S7 E63 - Victoria Granof

Listen to this fun-filled chat with the amazingly talented, Victoria Granof. Victoria found her way to food styling over 15 years ago after being a pastry chef.  She has been a Cordon Bleu crew, a James Beard Award Finalist, as well as having the privilege to work side by side with Irving Penn for a number of years. All of this has been adventure filled to say the least and then at the height of her career she was given the opportunity to learn to become a director which is now her absolute passion. She is creative, funny, talented and a true inspiration for all working women out there. 

This show is sponsored by the American Photographic Artists (APA), established in 1981, is a not-for-profit trade association run by photographers for photographers working in the advertising and editorial sectors.  They understand the challenges of this industry and advocate on behalf of their members. APA offers inspiration, education, and advocacy. 

The APA membership structure gives every photographer an affordable way to belong to a community of like-minded professionals. APA members are connected by regional chapters providing both a national and local connection to networking, portfolio reviews, photo competitions, and activism. 

 APA supports women and minority photographers. Their Diversity Committee is charged with clearing a path to success for those who are traditionally underrepresented. The APA Scope webinar and podcast series includes discussions with photographers re-imagining the photo industry as one driven by diversity and inclusion.

APA is providing those who are listening to this Focus on Women podcast, an opportunity to join APA using a $25 coupon code. APA memberships start at just $50 a year, so that’s half off an annual Contributor membership.  Use the code:  FOW2021 (as in Focus on Women)  to take advantage of this offer.  The code will be valid until the end of 2021. Join at APA National.org. If you have any questions, reach out to Juliette  Wolf-Robin, she is the executive director of APA and on the board of Focus on women. 

S7 E62 - Carrie Heather

This episode is an amazing chat with  Carrie Heather - she is the Executive Producer for By Association. They are an an equity-driven multi-disciplinary production and creative agency who are championing creatives who identify as women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and individuals with disabilities. Working with a diverse network of breakthrough and established creatives, spanning all artistic disciplines. Our conversation with Carrie was amazing and we touched on some touchy areas about the industry and it's need to be supporting a more diverse group of creatives as well as teaching our clients to also stand behind what they say as a company around diversity by thoughtfully hiring a crew to create that vision that is the same, diverse.

American Photographic Artists (APA), established in 1981, is a not-for-profit trade association run by photographers for photographers working in the advertising and editorial sectors.  They understand the challenges of this industry and advocate on behalf of their members. APA offers inspiration, education, and advocacy. 

The APA membership structure gives every photographer an affordable way to belong to a community of like-minded professionals. APA members are connected by regional chapters providing both a national and local connection to networking, portfolio reviews, photo competitions, and activism. 

 APA supports women and minority photographers. Their Diversity Committee is charged with clearing a path to success for those who are traditionally underrepresented. The APA Scope webinar and podcast series includes discussions with photographers re-imagining the photo industry as one driven by diversity and inclusion.

APA is providing those who are listening to this Focus on Women podcast, an opportunity to join APA using a $25 coupon code. APA memberships start at just $50 a year, so that’s half off an annual Contributor membership.  Use the code:  FOW2021 (as in Focus on Women)  to take advantage of this offer.  The code will be valid until the end of 2021. Join at APA National.org. If you have any questions, reach out to Juliette  Wolf-Robin, she is the executive director of APA and on the board of Focus on women. 

S7 E61 - Julie Skarwecki

Tune in to hear some great tips from this amazingly positive, sunny and knowledgeable, photo consultant, the infamous Julie Skarwecki. With almost a decade of experience in the industry working directly with artists and advertising agencies, editorial clients, and Fortune 500 companies, her past experience as an artist rep, and producer lends to her no-nonsense, straight forward attitude and passion for helping creatives be their best and find their clients!

American Photographic Artists (APA), established in 1981, is a not-for-profit trade association run by photographers for photographers working in the advertising and editorial sectors.  They understand the challenges of this industry and advocate on behalf of their members. APA offers inspiration, education, and advocacy. 

 The APA membership structure gives every photographer an affordable way to belong to a community of like-minded professionals. APA members are connected by regional chapters providing both a national and local connection to networking, portfolio reviews, photo competitions, and activism. 

