We Are Photographers

Audrey Woulard is a portrait photographer and a Nikon Ambassador. She's been a full time professional photographer for the last 17 years photographing teens and their families. In addition to her portrait work, she also photographs select commercial assignments for brands such as Iams Pet Food, and Pottery Barn. Audrey has been a regular instructor for Imaging, and WPPI for over a decade. Her work has been featured on the cover twice for Professional Photography Magazine. She's been featured in magazines such as Rangefinder, InStyle, People, and US Weekly. Audrey is the creator of AW Teaches - a website dedicated to providing education to photographers. In this episode hear how Audrey's intuition helps her read clients' needs and adjust to meet those. We explore how to be memorable to inspire word of mouth referrals and the importance of her connections with the kids she photographs year after year. Find out where her strong convictions were born and why confidence can be a learned skill. Audrey shares her pa

World renowned child photographers, Kahran and Regis Bethencourt are a husband and wife duo and the imaginative forces behind CreativeSoul Photography. The pair gained global recognition with their AfroArt series. The collection, which showcases the beauty and versatility of afro hair, was conceived as a way to empower kids of color around the world. The images went viral after celebrities like Will Smith, Jada Pinkett, Taraji P. Henson, Alicia Keys, Common and more praised the collection on social media. Regis and Kahran's new coffee table book Glory: Magical Visions of Black Beauty became an instant New York Times Best Seller. Their holistic approach to capturing one-of-a-kind moments has allowed their work to be featured on BBC News, CNN, CBS National News, Teen Vogue, Glamour Brazil, BET and more.In this episode follow Kahran and Regis on their paths bonding over a love of graphic design to running a photography business together. Find out how they stayed true to their own style and brand identity when en

Fashion photographer Lindsay Adler has risen to the top of her industry as both a photographer and educator. Based in New York City, her fashion editorials have appeared in numerous fashion and photography publications including Marie Claire, Elle Magazine, Harper's Bazaar, L'Officiel, and dozens more. As a photographic educator, she is one of the most sought after speakers internationally, teaching on the industry's largest platforms and most prestigious events, having been named one of the top 10 best fashion photographers in the world. Lindsay has worked with some of the top brands in the photographic and related industries such as Canon, Adobe, Grey, Edelman, A&E, NBC, and Microsoft. A clean, bold, and graphic style has become the hallmark of her work, whether shooting advertising campaigns, designer look books, jewelry, hair campaigns, fashion editorials, or professional athletes. Lindsay is renowned for her creativity and collaborating with designers and stylists in order to create fresh looks. An a

Tobi “Tobi Shinobi” Shonibare is an award winning international multifaceted photographer and videographer based between London and Chicago. His work extends from high profile events, product photography, architecture, interviews. Best known for his work on social media, he has an excess of 190,000 combined followers. On these online platforms, he mainly displays his specialization in finding beauty in often gritty urban landscapes. His distinctive focus on detail, perspective, geometry, and symmetry allows for appreciation for architecture. His passion to push creative boundaries has led to many world renowned collaborations with Audi, Adobe, Sony and recently Samsung. Tobi is a Sony Global Imaging Ambassador, an Adobe Lightroom Ambassador and a Senior Content Creator in an award-winning, fully integrated, creative agency. There, Tobi provides social strategies for an array of digital content from video to photos for brands. His love for creating and storytelling has led to his starring in an award winning d

Aundre Larrow is a Jamaican-born photographer based in Brooklyn, NY. From his work as an Adobe Creative Resident exploring stories across the country to working on the set of W. Kamau Bell’s United Shades, Aundre seeks to see the truth in each human being. In seeking the fundamental good in every person, Aundre is passionate about helping younger creatives achieve their full potential in art and business. Just as he received a Minolta from his high school drama teacher at 15, he wants to pay it forward with all the knowledge he has.In this episode Aundre recommends how to stay creative and connected during these times. Hear how best to prepare for celebrity shoots when you only have a few minutes and how Aundre approaches photographing on the film set of United Shades. He shares how he quickly connects with the people he's photographing to make them comfortable. We talk about the importance of reducing stigmas of mental health and his work with the organization To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA). Travel acros

