How to Make a Career Photographing What You Love with Ashley Marston
Emotional Storytelling with Twyla Jones
Release Date: 08/25/2020
Maximize Your Efficiency with Jessica Whitaker
Emotional Storytelling with Twyla Jones
If you're stressing about how to do it all and adapt to the constantly changing features in social media and how to get yourself out there, you need to pause, and just listen for a minute. It's not about perfection - it's about knowing your audience and just getting started. This episode is packed with tips on everything from where to get your film developed to production values for various forms of online video and reels. Have your notebook ready for this one!
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Revealing your inner voice by giving up on social media clout with Steve Mendes
Emotional Storytelling with Twyla Jones
Have you ever wished you could just strip away all of the trappings, go back to the absolute basics, start over and just reveal your raw, vulnerable self? No Photoshop, no worries about how many likes or followers you have - just simplicity and honesty and beauty. Steve Mendes started his career as a photographer in the fashion world - big shoots, makeup and fancy cars and entire teams - and then he stopped.
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In pursuit of balance, inspiration and creativity with April Lawrence
Emotional Storytelling with Twyla Jones
April Lawrence is the master of balance - she's a military spouse who has honed her craft while moving across the world the last several years, finding her voice and improvising with what she has available (during COVID-19 lockdowns in two countries, no less!)
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Embracing your flaws to flourish as a photographer with Teri Hofford
Emotional Storytelling with Twyla Jones
Teri (she/her) describes herself as a body image coach and boudoir photographer, but she does SO much more! Join us as we discuss how our own body image affects our client work, rejecting the idea of Photoshopping ourselves and our clients, and how educating ourselves and our clients about the psychology of body image can change lives.
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Dropping out to achieve success and fulfillment with Chinelle Rojas
Emotional Storytelling with Twyla Jones
Think you need an expensive college education to be successful? Self Portrait Queen Chinelle Rojas and I discuss how our college experience let us down and that pursuing your passion on your own time can lead to far greater success and fulfillment.
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The Battle of the Artist vs. Social Media with Ryan Muirhead
Emotional Storytelling with Twyla Jones
I discuss and argue with Ryan Muirhead about the struggles artists face using social media to promote themselves and get their work seen.
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Permission to Stop Faking It with Tash Haynes
Emotional Storytelling with Twyla Jones
Are you overwhelmed by trying to do it all?
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Why this photographer deleted her 50K IG account
Emotional Storytelling with Twyla Jones
This deep soul is not only a talented photographer, creating epic conceptual art, but she’s also a deep thinker and has a powerful way with words. She’s going to inspire you with her outlook and mindset on life and the world. While her work is stunning and can speak for itself, you’re going to really want to hear the heart behind all that she does.
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How to Get Started in Brand Photography with Allyse Francis
Emotional Storytelling with Twyla Jones
Where does someone start if they want to create art for brands and businesses? How do you carve out a spot for yourself in the industry that’s unique to you, while also creating for a specific look?
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Getting Out of Your Creative Rut with Fer Juaristi
Emotional Storytelling with Twyla Jones
Are you feeling burned out creatively? Are you starting to compare yourself to other photographers? Do you struggle between providing a service and being an artist?
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Have you ever wanted to try a 365 Project but don’t know where to start? Or did you start and give up part way through? Or is this your first time even hearing about a 365 project?
A 365 project is where you take an image a day for an entire year. My friend Ashley Marston has been photographing her daily life with her family in this way for over 6 years! She’s made capturing memories a habit and will inspire you to do the same.
In our conversation, Ashley will peel back the curtain and tell you all about her inspiring project – from fun gear to how to display your images to staying motivated – she’s got all the best advice.
In addition to capturing personal work, Ashley is also a phenomenal family photographer serving clients in British Columbia. You’re going to learn so much about balancing personal and professional projects in this episode!
In this podcast we cover:
How burritos bonded our friendship and the basics of Ashley’s work.
At Clickaway, we met when she offered me her burrito and we’ve been friends ever since! Ashley is a birth and family photographer and 6 years ago, she started “A Daily Occurance,” a 365 project documenting her own family. She’s also started creating family films like the ones below.
Switching gears and styles in photography. (7:00)
Her process of choosing to specialize in documentary style work. “I think that when you’re really passionate about something and you’re driven by something, people see that and they’re drawn to it.” Showing what you want to shoot really works. We talk about the fear in changes – including Ashley’s shift away from traditional newborn photography.
How Ashley got started doing her 365 project. (12:50)
She decided to start the project when she realized that life was going so fast and she wanted to capture the daily moments with her kids. It’s a time capsule of sorts to really remember the moments that matter. These images could communicate to her kids her love for them and journal her way through their story. It helps her own her motherhood journey, but also technically become a better photographer through shooting daily.
How Ashley finds inspiration doing this project year after year. (18:00)
“Them in themselves is an inspiration.” She also mentions the kids’ connection with the animals help too. But there definitely are dull days and dreary months. Honing in on details helps give new inspiration.
Ashley’s go-to camera. (20:30)
Her camera is always on her – it even goes with her to the grocery store! She shoots a Canon 5D Mark IV and takes it everywhere. She doesn’t use iPhone photos in the project – only her Canon or the drone.
Do her kids get tired of being photographed? (22:45)
Definitely, there are times when she kids don’t want to do it or they complain. She reminds them of their importance, but doesn’t bribe her kids into doing it. Ashley makes it a big part of their lives including printing canvases and books as well as making slideshows that her kids love to watch. She takes photos of her kids not looking or noticing. Let them be. When they’re feeling it, take advantage of that, if they’re not, let it rest.
How to stay motivated and complete a project like this. (3:00)
Ashley’s top tips:
- Keep your camera out. Have a central location in your house – but don’t pack it away in your camera bag. Have it readily available.
- Shoot and edit daily. Ashley edited during nap time or quiet times to edit. You get faster at culling. She chooses to post daily on social media and made that decision as a family. She’s usually one day behind – posting the next day.
- Shoot throughout the days and potentially call these shots different days. She’ll bank photos.
- Break the rules and be okay with it.
Ashley’s gear list to help keep her images fresh and fun. (37:30)
She has done all the fun little tricks – she calls it her “tickle trunk” which is a Canadian thing from a children’s tv show. Because she lives in an area with a lot of water (ocean, lake, and river) she does underwater work both for her 365 project and client work. She’s now an ambassador for Aquatech. Her drone is also something she uses for personal and client work. She recommends the Mavic Mini for a cheaper solution that doesn’t require a drone license.
Self care as a creative and mother. (51:15)
Ashley sees her personal work as what feeds her soul. It lights the fire inside of her and helps get her through the other culling and editing work. Her 365 project is now habitual and she can’t see herself ever stopping.
How Ashley displays her photos. (55:00)
She recommends Chatbooks and Blurb for printing books. Also look below to see the canvases on display in her home. I also recommend Fracture for glass prints.
Episode Links:
HoneyBook: www.share.honeybook.com/twyla
In addition to a FREE 7 day trial and 50% off your first year of HoneyBook, you'l also receive the templates I use to communicate with my clients preloaded in your account!
If you want to connect with me, my guests and other listeners in the Emotional Storytelling community join the Facebook group here.
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www.instagram.com/somethingrad
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