Will Moneymaker Photography Podcast

As the old saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” I find that nowhere is this more true than in photography. It’s not just the gear that you are paying for. In photography, you are also paying for art with your time, creativity, and effort. And, if you don’t pay out much with those currencies, well, then this saying rings true. Here, I will discuss all the ways that you get out what you put in when it comes to photography. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/you-get-what-you-pay-for-in-photography/  Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker  https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

At first glance, the life of a photographer can seem almost magical—traveling the world, creating beautiful images, and having your work admired by others. But once you step behind the lens with serious intent, reality begins to set in. Photography is deeply rewarding, yes—but it’s also filled with challenges that many outsiders never see. Whether you’re building a business, pursuing art, or simply hoping to grow, you’ll need to face these struggles head-on. Here are some of the most common hurdles photographers face—and why persevering through them is worth it... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/photography-struggles/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker  https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker   #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

Today, let’s talk about travel—and more specifically, what to bring when you’re heading out on a photography trip. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a big vacation, a little preparation goes a long way when it comes to making the most of your time with a camera... And one word that keeps coming up, quietly but persistently, is permission... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/tips-photographers-vacation/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker  https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker   #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

You know, something I’ve learned over the years—something that becomes clearer the more time I spend with a camera in hand—is that photography is just as much about relationships as it is about light, shadow, and subject matter. Not just relationships with the people in front of the lens, but with the communities we enter, the land we stand on, and the cultures we interact with. And one word that keeps coming up, quietly but persistently, is permission... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/photography-permission-guide/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker  https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker   #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

Today, we’re going to talk about something that’s supposed to be fun—something that should feel freeing, adventurous, and inspiring. But sometimes, well… it gets a little heavy. I’m talking about the photography trip. You know the kind. That big escape where it’s just you, your camera, and the world outside your front door. But if you’ve done a few of these trips, or even just tried to plan one, then you probably already know: photography trips can be stressful... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/open-yourself-to-possibilities/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker  https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker   #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

A large portion of my time is devoted not just to photography itself, but to something just as important: finding new places to create it. Scouting, for me, is part of the adventure. It's a little like being on a treasure hunt with your camera bag in the passenger seat and curiosity behind the wheel. And over the years, I’ve discovered a few ways to make that hunt easier, more enjoyable, and a whole lot more rewarding. Back when I first got serious about photography, I used to just hop in the car and drive with no particular plan. Sometimes, that spontaneous approach works. But more often than not, I’d come home with a few random shots and the nagging feeling that I had missed something better just around the bend. Today, I plan more deliberately—and it’s made a big difference. Here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way to help you make the most of your own scouting adventures... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/scouting-great-new-locations-photography/ Photography Clips Podcast: ht

You know, one of the hardest things about being a creative person—whether you’re into photography or painting or writing—is motivation. Just getting started. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had every excuse in the book. I’m not feeling inspired. I don’t have the right gear. There’s no time. The light’s wrong. You name it. But if I’m being honest, those are just that—excuses. Life’s busy, sure, and things pop up. But most of the time, it’s not that something is actively standing in the way. It’s just that the motivation isn’t there. So let’s talk about how to get motivated. Because over the years, I’ve found a few tricks that really do help me get moving again. And maybe they’ll help you, too... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/motivational-tricks-increase-productivity/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker  https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://ww

The stereotypical image of the artist is someone who spends a large part of their life not producing anything. Then, when the inspiration strikes, the artist goes to work, spontaneously producing works of art. The artist finally had the exact right sequence of thoughts. Whatever the case is, the work is something that just came to them, spur of the moment. Photographers often have a mental image of the inspired artist. It is sometimes even stronger because people assume that all a photographer must do is keep pushing that shutter button. Eventually, something magical happens. In a fit of inspiration, the photographer figures out the method to create the perfect piece of art. With a few quick snaps, the job is done. Nevertheless, that isn’t how artworks. Any art, not just photography, but painting, writing and so forth. More often than not, the greatest works are those that took the most time. They are the works that the artist spent days, weeks, or even years producing. In photography, a lot of that time is t

Photographers hear it all the time: follow the rule of thirds, shoot during golden hour, use leading lines, frame your subject just so. These formulas are everywhere. They promise guaranteed results, and sometimes, they do deliver something pleasing. But if we rely too heavily on formulas, our photography runs the risk of becoming repetitive and uninspired. That’s why it’s important to understand the difference between a formula and a strategy. One boxes you in; the other sets you free. In a previous post, I explored how photography formulas can become a trap—producing predictable photography techniques that lack depth. Here, I want to dig into the contrast between formulas and photography strategies, and why embracing a strategic mindset can lead to more creative photography... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/formulas-versus-strategies/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com

What are the best tools for photography? I spend a lot of time talking about what the reviewers say. If you listen, they will have you believe that the best gear is the gear that has the highest megapixels, the things that will produce the sharpest image quality, the best colors—that sort of thing. I’ve long argued against this, saying that, in most cases, these costly items are overkill. The megapixels and incredibly sharp resolutions are a wasteful investment when you consider that the average photographer will never produce the billboard-sized prints these devices are designed for... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/the-best-tools/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

For most of us photographers, the reality is that we’re not making a living from photography. For many of us, that’s deliberate. Some simply don’t want to turn a favorite hobby into a job. Others of us may have goals and dreams, but perhaps we’re just starting out, or the demand for our particular brand of photography just isn’t that high yet. Whatever the reasons, the point is that most of us have to do something else for a living—and everything else that we have to do, from jobs to family obligations, takes away from the time we have to devote to photography. All of that leads to us seeing all kinds of photographic opportunities as we go about the rest of our lives. But, because we are busy with the rest of our lives, we just don’t stop to take the picture. I’m sure it’s happened to you, and it’s definitely happened to me many times. How many times have you noted that thus and such place looked like a great spot for photography—but you didn’t have time to stop.., Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotogr

