The Darkroom Podcast

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking with photographer and filmmaker Jesse Driftwood. Jesse began his career by filming weddings for a few friends. With such a low margin of error, wedding photography is the ultimate trial by fire for any creator and equipped Jesse with the skills to tell the stories that were unfolding in front of him. Over the next 8 years of wedding photography, Jesse became a husband, father and also began telling his own stories on Instagram. Often known for his Instagram stories, Jesse has an uncanny ability to create compelling and short-form content about his life and those around him. As one of the most humble creators we’ve met, Jesse stresses the importance of having a pragmatic approach to measuring success as a creator. We're living in a time where consistent content is a precedent to growing your personal brand and following, yet Jesse highlights the trappings of this lifestyle and ways to stay grounded. Enjoy!

This episode of The Darkroom Podcast was made possible by our new podcast partners, Epidemic Sound. The team at Epidemic is helping us bring on some of their amazing creators as guests for the show so this week we’re excited to kick it off with creative director and design educator, Matthew Encina. Matthew is the former creative director at Blind where he worked with clients like Xbox and Coldplay and is now the Chief Content Officer at The Futur, a design education company. We get into Matthew’s first childhood moments of interacting with the design world and how an innate curiosity has led him to be the creator he is today. His work has been featured in Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal, MTV and many more. Matthew gives his advice for anyone looking to not only learn a new skill but to maximize the retention of any online or in person learning. As an extremely organized person, we get into the ways in which Matt organizes his life, work, and state of mind. Enjoy the episode! For a free month of Epidemic Sound, click the link here. For more on Matthew’s Background, see the show notes below: Matthew Encina Social handle (IG, twitter, Youtube): @matthewencina Websites: matthewencina.com The Futur: Social: @thefuturishere Website: thefutur.com Channel: YouTube.com/thefuturishere 20 year journey of my career, from high school till now: Part 1: https://youtu.be/QowXUHYEzT8 Part 2: https://youtu.be/1YWB-ybZKPw

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke with photographer Jack Harding. We dive into Jack’s story from picking up a camera just five years ago to where he is today. Back in 2016, Jack was working in a Swedish bank, spending his salary to travel to Norway on the weekends with fellow photographers. Since then, Jack has shot for some of the most iconic brands in the world including Audi, Helly Hansen, Adobe and many more. We get into the ways Jack pitches himself to brands and how you can position yourself to shoot the work you want in your portfolio. Jack gives his advice for anyone looking to get into travel/lifestyle photography and how you can turn that weekend passion into a thriving business. Last year alone, Jack traveled to 20 countries for both personal and commercial work. With so many options on how to begin or expand your photography skills, Dane and Jack dive into the concept of workshops, both choosing the right one and getting the most out of it. Enjoy!

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke with photographer and Co-founder of Street Dreams Mag, Steven Irby. Steven has been documenting the BLM Protests in NYC, balancing his time both on the ground and in conversations with brands/communities on how to move forward from this moment. The last couple weeks have highlighted our unprecedented ability to capture and distribute media from our phones and cameras. Steve lends his perspective on the role photographers and videographers play in fueling a movement like this and the power their media has to both gain and dismantle solidarity. Steve shares his personal experience in contracting work, having lived the ever apparent imbalance and innate biases non-white visual creators face. While much of the media we intake today reinforces divisive positions, we’d like to take a step towards consensus and have an open dialogue on how we move forward together.

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke with GNARBOX CEO, Tim Feess. GNARBOX builds rugged backup devices for professional photographers and filmmakers, creating the most reliable and secure process for backing up files. Creators ranging from professional photographers to production crews use the GNARBOX to streamline their file management while they’re in the field, on the go or in the studio. The concept of GNARBOX was born when Tim and his Co-founder Will Africano wanted to find a way to simplify the uploading and management of their GoPro videos. With almost no hardware or software experience, Tim and Will prototyped the first version of GNARBOX with a lean team, launching a massively successful Kickstarter. GNARBOX now has its eyes on both the production world and related industries that have the same pain point of getting files off devices, processed and uploaded online. This includes developing an SDK that will allow enterprise customers to customize their data management workflow by deploying custom applications to the GNARBOX hardware. We get to hear Tim’s perspective on the future of work post COVID-19, and the hardware/software needs of a modern workforce. In a world where travel is difficult and remote work has become more prevalent, the need for a fast and secure file management device has never been more needed. Enjoy!