Multidisciplinary artist Temi Coker was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria and now resides in Dallas, Texas. He’s an Adobe Creative Resident Alumni and currently co-runs Coker Studios with his wife Afritina. His mix of vibrant colors and textures come from his upbringing in Nigeria as well as his love for the African Diaspora. His style focuses on evoking emotion through color, patterns and storytelling.In this episode, hear why Temi’s goal is to create art he’s proud of that will also make people stop and think. Explore the evolution of his artistic style layering graphic design and photography in celebration of Black beauty. Temi shares why he compares his present self to his past self versus comparing to other people. Learn about his 3D and augmented reality work made during his recent Adobe Aero residency. We talk about legacy, the Profit First method and the importance of building Black wealth as an entrepreneur.This is We Are Photographers with Temi Coker and this is his story.Connect with Temi Coker: te

Yagazie Emezi is a Nigerian artist and self-taught photojournalist focused on stories surrounding African women and their health, sexuality, education and human rights. Having worked extensively across Africa, Yagazie also covers stories on identity and culture, social justice, climate change and migration. Yagazie is a recipient of the 2018 inaugural Creative Bursary Award from Getty Images. In 2019, she became the first black African woman to photograph for National Geographic Magazine and is a National Geographic Explorer Grantee. She’s worked with Al-Jazeera, New York Times, Vogue, Newsweek, TIME, Washington Post, National Geographic, New York Times Magazine and several not-for-profit organizations. Yagazi has also been featured by British Journal of Photography, Huffington Post, Vogue, CNN and The Washington Post.In this episode Yagazie takes us back to being a storyteller as an imaginative child in a small town and how returning to Nigeria after studying in the U.S. impacted her ability to see and photo

Josué Rivas (Mexica and Otomi) is a creative director, multidisciplinary visual storyteller, and educator working at the intersection of art, journalism, and social justice. His work aims to challenge the mainstream narrative about Indigenous peoples, build awareness about issues affecting Native communities across Turtle Island, and be a visual messenger for those in the shadows of our society. He is a 2020 Catchlight Leadership Fellow, Magnum Foundation Photography and Social Justice Fellow, founder of the Standing Strong Project, co-founder of Natives Photograph and winner of the 2018 FotoEvidence Book Award with World Press Photo. His work has appeared in National Geographic, The Guardian,The New York Times, Apple and Nike N7 amongst others. He is available for photo assignments, film projects and exhibitions. Josué is based in Portland, OR.In this episode Josué explores why he believes the future is Indigenous. We discuss the colonial mindset existing the language of photography, how the process of image

Cheriss May is a visual storyteller and adjunct professor at Howard University, her alma mater, in Washington D.C. She was selected by Adobe in 2019 as an education leader for her commitment to creativity in the classroom, and she trains and speaks to educators across the country. Cheriss is passionate about visual storytelling and is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the media industry, often commissioned to speak, and advise on diversification initiatives. She is the president of Women Photojournalists of Washington (WPOW), and co-chair of the photography committee at The National Press Club.Cheriss has been published in O Magazine, Essence, Time, The White House Historical Association, The New York Times, Bloomberg, ESPN, and other international publications. Her work is featured in a permanent exhibit: MFON’s “In Conversation: Visual Meditations on Black Masculinity”, at the African American Museum in Philadelphia. Originally from Kansas City, Mo., Cheriss is an independent photographer based in

Omar Z. Robles is an NYC based photographer born and raised in Puerto Rico. His interest in storytelling began with one man: Marcel Marceau. The legendary mime actor taught him how to interpret the world through subtle but riveting movements. But before juxtaposing the clean lines of dancers against rugged city landscapes, Omar was shooting celebrities, athletes, artists, politicians and city dwellers for The Chicago Tribune’s Hoy, Metro San Juan, and Latino Leaders. With over 300k followers, his social media acumen has made him an influencer for Leica, Adobe Lightroom, Peak Design, Jaguar, Gap, Esquire Magazine and more.In this episode Omar talks about the origin of his IG Live series Conversations with Dancers. He takes us back to how being a gymnast, dancer, performer and mime influences his photography and the ability to communicate without words. Learn Omar’s approach to street and client photography and the importance of problem solving. We explore Omar’s Puerto Rican heritage and the benefits of photog