 APA supports women and minority photographers. Their Diversity Committee is charged with clearing a path to success for those who are traditionally underrepresented. The APA Scope webinar and podcast series includes discussions with photographers re-imagining the photo industry as one driven by diversity and inclusion.

APA is providing those who are listening to this Focus on Women podcast, an opportunity to join APA using a $25 coupon code. APA memberships start at just $50 a year, so that’s half off an annual Contributor membership.  Use the code:  FOW2021 (as in Focus on Women)  to take advantage of this offer.  The code will be valid until the end of 2021. Join at APA National.org. If you have any questions, reach out to Juliette 
Wolf-Robin, she is the executive director of APA and on the board of Focus on women. 

S6 E60 - Lucy Schaeffer

Tune in this week to hear our chat with Lucy Schaeffer. She is a NY photographer shooting food, kids and lifestyle with 15 years of experience under her belt. She studied painting and printmaking at Yale, taught art in Italy and was a photo editor for Food & Wine magazine too, all leading up to her photography career. Her passion project - the cookbook that just released this week - School Lunch - a testament to who Lucy is, kind, inquisitive, resourceful and determined. Grown from a grassroots campaign after speaking to hundreds of people about their school lunches. Then collecting stories from people aged six to ninety-three; hailing from twenty-five different countries and all across the United States. And interviewing celebrities, homeless people, strangers, her parents, her corner bodega owner, and her Korean father-in-law. It's truly a labor of love and everyone must check it out.

This episode is sponsored by another board member and good friend, Amy V. Cooper. Amy is a photography consultant and personal coach with more than 20 years of experience in the photography industry. She has worked as a photo rep, art buyer in the advertising industry, and as a photo editor for entertainment and editorial brands. Amy offers one-on-one coaching, consulting, portfolio reviews and is offering Focus on Women listeners 25% off of her highly rated Commercial Photography Marketing Masterclass in July with code: "FOCUSONWOMEN". You can find more information at amyvcooper.com or follow Amy on Instagram @amyvcooper.

S6 E59 - Sue Tallon

Tune into our insightful chat with the amazingly talented, Sue Tallon. Sue specializes in still-life, and conceptual still-life of products, concepts, and food/beverage for advertising, packaging, editorial, retail and corporate clients. Her work is unbelievably creative, innovative and modern although she could probably shoot most anything having been in this business for thirty plus years. She is a great mentor, teacher, and fine artist as well and I'm honored to have had the chance to both work with her as well as connect with her through Focus on Women. make sure to check out her work @suetallon or https://www.suetallon.com/.

This episode is sponsored by another board member and good friend, Amy V. Cooper. Amy is a photography consultant and personal coach with more than 20 years of experience in the photography industry. She has worked as a photo rep, art buyer in the advertising industry, and as a photo editor for entertainment and editorial brands. Amy offers one-on-one coaching, consulting, portfolio reviews and is offering Focus on Women listeners 25% off of her highly rated Commercial Photography Marketing Masterclass in July with code: "FOCUSONWOMEN". You can find more information at amyvcooper.com or follow Amy on Instagram @amyvcooper.

S6 E58 - Kailee Mandel

Tune into our chat with Kailee Mandel, Toronto-based commercial and editorial photographer specializing in food and product. She has worked with top clients like Nestle, McDonald’s, The Globe and Mail, and Reader’s Digest. We had a great chat with her about building a community and network and more. @kaileemandelphotography

The other great thing about this episode is that it is sponsored by another board member and good friend, Amy V. Cooper. Amy is a photography consultant and personal coach with more than 20 years of experience in the photography industry. She has worked as a photo rep, art buyer in the advertising industry, and as a photo editor for entertainment and editorial brands. Amy offers one-on-one coaching, consulting, portfolio reviews and is offering Focus on Women listeners 25% off of her highly rated Commercial Photography Marketing Masterclass in July with code: "FOCUSONWOMEN". You can find more information at amyvcooper.com or follow Amy on Instagram @amyvcooper.

