BP MILLER // Getting Down to Business (#027)

EPISODE EMBED

You can find the transcript of this episode here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

Does it feel like you’re creating and producing content at a fevered pitch, but never quite getting a stable pool of clients or like you’re constantly re-inventing the wheel of your photography or videography business? Well, that means it’s probably time to get back to the fundamentals in today’s masterclass on making your photography business hum with our guest, BP Miller.

BP Miller is a founding partner and senior photojournalist at Chorus Photography. Founded in 2007, Chorus has gone from a single shooter operation in Philadelphia to establishing studios on both coasts, with a roster of impressive clientele, including The Drug Information Association, Beasley Broadcasting, Habitat For Humanity, and many others.

BP Miller is an award winning photographer, photojournalist and speaker whose work has been curated by The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, and published in numerous publications like The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Daily News, Washington Post, Rolling Stone & The New York Times.

BP is an active member of RTDNA (Radio, Television & Digital News Association), an Edward R. Murrow Awards Judge, former Mid-Atlantic Chair of the National Press Photographers Association and a former board member of the Northern Short Course In Photojournalism. He can be found speaking across the country about non-profit photography as well as photojournalists' rights.

In today’s episode, BP and I dig in deep on what it means to be a photographer with integrity for your work, impressing upon your clients the value of the photos and videos that you create, and taking time for your own mental health as a visual storyteller. There is so much gold in this episode, all delivered with BP’s unique perspective on our industry and his telltale voice and humor.

So, as always — Keep seeing, keep shooting, and keep putting your best Photo Forward. LATER!

LISTEN ON APPLE // LISTEN ON SPOTIFY // WATCH ON YOUTUBE

PHOTOS FROM THE EPISODE //

SHOW NOTES // COMING SOON

PHOTOGRAPHERS MENTIONED //

QUESTIONS? // What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments!

CHRIS MCDUFFIE // A Tapestry of Art for a Visual Voice (#021)

One of the core questions I’m always looking to find answers to on this show is “What makes a brilliant visual creator?” Is it the grasp of technical aspects like lighting, composition, and moment? Or a personal skill or special gift of connecting with individuals in your images? There’s obviously a nearly infinite number of talented photographers out there, so what gives certain shooters a true “visual voice”. Well, today’s guest is such a brilliant example of forging that visual voice, that photographic identity, that brand... by melding artistic influences to create as Aristotle so brilliantly said “A Whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Chris McDuffie, born and raised in St. Paul, MN, is the founder and visionary behind Chris McDuffie Photography. Chris became interested in photography while studying Business and Marketing Education at the University of Minnesota, which ultimately led his entrepreneurial spirit to start his own photography business shortly after graduation. He’s since been fortunate to land jobs with companies including: Activision, Cargill, Fairview, North Memorial Hospital, Minnesota Timberwolves, Target, TCF, ESPN, Nike, Bumble, GQ, and the New York Times. WHEW. Chris has been recognized by the MN Fashion Awards in 2015, and the Beautiful Humans Award in 2017.

Since beginning his company, it has been his mission to bring creativity, honesty, and humor to both consumers and commercial clients. Being a life-long artist, his creative taste and aesthetic eye has been shaped by a rich tapestry of music, galleries, and theater in the Twin Cities. When not engrossed in work, Chris loves to spend time with his illustrious wife, Vanessa.

In today’s episode, Chris and I had such a perfect back and forth about creative inspiration, what it means to constantly re-examine and hone your craft, and so critically building genuine relationships and networks across skills, across genres, and across creative styles to uplift the whole creative community. Time for me to get out of the way and into today’s beautiful episode with commercial and editorial photographer Chris McDuffie.

So, as always — Keep seeing, keep shooting, and keep putting your best Photo Forward. LATER!

LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS // LISTEN ON SPOTIFY // WATCH ON YOUTUBE

SHOW NOTES // COMING SOON

PHOTOGRAPHERS MENTIONED // COMING SOON

QUESTIONS? // What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments!