question. So what? You took another picture. So what? Why should we care? Why should we stop what we are doing to look at it? Is it just another boring collection of pixels?...
-
Top Photographer finale + 9 ways to improve the show next season
Top Photographer wrapped up their first season and crowned a winner last week, and it wasn't who I would have expected. In the final episodes, the photographers got to go anywhere they wanted and shoot anything they wanted. Even better, they got to load up a backpack with their dream Canon gear…
more -
Lessons learned from Top Photographer - Episode 3
In episode 3, Top Photographer challenged contestants to create a landscape photograph from the tip top of the Empire State Building. The photographers started at sunrise with this charge - how do you make your photo stand out from the masses -- and each other. That's a challenge you can probably...
-
086 - Why & when to buy the more expensive camera
Dave didn't want to hear what I had to say. He struck up a conversation at the PhotoPlus Expo that ended with him asking me which camera he should buy. "How much do you want to spend?" I asked. "Maybe a few hundred dollars," he responded. "You need to move a decimal point over. For what you just...
-
Lessons learned from Top Photographer - episode 2
In episode 2, Top Photographer challenged contestants to create a fashion photography image. How did they do? Let's talk about how each photographer interpreted the challenge and what we might learn from this episode.
-
085 - Are any of these contestants really top photographers?
Photographers have officially arrived. Photographers join cops, lawyers, and doctors as professions who can see themselves on the big screen. With Top Photographer, we have our own glitzy reality TV show, even if it isn’t technically on TV. I watched the first episode a few times to dissect it…
more -
084 - 10 Ways to improve your photography with the gear you already own
In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy and her friends embark on a magical journey to the Wizard of Oz, searching for qualities they thought they lacked. As it turns out, they had them all along. This weekend, photographers will journey to a big camera show in New York City and camera stores all around the...
-
083 - 12 Decisions that create better composition
When I ambled onto the Tidal Basin one fall day, I faced what many photographers confront every day — a view that millions of people will recognize immediately and the challenge of how I could make it look interesting. In photography, as in life, the results we get are often a result of the...
-
What you will see, photograph, and learn at our NYC photography weekend
What will you really see, photograph and learn at the Fall Photography Weekend in the Big Apple? How is it different from the photo tours and Meetups we have been doing in New York City? Steve Rosenbach and I recently chatted by Skype call to talk about the workshops in detail. If you have been...
-
082 - The photographer's guide to creating photo books
When I was growing up, you could always find stacks of photo albums under our coffee table. You know the albums where you stuck your photos under that thin film of plastic? We had more than 20 of them, full of photos that documented every facet of our lives. Today’s photographer has a more...
-
081 - Canon 5D Mark IV - Fujifilm X-T2 & more
If you want to get the low down on latest new cameras hitting the shelves, you need to find your way to a launch event. Launch events are where camera stores invite reps from the camera manufacturers to come out and answer your questions while you play with the store models. I got an invite to a...
-
080 - You have to do more than create. You have to hustle.
If you want to have your photography stand out from the millions of picture takers flooding the internet, Levar Burton has a message for you. You will have to do more than be the artist and creator. You will have to be your own advocate. You will have to learn how to promote and distribute your...
-
079 - Which of these three photography stages are you in now?
What should you be doing now if you are trying to get to the next level with your photography? That depends on what stage you are currently in. Stages of Platform Growth and share some details of the first stage. Listen to the podcast
-
078 - Volunteering to photograph our neighbors in need
When 6-year-old Desiree took my microphone to sing a song, she unwittingly belted out the theme of the day. "You are so beautiful to me..." she sang out with all the emotion she could muster. I couldn't help but think that was the theme of the day. We assembled 21 volunteer photographers and…
more -
077 - How to choose your autofocus settings
Have you ever tried to make sense of the Auto Focus alphabet soup on the back of your camera? You aren’t alone. This frustrates so many DSLR shooters, yet it is something we need to master. Very often, the right setting here is the difference between getting blurry images and sharp images. Listen...
-
076 - This month in photography
It's time to talk gear again. Where were some of the most interesting industry announcements in the past month or two? Let's talk about the new gear and technology and what we think about them. Listen to the podcast
-
075 - Storytelling with your photography
You'd think that storytelling is natural and obvious skill. We all grow up listening to stories and even falling asleep to them. You might have even been wrapped up in the dramatic stories of the big screen. Storytelling with your camera can be just as engaging and can be an effective way to…
more -
074 - 13 Mistakes photographers make with their blogs
So you decided to create your photography blog, but something still isn't right. Maybe you only hear crickets when you post. Maybe you aren't getting the feedback you'd hoped from your visitors. You're not sure exactly what is going wrong, but something needs to change. Here are 13 common…
more -
073 - Package your genius
I was catching up with an old friend in a crowded coffee shop in Washington, DC, when she asked a question many of us wonder privately but don't say out loud. "Why do you think one person will get so many likes and great comments on a photo when another person with photos just as good gets…
more -
072 - How my photography blog helped me find myself as an artist
By her own admission, Emily Carter Mitchell was just a girl with a camera who loved to go shoot. "I got my new DSLR about six years ago, and I was trying to find out what was going to be my passion," she said. "It took a couple years to start down the road I'm on now, which is nature and wildlife...
-
071 - Inspiration from Canon Explorer of Light Parish Kohanim
Let's start with the end first. When I asked Parish Kohanim what advice he would give to a photographer who aspires to make a real impact, his advice was succinct. "Listen to your own voice... Don't listen to people. They will give you a hundred different opinions that don't speak your voice."…
more -
070 - Photography with our fathers - Part II
Like so many photographers, I was introduced to photography in a home where cameras were commonplace. Credit it to nature or nurture, when a child grows up in a home of a photographer, it seems photography comes naturally. For Father's Day weekend, I wanted to tell the stories of photographers…
more -
070 - Photography with our fathers - Part I
Like so many photographers, I was introduced to photography in a home where cameras were commonplace. Credit it to nature or nurture, when a child grows up in a home of a photographer, it seems photography comes naturally. For Father's Day weekend, I wanted to tell the stories of photographers…
more -
069 - You have to do more than create. You have to hustle!
“What’d you do today?" “Excuse me?” I responded. This wasn’t an innocent or idle question. I’d been fretting to a colleague that I didn’t reach a goal I’d set for myself. Her response was curt and dispassionate. “What’d you do today? What did you do yesterday?” She never said anything else but…
more -
068 - The value of your image has nothing to do with these three things
Karen said she needed to call me with some exciting news, but what she told me broke my heart. She had an exciting opportunity — a request from a national TV publication to use her photo — and she planned to give her photo away. Karen decided that her photo wasn't worth any money because of her...
About this show
Shutterbug Life is a weekly podcast for enthusiast and aspiring professional photographers. Through a series of discussions, expert interviews, and photo challenges, the podcast helps photographers through every stage of their photography journey.
Hosted by
Lynford Morton