Visual Revolutionary

Renowned skateboard photographer and magazine editor Dave Swift joins the show to talk about his long history with skateboarding, the early days of the Del Mar Skate Ranch, his many years as editor in chief of Transworld Skateboarding, and cofounding the Skateboard Mag.  Although Dave grew up a short drive from the beaches of San Diego, his small town felt more like a ranching community and his days were filled with baseball and football until the age of 13 when skateboarding entered his life and changed his whole outlook on the future.  He quickly fell in love with not only the act of skating, but the culture that surrounded it and before long became a local fixture at the infamous Del Mar Skate Ranch.  After years of trying to make it as a professional, and a stint as a sponsored skater for Schmitt Stix, he lucked into a position writing and editing for Transworld magazine.  It was there that he would he begin to experiment more with photography and, under the mentorship of people like Grant Brittain, start

Award winning portrait and commercial photographer Randal Ford joins the podcast to talk about his new book "Animal Kingdom" and to tell the story of how he went from a business major to quickly establishing himself as an accomplished editorial and advertising photographer at what many would consider a young age.  Although Randal fell in love with photography early on his high school years, he would go to study business at Texas A&M without much consideration of a possible future as a photographer.  During his college years he decided to join the university newspaper as an extra curricular activity, and quickly remember why he loved photography in the first place.  Before long he got his hands on his first digital camera and the learning curve elevated exponentially.  When he graduated, he wrote down a goal of shooting covers for the respected Texas Monthly and began the slow process of trying to form his own aesthetic and create a name for himself.  Before long he accomplished that goal and began rising

Photographer, director, Nikon ambassador, and educator Joe McNally joins the show to talk about his legendary career, shooting for everyone from National Geographic to being Life Magazine's final staff photographer.  Although Joe says there wasn't much creativity in his early years, he remembers a book of war photography his father gave him that definitely put a seed in his mind of what visual story telling could look like.  He was always fascinated with good story telling and ended up going to college at Syracuse and majoring in journalism with the dreams of one day telling some of his own stories.  During that time he would be required to take photography classes and, soon after seeing his first images come to life in the developer, quickly realized that he would prefer to tell stories with a camera instead of a pen.  Once finishing his education, he would move to New York City and begin chasing his dreams of becoming a photographer, moving up the ranks from a stock boy at a newspaper to shooting for some o

On this episode of the podcast we are joined by commercial and lifestyle photographer and filmmaker Dean Bradshaw who talks about making the career leap from zoologist to photographer/director and how he's continued to evolve his aesthetic as an artist to reflect his own maturing taste and stay relevant in an ever changing industry.  Growing up in Perth Australia, Dean always loved the outdoors and  the vast array of reptiles Australia is famous for.  This interest would soon have him studying zoology and working in the field capturing and collecting data on different species.  Around this same time digital photography was introduced to Dean and he soon became obsessed with the best way to capture and light the reptiles.  Before long he was shooting other subjects and growing more and more interested in photography, lighting, and post production.  His skills eventually led him to LA and a whole new career path.  He quickly became known for being one of the new shooters that could capture and produce the hot n

On this episode of the podcast documentary filmmaker Joe Salinas talks about what it was like growing up as a skateboarder in a small town in Texas, his years as a touring musician, how he ended up working as a corrections officer and in gang intelligence in the prison system for years, and how acting would finally lead him to his current roll as a filmmaker.  Although Joe was influenced at an early age by skateboard films like the Bones Brigade and John Hughes films at his local two screen theater, it wouldn't be until years later that he would find his way into the world of directing and getting behind the camera himself.  He spent his early years chasing the dreams of fame and rock and roll, but when he was forced to mature a bit faster than most by having a child and getting married at a very early age, he soon found himself in a career path he would have never dreamed of.  It would be years later, on the suggestion of a friend, that Joe would give acting a try and suddenly find himself as a character in

Photographer, writer, conservationist, National Geographic explorer, and many other titles, Becca Skinner joins the podcast to talk about how she went from aspirations of a life in climbing, to chasing adventures behind the lens, to settling down in a sustainable lifestyle in the mountains of Montana.  Growing up in Colorado to a family of climbers, Becca was no stranger to living an outdoor lifestyle and adventures into the mountains, but it was when a tragic accident with her uncle happened and she decided to move to Wyoming to help out her aunt, that her life would really begin to revolve around climbing and the pursuit of adventure.  It would be this life of adventure that would soon lead her to photography and working with companies like the North Face.  After getting accepted for a grant to go document post Katrina New Orleans while still in college, Becca began to settle into a groove of writing and taking pictures and before long was honored to receive a National Geographic young explores grant.  Duri

Photographer, entrepreneur, and mastermind behind the Plotaverse Troy Plota joins the podcast to talk about how he went from being a sought after photographer in the fashion world and running a top dollar studio, to becoming a tech entrepreneur and creating what would become known as the plotagraph.  From his earliest beginnings as a beach kid in Florida, Troy had a love for photography.  After convincing his Dad to give him his camera so he could use it in a school class, Troy fell in love with the creative possibilities that the still image brought him and the access his camera provided.  We talk about how that humble yearbook start grew into a hugely successful photography career, working with magazines like Vanity Fair and GQ and shooting advertising campaigns that many dream of.  Although Troy came up in the professional world of shooting medium format film, he was a quick adopter of the possibilities that the digital format could offer and before long became known as one of the go-to photographers who t