Taylor Rees is a filmmaker, photojournalist, Sony Artisan and avid explorer. She’s driven by an insatiable curiosity to explore and tell the stories beneath the surface. She infuses her passion for adventure into her work around environmental and humanitarian issues, bringing new perspectives and deeper public understanding to the complexities of climate change, conservation, indigenous rights, environmental justice and extractive industries. She's shot and directed pieces for clients including National Geographic, The North Face and the United Nations. In this episode Taylor shares insights on the making-of a number of her recent films, including From Kurils With Love. Her short documentary film Ashes to Ashes became Oscar qualified after winning 18 film festival awards on its circuit. She is currently working on a feature documentary about the impacts of green technology and lithium mining in the Atacama desert of northern Chile. We discuss the importance of co-creating narratives with the people and commun

Sheila Pree Bright is an acclaimed International Photographic Artist, speaker and author. She is known for her series #1960Now, Young Americans, Plastic Bodies, and Suburbia. Sheila is the author of #1960Now: Photographs of Civil Rights Activists and Black Lives Matter Protests which was also a feature in the New York Times. She was featured in the 2016 feature-length documentary film Election Day: Lens Across America. Sheila is a contributor & ambassador for The Leica 10 - a collective of artists who tell stories with pictures using music, poetry, movies and other artforms as inspiration. Her work is included in numerous private and public collections; to name a few, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, The Library of Congress, National Center for Civil and Human Rights.In this episode Sheila takes you behind the scenes on her #1960Now body of work and discusses the impact that art can have as a tool for activism. She explores her early days photographing Hip Hop culture a

Annemie Tonken is a family photographer and the host of This Can't Be That Hard, a podcast dedicated to helping photographers run profitable, sustainable businesses they love. She is also a speaker, educator, and the co-founder of The Family Narrative, an annual boutique conference now in its fifth year. She lives in Chapel Hill, NC with her two sons.In this episode you’ll learn how Annemie devised an automated online sales system that freed up her time to take on lots of additional clients without sacrificing her sales averages or her clients' experiences. She’s been in business for ten years earning a comfortable income as a family photographer, despite some pretty major hiccups along the way. We talk about her career and personal evolution over the past nine years since we first met Annemie as a CreativeLive studio audience member. Hers is a success story you don’t want to miss!This is We Are Photographers with Annemie Tonken and this is her story.Connect with Annemie Tonken:  thiscantbethathard.com | mega

Jermaine Horton is a wedding and portrait photographer, a Sony Artisan of Imagery and a Westcott Top Pro ambassador. He enjoys a borderline unhealthy love of the Chicago Bears, and creating dynamic images via Off Camera Flash and natural light. Jermaine is the President and Founder of The Art Of Confidence Project, which empowers and restores the confidence of our youth and was featured on The Grio, CNN, BET, CBS, ABC, NBC, People & more. He’s an ambassador for Stella Pro Lighting, Fundy Design and SLR Lounge. In this episode Jermaine explains the origins and powerful mission of The Art of Confidence Project, as well as the impact it’s made on the lives of the youth he’s photographed and their communities. Learn how Jermaine built a business with loyal clients who rally behind his #YourFavoritePhotographer brand and mastered his craft to now partner with major brands. Be inspired by his relentless go-getter attitude, vulnerability and determination to lift up everyone around him.This is We Are Photographe

Roberto Valenzuela is a photographer, author, educator and a Canon Explorer of Light.  He was recently commissioned by Canon to shoot global campaigns for the new Canon EOS R5, EOS R6 and PRO-300. Roberto’s book trilogy Picture Perfect Practice, Picture Perfect Posing, and Picture Perfect Lighting have become staples in the photography industry. His new book series Wedding Storyteller Vol. 1 and 2 are the top selling wedding photography books in history. Roberto has been nominated by his peers as one of the ten most influential photographers and educators in the world. He developed his unique teaching style by following the same rigorous regimen he developed as a professional concert classical guitarist and educator before becoming a photographer. Growing up in Mexico City and moving to the U.S. under challenging circumstances, learn about Roberto's early life as an immigrant. Hear how Roberto defied the odds winning one of the fiercest competitions for the top politically-savvy students in Arizona state and

