One of the things that sets Crossing the 180 apart is that we cover all aspects of video production. From content creators to those who have their pulse on the industry because they make products for filmmakers. At the beginning of our “Business of Hollywood” series we had Chris Huntely and Stephen Greenfield of The Wright Bros. talking about their products for writers. Today we have Jonathan Houser, CEO of Cinemek and creator of a very cool storyboard program for the iPhone, Storyboard Composer. Before he gets into how he came to create Storyboard Composer, he shares his own experiences starting in the filmmaking industry, growing and selling a very successful wedding and event video business, then starting Cinemek and creating their 35mm lens adapter. His story behind getting into the wedding business you’ll find very inspirational, particularly if you are an event filmmaker.

Bumper music for this show is “Tater City” by Glenn Shambroom, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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“You need to invest in yourself before you can expect others to invest in you.”
~ Patrick Moreau (inspired by Michael Y. Wong)

How does a wedding videographer get hired by the NFL to create a series of videos from the Super Bowl to the Draft? Or get recruited by Canon to do a national bus tour teaching about DSLR filmmaking? Well, hopefully today you’ll glean the answers to those questions as we interview Patrick Moreau of Still Motion fame.

Patrick talks about how he went from a psychology major at university to becoming one of the foremost event filmmakers in the world. He shares how their craft has evolved over the years, from the early days of over-using the steadicam where half their clips were dazzling, yet dizzing flying shots; to how they’ve switched 100% to Canon DSLRs. Patrick really gets into the thinking behind the shoots they do, why they make the creative decisions they make. He also talks about the amazing NFL deal and how that came about. There’s just way too much to mention here. Just listen to the interview already.

Bumper music for this show is “Tater City” by Glenn Shambroom, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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If you like this show and all that we offer, please consider making a donation. For as less than $3/month, you can help keep this amazing program going. Any amount you decide is appreciated.

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Flip Sides are bite-sized bits of advice shot on a bite-sized camera. They are business and creative tips for the visual artist small business owner.

This week Fast Track Photographer author Dane Sanders talks about being the CEO of your business.

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From CPA to head of production at a major Hollywood production company, Yolanda Cochran has had quite the ride in “the biz.” Her attitude about starting from the bottom, doing whatever is asked (she never said “That is not my job”), and working diligently, had paid of in spades for her. For the past eight years she’s been at Alcon Entertainment (“Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2,” “The Blind Side” and “Book of Eli”) and has since become head of physical production. Yolanda will share with us her transition from bean counter to studio exec, what genres in Hollywood are viable business endeavors, she comments about the close of Miramax and creative vs. business prowess of companies (a very insightful part of the conversation I might add, particularly if you’re in the event and corporate video industry), whether or not a creative artist needs to abandon his/her vision (i.e. “sell out”) in order to make it in Hollywood, working the film festival market, the Oscars, and other great inside tidbits and goodies about the industry.

Bumper music for this show is �Tater City� by Glenn Shambroom, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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If you like this show and all that we offer, please consider making a donation. For as less than $3/month, you can help keep this amazing program going. Any amount you decide is appreciated.

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Flip Sides are bite-sized bits of advice shot on a bite-sized camera. They are business and creative tips for the visual artist small business owner.

This week Simon Anderson, Chief Marketing Officer of Pictage, gives some great advice on negotiating.

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Back in 1993 a little film broke out on the scene that put its co-directors on the map. The movie was the urban gang drama “Menace II Society,” and the writer/directors were Albert and Allen Hughes. As we continue our “Business of Hollywood” series, today we have Albert Hughes himself. It’s a long-awaited interview, one with great info and insight. Learn about how just 3-days into shooting “Menace,” Albert and Allen thought their careers were over (they hated how it was turning out, and got grief but some of the other filmmakers on the movie because they were so green). But the movie was a huge success, and since then they’ve been celebrated auteurs commanding enough respect in the industry to attract the likes of Johnny Depp, Gary Oldman and Denzel Washington.

This is a fascinating interview where we get insight into how they evolved into co-directors, what it’s like directing others prominent directors (who also just happen to be high profile actors), the rise in popularity of HD DSLRs,� the issue of race and whether or not he feels a responsibility to represent African Americans, and we get some inside and behind-the-scenes info about shooting “Book of Eli” (Spoiler alert: if you haven’t seen the movie yet and plan to, you may want to fast forward when we get to the “Book of Eli” discussion at about 39:00.)

TECHNICAL NOTE: Unfortunately, the phone connection with Albert was not the greatest. But this was the� best and only time to catch Albert on his brief visit to the U.S. (he lives in Prague), so we dealt with it rather than reschedule and miss the window of opportunity to interview him.

Bumper music for this show is “Tater City” by Glenn Shambroom, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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If you like this show and all that we offer, please consider making a donation. For as less than $3/month, you can help keep this amazing program going. Any amount you decide is appreciated.

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Flip Sides are bite-sized bits of advice shot on a bite-sized camera. They are business and creative tips for the visual artist small business owner.

This week is Jim Collins, CEO of Pictage.

Catch a new Flip Side every week on fstopbeyond.tv.

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One of the hottest shows on TV for the past eight years has been Fox’s “24.” It’s verite, block picture-in-picture, and high intensity editing has become a pop culture, signature style. Today we have on the show the man that plays a huge role in the look of the show, it’s director of photography, A.S.C. cinematographer Rodney Charters. Rodney talks about background growing up in New Zealand, the son of a photographer. He talks about the changes going on in the industry as we evolve from most TV shows finished on film to being shot on digital; he shares some of the most intriguing stories of his time as a cinematographer leading up to “24″; what it was like working on the show; his take on the HD DSLR craze; whether or not it takes a film school degree to get into the biz nowadays; and so much more. It is so inspiring hearing from such a seasoned veteran and artist talk about his craft. It’s a jam-packed hour for sure.

Bumper music for this show is “Tater City” by Glenn Shambroom, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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Rodney Charters on “Crossing the 180″

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We here at F-Stop Beyond Studios were able to gather never-before-seen concert footage of photographic rock sensation FULL FRAME BOOGIE. Meticulously pieced together from old film footage, this entertaining video brings these long forgotten rock legends back to life.

Full Frame Boogie – CONCERT VIDEO from Ron Dawson on Vimeo.

Behind the Scenes

Life on the road is hard. And it’s made particularly harder when you have to deal with prima donna lead singers who fancy crocodile skin apparel and wipe their brow with Evian-dipped kerchiefs. Here we have rare, never-before-scene footage of the band getting ready for their last recorded concert. Even here we can see the start of drama between some of the band mates and lead singer Jerry “Wunda from Down Unda” Ghionis and his prima donna ways. Who knows if the band will ever play again…

Production of these shorts were made possible by Nik Software.