There are a few things that top the list of struggles for photographers. For instance, portrait subjects who find it hard to be comfortable in front of the lens, or lighting that just won’t cooperate no matter how you try to modify it. But nothing is so ubiquitous as the weather. It causes all kinds of problems, from rained out trips to the high humidity that results in frizzy hair. So how do we photographers deal with the weather? Well, the first step is planning around it. It’s always a good idea to check weather forecasts and plan our photography tripsaccordingly, choosing days when we think the weather will be just what we need to complement our photographs... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/dealing-with-the-weather Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips

Today, I find myself thinking of the concept of “the hero’s journey.” If you’re not familiar with this, it’s basically a type of plot that you’ll commonly find in novels. The idea is that while the destination might be the goal, it’s not what makes the bones of the story. Rather, the heart of the story is in the journey—the hero’s journey, in which he or she perhaps literally journeys across the land, faces a whole lot of adversity, and in the process, undergoes an inner journey in which the hero learns, grows, and adapts. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/dont-discount-the-trip/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

As a photographer, sometimes you get the sense that opportunity isn't finding you. There are no new places around you to take interesting new photographs, and you don't have the time or money to head out on a trip to somewhere exotic. You fall into a kind of doldrums, unable to move forward, and find that it becomes an incredible struggle to get the inspiration you need to create something new. Worse, that attitude often extends into other areas of photography. Your work isn’t being published or displayed because no good opportunities have presented themselves to you, for instance. Once you get into this mode of thinking, it can be tough to break free, to keep going. I’ve been there myself. The thing is, an opportunity is not something that will come to you. Though it is a challenge, an opportunity is something that each photographer creates for themselves. Let me show you some ways to make the opportunity happen. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/photographers-make-opportunities/ Photogra

How many times have you snapped a few pictures from the hip only to realize the lens cap is still on? How many times have you taken a few photographs, only to come back later and find spots and smudges in them because your lens had a fingerprint or dust on it? I know these sorts of things have happened to me more often than I’d like to admit. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/good-habits-are-the-enemy-of-silly-mistakes/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

If you’ve never heard of “sunk cost fallacy,” I’ll take this opportunity to explain it. It’s a phenomenon that happens when you’ve invested in something so that you’re unwilling to stop pursuing that thing. Among gamblers, the idea is that if they keep betting another few bucks, eventually, they’ll win. They’ve sunk too much into their evening of gambling to walk away without a win. Sunk cost fallacy isn’t just about gambling, though. It rears its head everywhere. You’ll see it in someone unwilling to sell a car they’ve invested a lot into because they won’t recoup the value. You’ll see it in managers who refuse to give up on a system that just isn’t working for the company, but they keep pursuing it because they’ve sunk time and money into that system and feel they can’t turn back now... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/the-dangers-of-sunk-cost-fallacy/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://w

One day seems like the perfect day for some fall photography—the leaves are beautiful, the sun is shining—but you don’t have the time that day because life’s other demands are calling. The next day? It’s snowing! That’s a picture-perfect example of how opportunities can truly be fleeting. Sometimes, we miss photographic opportunities because we think, “It’ll be there another day, I can always come back to this.” But, the problem is, that isn’t always the case. Seasons change—sometimes rapidly before we realize what is happening. We pack up and move across the country, then look back at where we came from and recognize that we missed opportunities while still there... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/opportunities-are-fleeting/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #Photograph

There’s one big aspect of creativity that tends to get lost in the shuffle of everything else. We spend a lot of time thinking about how to think in innovative ways or learning new techniques and approaches to art. In all of this discussion about creativity and how to be creative, we lose sight of the fundamental fact that creativity is often about mindset. That old “mind over matter” saying rings true, I think. Aside from techniques, skills, knowledge, and new ways of thinking, it’s the desire or the motivation to be creative that is the thing that drives us to make photographs. The thing is, it’s not the easiest thing in the world to always be in that positive, motivated mindset, especially in this day and age with so much happening in the world. We must always remember that overcoming challenges and motivating ourselves to be creative starts with our view of the world we live in... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/seize-the-day/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotograp

Here’s something I’ve discussed before, though when I last spoke about it, it was a bit different. It’s the idea that we must get to know our surroundings or subjects to photograph them most effectively. Today, I’m framing it a bit differently because we photographers have a habit of always going after something new. New places, new subjects—we want to expose ourselves to as much new and unique as possible. It’s all in the name of creating new and exceptional photographs. Most of us believe that if we’re seeing as many new things as possible, we’re photographing new things that may haven’t been photographed as much by other photographers. To an extent, this is a good thing. Where would photography be if none of us ever left our backyards? Most of the world wouldn’t have been explored through the lens! Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/extreme-familiarity/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://ww

Adaptability—Being adaptable is one of the key parts of being a photographer. There are a few different ways to look at this, too. Being flexible can apply to the vagaries of daily life, the things we photograph, and even the techniques and styles we use to create our photographs. On the day-to-day level, being adaptable means being able to roll with whatever the day throws at you. Sometimes, this means you expected the day to be sunny and warm. Still, it turns out cold and rainy—thus, you need to adapt, which could mean bringing extra gear to accommodate different lighting conditions or protecting your equipment against moisture. This can also mean your car breaks down on the way to your location. For most of us, the hassle and annoyance of such a thing would stop us from taking photographs. But is it possible to explore your immediate area while you’re waiting for the tow truck? Being flexible means not coming home empty-handed, no matter what happens to alter your best-laid plans... Podcast Notes: https://