1708684974
Summer School - A Photography + Creative Podcast

Advertise on podcast: Summer School - A Photography + Creative Podcast

Rating
★★★★★
5
from
14 reviews
This podcast has
120 episodes
Language
English
Publisher
Summer Grace
Explicit
No
Date created
2023/09/23
Latest episode
2026/02/03
Average duration
57 min.
Release period
8 days

Description

Welcome to Summer School, the podcast where we explore the world of creativity, entrepreneurship, and beyond. While I may be a wedding photographer by trade, my goal for this podcast is to break free from creative constraints and invite a wide range of guests to join us in thought-provoking conversations. Expect to hear from professionals in various fields – from educators to accountants, musicians to artists, and business owners of all kinds. My aim is to dive deep into the experiences, inspirations, and the nitty gritty of being an entrepreneur. Tune in today, hit subscribe and leave a review if you love what you hear. Summer Grace Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/summergrace.photo/ Summer School Show Notes: https://www.the-summerschool.com/summer-school-show-notes

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Check latest episodes from Summer School - A Photography + Creative Podcast podcast


Cinematic Photography, Social Media, and Finding Your Style with Joshua Mannila
2026/02/03
Hey everyone! This week on the podcast I’m joined by Joshua Mannila, a Portland-based photographer known for his cinematic, moody style. We talk about starting young, growing through social media, being known for a specific look, and giving yourself permission to evolve creatively. Joshua also shares practical advice on posting consistently, capturing BTS, and not letting engagement dictate your confidence as an artist. Meet Joshua: Joshua Mannila is a portrait and couples photographer based in Oregon. His work blends cinema-inspired themes with a modern, editorial style to create images that feel like movie stills. He’s known for using landscapes and light to build the mood and story within each frame. Beyond client work, Joshua also hosts styled shoots and retreats that bring photographers together to create. Connect with Me: Join us at ⁠Summer Camp⁠! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Member of Summer School⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WPPI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get 20% off your ticket using code SUMMER26 Subscribe ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to our emails for updates on all things Summer School! Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@summergrace.photo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the_summerschool⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Shop My Products: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Summer Grace x G-Presets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pricing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Summer Camp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (2026) *Summer School is powered by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Narrative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — the AI culling and editing tool I use that supports my workflow without replacing my creativity. Try Narrative for free today using the link above! Connect with Joshua: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joshuamannila.com/ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/joshuamannila/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joshuamannila
Building Community as a Photographer with Alex Nena
2026/01/27
In this episode, I sat down with Alex Nena, and we’re unpacking what community actually looks like in the photography industry. We talk about building real connections, navigating comparison, and why having people around you matters both personally and professionally. It’s an honest conversation about growth, support, and not trying to do everything on your own. Meet Alex: Alex Nena is a vintage- inspired wedding and elopement photographer based in California. Her work blends old world and modern elegance together capturing weddings that feel both intimate and cinematic. She is known for mostly for her low light capabilities and vintage look. Beyond her client work she is passionate about giving back to the photo community believing that knowledge is meant to be shared and creative growth thrives in community. Connect with Me: Join us at Summer Camp! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Member of Summer School⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WPPI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get 20% off your ticket using code SUMMER26 Subscribe ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to our emails for updates on all things Summer School! Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@summergrace.photo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the_summerschool⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Shop My Products: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Summer Grace x G-Presets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pricing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Summer Camp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (2026) *Summer School is powered by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Narrative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — the AI culling and editing tool I use that supports my workflow without replacing my creativity. Try Narrative for free today using the link above! Connect with Alex: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://byalexnena.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byalexnena/?hl=en
Building a Sustainable Wedding Photography Business with Susan Stripling
2026/01/20
