BILD 2025 Recap, with CJ Wolfe, Maria Clinton & Benjamin Von Wong
Release Date: 08/14/2025
Photographing the Winter Games: Jean Fruth
B&H Photography Podcast
Sports photography hinges on freezing peak action—transforming a high-speed blur into a dramatic portrayal of human effort. When you combine that with the unyielding drive of elite athletes on the world stage, the pressure to nail the shot provides an incredible adrenaline rush. In today’s podcast, we discuss the unique challenges of documenting history in the making and unpacking stories from the Winter Games with renowned sports photographer Jean Fruth, recently back from her first Olympics. From a hectic scramble on arrival in Milan—getting to the arena and gearing up as her...
info_outline
Pictures in Space, featuring NASA Astronaut Donald Pettit
B&H Photography Podcast
Above Photograph © Donald Pettit, NASA At its best, photography draws from both science and art, to give resulting images a dual purpose—aesthetic innovation and scientific merit. And when that photography happens from the windows of the International Space Station, capturing star trails, city lights, and our blue planet against the void of space, it becomes something truly transcendent. In today’s show, we’re privileged to chat with NASA Astronaut Donald Pettit, a scientist, inventor, and photographer who has spent nearly two years living, working, and making pictures in orbit....
info_outline
Two Generations of Top Photo Agents with Jennifer Perlmutter & Michael Ash
B&H Photography Podcast
One of the most polarizing questions in the mind of any photographer is “Should—or shouldn’t I—get an agent?” The role of an agent in a photographer’s career is often misunderstood, leading hungry creatives to think that securing representation is their number one key to success. In truth, the relationship between a photographer and agent is far more nuanced than simply booking more assignments. In today’s podcast, we take a deep dive into this complex alliance in a discussion with two generations of top agents, whose combined careers span from the film-era to the latest in...
info_outline
The Ethics of Wildlife Photography with Melissa Groo & Bobby Stormer
B&H Photography Podcast
While its origin is murky, the adage “Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time,” is at the heart of this wide-ranging discussion about ethical practices in wildlife photography. From exotic safaris to local birding expeditions, interest in this subject matter has grown tremendously in recent years. Ever advancing camera technologies and increasing ease of use make stunning pictures more accessible than ever, but when these advantages combine with an unbridled enthusiasm for getting the shot, it can often put wildlife at risk. After defining...
info_outline
The Many Seasons of Humans of New York, featuring Brandon Stanton
B&H Photography Podcast
It takes a lot of guts to engage with a stranger on the street, ask probing questions about their struggles, and come away with a portrait and a story as a record of the human connection that was made. Now, imagine repeating this process countless times over 15 years under the moniker Humans of New York (HONY) and watching what started as a passion project take the world by storm. In today’s show, we’re privileged to chat with this 21st century archivist of everyday citizens and their lived experiences. Listen in as HONY’s creator, Brandon Stanton, shares how he transformed street...
info_outline
Next Frame: Trailblazing a Philadelphia Photo Community, with CJ Wolfe
B&H Photography Podcast
Picking up a camera is often the start of a life-changing journey. And when it’s combined with a focus on community building, the determination to lead by example, and shrewd entrepreneurial skills—this basic action can have a ripple effect with the potential to change countless lives. In today’s show, we speak with creative community trailblazer CJ Wolfe, who has built a passion for pictures and infectious team spirit into a multifaceted brand that encompasses rental studios, a creative agency, and a non-profit organization with a mission to educate and inspire disenfranchised...
info_outline
Crafting Masterful Portraits with Paul Mobley & Ian Spanier
B&H Photography Podcast
Paul Mobley and Ian Spanier have much in common: from starting their respective careers in New York City before relocating to the West Coast, to their knack for forging a human bond with portrait subjects, to an unrelenting drive to generate ambitious commercial assignments while being equally dedicated to complex personal projects. In today’s podcast, Paul and Ian compare notes on their photographic journeys from coast to coast, while discussing their shared inspiration for 20th century portrait masters such as Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, and in Ian’s case, Harry Benson. A few of...
info_outline
2025 Photo Gear of the Year, with Kevin Rickert
B&H Photography Podcast
In case you didn’t already know, 2025 marks 10 years since we started the B&H Photography Podcast, making today’s show our tenth annual Photo Gear of the Year episode! A lot of cameras have come down the pike since that first recap, along with a veritable roller coaster of marketing strategies and photographic trends. To follow up on a trend discussed last year, we start out with a nod to point-and-shoots, a craze that, according to Kevin, has “become fever pitch.” To expand on this theme, we look back in time to when digital point-and-shoots were losing ground to the ubiquitous...
info_outline
Next Frame: Get Undeniably Qualified for a Photo Career, with Chelsea Mayer
B&H Photography Podcast
“Wow, this is your job? I didn't know that was a job! That's amazing. Can I have this job?” That offhand epiphany neatly sums up the enviable career path of wildlife, adventure, and travel photographer Chelsea Mayer. From an early start with her mom’s camera to her selection for an Ambassador mentorship, before becoming a partner photographer, with Girls Who Click, all the way through to her certifications as a 100-ton boat captain and professional divemaster, the course Chelsea plotted has made her undeniably qualified for a thriving career. In today’s show, we do a deep dive...
info_outline
Mylene Mae on Trends, Staying Curious, and Creating for Fun
B&H Photography Podcast
Join Deanna as she welcomes professional side-quester, storyteller, and video editor, Mylene Mae (@mylenesmind). Mylene shares her personal journey, including how she pivoted from working in STEM and got started in video, as well as her learning process and the struggles of digesting long-form content. They discuss the importance betting on yourself, staying curious, and forgetting the metrics and finding the fun in content creation. Credits: Host & Creative Producer: Deanna Testa Creative Producer: Elena Maidebura Creative Editor: Larissa Mattei Technical Producer: Mike Weinstein...
info_outlineAbove Photograph © Matt Emond
Summertime is the season for travel. With that theme in mind, in today’s show, we’re taking you on a short trip around the block to revisit a few of our favorite encounters from B&H’s 2025 Bild Expo.