I should probably just call this series the “Ron Dawson Reunion Series.” Like last week, this episode re-unites me with an old friend, Dayna North, who was script supervisor for a short film I wrote/directed way back “in the day.” Today Dayna is a successful television writer and co-executive producer on the ABC Family drama “Lincoln Heights.” After Dayna and I have a good time reminiscing about the good ol’ days (dropping names of some famous actors I had the opportunity to NOT choose to be in my film), she gets down and dirty sharing informational about: the importance of film school; writing for television; the power of writers in TV vs. film; the writers’ strike; Oscar politics; and much, much more. This is a terrific insider’s look at tinsel town you won’t want to miss.

Bumper music for this show is “Tater City” by Glenn Shambroom, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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Dayna North on “Crossing the 180″

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Crossing the 180: The Business of Hollywood

Today I’m excited to start a series on the show I’ve been prepping for a couple of months: THE BUSINESS OF HOLLYWOOD. I’ve put together a set of guests from various aspects of “Hollywood” to share stories, give insight and advice, and dish the dirt. You won’t want to miss the next four or five episodes.

Today we have ex-bosses of mine: Chris Huntley and Stephen Greenfield, owners of The Write Bros, creators of the Movie Magic product line, the definitive production software suite for all TV and motion picture productions. They are also the creators of Scriptor (the first full featured script-writing program) and Movie Magic Screenwriter (a product I helped negotiate the contract for during my tenure at their then company, Screenplay Systems). Chris and Steve are both USC Film School grads come software product developers. They have some of the most entertaining stories about Hollywood from Steve’s stint as a screenwriter and how he sold a script to Disney via a friend of his pretending to be an agent; to meetings with high-powered Venture Capitalists (like John Doerr); to determining the basis of story and using software to help you develop it; this is a perfect start to what will be a terrific series.

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Chris Huntley and Stephen Greenfield on �Crossing the 180″

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A slow tracking dolly shot sweeps past a devastated street. Groups of people crowd around a truck spraying water on the street as children try to wash themselves. An old, weathered man stares into the camera, his visage suggesting he’s either unaware or uncaring of the camera filming him. All the while a haunting music score amplifies the emotional imagery. There is no voice over. No interviews. No “play by play” of the activities. The film is color graded and definitely has a stylized look. The shots are well composed and steady. Is this journalism? Or is it just another, over color-graded, over stylized portfolio piece with no journalistic integrity? That is the topic of today’s show.

Before bringing you “The Business of Hollywood” series, I felt compelled to tackle a topic that came up earlier in the week when world renown DSLR photojournalist Dan Chung pointed out a raging debate on his blog. Seems like this young, cutting edge filmmaker, with more music videos under his belt than ENG pieces, posted a video montage of his trip to Haiti. The filmmaker was Khalid Mohtaseb. There was a barrage of negative comments about Khalid’s piece from readers on the blog. The topic prompted me to do this episode. Part 1 is Dan giving his take on the subject, and part 2 we’ll have Khalid himself. Both give us a history of their background as well. A very inspirational, educational, and insightful interview. Where do YOU chime in on the debate?

The Business of Hollywood: A Special Series Coming to Crossing the 180

This episode is a great introduction to a series we�re starting called �The Business of Hollywood.� So far I�ve interviewed a TV producer/writer, software developers, the production head for Alcon Entertainment (makers of �Book of Eli�) and the co-director of �Eli,� Albert Hughes of the Hughes Brothers fame. You don�t want to miss these episodes.

Bumper music for this show is �Tater City� by Glenn Shambroom, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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If you like this show and all that we offer, please consider making a donation. For as less than $3/month, you can help keep this amazing program going. Any amount you decide is appreciated.

Dan Chung and Khalid Mohtaseb on �Crossing the 180″

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Haiti Earthquake Aftermath Montage from Khalid Mohtaseb on Vimeo.

I know that a little over a month ago I announced that I am ending the regular audio episodes of F-Stop Beyond. However, today’s guest was someone we had booked prior to making the announcement. I had originally planned to air it on Good Friday…so I am. Mark Mabry has created a powerfully moving exhibit about the life of Christ called Reflections of Christ. It’s one of those personal artist projects that we all conceive from time to time. That one project that eats at you and drives you to make it, no matter what the cost. Whether or not you celebrate Easter, if you’ve ever had one of those projects or desired to do one, this episode will inspire you.� Despite the financial hardships involved, Mark saw this project through. And he’s a better photographer and better person because of it. Truly amazing.

Bumper music for this show is “Close to You” by Steve Hefter and Friends of Friends, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

Mark Mabry on F-Stop Beyond

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If you’re an independent filmmaker, event filmmaker, corporate videographer, or aspiring film student, there’s a very good chance you’ve heard of Zacuto. They are the “Mercedes Benz” of camera gear and accessories. The product side of the business is only five years old, but they seem like they’ve been around forever. A large reason is due to today’s guest, Steve Weiss. Nearly a 30-year veteran himself, Steve has made a point too make his products (from camera gear to online webisodes) of the highest caliber. He makes no apologies for the investment one needs to make in his products. He knows they’re expensive compared to his competition, but he also knows they are worth what you invest.

That same desire to make products of the highest caliber extends to the webisodic productions Zacuto makes. From FilmFellas (which I had the honor to be a guest on), to Critics, to his latest foray, The Great Camera Shootout of 2010. A side-by-side comparison of 35mm film (from both Fuji and Kodak) to Canon’s 5D Mark II, the 1D Mark IV, the 7D, Nikon’s D3s, Panasonic’s Lumix GH1, and even the new Canon Rebel T2i. It’s by far one of the most compelling comparison tests in the industry, and Zacuto spared no expense producing it. The production quality of the series is evident from the first few frames (see the trailer below). And it seems like the whole filmmaking world (at least the one that is social media savvy) was waiting for it. (Their servers were overloaded on the day it premiered and the whole site was down temporarily).

In this MUST LISTEN episode, Steve talks about the history of his career (did you know he started as a <gasp> wedding videographer?), the impetus of the shootout, the reason behind his philosophy on marketing and producing high quality products, the origin of Zacuto, and his take on the industry and where it’s going. This is one of those episodes where you may want to take notes. Enjoy!

The Business of Hollywood: A Special Series Coming to Crossing the 180

This episode is a great introduction to a series we’re starting called “The Business of Hollywood.” So far I’ve interviewed a TV producer/writer, software developers, the production head for Alcon Entertainment (makers of “Book of Eli”) and the co-director of “Eli,” Albert Hughes of the Hughes Brothers fame. You don’t want to miss these episodes.

Bumper music for this show is �Tater City� by Glenn Shambroom, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

SUPPORT THE SHOW

If you like this show and all that we offer, please consider making a donation. For as less than $3/month, you can help keep this amazing program going. Any amount you decide is appreciated.