Hi friends! In this episode I’m sitting down with Susan Stripling to talk about what it actually takes to build a sustainable wedding photography business. Susan has been in this industry for over two decades, and her perspective on longevity, business, and staying relevant is grounded and honest. We talk about treating photography like a real business from the beginning, balancing creativity with structure, and why sustainability matters more than quick growth. Meet Susan: Susan Stripling has been photographing weddings, portraits, and theater for almost twenty-five years. Susan's work has been published in Inside Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Modern Bride, Town and Country Weddings, the New York Times, New York Post, Rangerfinder, and PDN. She's won multiple awards at the prestigious Wedding and Portrait Photographers International 16x20 print competition and holds the prestigious Grand Master Status at WPPI as well. She has been named one of the top ten wedding photographers in the world by American Photo Magazine. She is a Canon Explorer of Light and the founder of The Wedding School. In her spare time, Susan is a voracious reader, obsessive new scuba diver, sourdough enthusiast, lover of all horror movies, and inexplicably sleeps with the lights on. Connect with Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Member of Summer School⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WPPI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get 20% off your ticket using code SUMMER26 Subscribe ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to our emails for updates on all things Summer School! Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@summergrace.photo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the_summerschool⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Shop My Products: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Summer Grace x G-Presets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pricing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Summer Camp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (2026) *Summer School is powered by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Narrative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — the AI culling and editing tool I use that supports my workflow without replacing my creativity. Try Narrative for free today using the link above! Connect with Susan: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://susanstripling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanstriplingphotography/
What It Really Looks Like to Grow a Business as a Mom with Hannah Faye
2026/01/13
In this episode, I talk with Hannah Faye about building and scaling a photography business while raising three kids under five. We get into systems, outsourcing, workflow tools, and how she’s structured her business to support her life instead of compete with it. Hannah shares what’s actually helped her grow, what she’s stopped doing, and why community has mattered more than anything. Meet Hannah: Hannah Frederick is a Washington-based wedding photographer, mother of three, and wife who has built and scaled a thriving photography business while welcoming three babies in just over three years. She knows firsthand what it’s like to send client emails while breastfeeding, juggle nap schedules with timelines, and grow a dream business without losing herself—or her peace—in the process.As the founder of a growing associate team, Hannah is deeply passionate about encouraging and empowering women in business, especially mothers who are navigating both ambition and family life. She believes wholeheartedly that it is possible to run a successful, sustainable business without sacrificing family time, presence, or joy.Hannah is living proof that motherhood and entrepreneurship can coexist beautifully—and she truly believes that mothers make the very best businesswomen. Connect with Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Member of Summer School⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WPPI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get 20% off your ticket using code SUMMER26 Subscribe ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to our emails for updates on all things Summer School! Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@summergrace.photo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the_summerschool⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Shop My Products: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Summer Grace x G-Presets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pricing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Summer Camp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (2026) *Summer School is powered by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Narrative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — the AI culling and editing tool I use that supports my workflow without replacing my creativity. Try Narrative for free today using the link above! Connect with Hannah: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hannahfayephoto.com/ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hannahfayephoto/?hl=en Book a mentorship with Hannah here: https://www.hannahfayephoto.com/coaching
Ins and Outs of 2026 for Photographers
2026/01/06
Hi everyone! In this episode, I share my thoughts on where I think 2026 is headed for photographers and creatives. I talk about the growing importance of community, the shift toward more human-first work as AI becomes more common, the pull back toward hands-on, process-driven creativity, and why diversifying income can create more freedom. This is less about predictions and more about patterns I’m noticing and how I’m thinking about moving forward into the new year. Connect with Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Member of Summer School⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠WPPI⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get 20% off your ticket using code SUMMER26 Subscribe ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ to our emails for updates on all things Summer School! Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@summergrace.photo⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠@the_summerschool⁠⁠⁠⁠   Shop My Products: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Summer Grace x G-Presets⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL) ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pricing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Summer Camp⁠⁠⁠⁠ (2026) *Summer School is powered by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Narrative⁠⁠⁠⁠ — the AI culling and editing tool I use that supports my workflow without replacing my creativity. Try Narrative for free today using the link above!
A Creative Director’s Approach to Wedding Photography with Daniel Knight Harris
2025/12/30
