This Conversation with Jed Taufer show

This Conversation with Jed Taufer

Summary: Join Jed Taufer as he hosts conversations with your favorite photographers and creatives covering topics of all shapes and sizes.

Podcasts:

 Nikki Harrison - Making Magic | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

There are many different ways to run your business…and it seems like there are an endless amount of variables to consider as you build and nurture your company. Nikki Harrison is an amazing photographic artist from Canada. She built a business starting in Calgary and then moved to Vancouver where it really took off. Then, she moved to a much smaller town and everything changed. Nikki had changed locations and discovered that she needed to also change her business model. Now, the big thing that I took from this is that, knowing Nikki the way I do, I know that she’s a tremendously gifted artist. But more than that, I know that she’s someone who cares so much about her art, that she wouldn’t want to compromise it no matter what. This conversation is a deeper dive into how she navigated the creation of a completely different business model after moving to a much smaller market. But not just any business model. Nikki created something that was profitable and allowed her to continue to embrace her artistry.

 Matthew “The Body” Kemmetmueller - Rinse. Wash. Repeat. | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Matthew “The Body” Kemmetmueller cracks me up and scares me to death at the same time all the time. He scares me because I never have any idea what he’s going to say or do at any given moment. That’s also why he cracks me up. So we’ve been talking about doing a podcast for a few years and we finally made it happen. You’ll find, if you didn’t already know, that Matthew is hilarious and unpredictable. But you’ll also discover, if you didn’t already know, that he has a great mind for business. Now, everyone has their own business model. Matthew has developed a system in the world of event photography that essentially serves as a template. And now that his template exists, it’s just a matter of executing his system on each shoot. As you listen, consider how might be able to tweak the systems that exist within your model. You might find that even the smallest of improvements can make a big difference.

 Nick Onken - Internal Happiness | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

When I’m really excited about a movie that’s coming out, I do my best to stay away from knowing much about it. I like to go in cold. And for the most part, I really prefer going into these interviews relatively cold. Not completely, mind you, but I enjoy learning about my guests in real time…right along with you. For me, it provides for a much more authentic experience for all of us. I made the mistake of diving into who Nick Onken was about 7 minutes before our interview. I had known of Nick for several years, but I didn’t know a lot about him. When I sat down for our interview, I was a few minutes early so I pulled up his website and began to peruse more than I had before. I quickly discovered that he was a much bigger deal than I even knew. As a result, I became quite nervous about interviewing him and found myself a bit shaken about 37 seconds before he appeared on my screen for our chat. I was delighted when I found him to be extremely grounded and down to earth despite his success and accomplishments. We spoke at the relative beginning to our culture’s response to a pandemic that we didn’t really understand at the time. Despite the craziness, Nick was extremely gracious and easy to talk to. Enjoy our conversation.

 Renee Bowen - Eight Seconds | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

I’m 45 years old. I feel much younger than that most of the time, but with each passing year, the reality of middle age hits home harder and harder. And we’re all in the same boat. None of us can hide from Father Time. That means a lot of things, but one of the things it means for me is that I don’t have to be afraid or feel threatened by or angry at younger generations solely because they are, well, younger. I remember my parents and grandparents not understanding my taste in music. And I see the “get off my lawn” approach all the time. But I think there is something to be said for being able to meet our clients where they are and co-exist in the same space. Renee Bowen is a senior photographer and certified life coach from the LA area. She specializes in creating unique portrait experiences for high school seniors and brands while emphasizing her clients’ authenticity and uniqueness. She offers coaching and various online courses to photographers who want to get their businesses to the next level - always with a focus on Gen Z. I’ve been inspired by Renee’s passion and zest and I really like her approach regarding my own insecurities that seem to be popping up from time to time as I age. We talk about TikTok among other things which is timely as you can now catch This Conversation on there as well. I’ve been told that I’m only as young as I feel. I’m not sure if that’s entirely true, but for now, I’ll go with it. I hope you are doing well, friends. Thanks for listening.

 Dorie Howell and Rachael Boer - Converted | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

If you’re a photographer that gets paid for your time and efforts, you’ve probably heard about In-Person-Sales a million times. If you offer IPS, then you may know how valuable the process can be for your business. If you don’t offer IPS, here is another conversation meant to be encouraging to you. Dorie Howell and Rachael Boer created the online education platform IPS Mastermind in 2015. In this conversation, they share their IPS conversion stories as well as tips and tricks to help you avoid leaving money on the table. Our businesses have all been impacted this year. Many of us are still fighting to keep our heads above the water, so to speak. Doing anything in person may not seem or even be feasible right now, but even if you are conducting online meetings with your clients, several IPS concepts may be able to help you navigate the current situation affecting so many of us. Thanks for listening, folks. And don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help. Visit whcc.com. We’re here for you. Really.

 Benjamin Edwards - Raw | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Identity is a funny thing. Who we are is a big deal. Much of our perceived reality is based on it. And so often, what we do gets conflated with that. One of the first questions people ask each other when they are getting to know each other is, what do you do? Sometimes it’s the very first question. Many of us want to be known by what we do and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Actions speak louder than words after all and again, what we do is important. But is what we do really who we are? Benjamin Edwards is a storyteller from Oregon. We sat down and had a chat online during a time when he was feeling pretty raw. I consider those times to be be the best times to have a discussion…especially with a good man like Ben. He said a lot of things that rang true to me. Identity was one of several things we broached. Join us for this one. There may be something here that resonates with you as well. Oh, and pardon my audio quality issues. In a nutshell, I tried something new while recording and it didn’t work out so well.