Steve Weiss on �Crossing the 180″

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Zacuto Great Camera Shootout 2010 Trailer ~ High Noon from Zacuto USA on Vimeo.

When I started this podcast, I never expected that one of my most anticipated guests would be a member of the armed forces. But today we have just that. Lt. Tyler Ginter of the 55th Combat Camera Company is an insanely talented filmmaker who really knows his stuff. He has a widely read blog and is very active on Twitter sharing resources for filmmakers. In this episode Tyler shares with us how he got into filmmaking and how he uses it in the field. He’ also talks about the power of social media for filmmakers. He also gives us some great resource links to find free stock video footage. And I naturally ask him about his take on this year’s best picture Oscar winner “The Hurt Locker.”

Bumper music for this show is “Tater City” by Glenn Shambroom, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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If you like this show and all that we offer, please consider making a donation. For as less than $3/month, you can help keep this amazing program going. Any amount you decide is appreciated.

Tyler Ginter on “Crossing the 180″

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When life throws you lemons, make lemonade. Or in this case, make a movie; then call it “Lemonade: The Movie.” Today’s guest is the creator of an inspiring documentary short with that name. Erik Proulx was in the advertising industry when after being laid off he started a website called “Please Feed the Animals.” Then that project led to creating a community of other ad execs who lost their jobs. And through the power of social media, from that community was born this film. This is the episode to listen to if you’ve ever lost a job, or if you’ve had a fear about pursuing your dream. Erik and his story will inspire you.

We talk about the details of how this film got started, production details (e.g. cameras used, etc.), and how social media (Twitter and blogging in particular) helped him get this film made with almost entirely volunteer work.

Bumper music for this show is “Tater City” by Glenn Shambroom, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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Erik Proulx on “Crossing the 180″

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If you’re any kind of fimmaker who uses the web as a means to share your work, you have heard of Vimeo. It is one of the most popular video sharing sites on the web with over 2 million users. It has gained a reputation of being the place for filmmakers to post their work and get great feedback and build community. Today we have as a guest the man who heads up that community, Blake Whitman. Blake shares with us his background as a filmmaker and how he got involved with Vimeo. Learn the ins and outs of this terrific resource (including the meaning of the name). But we also go in depth about the Vimeo co-sponsored film contest “Beyond the Still.” This is a contest dreamed up by Vincent Laforet and created by Canon. It’s one of the most unique film contests I’ve seen. Blake tells us how it got started, the benefits for participating, and where it’s going. This episode also starts a series we’ll be doing on the show where we’ll interview the contest winners as they are announced. And hopefully we’ll get some of the amazing judges on here too. Stay tuned each week!

Bumper music for this show is �Tater City� by Glenn Shambroom, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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Blake Whitman on �Crossing the 180″

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A few weeks ago on episode 5 we interviewed international wedding filmmaker Kevin Shahinian of Pacific Pictures. Kevin has become world renown for his amazing wedding concept films. The production values of his last one, “Sno” looked like a Paul Greengrass thriller. At the time of the recording of this first interview with Kevin, he was on the verge of traveling to India to shoot his most ambitious project to date: a scripted concept film shot concurrently with the live events of the Indian wedding. His plan was to weave the concept story into the wedding so that it’s one seamless story. In this follow up interview find out why Kevin called this shoot a “production of daily disasters.” And why when it was all over, he wondered whether or not he even had enough to make the film. Shot with 7 HD DSLRs (five 5D Mark IIs and two pre-production Canon 7Ds) and one EX1, the logistics alone were a nightmare to manage. Find out how they did it all. You do NOT want to miss this episode!

Bumper music for this show is “Tater City” by Glenn Shambroom, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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If you like this show and all that we offer, please consider making a donation. For as less than $3/month, you can help keep this amazing program going. Any amount you decide is appreciated.

Kevin Shahinian on “Crossing the 180″

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Check out the preludes to Kevin’s trailer at Cinevate’s site.

Listen to today’s episode to get the 411 on what’s going on. But this is the pen-ultimate new episode of F-Stop Beyond. Help me find who will be the guest on the last new episode of the show, the series finale. Below is a poll of suggested guests who I’ve either thought about or who other people have mentioned. Or, if you have another suggestion, write their name in. In the meantime, give us some love and share with us some of your favorite FSB moments, or any comments about what you’ve loved about the show. Stay tuned to my Twitter feed (twitter.com/rondawson) for future update.

Today marks the start of the annual Thirst Relief auction where some of the world’s top professional photographers auction off valuable one-on-one consultation and advice to raise money for a worthy cause. Almost two years ago I interviewed the founder of ThirstRelief, Jim Davis-Hicks. Listen to that interview again and learn how it all got started.

Also, I’m pleased to announce that I am also throwing my name into the hat. If you need help on branding, sales, marketing, social media, or if you want some help getting into filmmaking with HD DSLRs, you can bid on my services as well. Go to thirstrelief.shootq.com to see all the amazing talent giving to this cause. Special thanks to ShootQ for being a co-sponsor of the auction.

The most important talent a visual artist can develop is his or her creativity. It is arguably the essence of any visual artist. So it is with great pleasure that I have as my guests today wedding and portrait photographers Will Jacks of Cleveland, MI and Chris Williams out of the Superbowl-winning New Orleans, LA. These two have embarked upon a rather unique venture. In an industry inundated with workshops, they have started a new one. But this is not a photography workshop. It’s not a filmmakers workshop. It’s a creativity workshop called REBIRTH. When I heard about it and saw what they were doing, I just knew I had to get them on the show. They first tell us a little bit about their respective histories. Will actually started out in the movie industry but was not too fond of the process. He even taught 7th and 8th grade English. Chris thought he’d be a drummer in a band, but hated that life. He fell in love with photography and grew a prominent wedding photography business.

Will describes the workshop more as a retreat. It’s job is not to teach you anything specifically, but is instead designed to help you enhance the creativity that’s already inside of you. You won’t learn how to use a Pocket Wizard, but instead creative ways on finding light. And although there will be a few classes specifically geared towards photography (including a session shooting with film), the bulk of the sessions will be applicable to any visual artist: filmmaker, photographer, or painter. This is a discussion about creativity and how you can boost it and how you can stay passionate about your art.

The workshop is March 30 to April 2 in Will’s hometown. Learn more at rebirthworkshops.com.