This time, I’m sitting down with Daniel Knight Harris, a photographer and art director whose background in music, fashion, and film has deeply shaped how he approaches wedding photography. We talk about his transition from music and fashion into weddings, what it looks like to treat each wedding like a creative brief, and why film still plays such an important role in his work. Meet Daniel: Daniel, is a photographer and art director with a background in music, fashion, and film. For over a decade, he created visual work for brands like Netflix, Pinterest, Leica, Dr Martens, Spotify, and collaborated with some of the world’s most celebrated music artists . In 2021, he traversed fully over from Fashion & Music into weddings bringing his creative director hat with him. Over the years, he's found himself supporting his booked couples over their planning periods, helping them with their creative decisions across fashion, design, curation and production. He brings an artful, personal, and relaxed approach to each celebration he takes on and he feels that in the photographs. His clients typically look for a mixture of film photography and digital photography in their coverage that allow him to create images that feel timeless, expressive, and reflect his couples and their celebrations. His work has been featured in Vogue with two more features coming this month, he has taught a masterclass on Lensel this past September on Film Photography and he was recently named one of the UK’s Top 50 Wedding Photographers by Professional Photo Magazine. He works predominantly in Europe and the U.K. Connect with Me: ⁠⁠⁠Become a Member of Summer School⁠⁠⁠ Join me at ⁠⁠⁠WPPI⁠⁠⁠ and get 20% off your ticket using code SUMMER26 Subscribe ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ to our emails for updates on all things Summer School! Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@summergrace.photo⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠@the_summerschool⁠⁠⁠   Shop My Products: ⁠⁠⁠Summer Grace x G-Presets⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL) ⁠⁠⁠Pricing Guide⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Summer Camp⁠⁠⁠ (2026) *Summer School is powered by ⁠⁠⁠Narrative⁠⁠⁠ — the AI culling and editing tool I use that supports my workflow without replacing my creativity. Try Narrative for free today using the link above! Connect with Daniel: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.danielknightharris.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielknightharris/?hl=en Daniel offers mentorships! Check out his website to inquire. Also, go check out his newly launched business “Film Drops” - https://filmdrops.co.uk/drop-waitlist
What AI Means for Photographers (and Why It Matters) with Chris from Grainy Boi Weddings
2025/12/23
In this episode, I’m sitting down with Chris, a film photographer I discovered through a viral Instagram post about AI that sparked a lot of conversation. He shares the story behind his post, which features AI generated wedding images so convincing they fooled both industry peers and his own family, and why that experiment felt like a real wake-up call. That post opened the door to a much bigger discussion - one about where photography is headed in an AI-powered world, how easily fabricated images can pass as real, and what that means for trust and transparency in our industry. Meet Chris: Chris Spencer-Payne is a UK based film photographer working under the name Grainyboi. His work centres around travel photography & weddings all shot entirely on film. His work is rooted in being present and letting things happen naturally. No forced moments & no heavy polish. Whether he is photographing a wedding or golden hour in the mountains, the goal is always the same. Slow down, pay attention, and trust the process. Connect with Me: ⁠⁠Become a Member of Summer School⁠⁠ Join me at ⁠⁠WPPI⁠⁠ and get 20% off your ticket using code SUMMER26 Subscribe ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to our emails for updates on all things Summer School! Instagram: ⁠⁠@summergrace.photo⁠⁠  ⁠⁠@the_summerschool⁠⁠   Shop My Products: ⁠⁠Summer Grace x G-Presets⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ (⁠⁠discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL) ⁠⁠Pricing Guide⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Summer Camp⁠⁠ (2026) *Summer School is powered by ⁠⁠Narrative⁠⁠ — the AI culling and editing tool I use that supports my workflow without replacing my creativity. Try Narrative for free today using the link above! Connect with Chris: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.grainyboi.com/ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/grainyboiweddings_/
Getting Found Online: SEO and Social Media for Wedding Photographers with Catalina Jean
2025/12/16
This week on the podcast, I’m chatting with Catalina Jean - a former wedding photographer turned marketing and SEO expert. We talk about SEO in a very real, practical way - from understanding how Google actually works to why platforms like Instagram and TikTok are now search engines too. Catalina breaks down how photographers can improve visibility without chasing trends or relying solely on social media, and why slower bookings aren’t always about your work - they’re often about being harder to find. Meet Catalina: Catalina Jean is a wedding photographer, SEO strategist, and mad scientist of marketing. She creates high impact courses for photographers and wedding pros to book out their year, with ease. She believes owning your own business is a hack in the matrix - everyone who has the pull should have access to all the info on how to create a business that thrives. Connect with Me: ⁠Become a Member of Summer School⁠ Join me at ⁠WPPI⁠ and get 20% off your ticket using code SUMMER26 Subscribe ⁠here⁠ to our emails for updates on all things Summer School! Instagram: ⁠@summergrace.photo⁠  ⁠@the_summerschool⁠   Shop My Products: ⁠Summer Grace x G-Presets⁠ ⁠ (⁠discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL) ⁠Pricing Guide⁠ ⁠Summer Camp⁠ (2026) *Summer School is powered by ⁠Narrative⁠ — the AI culling and editing tool I use that supports my workflow without replacing my creativity. Try Narrative for free today using the link above! Connect with Catalina: Check out her “SEO for Socials” course here Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://catalinajeaneducation.com/ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/catalinajean/
The Soft Skills Every Wedding Photographer Needs with Marina Polovinkina
2025/12/09
