Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast

Cinematic Lighting, Film-Set Lessons & Finding Your Next Adjustment | Julie Gayler

Host Cris Duncan welcomes featured Fujifilm photographer and Westcott Top Pro Julie Gayler to Texas School Off The Record to discuss how her experience gaffing on film sets shaped her photography. Julie explains the collaborative structure of movie crews, learning new set language, and how film lighting prioritizes rea...

AI for Photographers: Optimization, Generative Tools, and Business Workflow with Scott Detweiler

Host Cris Duncan interviews Scott Detweiler on what AI is and isn’t and how photographers and other businesses can use it to optimize, not replace, their work. Detweiler argues photography is relatively safe because clients value personal experience, lighting skill, and authenticity, while AI can remove...

Scott Robert Lim: From Rock Bottom to Top of The Craft: The Art of Light and Finish | Texas School Off The Record

Host Cris Duncan interviews photographer and educator Scott Robert Lim about his 25-year journey from struggling in a graphic design and textile printing business and earning $10,000 a year for 12 years to discovering wedding photography as digital emerged, landing his first wedding at age 3...

Luxury as Ease: Newborn Photographer Lindsay Walden on the Relationship Economy

Host Cris Duncan interviews award-winning Colleyville, Texas fine art newborn photographer Lindsay Walden about what “luxury” means in her business and how she attracts high-end clients. Walden defines luxury primarily as ease: a high-touch, expensive, stress-free experience where she anticipates and removes paren...

Jerry Ghionis on Meaningful Photography, AI, Competition & Evoking Emotion | Texas School Off the Record

Cris Duncan interviews world-renowned portrait and wedding photographer Jerry Ghionis on Texas School Off the Record. Ghionis reflects on three decades in photography through the digital and AI eras, arguing there will always be a market for meaningful work while modern tools can also make photogr...

Storytelling Senior Photography: Awards, Mindset, and Building a Profitable Creative Portrait Business | Erica Manning

Host Cris Duncan interviews Ohio-based portrait artist and educator Erica Manning about using creative storytelling imagery to stand out in high school senior photography. Manning shares how she began by pricing cheaply and taking all work, then reassessed her approach after her mother b...

How Michael Anthony Built a Multi-Studio Photography Business with Paid Ads, Systems & AI

Host Cris Duncan interviews wedding and portrait photographer Michael Anthony, who has studios in Los Angeles and Dallas and is planning a third in Austin. Anthony explains how COVID forced his wedding-heavy studio to diversify into portraits and commercial work, and why transitioning required new portfolio work...

Building a Business Ecosystem: Sharon Benton on Santa’s Enchanted Workshop, Disney-Inspired Design & Oliver Pippin

Host Cris Duncan interviews Sharon Benton, who with her husband Scott has run a family photography business for 21 years and created Santa’s Enchanted Workshop, a private commissioned Christmas experience in Northern California now in its 10th season. Sharon explains her hobb...

Photography Studio Automation: Booking Links, Transactional Emails & Long-Term Nurture Sequences (with Jeff Poole)

In this episode, Cris Duncan interviews Jeff Poole of Indigo Silver about putting a photography studio “on autopilot” with scheduling and lead automations. Jeff explains why giving prospects self-scheduling links improves booking, and recommends choosing an automation-capable platform like Go HighLevel ...

From Weddings to Major Brands: Michelle VanTine on Commercial Photography, High-End Retouching & AI Compositing .

Consider listening and watching on YouTube for full visual experience. https://youtu.be/47xPN0HQXJA 

Texas School director Cris Duncan interviews Miami-based commercial photographer and retoucher Michelle VanTine, a 2026 Saturday Texas School instructor, about her path from fine arts and teaching into full-time...

On this episode of "off the Record", we visit with Tony Corbel. Tony has been a household name within the photographic industry for almost 5 decades and has the record for attending the most Texas School events--As a student, volunteer and instructor. Sit down and enjoy the conversation between Cris and Tony as they discuss the changes to the industry, what hasn't changed, what it takes to survive and what is next. 

With 30+ w...

Photographer Allison Russell of Twisted Wire Design shares her 15-year journey from hobbyist to multi-six-figure studio owner. She discusses in-person training at Texas School, the importance of intensive education, balancing family and work, improving craft through competitions, and planning for a sustainable, sellable business.

Allison emphasizes the value of hands-on learning, strategic instructor selection, and the hustle requi...

In this episode, Cris Duncan interviews Angela Kurkian, the new CEO of Professional Photographers of America, about the state of the industry, the rise of AI, and the enduring value of human creativity. They discuss education, community, storytelling, and practical ways photographers can adapt and thrive.

Angela shares PPA initiatives like Photo Vision and Imaging USA, stresses collaboration and valuing your time, and offers encour...

BEST viewed as a video podcast, watch on Youtube at https://youtu.be/-Jn4GA8ATCM

One day Corey McDonald was mowing his lawn and began crafting a story full of complex characters, a storyline of good and evil, of kings and kingdoms and of conflict and resolution. That day, all he had was a vision in his mind's eye. Fast forward a few years, with photographic skills, wizardry in Photoshop and some help with Ai tools, Corey has been a...