Bumper music for this show is “Close to You” by Steve Hefter and Friends of Friends, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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Will Jacks and Chris Williams on F-Stop Beyond

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Imagine sitting in an office getting ready to sign a contract for a corporate video gig when in casual conversation it comes up that you also happen to shoot weddings. Upon hearing that news, the client says, “Oh.. weddings? Really?” And kindly asks you to leave. Well, that’s pretty much what happened to today’s guest. Ryan Bodie of Studio 26 Productions is a filmmaker who is shooting music videos, feature films, live events, large corporate jobs and he happens to shoot weddings. We’re in a series interviewing filmmakers who have gotten their start in wedding filmmaking or are still in it doing amazing things. Ryan shares with us how he got his start. Getting accepted at NYU but instead taking an opportunity of a life time to work for an Emmy-Award winning producer. Working at ABC and Time Warner as a video journalist and cutting on an Avid. He then started shooting weddings on the side and within two years started making more money there than his gig at Time Warner. As we wedding business blossomed, he branched out into corporate work and live events. Then he got an idea for family film about a wandering hobo named Click-Clack Jack. Ryan tells us about the process  of shooting that film. There is so much to learn from Ryan. Are you ready?

Bumper music for this show is “Tater City” by Glenn Shambroom, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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Ryan Bodie on “Crossing the 180″

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Sports Illustrated photographer and music video director Bill Frakes is a busy, busy man. I had a very slim sliver of a window to grab this interview with him, and I think you’ll be so happy I did. Bill is a photographer’s photographer. He has a deep passion for the art and a profound respect for what it takes to be good. Bill shares with us stories from his early days at the Miami Herald to his current work with Sports Illustrated and his multimedia company Straw Hat Visuals. (I love the story he tells of his very first Hawkeye camera at the age of 7. Are you old enough to remember revolving flashbulb cubes?) He also gives his insight into the world of HD DSLRs (he just finished shooting a music video in Scandinavia using ten of them!) And if you’ve ever wanted to know how to keep your passion alive and creativity fresh, you’ll love his take that topic too. How does one stay inspired doing work they love the most, and make a living at it. Lastly, be sure to check out his multimedia inspirational story about Missy.

Bumper music for this show is “Close to You” by Steve Hefter and Friends of Friends, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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If you like this show and all that we offer, please consider making a donation. For as less than $3/month, you can help keep this amazing program going. Any amount you decide is appreciated. Also, leave a comment about the show in iTunes.

Bill Frakes on F-Stop Beyond

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Today starts a series of episodes where I will highlight filmmakers who just happen to have got their start (or are still in) wedding and event filmmaking. Toss out any preconceived notions you may have about what you think wedding videos may be. Starting with today’s guest, you’ll quickly learn that some of the most talented young filmmakers in the world today just happen to shoot weddings and similar events.

Kevin Shahinian dreamed about making movies. He was a student at USC’s film school and desired to get into their prestigious Production Program (that only accepted 5-10 applicants per semester). When he wasn’t accepted, he resorted to going above and beyond in his production class and created films that were over the top. Little did he know that his professor in that class was on the acceptance committee for the Production Program and Kevin’s tenacity and hard work got him in. After film school he did a couple of short stints at uber-agent house CAA as well as a Jim “King of the World”� Cameron’s Lightstorm. But neither of these jobs fulfilled his passion of actually making films. Eventually he decided to pursue shooting weddings. Having so many friends in “Hollywood,” Kevin was embarrassed at first to even put his name on his website or blog. All that’s changed now. With the name he’s made for himself worldwide based on the Bollywood style concept films, and most recently his “Bourne Identity-looking love story “Sno,” Kevin has proudly gone forth to proclaim both the artistry and the viability of making these kind of films.

Bumper music for this show is �Tater City� by Glenn Shambroom, part of the �TRUE ROMANCE� collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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If you like this show and all that we offer, please consider making a donation. For as less than $3/month, you can help keep this amazing program going. Any amount you decide is appreciated.

Kevin Shahinian on �Crossing the 180″

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Here’s the film “Sno” mentioned in the episode:

Megan + Narbeh’s Sweden Thriller Concept “Snow” from PACIFIC PICTURES on Vimeo.

The trailer for Kevin’s Bollywood concept film “The Heart Knows”

(Teaser) Anuja + Nirav’s Bollywood Concept “Dil Jaanta Hai (The Heart Knows)” from PACIFIC PICTURES on Vimeo.

If you’re familiar with my show, you know that my interest is not just in interviewing the photo celebrities the whole world knows about. Of course I know that probably no one would listen to this show if I didn’t interview those photo superstars. But, every now and then I love to have on the show a person who has the true heart of a photographer and has an intriguing story to tell. Whether it’s breast cancer survivor Deborah D. Lattimore, blind photographer Alex de Jong, or today’s guest

Joe Wigfall was the WNYC Street Shots Challenge winner, a contest where every day people who take photos of people and places in NY were asked to submit their best photos. Joe wasn’t typically interested in contests, but he had grown quite a following on Flickr and his comrades their strongly encouraged him to enter. To his shock, he won! I learned about Joe from one of my Twitter followers who tweeted me to check him out. I’m so glad I did. Joe’s charming personality and outlook on life are so infectious. He talks about how he does his “shoot from the hip” photography, his philosophy on being a photographer and artist, what it was like growing up in Harlem, and he of course tells us about his experience with the WNYC contest. I guarantee that this part-time pastor, full time legal assistant, and all-the-time photographer will inspire you.

Bumper music for this show is �Close to You� by Steve Hefter and Friends of Friends, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

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Here’s the short WNYC video segment about Joe:

Joe Wigfall on F-Stop Beyond

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I am very excited to have today’s episode finally air. It’s an interview with one of the most talented (and giving) young filmmakers I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. Brandon McCormick is the founder and owner of Whitestone Motion Pictures of Lawrenceville, GA (in the Atlanta Metro). He has one of the most amazing stories about how he got into the business, what he’s doing now, and what his dreams are for the future. He and his crew are doing feature film quality work, including shooting with the coveted Sony Cine Alta camera (yeah, that same camera George Lucas used to shoot the Star Wars prequels). Brandon has no formal film school training, but has an eye for story and directing that has made him known nationwide.  His films have production values that will blow your way, including full blown musical scores. You’ll learn how he came very close to heading out to La La land to follow his Hollywood dream, but then was given an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Brandon talks about Whitestone’s production process, how he found his terrific team, his feelings about film contests and his experience with them, the importance of story, and he gives his own take on today’s Christian themed cinema. If you have dreams about becoming a filmmaker, Brandon’s story will inspire and encourage you.

If you like this show, as well as the other shows provided on the F-Stop Beyond experience, please consider giving a donation.

Brandon McCormick on “Crossing the 180″

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Here’s the film “That’s Magic” that was mentioned in the episode.

That’s Magic! from Brandon McCormick on Vimeo.

Here’s “Awake O’Sleeper”

Awake O’Sleeper from Brandon McCormick on Vimeo.