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke with freelance photographer and creative Jeremy Cohen. You may know Jeremy from his viral TikTok series, Quarantine Cutie, where he tapes his phone number to a drone and flies it to a woman he saw dancing on her rooftop. After his dating TikTok series went viral, Jeremy found his work on the cover of New York Magazine and landed him on multiple news outlets like Time and ABC. Jeremy lives by the simple mantra of work hard and be kind, which has generated consistent referral clients throughout his career. We hear how Jeremy first got into the world of photography, how he never stopped being curious and always put himself in uncomfortable positions to fuel his personal growth. Leveraging his recent virality, Jeremy partnered with us at Darkroom to raise money for Invisible Hands, a group of volunteers that deliver groceries and supplies to the elderly, disabled and immunocompromised during COVID-19. After just a weekend we raised $9000 and are extremely grateful to everyone who bought a print or helped share the cause!

In the final episode of our Creators in Isolation series, we spoke with three of our favorite creators: photographer Jessica Zollman, designer and author Dani Dipirro and Co-founder of Diversify Photo Andrea Wise. Jessica talks through losing her full-time job and how her future plans of going back to freelancing and moving to Portland had become a present and hasty reality. After a brief time of processing the sweeping effects of Covid-19, Jessica is finding ways to stay creative and sane. Andrea gives insight into building Diversify Photo, a community that equips Art Buyers, Creative Directors, and Photo Directors with the resources to discover photographers of color available for work. She touches on the changes she has seen within the Diversify community and her advice for creatives to stay agile, viewing this crisis as a creative challenge. Dani's brand, Positively Present, is a much needed perspective in a time where constraints like social distancing have been emotionaly draining for many of us. In these often uninspiring times, Dani has doubleddown on creating as her outlet for what she is experiencing. Dani's work has always been highly personal and has become a raw and leading vocie for those who want to stay positive in this crisis. We took away a lot from listening to these three creators and hope their stories can be helpful in these trying times.

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke to three of our favorite creators: Chris Burkard, Alex Strohl and Alen Palander to get their perspective on how artists can adapt to the current pandemic. Since COVID-19 has pushed us all into isolation, there has been an influx of news on how the creative community should deal with this pandemic. We wanted this episode to stand out from that noise and be highly actionable for anyone listening. After chatting with Chris, Alex and Alen, it’s clear that no matter the stage of your career, everyone is deeply effected by this crisis. Many of you have lost gigs, brand work and may even find it hard to stay motivated when all we have is time, we feel that too. We hope this episode helps provide you with some clarity on what you can do to continue growing through this crisis and come out of it stronger. We’re always here if you need to talk, so please feel free to reach out to us whenever. Enjoy!

In the last month, the world and the global economy have been hit with the impacts of the Corona Virus. Driving small businesses to close, thousands of people to lose their jobs and left millions with uncertainty on how they are going to get through this crisis. We’ve seen creators and freelancers feeling these effects so deeply that we wanted to provide some advice in such a chaotic moment. Today we’re bringing you stories from three of the top creators we know: Chris Poplawski, Jessica Kobeissi, and Garrett King to talk through what creators can do to mitigate their losses and prepare themselves for what’s to come. The only way we get out of this crisis is by working together, sharing stories on creative ways to generate income, building and refining new skills and ultimately coming out from all of this stronger. These times can feel isolating but you’re not alone, and we’re always here if you’d like to share and talk through your story with us.