Photographer, instructor, and Sigma ambassador Meg Loeks joins the podcast to talk about how she reinvigorated her passion for photography with the birth of her first child and how, as her family grew so did her desire to archive their daily existence and find her voice as a photographer.  It would be her ability to capture those everyday moments in an artful way that would soon lead her to working with companies like Sigma and Profoto and building a loyal social media following.  During our conversation we talk about how to create art out of the everyday moments most tend to overlook, some of the tricks she uses when working with small children, how she manages to stay inspired to want to create so frequently, and the advice she gives to others who want to archive their lives and chase the dream of photography.   To Learn More About Meg Loeks Visit: http://www.megloeks.com/ulim86xgglgiqipoq5zlyjwsib4wqy And Follow Her On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/meg_nlo/ To Help Support the Podcast or Learn Mo

Lifestyle/advertising photographer, and all around nice guy, Jake Stangel joins the podcast to talk about growing up as a creative kid in the suburbs of Maryland and the early influence photography had on his life.  It was an 8th grade general art class that Jake discovered a passion for photography that would set him down a path to enrolling at NYU's Tish school and continuing his education in fine art and photography.  But after growing up in a small town, Jake was overwhelmed by the energy and life that New York City offered and soon realized he was interested in more than just taking pictures.  He switched his studies to focus more on economics and marketing, but after a while found that he needed to find a balance in his life that could also include photography and creativity.  Before long he was working as an assistant and taking the hard earned path that so many before him have traveled, moving up the ranks in the competitive world of photography.  After graduation, he decided he had had enough of New

Award winning celebrity and people photographer Corey Nickols joins the show to talk about how he created a name for himself in one of the most competitive genres of photography, while also sharing a very honest and compelling story of overcoming his battle with bipolar disorder and how he continues to nurture a healthy mind with a healthy diet. Growing up in a rural area of California, Corey always felt like an outsider to what was around him.  Although he found photography at a very early age, it would be punk rock that would finally bring him a tribe of his own and the comfort in expressing himself.  That expression would soon lead him to studying photography at Brooks university and chasing the dream of becoming a pro and moving to LA.  Unfortunately graduation came on the heels of the collapse of the economy in 2008 and Corey was forced to get creative in his hustle and how to go about forming his portfolio.  It would be a creative personal project, and a great story of finding models from a retirement h

Adventure, Travel, and Lifestyle Photographer Quin Schrock (aka: @everchanginghorizons ) joins the show to talk about the journey that brought him from a soon to be CPA, to traveling the world non stop with a huge Instagram following and an ever expanding photography portfolio.  As we dive through Quin's past, we talk about his desire to want to stand out and go against the grain at an early age and how that would become a lot of the foundation for a future in creative expression and travel.  Although Quin had built a reputation for non conformity, he soon found himself studying business at college and getting married at a fairly early age. When his young marriage didn't work out, he decided to set out on a bucket list trip to Machu Picchu before settling down to work in accounting.  That trip that would change the course of his future.  Before long, Quin was working as a counselor at a wilderness survival camp and met a girl that would set out on an epic road trip with him, introduce photography into his lif

 ******Donate To The Podcast and Help Support the Show******** http://www.visualrevolutionary.com/donate/ Award winning action sports and commercial photographer Blake Jorgenson joins the show to talk about the life of a ski bum in Whistler in the 90s and how that evolved into a successful career in photography.  Growing up in Toronto, Blake was always inspired by art.  Painting and drawing kept him occupied and entertained in a place he didn't draw that much inspiration from.  But at the age of 16, when he went on vacation to British Columbia, he fell in love with the mountains and the lifestyle that existed around them and counted the days until graduation to make that dream a reality.  Blake tells us the story of those early years in Whistler and working as a tuner in the local ski shop and the scene that congregated in it each day. He soon lost the passion for painting and became much more fasciated by the immediate images he could produce with a camera and began documenting the exploding community and be

Music, celebrity, and lifestyle photographer Drew Gurian joins the podcast to talk about the evolution of his career and how he went from first assistant under Joe McNally, to building his own successful brand and client base as a photographer.  From an early age Drew was drawn to photography and music, and before long started combining his passions by shooting live shows he was attending as well as playing drums in a band.  While studying photography and graphic design, Drew got the chance to intern with famed music photographer Danny Clinch and then with Joe McNally.  After finishing his undergrad, he became Joe's first assistant and spent the next 5 years traveling the globe and learning the ins and outs of running a successful photography business and dealing with a demanding shooting schedule.  After years of working at what many would consider a dream job, Drew made the decision to finally go out on his own and quickly began making a name for himself shooting with musicians, celebrities, and other mover