Every year online studio management software producer ShootQ offers a $10,000 grant to a wedding photographer who is interested in doing a special photojournalist project. Last year’s winner is today’s guest. Annie O’Neill was a traditional editorial photojournalist for the better part of two decades. As many in that field are now want to do, she made the cross-over to wedding and portrait work. Annie’s story is quite an interesting one. She’s a twin sister, ninth of ten kids, from an Irish Catholic family on Long Island. She shares with us her stories growing up and making the trek into photography. She then shares with us about the subject for which she won the grant: military post traumatic stress syndrome as it specifically relates to sexual abuse.  Annie gives us a no holds barred interview that you won’t want to miss.

Remember you can catch a new episode each week at fstopbeyond.tv and you can follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/fstopbeyond.

Bumper music for this show is “Close to You” by Steve Hefter and Friends of Friends, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

Annie O’Neill on F-Stop Beyond.

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Next week we have the WNYC Street Shots winner Joe Wigfall.

If you are a fan of the Star Wars site or are an avid follower of the goings on in the HD DSLR world, then you know our guest well. In fact, when you consider he has nearly 8,000 followers on Twitter, he is easily one of the most social media savvy cinematographers in the world. Internationally renown DP and cameraman Philip Bloom has been on a roll lately. From his guest appearances (twice now) on the Zacuto produced show FilmFellas, to the co-host gig of the other Zacuto show Critics, to his latest piece de resistance, the Skywalker Ranch video. However, months before he was invited to by team Lucas to shoot at Skywalker Ranch, I had the opportunity to meet with and interview Philip at the annual WEVA Expo. Philip has promised to come back shortly to give us an update on his life since Skywalker. But in the meantime, this is a great interview where Philip tells� how he got into the biz, the development of his career over the past 20 years, and how and why he uses social media and Twitter in his business. We also talk about HD DSLRs, their impact on the industry, what it takes to make a “film” look, and we discuss the downsides of heavy social media activity, “trolls.” This is a must-listen episode! To learn more about creating the film look, be sure to check out Philip’s website fstopacademy.com.

Please take this Poll

I’m helping Philip come up with a new name for his Canon 5D training video (listen to interview to understand this context). The name I came up with was “Bloom in 5D.” Tell us what you think.

Support Crossing the 180 and get a great thank-you gift

Speaking of Triple Scoop Music, as a sponsor and long-time supporter, they are offering a great gift. As a listener supported show, your donations will help keep our great programming going. You can donate whatever amount you feel comfortable. But, for those of you who donate $20 or more, Triple Scoop Music will give you a song of your choice from their collection of over 5,000 amazing tunes you can use legally in your slideshow, film, or video productions. That�s a $60 value for only a $20 donation. Not bad. Just click the �Donate Now� button below and the rest is self-explanatory. Only while supplies last, so act now.

Philip Bloom

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In this episode Mike continues his discussion on some of his favorite pics, how he took them and the stories behind them.

Support FSB and get a great thank-you gift

Speaking of Triple Scoop Music, as a sponsor and long-time supporter, they are offering a great gift. As a listener supported show, your donations will help keep our great programming going. You can donate whatever amount you feel comfortable. But, for those of you who donate $20 or more, Triple Scoop Music will give you a song of your choice from their collection of over 5,000 amazing tunes you can use legally in your slideshow, film, or video productions. That’s a $60 value for only a $20 donation. Not bad. Just click the “Donate Now” button below and the rest is self-explanatory. Only while supplies last, so act now.

Matt is one of those photographers who has seen and photographed just about it all. Celebrities. Big sporting events. Poverty. War. Lavish weddings. From his days working at the college paper (he was an English major that failed Chaucer four times), to his days as a photojournalist at USA Today and United Press International, to his current role as a high society wedding photographer. Matt has over two decades of stories to share. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough time to go over ALL his stories. So in today’s riveting episode, after learning about his history and foray into the industry, he shares with us some of the stories behind a few of his favorite photos. Shooting Nicole Kidman (he had exactly 10 minutes!) Getting his job put into perspective by Chris Rock. Capturing five living US presidents (from both sides of the party line) in one shot. Reflecting on the moment right before Yitzhak Rabin shook the hand of Yasser Arafat with Bill Clinton. And the shot the made Neil Leifer (one of the greatest sports photographers of all time) comment, “That’s a helluva picture kid!” This episode is quite a gem!

Remember you can catch a new episode each week at fstopbeyond.tv and you can follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/fstopbeyond.

Bumper music for this show is “Close to You” by Steve Hefter and Friends of Friends, part of the TRUE ROMANCE collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

SUPPORT FSB AND GET A GREAT� THANK YOU GIFT

Speaking of Triple Scoop Music, as a sponsor and long-time supporter, they are offering a great gift. As a listener supported show, your donations will help keep our great programming going. You can donate whatever amount you feel comfortable. But, for those of you who donate $20 or more, Triple Scoop Music will give you a song of your choice from their collection of over 5,000 amazing tunes you can use legally in your slideshow or video productions. That’s a $60 value for only a $20 donation. Not bad. Just click the “Donate Now” button below and the rest is self-explanatory. Only while supplies last, so act now.

Matt Mendelsohn.

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Next week we have ShootQ Grant winner Annie O’Neill.

Today’s guest is a testament to hard work and dedication with regards to pursuing a career in filmmaking. From his youth growing up on a farm, to his college years at Emerson where he graduated magnum cum laude, Shane Hurlbut knows what it means to work hard. Perhaps his best known project to date was the big-budget McG directed Terminator: Salvation which came out last summer. But his career has included work with famed photographer/director Herb Ritz (for whom he did lighting on some of Herb’s biggest fashion shoots), as well as being the cinematographer on music videos for Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana, and other grunge rock groups. In this episode Shane shares with us how his career has progressed from the early days working on Phantasm, to his latest projects using Canon’s 5D Mark II to shoot a feature film. A very inspirational interview that will get you pumped.

He also give us great insight into using both the 5D and the 7D with motion picture caliber lenses. Good stuff man!

Bumper music for this show is �Tater City� by Glenn Shambroom, part of the �TRUE ROMANCE� collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

Remember you can catch a new episode each week at Crossingthe180.com and you can follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/crossingthe180. Be sure to tune in next week to hear our interview with international DP and HD DSLR guru Philip Bloom.

Support Crossing the 180 and get a great thank-you gift

Speaking of Triple Scoop Music, as a sponsor and long-time supporter, they are offering a great gift. As a listener supported show, your donations will help keep our great programming going. You can donate whatever amount you feel comfortable. But, for those of you who donate $20 or more, Triple Scoop Music will give you a song of your choice from their collection of over 5,000 amazing tunes you can use legally in your slideshow, film, or video productions. That�s a $60 value for only a $20 donation. Not bad. Just click the �Donate Now� button below and the rest is self-explanatory. Only while supplies last, so act now.