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke with lifestyle and adventure photographer Spencer Backman about his recent 1200 mile walk down the California coastline. Spencer found himself in a similar situation as many of us do, working hard with a seemingly great life on paper but feeling empty at the same time. He had a great relationship and job but realized he needed a shock that would change everything to fill this unexplainable void. Spencer decided that thing was to make a 1200 mile walk through the California coast. Over 98 days he walked over 6 million feet, capturing the landscapes around him. Spencer put his experience all together in The Twelve Hundred Mile Walk Book that’s now sold out. Throughout his journey, Spencer battled conditions like landslides that deviated him from his course, a lack of food and dealt with unmapped terrain. We're excited to bring you his story!

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we got a chance to chat with YouTuber and photographer Jessica Kobeissi in the Epidemic Sound Studio. Even as a teenager, Jessica was building community and exploring her artistic talents through PaintShop Pro and Neopets. With a massive following on Neopets, Jessica was inspired to build her own website, teaching herself how to code. She began releasing design tutorials and even ran advertising through her website as a 15 year old. Jessica got her first camera soon after, inspired by other artists on Facebook and began shooting portrait work from day 1 in her backyard. Since then, she has amassed over 1.6 million subscribers on YouTube where she helps her viewers grow their skills while bringing the photography community closer. With a heavy focus on portraiture work, Jessica gives her advice for any artists looking to find their speciality and begin standing out in our saturated world of content. Jessica brings such a unique energy and perspective to any discussion so we're excited to share this episode with you!

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we got the chance to talk with storyteller and photographer Vanessa Rivera. Starting her creative career just two years ago, Vanessa has found an incredibly unique way to tell stories by creating surreal edits of herself, her husband Anthony and their 3 kids. As her career began taking off, we hear how Vanessa shifted into a full-time creative, taking her family all around the world and convincing her husband to leave his job. Inspired by the works of Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein, Vanessa begins her creative process by sketching the shot with her husband, leading them down a path to bring that idea to life. Her edits make any artist question their photoshop skills and quickly caught the attention of Adobe. After Vanessa submitted concepts to the Adobe team, she found that her image was chosen as the splash screen for Photoshop 2020. Vanessa lives her life with the same spontaneity that her images exude and we're excited to share her story, enjoy!

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast, Dane Deaner gets a chance to sit down with New York based photographer Brandon Woelfel. Known for his whimsical and luminescent style, Brandon’s portraiture work could be recognized anywhere. We hear how Brandon steadily grew both his skills in photography and the audience that began surrounding his work. He’s currently focusing most of his energy on shooting for brands and gives his perspective on the ways other creators can monetize. In early 2020 Brandon is releasing his new photobook, Ultraviolet, a compilation of both his photos and the process that went into each shot. We get to hear Brandon’s perspective on the opportunities he sees for the next generation of creators and what platforms like TikTok add to that narrative. Enjoy!

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke to travel and lifestyle photographer Andrew Kearns. Coming off two workshops with Moment and Alex Strohl, Andrew dives into what it was like to be in front of the camera. We get into Andrew's past before photography and how online poker funded his music aspirations. Just a few years back, Andrew went on a hike that led him down a path to meeting some of his favorite photographers and now friends. We also talk through some of the ups and downs that Andrew has faced and is overcoming as a full-time creator.

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we did a roundtable with Dane and the Darkroom founders Theo Chapman and Anders Bill. In a world where seeking attention is often pursued more than paying attention, we run through the risks that poses to the creative process and the trappings of that desire. We also dive into what we think the life of a creator will be in 2020 with platforms like TikTok and the technological promises of Augmented Reality. TikTok has opened up new frontiers of content creation and we argue that it is one of the most creative social media platforms. From industry news out of Adobe and Instagram to personal goals we’ve set for ourselves, we’re excited to share the beginning of a new chapter in The Darkroom Podcast. Enjoy!

