My Creative Journey - Photography Podcast

No guest this week, just me and a bunch of questions every photographer needs to reflect on at some point. Some of them are going to feel a bit confronting. Some of them you'll laugh at because you'll recognise yourself in the answer. But hopefully a few of them might just change the way you think about where your photography career is heading.

Starting with inversion thinking. Basically, what would you have to do to guarantee your...

Kenny Macieira is the Host of Kickin It With Creatives Podcast. In this episode he chats with Mike about one of the most underrated marketing strategies, starting a podcast. Kenny didn't come from a podcasting background. He stumbled into it through a client then spent months watching others record in the studio he was running until he eventually had no excuse not to start his own show. In a world where attention is everything, pod...

Claire Darwish is the founder of Gallery Lane Magazine and in this episode she breaks down why so many photographers are attracting the wrong clients. Before she was teaching marketing, Claire was fully booked, shooting 15 to 20 family photography sessions a week. On paper, it looked like success. Six figures within months, constant inquiries and a calendar that never stopped. But behind the scenes she was editing until 2am, replyi...

Laura Shepherd is a wedding photographer, flash enthusiast and educator based in Portland, Oregon known for her bold, editorial style and refreshingly simple approach to off camera flash. In this episode, we go deep into flash photography and break down why so many photographers overcomplicate it. Laura shares how she learned flash early in her career, why she believes light is creative rather than technical and intimidating and ho...

Gunawan has built a strong name for himself in Astrophotography. He runs in person workshops, he has worked with major brands and now he is asking a bigger question…. How do you turn everything you’ve learned into something you can sell? In this episode, Mike and G unpack what it really looks like to move into photography education. Not some fake polished version, but the real version with doubts, imposter syndrome and the fear tha...

Photographers should niche down, choose one style and stick to it! Sounds familiar right. But what if you enjoy a lot of different things? In this episode, I’m joined by Chihiro Yanagi to talk about creativity, identity and why doing everything can actually bring more joy and success. Creativity should feel enjoyable. It shouldn’t feel like a test you’re constantly failing. This isn’t a conversation about ignoring advice or doing t...

Gavin Blue OAM is the founder and current president of Heartfelt Australia New Zealand, a volunteer run charity that provides free professional photography to families experiencing stillbirth, terminal illness, or life threatening conditions in children. Since its founding, Heartfelt has grown to more than 300 volunteer photographers and has supported over 19,500 families across Australia and New Zealan...

Cailee Maeve is a Wedding, Couples & Family Photographer known for her cinematic style and her honest approach to storytelling through photography. In this episode, we talk about why candid photography is one of the most misunderstood concepts in photography, and why many so called candid photos are far more directed than photographers like to admit.

We talk through the difference between candid, documentary, cinematic, and sto...

Photographers don't fail because they lack talent. They fail because of the patterns they fall into under pressure.

In this episode, Mike breaks down seven personality traits that can quietly hold your photography business back, even when you are working hard and doing “all the right things.” This isn't a conversation about cameras, presets or marketing hacks. It's about waiting for permission before acting, relying on motivation ...

This is a recap of conversations that stuck with me this year and quietly shaped how I think about photography, work and growth. Instead of short highlight clips I’ve pulled longer excerpts from full length podcast conversations so you can actually sit with the ideas and not just skim past them. Across these conversations, I kept hearing the same things come up. Self doubt, even when things are going well. The pressure to move fast...

Isabella Alexis, Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2023, joins Mike to reflect on what really happens after you win the award you always dreamed of. At just 17, Isabella achieved a milestone many photographers chase for decades, but the moment didn’t bring instant clarity or certainty. Instead, it opened the door to deeper questions about purpose, patience, and what success actually looks like when the excitemen...

Mike is joined by his wife Emily for an honest conversation about the jokes, snarky comments, and quiet assumptions creatives often face at Christmas, especially when photography or creative work is not seen as a real job. Together they unpack why these comments happen, why they hurt more than criticism online, and how insecurity and generational ideas about work often sit underneath it all.

Emily brings insight from her background...

Gemma Higlett, Floral Designer, Stylist, and trained Marketer, joins Mike to unpack the marketing secrets every creative should know. They dive into why showing your face matters more than perfect work, how authenticity builds a stronger brand than aesthetics, and why sharing the messy middle of your journey is often the most powerful marketing you can do. Gemma talks about her transition from corporate PR and marketing into the cr...

Francisco Hernandez, Portrait Photographer and long time flash educator, joins Mike to unpack how photographers can build a signature style with flash photography. They explore the mindset behind creating consistent work, why flash gives you more control in unpredictable environments, and how understanding light can completely change the way you shoot. Francisco shares the early struggles that shaped his approach, the years spent e...

Cass Edwards is a Perth based sports photographer who has gone from shooting local ice hockey games to photographing major sporting events across Australia. In this episode of My Creative Journey, Mike digs into Cass’s journey, her rapid rise in the industry and the huge wave of self doubt and imposter syndrome that followed her even as her career took off. Cass talks openly about what it's like as a woman in a male dominated indus...

Mike chats with Karen Sadek, Personal and Business Brand Photographer, and Stacey Rolfe, Family Newborn Photographer and Founder of Tog Hub, for a conversation about understanding your personal brand & finding a community within Photography. Karen has spent her career empowering entrepreneurs through authentic brand imagery and is also the face behind Sydney Lifestyle Photography Facebook community. Stacey combines her backgrou...

Sometimes positive motivation isn’t enough, and it’s the fear, pressure, and “toxic fuel” that pushes you into action. As they say, having something to run away from can be far more useful than having something to run toward, especially at the start. I share personal stories and practical insights on how to turn fear into purpose, embrace the discomfort of the beginning, and finally take the steps you’ve been putting off, whether i...

Camp Photography is our multi-day retreat where Wedding Photographers from across Australia come together for styled shoots, workshops, and community building, but this year’s event was anything but smooth. In this episode, I’m joined by my wife Emily, who helped me plan and run the camp, to share the unfiltered behind-the-scenes of our biggest event yet. We're spilling it all from the moments that pushed us to our limits to what w...

Anissa Dev is a San Diego-based Couples & Family Photographer who built her business Photographing Weddings, but eventually realised the career she had created no longer aligned with the life she wanted. In this episode, Anissa shares the honest story behind why she walked away from wedding photography and how that decision opened the door to a more fulfilling path. One that includes Family Photography, Education, Content Creat...