And now, on with the show.

Download MP3 | Subscribe in iTunes | Shane Hurlbut

Today’s guest came highly recommended from past guest Gabrielle Geiselman. Drew Gardner is a world renown photographer out of the United Kingdom who’s been in the business for three decades this year. He is respected by the best in the business and has a great story. He quit high school at 15-1/2 and began working as a pro at 16. He is completely self-taught. In this interview Drew talks about his history, what it was like as a young boy hearing stories about raids on Londoon during WWII from his grand parents, his relationship with his parents and how that has affected his photography, and the relationship with his own daughter. He also talks about what he feels is the future of the industry: the HD DSLR revolution.

You can keep up to date with Drew and his work on is blog:  www.thedarkart.com.

Remember you can catch a new episode each week at fstopbeyond.tv and you can follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/fstopbeyond.

Bumper music for this show is “Close to You” by Steve Hefter and Friends of Friends, part of the “TRUE ROMANCE” collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

SUPPORT FSB AND GET A GREAT� THANK YOU GIFT

Speaking of Triple Scoop Music, as a sponsor and long-time supporter, they are offering a great gift. As a listener supported show, your donations will help keep our great programming going. You can donate whatever amount you feel comfortable. But, for those of you who donate $20 or more, Triple Scoop Music will give you a song of your choice from their collection of over 5,000 amazing tunes you can use legally in your slideshow or video productions. That’s a $60 value for only a $20 donation. Not bad. Just click the “Donate Now” button below and the rest is self-explanatory. Only while supplies last, so act now.

And now, on with the show.

Download MP3 | Subscribe in iTunes | Drew Gardner

Next week we have photojournalist turned wedding photographer Matt Mendelsohn.

This is the second of four remaining “forgotten episodes” of our live interview with Mike from Brooks Institute Fall 2008. In this episode Mike starts to talk about his images and the one in particular that helped his career break out. He mentions the importance of capturing images that connect with and relate to your target audience. Mike also gives us insight into shooting and dealing with celebrity weddings.

You can catch this and all other episodes online at fstopbeyond.tv. And be sure to follow us Twitter at twitter.com/fstopbeyond.

Support FSB and get a great thank-you gift

Speaking of Triple Scoop Music, as a sponsor and long-time supporter, they are offering a great gift. As a listener supported show, your donations will help keep our great programming going. You can donate whatever amount you feel comfortable. But, for those of you who donate $20 or more, Triple Scoop Music will give you a song of your choice from their collection of over 5,000 amazing tunes you can use legally in your slideshow, film, or video productions. That’s a $60 value for only a $20 donation. Not bad. Just click the “Donate Now” button below and the rest is self-explanatory. Only while supplies last, so act now.

Today in our inaugural episode we have X-Men producer Ralph Winter. Ralph, who happens to be a fellow Cal alum (go Bears) will share with us the history of his career, whether or not it’s easier or harder to break into Hollywood, his opinion about what’s wrong with contemporary Christian filmmaking, and he gives insight into the recent announcement of Disney’s offer to buy Marvel. We also have an insightful talk about whether one can separate an artist from his art, i.e. is it okay to like Woody Allen movies despite Woody’s questionable life choices. It’s an informative and thought-provoking conversation and a great kick-off for a new show.

Bumper music for this show is “Tater City” by Glenn Shambroom, part of the “TRUE ROMANCE” collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

Remember you can catch a new episode each week at Crossingthe180.com and you can follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/crossingthe180. Be sure to tune in next week to hear our interview with the DP for Terminator: Salvation, Shane Hurlbut.

Support Crossing the 180 and get a great thank-you gift

Speaking of Triple Scoop Music, as a sponsor and long-time supporter, they are offering a great gift. As a listener supported show, your donations will help keep our great programming going. You can donate whatever amount you feel comfortable. But, for those of you who donate $20 or more, Triple Scoop Music will give you a song of your choice from their collection of over 5,000 amazing tunes you can use legally in your slideshow, film, or video productions. That’s a $60 value for only a $20 donation. Not bad. Just click the “Donate Now” button below and the rest is self-explanatory. Only while supplies last, so act now.

And now, on with the show.

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Seems like every industry has those young wunderkinds that accomplish more in just a few years at a young age that many professionals do their entire lives. Today’s guest is Joey Lawrence. No, not the 80s teen heart throb, but the young pro photographer from Canada made famous for his work shooting the “Twilight” movie poster. As of the taping of this interview, the dude had just turned 20 a week earlier. In this engaging interview we get up close and personal with Joey. He shares with us how he got into photography, what he likes to shoot and why, how we got into pro photography, and he shares some stories about his travels to Africa that may make you cringe. (NOTE: due to the graphic nature of one of his stories, parental guidance is suggested). He also chimes in on his feelings about using tools like Photoshop. This interview will either inspire you, or piss you off that he’s done so much at a young age. Hopefully, it’ll be the former.

Remember you can catch a new episode each week at fstopbeyond.tv and you can follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/fstopbeyond.

Bumper music for this show is “Close to You” by Steve Hefter and Friends of Friends, part of the “TRUE ROMANCE” collection, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.

SUPPORT FSB AND GET A GREAT� THANK YOU GIFT

Speaking of Triple Scoop Music, as a sponsor and long-time supporter, they are offering a great gift. As a listener supported show, your donations will help keep our great programming going. You can donate whatever amount you feel comfortable. But, for those of you who donate $20 or more, Triple Scoop Music will give you a song of your choice from their collection of over 5,000 amazing tunes you can use legally in your slideshow or video productions. That’s a $60 value for only a $20 donation. Not bad. Just click the “Donate Now” button below and the rest is self-explanatory. Only while supplies last, so act now.

And now, on with the show.

Download MP3 | Subscribe in iTunes |

Support FSB and get a great thank-you gift

Speaking of Triple Scoop Music, as a sponsor and long-time supporter, they are offering a great gift. As a listener supported show, your donations will help keep our great programming going. You can donate whatever amount you feel comfortable. But, for those of you who donate $20 or more, Triple Scoop Music will give you a song of your choice from their collection of over 5,000 amazing tunes you can use legally in your slideshow, film, or video productions. That’s a $60 value for only a $20 donation. Not bad. Just click the “Donate Now” button below and the rest is self-explanatory. Only while supplies last, so act now.

The newest creation from FSB host/creator Ron Dawson, this is to filmmakers what F-Stop Beyond is to photographers. Since Ron is a filmmaker himself, he could no longer fight the urge to have the same kind of in-depth, poignant and personal conversations with professionals in his industry. And like FSB, guests run the gamut from the obvious to the obscure. Established professionals in Hollywood like X-Men producer Ralph Winter, or Terminator: Salvation DP Shane Hurlbut; to social media juggernauts like international cinematographer and HD DSLR guru Philip Bloom; to amazing short film filmmakers like fellow Atlanta local Brandon McCormick of Whitestone Motion Pictures; and even wedding and event filmmakers like wunderkind and USC film grad Kevin Shahinian. Many more are already in the can and/or in the works.