Lifestyle, motorcycle, and automotive photographer Matthew Jones joins the podcast to talk about how he managed to create a recognizable aesthetic and grow a brand for himself by shooting what he was most passionate about.  He's become known for his editorial work with niche magazines like Iron and Air, as well as shooting big commercial projects with companies ranging from Harley Davidson to Infiniti USA. Growing up in Florida, Matt found photography at an early age through the world of skateboarding, but later in life it would help him escape some trouble he felt he was sinking into with a move to Georgia to study at Savanah College of Art and Design.  It was there that he would be begin to get a better grasp of photography and, against some of the advice of his professors, pursue the world of shooting automotive work.  After a quick whirlwind tour of the country with editorial jobs, a stint in LA, and a ton of well lit pictures of cars, Matt found the world of motorcycles and began to refine the overall lo

Renowned photographer/director and Nikon ambassador Sandro Miller joins the podcast to talk about a storied career in photography and filmmaking, and the odds he overcame and sacrifices he made along the way to create a legendary body of work.  As a child growing up in Illinois, Sandro lost his father at the early age of four years old and was forced to grow up quicker than most and take on responsibilities that other kids didn't have to deal with.  Although this caused him to act out in many ways and start heading down a path that could have led him far away from where he is now, it was an early love of photography that would help keep him motivated to push forward towards a dream of one day joining the legendary names he looked up to.  After years of assisting, Sandro created a very successful product photography company based out of Chicago, but it would be what he did next that would shape the rest of his life.  Even with the heavy responsibilities of a single of parent, he walked away from a lucrative ca

Renowned music photographer Jay Blakesberg joins the podcast to talk about  40 years of music photography, photographing everything from years with the Grateful Dead to the birth of Alternative Rock. Raised in New Jersey, Jay was a product of the 70s youth culture, spending his time partying with his friends and seeing concerts. But it was when he borrowed his Dad's camera at age 16 to shoot pictures at a Grateful Dead show that he would get a glimpse into what the future would hold.  Combining a love for photography and the Grateful Dead, Jay set out on tour and began cataloging a huge archive of photography of the band, the fans, and the scene that evolved around both.  Although Jay had run-ins with the law, and some questionable decisions at an early age that could have derailed his dreams, he stayed focused on his passion of photography and music. Jay is probably best known for his work with the Grateful Dead, but he has had a career that spans years of shooting almost every musical genre you could think

Photographer, chief creative officer, and advertising master mind Jason M. Peterson joins the show for an interesting conversation about where advertising is heading and what that means for creators of all types.  You might know Jason from his popular Instagram account where he showcases some of his beautiful black and white compositions, but he's had a long career in the creative world dating back to his early days in a punk band and leading to a successful run in the ad world.  Growing up most of his life in Arizona after his parents were divorced, Jason found the hard core punk scene. He not only fell in love with the music, but the DIY ethic and art surrounding the community that would resurface in the next chapter of his life as an art director in New York.  Years later, on a bet with his friends, Jason joined Instagram and created an account that has attracted over a million followers and earned him praise from much of the photo world.  Jason has worked on, and created, many memorable ad spots over the

My friend and fellow local commercial photographer Sean Boggs stops by on this episode of the podcast to talk about building a business and a brand in a small market.  Although I might need to get rid of the word "shorts" in this new series, as I have trouble not ending up talking for almost an hour anyway, I enjoyed this conversation where Sean and I dove in to a topic that rarely gets explored.  We discuss the difference in a small town market compared to a larger market and how he went about building what would become a national identity as a photographer.  During our conversation we talk about whether or not to be a specialist in a certain genre, creating a sustainable price structure, saying no to low paying work, and being willing to learn and evolve from criticism.   To Learn More About Sean Boggs Visit: http://seanfboggs.com To Help Him Achieve his Goal of Working with and helping the Ninash School Go To: https://www.gofundme.com/seanfboggs-india To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: http://

Snowboard and action sports photographer Scott Serfas comes back on the podcast to talk about the issues he has faced with clients not wanting to pay advertising rates for social media images, what that might mean for the future of his niche in photography, and where we go from here.  Make sure to check out Scott's original biographical episode to hear his backstory (Episode #36).  During this conversation we talk about what we've both seen with clients wanting to use images for free on their social media platforms, factoring in a future archive when you are shooting what is around you, and what the future of making a living as a snowboard photographer might look like.   To Learn More About Scott Serfas Visit: https://www.scottserfas.com/index Visit Visual Revolutionary At: http://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/

Photographer and Creative Director Dano Pendygrasse joins the show to talk about a successful career as a snowboard photographer in what many would consider the golden age of snowboarding (the 90s and early 2000s), and his eventual transition into more of a creative director's role. Growing up in Vancouver as a skateboard kid and ski racer, the transition to snowboarding during the early years of the sport was a no-brainer. After graduating high school and moving to Whistler, Dano found himself at the center of a bourgeoning scene that would soon become one of the epicenters of the snowboard world. Although he had sponsors as a snowboarder and dreams of writing, Dano took the advice of an editor at Snowboarder Magazine to start taking pictures. He quickly realized that the camera was his tool of choice. He landed a job as a senior photographer for Snowboarder and before long found himself shooting with the biggest pros in the business. Over the next couple of decades Dano continued to thrive as a photographer