Stop Worrying About Copycats: The Truth About “Stolen Ideas” in Photography
Beyond the Image Podcast
What should you do when another photographer copies your work? Nothing. In this episode, I break down why the fear of “stolen ideas” is one of the biggest things holding creatives back. After a recent post sparked debate, I dive into the difference between inspiration and theft, what copyright actually protects, and why most photographers are focused on the wrong problem. We’re talking about: Why ideas aren’t the asset, execution is The truth about “first usage rights” and copyright How a scarcity mindset slows your growth Why competition is actually a good thing And how...
info_outline
Are Photographers Actually Ruining the Industry?
Beyond the Image Podcast
Are photographers actually ruining the photography industry by charging too little? It is a complaint that has echoed through the photography community for decades. Photographers often blame other photographers for lowering prices, devaluing photography, and training clients to expect cheap or free work. But what if that belief is based on a misunderstanding of how markets actually work? In this episode of the Beyond the Image Podcast, photographer and creative entrepreneur James Patrick breaks down a recent debate with another photographer who argued that clients simply do not value...
info_outline
How I Became a CreativeLive Instructor — And What It Really Took
Beyond the Image Podcast
In this episode of Beyond the Image, commercial photographer James Patrick shares the story behind being invited to teach as a CreativeLive instructor photographer — and what it really takes to earn opportunities at that level. CreativeLive has featured some of the most respected photography instructors and creative entrepreneurs in the industry. Being selected as a CreativeLive photography instructor is not about virality or follower count. It is about depth of expertise, consistent production quality, and long-term credibility. In this episode, James breaks down: How major creative...
info_outline
Can A Bad Logo Ruin your Company?
Beyond the Image Podcast
Imagine if every single person thought the name of your company was something different. Not just a slight mispronounciation, but a fundamentally different word altogether. They would not know what to call your business, they would not know how to find it, how to search for it online and thus, they would be unable to ever actually hire and work with you. This is the situation a small business found themselves in. A low investment into a brand logo that was designed esthetically but not legibly led the company to waste tens of thousands of dollars on wasted marketing materials, product...
info_outline
Copyright vs. Usage Rights: What Photographers Keep Getting Wrong
Beyond the Image Podcast
Most photographers get copyright wrong—and it’s costing them more than they realize. In this episode of Beyond the Image, I break down the critical difference between copyright and usage rights, explain why payment or delivering RAW files does not transfer ownership, and show how photographers can protect their work while confidently licensing images to clients. We’ll cover why the photographer automatically owns copyright in almost every independent contractor situation, how clients are only buying permission to use your work, and what a proper work-for-hire or copyright assignment...
info_outline
Gatekeeping Is Killing Photography
Beyond the Image Podcast
In this episode of Beyond the Image, James Patrick calls out one of the most damaging behaviors in the photography industry right now. Photographers mocking others for asking questions, shaming so-called “basic” knowledge, and treating curiosity as proof someone doesn’t belong. James breaks down how gatekeeping disguised as expertise harms education, kills curiosity, and drives people out of the industry. He explains why assuming everyone has the same access to information is a form of privilege, not professionalism, and why the loudest gatekeepers are often the ones who could benefit...
info_outline
When Cameras Become Evidence: Photography, Power, and the First Amendment
Beyond the Image Podcast
Two photographs. Seconds apart. And a much bigger story about photography, accountability, and the right to document power. In this episode of Beyond the Image, James Patrick examines the events surrounding photographers John Abernathy and Pierre Lavie, whose images captured the moment documentation itself became a threat. As Abernathy was taken down by ICE agents while photographing in public, he instinctively threw his camera to Lavie, preserving evidence that could have been confiscated or destroyed. The conversation expands to the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, an incident captured...
info_outline
15 Years Behind the Camera: Lessons That Built James Patrick Photography
Beyond the Image Podcast
Fifteen years ago, I walked away from a full-time career in marketing—complete with a steady paycheck, benefits, and a 401K—to pursue photography. There were no guarantees it would work, only a willingness to accept uncertainty and learn along the way. In this episode, I reflect on the lessons that have kept James Patrick Photography in business for 15 years. From starting out in Tucson to building a focused career in sports, fitness, and editorial photography, to relocating to Phoenix and opening The Hive Studios, this episode breaks down what actually creates sustainability in a creative...
info_outline
8 Posing Tips Every Photographer Needs to Confidently Direct Clients
Beyond the Image Podcast
Posing doesn’t have to feel awkward, forced, or inconsistent. In this episode, James Patrick breaks down 8 practical posing tips he’s used across more than 800 magazine covers to help photographers confidently direct real clients, not professional models. You’ll learn how to create structure at the start of a shoot, guide clients into flattering body angles, fix posture and hands, use props intentionally, and capture natural expressions that feel authentic and powerful. These are real, on-set cues and micro-adjustments you can start using immediately to improve your client experience and...
info_outline
How to Calculate Your Rates as a Photographer
Beyond the Image Podcast
Are your photography rates leaving you busy, booked, and broke? In this episode of Beyond the Image, James Patrick breaks down exactly how photographers can calculate sustainable rates that cover their cost of doing business, desired income, and all the hidden hours spent editing, marketing, and running their business. Learn step-by-step formulas to figure out your true hourly rate, price your shoots correctly, and turn every session into profit through usage, upsells, and add-on services. Whether you’re a portrait, commercial, editorial, or lifestyle photographer, this episode gives you...
info_outlineNOTE: Get your copy of The Legacy Planner at https://jamespatrick.com/legacy/
Do you know what really bothers me? Hyperbole. When someone says, “Oh, you have to try this. It’s the best.” Is it? Another hyperbolic expression that drives me up the wall is when someone on social media inevitably says, “I get asked all the time about ____.” When really, they just want to talk about something.
Now that I’ve said that, I need to tell you I get asked all the time about how I manage to get so much done. That’s not hyperbole, I do get asked all the time. The answer is in how I manage the projects that I take on and how I break those projects down into manageable actions.
Today, we’re going to talk about how to get more done.
“Why do some individuals seem to possess the capacity to constantly achieve great things in their lives while others tend to struggle?”
IN THIS EPISODE
- The distinguishing factor in individuals.
- The 3 essential pillars you need to apply to your own life to ignite the change you long for.
- What usually leads people to change.
- Why setting goals and casting vision is important.
- How to create purpose fueled action.
- The gift of failure.
- Defining your legacy and realizing the impact it will have.
- How to use the Legacy Planner.
- Drafting out your month based on your quarterly goals pulled on from your yearly goals.
- 4 categories of habits that help individuals become successful.
Download a FREE copy of my new book The Legacy Planner and start getting more done today. DOWNLOAD OR PURCHASE THE LEGACY PLANNER HERE
Connect with James
Website: jamespatrick.com
Instagram: @jpatrickphoto
Legacy planner: https://jamespatrick.com/legacy/
Text me marketing questions @: 480-605-3254