S6 E57 - Brandi Moore

Join us to listen in on Brandi Moore's journey - from textile design to creating a line of successful handbags, then as one of her many jobs to make rent in CA work, she got into the Fashion world and production. That led her to the introduction of JE Models and their agency's founder, who is now the father of her child. With that relationship she finally found the opportunity to live out her dream and started working as an agent to artists within their Creative offshoot - Artist Services. In 2020, she decided to open her own agency representing photographers that she had a strong connection to - and since Artist Services has since folded, also brought her the opportunity to include stylists on the roster, making her agency a full-blown, one stop shop! Brandi is a great believer in the universe, and shares her technique for finding talent, clients and more. Make sure to check her out at brandimoore.com and @brandimorre

The other great thing about this episode is that it is sponsored by another board member and good friend, Amy V. Cooper. Amy is a photography consultant and personal coach with more than 20 years of experience in the photography industry. She has worked as a photo rep, art buyer in the advertising industry, and as a photo editor for entertainment and editorial brands. Amy offers one-on-one coaching, consulting, portfolio reviews and is offering Focus on Women listeners 25% off of her highly rated Commercial Photography Marketing Masterclass in July with code: "FOCUSONWOMEN". You can find more information at amyvcooper.com or follow Amy on Instagram @amyvcooper.

S6 E56 - Alicia Stepp

This is an exciting conversation with one of our own board members who happens to also be an ward-winning beauty and fashion photographer, Alicia Stepp. There is something so magical about Alicia's work - maybe it's the combination of having the love of photography since her youth, and then getting a degree in graphic design which gave her the knowledge of composition and use of color, etc. that led her to be able to create strikingly beautiful and well- crafted images. She talks about her path to fashion and her mentor that led her there too. Lots of inspiration here , make sure to check out more work and follow her at @aliciastepptx.

The other great thing about this episode is that it is sponsored by another board member and good friend, Amy V. Cooper. Amy is a photography consultant and personal coach with more than 20 years of experience in the photography industry. She has worked as a photo rep, art buyer in the advertising industry, and as a photo editor for entertainment and editorial brands. Amy offers one-on-one coaching, consulting, portfolio reviews and is offering Focus on Women listeners 25% off of her highly rated Commercial Photography Marketing Masterclass in July with code: "FOCUSONWOMEN". You can find more information at amyvcooper.com or follow Amy on Instagram @amyvcooper.

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S6 E55 - Melissa Cronin

Mel is a force of nature. She sees the big picture in a cluttered creative landscape, delivering order in a chaotic world. For 18 years she has run her own Creative Production Agency, Greener Concepts, where she has partnered with brands of all sizes to develop strategic creative processes that deliver high value branded visual content. She dives into her path of how she was introduced through her mom and aunt into graphic design before going to college for her BFA.

It was during one of her first jobs outside of school wearing multiple hats, when she learned how to work with photographers so that when she designed the print piece the design would flow with the imagery.

In her twenties, she opened her company!

Most recently she has formed a collaborative of like minded, passionate professionals skilled at developing still and motion assets called the HotHaus Collective.

You can connect with Melissa on Instagram at:
@greener.concepts & @hothauscollective

S6 E54 - Shelly Waldman

Shelly Waldman is a San Francisco bay area based photographer with roots in LA.

Shelly's experience as a child with parents who took tons of photos influenced her later in life. She's worked in pro sports, the banking industry and in 2009 opened her photography business.

We touch on the turning point that took her from photographing families, kids and events to focusing more food and lifestyle imagery for brands. She married her background in finance and photography to helping other photographers turn their passion into a paycheck. She now offers one on one consulting as well as runs Food Photographer Mentorship, an ongoing membership that covers both business and creative topics.

See Shelly's Portfolio, Youtube Channel and connect with her on Instagram
Learn about her Food Photography Mentorship

S6 E53 - Robin Greene

Tune into our chat with Robin Greene, the founder of Holl and Artists a new creative agency representing some awesome photographers/directors that include Ren Fuller who has also been on our show. Their motto - "We believe collaboration is the surest way through uncertainty. An ever-evolving media landscape merely promises new opportunities and different ways to tell our stories. " Listen to hear about her start and how she has curated her roster and more good agency tips.