 David duChemin - The Point and the Key | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

It’s always great to find someone who’s sincere and down to Earth. I’m talking about the kind of person who doesn’t steal the energy from a room or a group of people. A giver of energy, even. My producer (yes, I have one of those now), came across David duChemin on Instagram and reached out to him for an interview. He kindly accepted and scheduled a time to have a conversation. It was just one of those pleasant talks. I left it feeling better about the industry and the creative process and what our potential as human beings really looks like. And it felt genuine to me…no fluff, so to speak. To me, David is an optimist, and a realist as well. I can appreciate that point of view more than ever right now.

 Ben Hartley - The When | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Our conversations regarding current events continue.

 Matthew Jordan Smith - A Lot to Say | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Matthew Jordan Smith is the type of person that is really well known and really well loved. Those two things don’t always go together but they certainly do with him. And for good reason. Initially, I was planning on speaking with Matthew about marketing and branding. I had a few questions I wanted to ask him about Oprah and Aretha as well. Then, as the day for our interview approached, things changed. In a way, it feels like everything has changed. And when it came time to speak with Matthew, I just decided to listen.

 Meredith Kestel - Essential | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

There are few things in my experience as a business owner and entrepreneur that have been more of a mixed bag than employees. A good employee is worth their weight in gold, and a not-so-good employee can make things very challenging to say the least. I haven’t broached the subject much on this podcast…not intentionally, but the opportunity hasn’t really presented itself. Until recently. A few weeks ago, I had the privilege to speak with Meredith Kestel. She works for Midwest Lifeshots Photography owned by Scott and Jen Elder. I can tell you that after just a couple minutes of my time with Meredith, I knew she was the type of person that anyone would want as an employee. So listen in to hear a bit from an employee’s perspective. The word essential has been used quite a bit lately. I think Meredith embodies it’s meaning perfectly.

 Bruce Dorn - The Director | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

It’s not often that we get to meet living legends, much less spend some time with them. That’s why I was excited and a little nervous when Canon gave me the opportunity to sit with Bruce Dorn. I’ve known of Bruce for a very long time, but I never imagined I’d get to have a conversation with him. I was continually struck by all that he’s been through…all that he’s seen and captured. And I’m quite certain I don’t know the half of it…or even the half of one percent of it. Bruce has lived a very full life. And I have the feeling he’s not done by a long shot. Have fun with this one, friends. I know I did. Oh! And if you want to see what we look like, you can watch this interview, and many others on our YouTube channel.

 John Gress - Creating YouTube Content | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

There are several things that I’ve seen people focus on as we’ve weathered this pandemic. I’ve been encouraged by those who use their time in ways that seem productive and positive. John Gress is a photographer in Chicago…one of the hot spots for this virus. He’s been creating more YouTube content during his stay at home time the last couple months. Here, he shares some insight into what life is like for him, and how he’s using this time to put himself out there. He’s using his skills to reach out to others in similar situations so that they can learn and be inspired by what he has to offer. There are many ways to look at our situation right now. I appreciate that despite being in one of the hardest hit spots in the country, John is using his time well as we move through this. Thanks for listening, friends.

 Scott Robert Lim - The Mission and the Trick | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

We talk about it a bit in this episode, but I knew I had to speak with Scott Robert Lim the second I saw his Facebook post about his Dad’s shoes. If you’ve lost a parent, what is it about them that stays with you? In retrospect, what did they teach you? And not just with their words, but with what they did and who they were? If you still have your parents like I do right now, when is the last time you thanked them or just had the conversation about the helpful things you’ve learned from them? My conversation with Scott really grounded me…humbled me, even. I love his mission to help others. And I can relate to his “trick” many times over. And now that 2020 has turned out to be the way that it has, I’m more grateful than ever to the examples of strength and courage I’ve had in my life. We’re getting through this, friends. Stay strong and stick to your mission.

 Dane Sanders - Uncertain Times | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Dane Sanders - Uncertain Times

 Gary Hughes and Booray Perry - In All Seriousness | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

I don’t know what state you’re in…geographically or psychologically. I know this past month has seemed more like a year to many of us and, of course, I have no idea how much longer this strangeness will last. But sometimes I gather comfort in the little things…like a smile, or a giggle, or even a full blown guffaw. And speaking of laughter, I got to sit with a couple dudes who really set the bar high for podcasts in our industry. Gary Hughes and Booray Perry joined me at WPPI a few months ago…or was it a few years ago? I can’t remember. In any case, we had a ball talking about all kinds of stuff. I felt like I was in the middle of a comedy duo act as we discussed everything from internet trolls to self-driving ride shares and how everything is more amazing than ever. Look, I know that right now, things may be amazing in a lot of ways, but it’s also a very strange, crazy time. My hope is that that light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter. My hope is that you are safe and sound right now. And my hope is that you enjoy this silly conversation between three goofballs who just wanted to make each other laugh a bit. Stay strong, friends.

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