Free information, Free inspiration, Free Education?

Apple didn’t invent podcasts, but, with their invention of the iPod and iTunes, they sure made podcasts a very easy and convenient way to get information. Sure, like any “user generated” form of broadcasting or publishing, there are many absolutely horrific podcasts that you have to sort through to get to the good ones, but the information junkie in me has done most of the research for you.

There are several very good, professionally produced and content rich podcasts produced for photographers. About 6 months ago, my car was broken into and well my radio (very expensive) was stolen. I used to just listen to podcasts in the car, so I figured – why replace it! I spend a lot of time commuting every week, and traveling to and from jobs, my iPhone is always packed with a large selection of my favorite podcasts and even a few new finds. I learn a lot from how other photographers think; podcasts are a great source of information and inspiration.

Here are a few of my favorite photography podcasts (with iTunes links):

LightSource Studio Photography Podcast (iTunes Link)
Their Website
Hosted by Bill Crawford, publisher of StudioLighting.net, and Ed Hidden, an iStockPhoto.com photographer, the LightSource Studio Photography Podcast is probably one of the best produced out there. It’s not too commercial, but professionally produced. Each week after a brief discussion of the news since their last podcast, they interview a photographer specializing in any of a broad range of types of photography. They have interviewed everyone from Chase Jarvis to Roy Cox to Michael Grecco to Paul Buff. They keep the discussion entertaining and filled with valuable information even for the most experienced of photographers.

Inside Digital Photo Radio (iTunes Link)
Their Website
Hosted by Scott Sheppard (CEO of Inside Media Networks, an avid photographer and a technology geek), Inside Digital Photo is an all access pass to the do-ers of the photography business. The podcast airs in several Key U.S. radio markets, is available online and is #1 in the Visual Arts category on Apple’s iTunes. IDP Radio is one of the most professionally produced podcasts on photographer, probably because it is in a radio format and doubles as a real on-air radio program. I was interviewed by Mr. Sheppard, earlier this year regarding my “Stop This Fix It In Photoshop Nonsense” article written on this here blog. IDP is sponsored by several big name vendors, including Epson, FujiFilm, HP and UpStrap. They produce one show a week.

Digital Photography Podcast (iTunes Link)
Their Website
The Digital Photography Podcast is new to my playlist, I actually started listening to it a while back but it wasn’t as professionally produced as some of the others that I listen to regularly – so I dropped it. In the last month or so, I’ve actually realized that it really doesn’t matter — Allen Rockwell, the host, takes a no-nonsense and straight talk approach to producing his podcast. He has explored everything from photographers rights to his post production workflow. There are a lot of little gems in his podcasts and I ask that you take a listen and once you get past the “straight talk approach”, you’ll probably like it!

Jeff Curto’s Camera Position (iTunes Link)
Their Website
Camera Position is hosted by Jeff Curto, a photographer and professor at the College of DuPage. Mr. Curto’s podcasts are usually short (10 – 15 minutes long), but highlight many thought provoking topics that focus on the “Creative Side” of photography. He’s not a gear head and while talk about the gear used is discuss, he doesn’t drool over new gear, but rather discusses how creatively to use gear. Jeff appreciates photography for what it is a creative art and a means of visual communication. He also hosts a “History of Photography” podcast, which is a resource for his History of Photography class at DuPage.

LensWork – Photography and the Creative Process (iTunes Link)
Their Website
Hosted by Brooks Jensen, editor of LensWork Magazine, I find this podcast a great look at the creative process of photography. Mr. Jensen looks at photography from a different point of view, he looks at what a photograph can mean, what it takes to create it and his observations as a fine art photographer himself. The iTunes description reads, “Random Observations on Art, Photography and the Creative Process. These short 2-4 minute talks focus on the creative process in fine art photography. LensWork editor Brooks Jensen side-steps the techno-talk and artspeak to offer a stimulating mix of ideas, experience and observations from his 35-years as a fine art photographer, writer and publisher.” I enjoy his podcasts, I only wish there were either more or they were longer, because I just can’t get enough.

Digital Photography Tips from the Top Floor (iTunes Link)
Their Website
Hosted by Photographer Chris Marquardt, Tips from the Top Floor has been around for a while having produced over 319 podcasts as of the time of this writing. Chris is a regular guest on “The Tech Guy” radio show. The podcast focuses more on the technical aspects of photography and includes many how-to’s. More recently, Mr. Marquardt has begun to do a lot of video podcasts also (While the information is great, I wish he included the videos in a separate feed – there’s nothing worse than listening to your audio podcasts in the car and all of a sudden a video podcast is thrown in). The podcast covers everything from how to use a point and shoot camera to image composition to image processing.

Photo Talk Radio (iTunes Link)
Their Website
Hosted by photographers Howard Lipin and Michael A. Garcia, Photo Talk Radio is one of the few photography podcasts that you can actually listen to live on the internet and call in (FYI, it is recorded Saturdays between 8 and 9 AM PST), though they don’t have very many calls. The show follows the interview format where they interview one or two individuals to talk about issues that related to photography. Recent shows have included discussions on George Hurrell’s photography, Quickbooks for photographers and the Economy. I find this podcast very informative and getting better each show.

Blog@Profoto-USA.com Podcast (iTunes Link)
Their Website
I must admit, I expected more from Profoto. This podcast is an extension of blog.profoto-usa.com, but has been plagued with audio issues and isn’t the most professionally produced. It also focuses primarily on how photographers use Profoto Gear and is a big commercial for Profoto’s light shaping tools, but it is a worthwhile listen to learn how other photographers are using different modifiers available. Recent guests have included Matthew Jordan Smith and Jerry Avenaim, among others.

Thoughts on Photography (iTunes Link)
Their Website
I was introduced to Thoughts on Photography via the Photocast Network, a network of Photography Related PodCasts that many of the podcasts listed here are a member of. Since being introduced to “Thoughts on Photography”, which is hosted by Paul Giguere only a few weeks ago, I’ve managed to listen to all 40 episodes pretty quickly. Paul’s show is usually in the format of an interview or a thought provoking monologue on a photographic theme. Paul looks deep into topics and into the people he interviews without focusing on gear or new technology. He discusses what it means to live a photographic life, a life in which photography is an element of every part, every day.

The Candid Frame (iTunes Link)
Their Website
Hosted by Ibarionex Perello, The Candid Frame is a new addition to my play list. This thought provoking interview-based podcast has easily become one of my favorites. Very few podcasts on photography take an indepth look at the lives of the photographers they interview — this podcast goes deep. Ibarionex even made one interviewee cry — He’s the Oprah of Photography Podcasts. I really enjoy listening to his show and find even the interviews with photographers that are working in a completely different areas of photography to be quite interesting.

That’s my list for today. I am currently listening to a few new finds, but before I recommend them I’d like to listen to a few more episodes.

:::: I’VE ADDED ANOTHER PODCAST HERE :::
http://www.exposingFashion.com/?p=120

About the author

Kevin Michael Reed
Kevin Michael Reed (Google+, Facebook) is a fashion & beauty photographer and producer/director based in New York City and Los Angeles, CA. He is the President/CEO of RedFOG Visual Media, a production company in New York City, and a partner in Passion of Photography, Inc, a company dedicated to teaching photographers and sharing our passion through charitable causes. Kevin has lectured and hosted workshops throughout the United States and the world teaching photographers the business and creative sides of photography. (Kevin's Fashion & Beauty Photography Portfolio can be seen here).

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