In the future we hope to bring you more exciting, informative, and insightful programming. If you have suggestions for guests on any of the shows, feel free to email ron@crossingthe180.com and tell us who, what show, and why. Be sure to include links to any websites that will help us learn more about the person.

Tune in every other Friday, starting this Friday, Jan 1, 2010. Along with the new FSB website. Don’t miss it!

I’m still getting a few e-mails here and there about the FREE 2010 WPPI registration for people who posted any of the Longest Day videos earlier this year to their blogs. There is no automatic registration. You must contact WPPI with the same email you used to fill out the form. Tell them you filled out the form then they can check your email against the record of forms submitted. For good measure, include in your email the link to the blog post with the Longest Day video.

Sorry for any inconvenience. This may seem like a little extra work, but well worth saving a few hundred bucks.

What would you do as a visual artist if you lost the ability to see? How would that affect your life? There often comes a time in a person’s life when he or she is faced with a decision that can have a profound impact on the rest of their life. When life, in all of its ebbs and flows, throws a curve ball you didn’t see coming. Today’s guest had TWO such curve balls. First, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Then, as a result of that tumor, he lost his eye sight. Alex de Jong is a symbol of how far the human spirit can go when given the right perspective. Alex will share with us how he got into photography, and how he copes with his physical condition. I hope you will be inspired by his tenacity and outlook on life. To find more inspiring photographers who are blind, visit blindphotographers.org.

Next week we’ll be on Christmas break and will most likely run a previous show. Then, on January 1, we kick off the year big. It’ll be our 100th episode and the launch of a brand new website (hopefully it’ll be completed by then). And our guest will be none other than that Canon rapping, “Twilight” taking, wunderkind photographer Joey Lawrence (aka Joey L).

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We’re in the process of making changes to the show to make it more reliable and stable. So, I want to get an idea how most of  you are listening to the show. Please take 2 seconds to answer this poll for me. We’re really excited about what’s coming down the pike!

WARNING: Listening to this episode of the show could cause you to pee in your pants from sheer laughter. Besides being extremely talented photojournalistic wedding photographers, today’s guests, Pepper Nix and Mitch Burt, are a riot. They really could take their act on the road. Except, it’s not an act. They are genuinely easy going and very, very funny. They are great examples of how not to take life too seriously.� Today they each talk about how they got into professional photography. Mitch by way of USCs film school then a switch to a neurobiology graduate course. Pepper is a proud art school college drop out. (Her photography professors told her she didn’t have what it took to make it as a professional photographer. Now she’s internationally renown, award-winning wedding photographer who’s shot celebrity weddings.)

They also share with us how they got hitched and what it’s like being in business together, then becoming “friendly” competitors. This is an interview that will greatly entertain and inspire you. You’ll also learn tips on how to keep your 2-year-old from getting pink-eye.

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Next week I speak with Alex de Jong from the Netherlands. You may not have heard of him, but after this interview, I guarantee you’ll be inspired by him. The story of a terminally ill and blind photographer and how he hasn’t let his blindness prevent him from creating his art.

Earlier this year we had an amazing interview with Nashville, TN commercial photographer Jeremy Cowart. Today I asked Jeremy back on the show to tell us about a terrific worldwide movement he’s started called Help-Portrait. Help-Portrait is a project where on December 12 of this year, photographers all over the world will find people in need, take their picture, and give those people the print. It is an opportunity for you to use your craft to love on somebody. To make them feel beautiful. To give them a sense of dignity. Jeremy shares with us how and why he came up with the idea, and he also talks about the controversy that surrounded the project when it first started. We hear some inspiring stories about the project, some behind the scenes info about the promo video (see below), and Jeremy tells us how you can get involved in your local community.

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Here is the current Help-Portrait promo.

Next week we have an hilarious interview with wedding photojournalists husband and wife team (and friendly competitors) Pepper Nix and Mitch Burt. Don’t miss it.

A few months ago I get this email from a photographer saying how much she loves the show and that she thinks she’d have a lot of cool things to contribute. I frequently get guest suggestions, but honestly, I don’t tend to give that much weight to people who suggest themselves. But, I took a look at her website and saw her clientele. Rob Zombie. Marilyn Manson. Alice Cooper. Marshall Amplifiers. And other major rock bands. My first thought was “Wow, I’m honored someone who’s been involved with such major bands is that interested in my little show.” But, to be honest, my NEXT thought was, “Do I really want the photographer for Marilyn Manson on my show?” Anyone who knows me well knows I’m more of a David Crowder, Mercy Me, and Fee Band kind of guy. But then I had a third thought, “F-Stop Beyond is about interviewing ALL kinds of photographers, from all walks of life. Let’s do it.” So I wrote her back, invited her to be on the show, and she gladly accepted. I’m so glad I did.

Today’s guest is a real “rock star” photographer. Not only because of her clientele, but because her work does indeed “rock”. Gabrielle Geiselman started her career at the tender age of 12 when she would sneak into L.A. rock clubs and take photos of bands during the early 80s. Yes, I said age 12 (as she puts it, she didn’t, ahem, look 12). Music has always been an important part of her life, so it’s only natural she’d gravitate to taking photos of rock bands. Gabrielle shares all kinds of terrific insights like: how to get good exposures in a dark rock club (answer: become good friends with the lighting designer); why you should shoot with a 50mm 1.4 for a year; what it’s like traveling on the road on a bus with a band when you’re the only girl; surviving and thriving in two male-dominated industries (photography and music) withOUT sleeping to the top; whether or not the personas portrayed by her clients are just for show, or if they are like that in real life; and so much more.

This is another one of those great conversations that I didn’t want to end. I have to admit that I had judged what I thought Gabrielle would be like based on her clientele. Thank you Gabrielle for reminding me that you never know what you’ll find inside an individual until you have the courage to look inside. That’s what this show is all about. It was such a pleasure having you on.

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Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Tune in next week for another brand new episode.

Every now and then I get a show where the conversation flows so naturally and is so engrossing, I lose track of time and don’t want to stop. Today’s interview with Anna Kuperberg was such an interview (thus the hour+ long episode). But, don’t let the length scare you. I have no doubt you’ll savor every second of this wonderful interview, in fact, you’ll probably be wanting more.