Daniella Zalcman is a Vietnamese-American documentary photographer based between Paris and New York. She is a multiple grantee of the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, a fellow with the International Women's Media Foundation, a National Geographic Society grantee, and the founder of Women Photograph, an initiative working to elevate the voices of women and non-binary visual journalists. Her work tends to focus on the legacies of western colonization, from the rise of homophobia in East Africa to the forced assimilation education of indigenous children in North America. Her ongoing project, Signs of Your Identity, is the recipient of the Arnold Newman Prize, a Robert F Kennedy Journalism Award, the FotoEvidence Book Award, the Magnum Foundation's Inge Morath Award, and part of Open Society Foundation's Moving Walls 24. Daniella is also a proud member of the Authority Collective and Diversify Photo, one of the co-authors of the Photo Bill of Rights, and a member of the board of trustees of the W. Eugene Smit

David duChemin is a driven artist, creative professional, entrepreneur and life-long adventurer. David educates and inspires through stunning visuals and hilarious travel stories, and insights, from a life spent outside and abroad. When on assignment his goal is to create powerful images that convey the hope and dignity of children, the vulnerable and oppressed for the international NGO community. Past clients include World Vision, Save the Children, and the BOMA Project. David’s books about the craft and art of photography, many of them best-sellers, have been translated into a dozen languages.In this episode David explores the premise of his new book Start Ugly and how to overcome creative paralysis that arises from a desire for perfection. Find out the value of the sketch image in your photographic process. David explains how photography is a tool to be present and more engaged with the world. Learn how to make your photography subjects feel more seen and heard and why David believes gear is good, vision i

Lynsey Addario is an American photojournalist who has been covering conflict and humanitarian crises around the Middle East and Africa on assignment for The New York Times, National Geographic Magazine, and Time Magazine for over two decades. She has covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Darfur, South Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2015, American Photo Magazine named Lynsey as one of five most influential photographers of the past 25 years, saying she changed the way we saw the world's conflicts. She is a Nikon Ambassador and the recipient of numerous awards, including a MacArthur fellowship, a Pulitzer prize, and two Emmy nominations. In 2015, Lynsey wrote a New York Times Bestselling memoir, "It's What I Do," which chronicles her personal and professional life as a photojournalist coming of age in the post-9/11 world. In October 2018, she released her first solo collection of photography, “Of Love and War.”In this episode Lynsey describes the challenges of photogr

Omari Salisbury is the COO and Founder of Converge Media, a leading producer of content for Black and urban audiences. The son of the first Black-owned photography studio in the Northwest, Omari hails from a long line of visual storytellers. Fifty-two countries and counting, he is a true global citizen working in media across the continent of Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Omari has been documenting the frontlines of the Seattle protests since day one. His inquisitive coverage and objective commentary have been praised by protestors, government officials, community leaders, residents, and local business owners.In this episode Omari describes his experiences from being an unknown citizen journalist to his livestreamed coverage being recognized by news outlets all over the world. Learn why media is in Omari’s bones, from his grandfather bringing home a camera from WWII to his mother still having a weekly radio show today. Omari shares his personal struggles of returning to Seattle after a successful media

Lynsey Weatherspoon is a portrait and editorial photographer based in both Atlanta and Birmingham. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, NPR, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Time, ESPN and ESPN-owned The Undefeated. The fingerprint of heritage can be found on assignments and personal projects featuring Black Lives Matter, Gullah Geechee culture, unsung players in the Negro Baseball League, and the last of dying breed – a shoe cobbler. Her work has been exhibited at The African American Museum in Philadelphia and Photoville NYC. She is an awardee, The Lit List, 2018. Her affiliations include Diversify Photo, Authority Collective, and Women Photograph.In this episode we explore Lynsey’s recent coverage of the Black Lives Matter protests in Atlanta. As a natural empath, hear how she connects with people as a way to infuse the emotion of the scene into her images. We talk about her evolution as a photographer across different genres and how personal projects have led to paid work. Find out