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke with legendary photojournalist and entrepreneur Christopher Michel. Chris has a knack for the extreme, traveling and documenting places like the North & South Poles, Everest, and even the edge of space. We get to the root of how Chris views motivation, pushing to motivate himself and others through purpose rather than financial incentives. After 7 years of active duty in the Navy and 16 years of service, Chris developed a deep understanding of the problems facing many of our service members. This lead him to found Affinity Labs and Military.com, which aim to provide social and financial benefits to groups like firefighters, nurses, policemen and those in the military. After not picking up a camera until after his military career, Chris is making up for lost time and believes that memories are the true currency of our lives. His most recent project called New Heroes, in partnership with Leica, highlights 30 scientists in emerging fields. By telling the stories of these scientists who have dedicated their lives to solving the incredibly difficult challenges that threaten our existence, Chris is changing the narrative on who we define as our heroes. From traveling 70,000 feet above the Earth in a U2 spy plane to bringing back stories from the edge of Earth, this episode is for anyone with a thirst for adventure.

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke with New York Times bestselling author and anonymous poet Atticus. Known for his short form poetry, Atticus has been writing under his pseudonym while capturing the hearts and minds of his over 1 million followers. His third book, The Truth About Magic, is set to release on September 10th and is the final chapter in his trilogy. Atticus first began writing after a serendipitous run in with notorious actor Michael Manson in France and was inspired by his openness to share his love of poetry. Behind the mask, Atticus feels like he can write freely and vulnerably without the baggage that comes along with fame. Atticus has grown his work to expand into new fields, launching his own red wine called Lost Poet with the founders of wine subscription company Winc and a short form podcast coming out September 1st. Atticus now travels the world reading his poetry to his thousands of fans and continues to write as inspiration comes.

On this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we chatted with entrepreneur, seed investor and CPO of Adobe, Scott Belsky. As the former founder and CEO of Behance, Belsky built one of the largest platforms for showcasing creative work and has spent most of his career building tools to empower content creators. Before being acquired by Adobe in 2012, we hear how Belksy and his team navigated and ultimately organized the once messy world of design. We dive deep into Belsky’s vision for the future of design and how Adobe will usher in the era of augmented reality with imaginative initiatives like Project Aero, a powerful AR authoring tool for designers to make immersive content. Building the tools that will define the roles of designers and creators of the future is a heavy task but one that Belsky thoughtfully embraces and seems to deeply enjoy. In a time when we are all inundated with screens and notifications, Belsky believes that disconnecting can be a real advantage and one that he practices regularly. As an early investor in Uber, Warby Parker, Pinterest, Sweetgreen and Periscope, Belsky has an eye for transformative technologies and businesses that will lead us into the future. We’re excited to share this episode and recommend it for anyone looking to maximize their creative output.

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke to Heidi Luerra, CEO and Founder of RAW Artists, the largest indie arts organization in the world. For the last 10 years RAW has brought the creative community together by organizing showcases in 70+ cities, helping 200,000 artists in fashion, music, and the visual arts gain exposure. As an artist herself, Heidi felt the personal struggle of getting her work out to the world. After trying to build momentum behind her fashion line in the early 2000’s, Heidi decided to throw an event to showcase not only her work but of other artists in LA. Nearly 750 people showed up to Heidi’s first event and the idea for RAW was born. We get to hear how Heidi thinks through her creative process and how she has built a team to support a global network of showcases thrown every week. Heidi is coming off her first book, The Work of Art, A No-Nonsense Field Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs, where she highlights what it takes for artists to turn their creative work into a thriving business. Head to https://rawartists.org/ to see if there is a RAW event near you and https://www.heidiluerra.com/preorder/pre-order to find Heidi’s book!

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke to the CEO of Hipcamp Alyssa Ravasio. Having founded the company in 2013, Alyssa and her team set out to make camping easier and more accessible. With over 40 employees, Alyssa has grown Hipcamp to over 300,000 camping spots, vineyards, parks and more. We get to hear about Alyssa’s experience as a female founder and how she leads her team with emotional openness and transparency. On a mission to get more people outside, Hipcamp believes that connecting people with nature makes better, happier humans. We get to hear from Alyssa how creating Hipcamp has been a pressure cooker for human development, pushing herself and team to face their own flaws and insecurities. Self-care is a core value at Hipcamp and their incredible work has pushed thousands of people to get outside and do the same. Join the movement and get outside with Hipcamp!