Anna covers the whole gamut. Born to Polish parents (it was her first language) who emigrated to Houston, TX, then moved to Auburn, AL when she was very young. Eventually moving to the St. Louis, MO area where she attended college. Anna was voted this year by American Photo as one of the top ten wedding photographers in the world, and is by far one of the most successful photographers in the San Francisca Bay Area. Anna talks about what it was like getting a degree in photography but not learning the business side. (That was something she had to learn on her own, which she’s glad she did). We have a wonderful discussion about improvisational jazz as an analogy for photography, which leads to a fun tangent about my stint as a swing dancer (don’t worry, I tie it back into the interview quite nicely). We talk about living in the south, why immigrants make terrific photographers, how she improves her craft, using social media effectively, how the switch to digital has affected her work and business, and her take on the use of Photoshop and other such tools. (You may be surprised at the information she shares). From the funny anecdotes to the insightful advice, this is an interview that will inspire you.

Next week we have a Thanksgiving Day special. Another thoroughly engrossing conversation with a real “rock star” photographer, Gabrielle Geiselman, photographer for such groups as Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, and Marilyn Manson. You definitely do not want to miss what Gabrielle has to say.

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We’re back from our month-long hiatus. And I’m really excited about the lineup we have over the next few weeks. Today’s guest got a D- in his high school photography class because he didn’t take the kind of pictures he was supposed. He took the pictures he wanted to take. Ever since then, L.A. fashion and commercial photographer Jason Christopher has been a rebel. After working as a stand-in in Hollywood and being amazed with the lighting set up, he decided to quite to pursue photography. It was very hard at first. He even went through a time where his utilities were turned off. But he didn’t want to ask his parents, so he hit the streets, going to modeling agencies, doing head shots, etc. He then got the opportunity to work under celebrity photographer Jerry Avenaim and things took off. In this episode, Jason talks about the importance of knowing business, the difference between the industry now and how it was back in the film days and now, the importance of knowing the greats, and the value of sharing.

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Next week we have celebrated San Francisco wedding photographer Anna Kuperberg. Don’t miss this one folks!

Continuing with the Breast Cancer Awareness Month theme, how could I not re-run my interview from earlier this year with Flickr sensation and double mastectomy survivor, Deborah D. Lattimore. Deborah has built up quite a following on Flickr and has used this community and her photography to cope with her cancer and inspire others.

In case you’re wondering, new episodes of FSB will start up again in November. We’ve got some great interviews in “the can,” including one with L.A. fashion photog Jason Christopher and SF Bay Area wedding pro Anna Kuperberg.

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A year and a half ago I had the honor to interview Emilie Sommer, photojournalist turned wedding photographer. As someone who has had loved ones touched by breast cancer, Emilie feels very passionate about the topic. So, since this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought it would be great to pull this interview out of the archives. Recorded live at WPPI 2008, this was one of those gems of an interview that’ll make you laugh and cry. From her experiences on the road with US presidents, to her unhappy encounter with Oprah, you’ll be amazed at the experiences this young lady has had: all before the age of thirty (at the time). Enjoy!

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A quick note about the interruptions. Since we were at WPPI, we were frequently interrupted by passersby. A kept a few of the interruptions in the interview for comic relief.

Sorry this week’s show is late. Last Thursday and Friday I attended a terrific leadership conference called Catalyst. One of the causes supported by the organizers of the conference is the plight of orphaned children throughout the world. Some of the stories I saw moved me.� So, I’m inspired to re-run an interview I did with Orange County photographer Annette Biggers of Triple Cord Photography. In this interview from June of 2008, Annette shares how she got into photography, why she gives away 90% of her income from photography, and the story behind her family’s adoption of two at-risk youth. Be inspired.

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Be sure to visit Annette’s personal cause, Heart 4 Africa, dedicated to helping orphaned children in Africa.

A growing trend I’m seeing in the world of professional photography are photographers branching out their businesses to offer products and/or services to fellow photogs. Everything from camera bags and CF card holders to social media network sites have been started by pro photogs. Well. there’s a new player in the game who has a product she hopes will take the photo world “by storm.” Candice Cunningham is a successful wedding and portrait photographer who was literally tired of lugging around her cameras on two separate autonomous straps. So, with necessity being the mother of invention, she created the Camera Slinger. A single, dual-strapped device that allows the photographer to easily carry two bodies, with the weight being evenly distributed across the back. Simple and ingenious. Today we get to learn how Candice started this later endeavor.

But not before we learn about her personal and professional journey. From the challenges or starting her business, to her personal triumph over obesity and dealing with self-esteem issues. Candice shares with us how important it is for you to find what it is holding you back in life, and change it. Own up to that part you play, then change.

We top it off with how in the world she came up with perhaps her craziest idea to date. To photograph a bride and groom…in front of a live tornado, then film a reality TV show about the process. It’s called, “Romancing the Storm“. With celebrity wedding photographer Robert Evans as her partner, they went on a wild and wacky adventure. Today we get to hear about how it almost didn’t happen.

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Next week we have L.A. based fashion and commercial photographer Jason Christopher.

If you’ve been in the wedding and portrait business for any amount of time, you know that Australia seems to have an abundance of the world’s greatest wedding photogs. Every year at WPPI the Aussies seem to steal the show. Today we have one of the brightest stars from down under, the one…the only…Jerry Ghionis. After months of trying to hook up with Jerry to get him on the show, we finally were able to meet up at this past Skip’s Summer School.

In today’s show we learn how Jerry got into the biz. How he worked for another photographer, without pay, when he started. He realized that the value of the education was worth it. Believe or not, this multi award-winning, internationally renown photographer started his career…carrying bags. He then shares with us about his philosophy on finding the best light over finding the best location; how and why he gets his brides to pose during the wedding day in order to accentuate their beauty; the reason for the opulence of his style and studio; he tells us where he gets his inspiration; and he even gives us insight as to why Aussies seem to win so many awards. We learn why Jerry not only is such a phenomenal photographer, but why he’s also such a giving human being.

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Next week, “Romancing the Storm” photographer Candice Cunningham tells us why she was crazy enough to shoot an engagement session on the heels of a real tornado.

What do you get when you cross a brainiac, with a cheerleader and a photographer. You get the one and only Jen Basford of 3 Girls Photography. Don’t let her barefoot, bouncy, and bubbly personality fool you. This MBA was once ranked #5 in her state in math and worked as a technical consultant at Accenture before starting her portrait photography studio. The meteoric success of her 3-4 year old studio is a clear testament to her marketing smarts and business acumen. In this episode, Jen shares with us her take on what makes a photographer a professional? Which she believes is more important, the photography or the business side? What it was like growing up as an only child and how that influences her as a mom of, you guessed it, three girls. She also shares why she absolutely will not do weddings. Jen has a vibrant outlook on life and an infectious spirit that will keep you smiling throughout the entire interview.

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Our next episode guest will be the internationally celebrated and muli award-winning, self-professed metro-sexual wedding photog superstar himself, Jerry Ghionis.