During two days in June, we engaged with the many thousands of Expo attendees who converged at New York’s Jacob Javits Center for the show. From our sleek podcast console/recording station adjacent to the Bild stages, we shared our favorite listens and offered advice to the many inquisitive creatives wanting to start up a podcast of their own. Amid all the noise and excitement, we also found the chance to record short interviews with a few of our visitors who had inspiring stories to tell, three of which we’re presenting today.
So, sit back and enjoy these conversations with Philadelphia-based photographer, entrepreneur, and community organizer CJ Wolfe; New York-based filmmaker, producer, and podcaster Maria Clinton; and Canadian-born, globetrotting visual engineer and environmental activist Benjamin Von Wong.
Guests: CJ Wolfe, Maria Clinton, & Benjamin Von Wong
Episode Timeline:
- 2:32: Philadelphia-based photographer, entrepreneur, and community organizer CJ Wolfe talks about how a camera changed his life, leading him to found Immortal Vision Studios, and a related creative agency.
- 7:58: Reminiscing about how CJ’s early love of coding inspired him to customize MySpace profiles for his friends as a youth.
- 12:58: CJ’s creative goals for the future and the inspiration to get his studio on wheels to expand.
- 14:34: CJ talks about business shifts and the new ideas he gets from interns—rather than thinking, look to AI.
- 21:27: New York-based filmmaker, producer, and podcaster Maria Clinton riffs about generational shifts in the realm of content creation.
- 27:00: The underlying question of who you’re creating for and why?
- 29:05: The difference between content creation and filmmaking.
- 32:21: Maria talks about The Little Souvenirs podcast, the types of stories she and her co-host tell, and where you can find the show.
- 33:45: Bild speaker, visual engineer, and environmental activist Benjamin Von Wong reminisces about his previous conversation with the podcast and the challenges he faced back then about continuing his journey as an artist.
- 38:06: Ben’s recent projects, and his theory of activating change by finding the nexus of the right place, the right time and the right people.
- 43:02: Ben’s accidental path to becoming an environmentalist, plus the need to shift his activism from a burden of duty to a place of love.
- 46:28: Ben talks about how community involvement has evolved within his work, to create engagement greater than the sum of its parts—what it takes to fix the world.
- 50:18: The economics of large-scale production and how fundraising has changed Ben’s relationship to his art by helping him believe in his own work.
Guest Bios:
CJ Wolfe picked up a camera eight years ago, while pursuing college studies as a student-athlete. Since that time, he has made an impact both globally and within the Philadelphia creative scene, where he first got his start. A true staple in the city’s culture, CJ has influenced sports, music, and lifestyle through his creativity behind the scenes and, most importantly, behind the camera. Wolfe has produced work for Red Bull, Footlocker, Ethika, Block Inc, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Baby, Meek Mill, and Allen Iverson to name a few. Throughout his journey, Wolfe recognized a major gap in Philadelphia—a lack of safe, inspiring spaces for photographers to refine their craft, showcase their talents, and build professional networks. In response, he founded Immortal Vision Studio in 2020, which has grown into a cornerstone of the city’s creative community. Now operating two boutique studios totaling 6,000 square feet and booking over 2,000 appointments per year, Wolfe has built Philadelphia’s most trusted rental powerhouse for photo and video production. Wolfe also has another layer to the business besides studio rentals and community. Immortal Vision Agency—a creative firm producing high-impact content for brands and businesses—bridging the gap to provide professional opportunities and elevate talent from his hometown to the world stage.
Maria Clinton is a New York-based filmmaker, podcaster, and educator. Her past freelance clients include About.com, Hudson Group, and various nonprofit organizations. As a filmmaker Maria’s work focuses on finding and sharing untold stories that shed light on underrepresented groups of people, shattering stereotypes and reconstructing narratives. She co-directed the Emmy-Award winning documentary short The Love Bugs—about an entomologist couple who amassed the world’s largest private collection of insects. As a podcaster, Maria is co-creator and co-host of The Little Souvenirs Podcast. She and co-host/writer Kimberly Mallory discuss a variety of topics with their guests including life’s moments that gift us impressionable little souvenirs. They believe each episode is a reminder to celebrate the moments that matter most. It’s time to enjoy the journey!
Benjamin Von Wong’s work lies at the intersection of fantasy and photography and combines everyday objects with shocking statistics. It has attracted the attention of corporations like Starbucks, Dell, and Nike and has generated over 100 million views for causes like ocean plastics, electronic waste, and fashion pollution. In 2018, he was named one of Adweek’s 11 content branded masterminds. He is also a creative advisor for the Ocean Plastic Leadership Network and the Sustainable Ocean Alliance.
Stay Connected:
CJ Wolfe
Immortal Vision Studio
Maria Clinton
Benjamin Von Wong
- Website
- X
- YouTube
- Benjamin Von Wong on the B&H Photography Podcast: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/building-and-maintaining-your-web-presence-alex-vita-ben-von-wong
- Host: Derek Fahsbender
- Senior Creative Producer: Jill Waterman
- Senior Technical Producer: Mike Weinstein
- Executive Producer: Richard Stevens