S6 E52 - Martine Séverin

Martine Séverin is a Chicago + LA based lifestyle, advertising and editorial photographer whose vibrant work aims to push boundaries and celebrate inclusivity. Her images are happy, colorful and filled with purpose. Interested in creating fashion narratives that reference non-western norms, she strives to collaborate with brands who speak to a diverse audience. I loved our conversation and hope you will too! She also is the host of her own podcast, This is How We Create a show that digs deeper into the creative life of contemporary artists of color. Make sure to check that out and her work @martine.severin

S6 E51 - Kimberly Edwards

Tune into hear our amazing Podcast producer chatting with Kimberley SE, she specialises in portrait, property, food and event photography.

At 19 she co-founded The Sky’s Not Blue, a photography website featuring how-to-do tutorials for students and camera equipment reviews. Since then, she has become an internationally published magazine photographer in over 8 countries and 13 global cities as well as working with famous brands all over the world.

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S5 E50 - Amy Scott

Tune into this awesome chat with Houston photographer, Amy Scott. Her work takes us from shooting the people on the farm, in the mill, making the food to the food and the people enjoying it. She is an amazing talent who is involved in her photo community and working diligently on building relationships to help and boost what will soon be an amazing career in photography. Make sure to follow her at @photography.amyscott Also be sure to check out our Artist Collective Initiative - we are looking for artists willing to let us license a piece of their work that empowers women, equality, diversity, and more. We will then take that art and make it marketable on Society6 - great way to get you artwork into the world!

S5 E49 - Naomi Lindberg

Tune into our chat with the amazing Naomi Lindberg. She is the executive producer and founder of Northern Spy Productions. Her career includes working as an artist agent, a creative studio manager for William Abranowicz as well as a photo editor with Real Simple. All lending her such great insight, expertise and resources for working with a wide variety of commercial and editorial clients helping to create awesome visual content of all kinds.

S5 E48 - Jung Fitzpatrick

Tune in to hear our chat with Jung Fitzpatrick. Jung is amazing - and quite a good story, she took a little minute to figure out that her lifelong passion, was to be a photographer, and her journey to get there is fascinating and inspiring. Jung and I have had the pleasure of knowing each other from when she was Sue Tallon's studio manager and her energy and positivity are so refreshing. She has also recently started teaching an awesome class - called ABC's of Photo Assisting as a way to widen her community and share what she has learned. Make sure to check it out.

S5 E47 - Kelly Marshall

Kelly Marshall is a New York based photographer specializing in interiors, travel and portraiture. Her commercial and fine art work are interwoven as she explores inherent belief systems; how they construct our lives, our physical homes and in essence, our everyday reality. She also is the director of an amazing  feature length documentary Birthing of A Nation- an afro futuristic account of the the reproductive justice movement and the healing arts of Black women in America since 1619. Kelly is a true inspiration and I'm honored to know her and to tell her story.

Follow the story here: @birthingofanation

S5 E46 - Ren Fuller

Born in the former USSR, Ren Fuller found film first her senior year she attended summer school at NYU Film school. After then graduating from NYU Film School she changed her mind and moved to the Bay Area where she was introduced to Chez Panisse. Her love of food started and she decided to focus on photography at that point. Ren now lives in LA, enjoying the outdoors and shooting travel, lifestyle, food and more with a career that is going up - make sure to follow her @ren_fuller. Listen to her story, how she partners with her film making husband and where her career is headed now. Don't forget to check out our amazing sponsor - Anchor Artists.

S5 E45 - Jill Broussard

Not everyone can say they shoot everything - but Jill Broussard really does shoot almost everything, lifestyle, kids, interiors, food and more. And she does it beautifully creating quite a power house brand for herself. Covid for her gave time to get involved, she joined the APA diversity panel and spent time with an equity coach, so that she could start looking at her work with a different lens. Her passion for helping to uplift those whose voices haven't been heard in the past in photography is so inspiring. Tune in to hear how she has changed the way she views the world and what she is doing to help others.

S5 E44 - Chalkley Calderwood

Tune into our amazing chat with the super inspiring, Chalkley Calderwood. When Chalkley's career as art and creative director for publications that include Everyday with Rachael Ray, AllRecipes and Budget Travel started to slow down - she pivoted and went back to school to learn video! That then led her to start creating documentaries and video content for all sorts of people. One of her clients was our friends over at Space for Arts even. Now she has a full-time gig and has recently moved to Catskill, NY where our founder Traci Terrick has landed too. Shout out to our sponsor - Anchor Artists!