Hi everyone! This week I’m talking with Marina, a Berlin-based photographer whose approach is super thoughtful and rooted in connection. We get into her shift from political science to photography, how soft skills actually show up in real sessions, and the simple Instagram strategy she uses to book shoots while traveling. Meet Marina: Marina is an international couples and wedding photographer based in Berlin. After a sudden career change, she found freedom and fulfillment in photography. She captures stories of love and life on both digital and film, with Super 8 as her latest passion. Deeply inspired by people, she can’t help but fall in love with them, exploring who they are and seeing them in their truest light. Connect with Me: Become a Member of Summer School Join me at WPPI and get 20% off your ticket using code SUMMER26 Subscribe here to our emails for updates on all things Summer School! Instagram: @summergrace.photo  @the_summerschool   Shop My Products: Summer Grace x G-Presets (discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL) Pricing Guide Summer Camp (2026) *Summer School is powered by Narrative — the AI culling and editing tool I use that supports my workflow without replacing my creativity. Try Narrative for free today using the link above! Connect with Marina: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://marinapolovinkina.com Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ogurezkapusta/
Wedding Photography & Creating On Youtube: A Chat with Magic
2025/12/02
Hi everyone! This time, I’m sitting down with Magic - a wedding photographer and YouTube creator whose personality and branding are just as memorable as his work. We talk about how he built a global wedding photography career, what pushed him onto YouTube, and how he’s grown a community of 50,000+ creatives. Meet Magic: Magic is a destination wedding photographer with over 12 years of experience. He's built Magic Wedding Photographer, a YouTube channel with 45,000+ subscribers that educates professional wedding photographers through gear reviews, technical tutorials, and business strategy.A former Sony Ambassador for 7 years, Magic has evolved from high-volume wedding work to building a comprehensive photography education business. His "Enter the Dragon" philosophy teaches photographers to attract ideal clients through authentic self-expression rather than generic marketing.Based in Poland with his wife Zuzia and four children, Magic serves growing wedding photographers worldwide who want to book better clients, improve their craft, and build sustainable education-focused businesses. Connect with Magic: Website: ⁠www.magicweddingphotographer.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magicweddingphotographer Connect with Me: Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School! ⁠SUBSCRIBE HERE⁠ Show Notes: ⁠the-summerschool.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠@summergrace.photo⁠  ⁠@the_summerschool⁠   Shop My Products: ⁠Become a Member of Summer School⁠ ⁠My Summer Grace x G-Presets⁠ ⁠ (⁠discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL) ⁠My Pricing Guide
The Truth About Shooting Analog in the Wedding Industry with Brjánn Batista Bettencourt
2025/11/25
In this episode, I sit down with Brjánn Batista Bettencourt - a Toronto-based photographer and cinematographer known for his analog and Super 8 work - to talk about what it actually looks like to shoot film in the wedding industry today. Brjánn shares how his journey from photojournalism to weddings, his skateboarding background, and his Portuguese-Canadian roots shaped the way he tells stories. We dive into why he’s so committed to analog, what Super 8 brings to a wedding day, and the realities (and challenges) of shooting film for clients in a digital-heavy industry. Meet Brjaan Brjánn (Brian) Batista Bettencourt is a Toronto-based photographer and cinematographer whose work lives at the intersection of documentary truth and nostalgic longing. Brjánn’s career spans photojournalism, editorial portraiture, and motion-picture work, with tenures at the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and Country Music Television, where he photographed renowned artists such as Shawn Mendes, Shania Twain, Dierks Bentley and Florida Georgina Line. His analog film work has been featured by CBC and placed him on the cover of PhotoLife Magazine for his work with Kodak Ektachrome. Today, Brjánn works internationally across weddings, editorial assignments, and long-form personal projects, drawing inspiration from his coming of age experiences in the skateboarding community and duality of cultures as a Portuguese-Canadian. He lives in Toronto with his wife and collaborator, photographer and designer Ryanne Hollies. Connect with Brjánn: Stay tuned for a potential Super 8 workshop happening in 2026! Website: www.3bphoto.ca Instagram: @brjann.c0m Connect with Me: Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School! SUBSCRIBE HERE Show Notes: the-summerschool.com Instagram: @summergrace.photo  @the_summerschool   Shop My Products: Become a Member of Summer School My Summer Grace x G-Presets (discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL) My Pricing Guide
AI, Lighting, and Composition: With Wedding Photographer Lukas Piatek
2025/11/18
This time I’m joined by photographer Lukas Piatek to talk about AI, lighting, and composition - three things shaping photography right now. We break down the AI tools worth using, how to elevate your images with stronger light, and why developing your own style matters more than following trends.\ Meet Lukas: Lukas Piatek is a destination wedding and elopement photographer known for his cinematic, emotive imagery and work across more than 30 countries. Based in Germany, and splitting his time between Europe and beyond, Lukas captures weddings with a raw, storytelling approach that blends editorial elegance with genuine emotion. Lukas is also the creator behind Meridian Presets, used by thousands of photographers worldwide to achieve natural, film-inspired tones. Alongside his photography work, Lukas mentors creatives in SEO and brand strategy, helping photographers elevate their online presence and grow sustainable businesses. Connect with Lukas: Website: www.lukaspiatek.com Instagram: @lukaspiatekphotography Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/lukaspiatek Connect with Me: Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School! SUBSCRIBE HERE Show Notes: the-summerschool.com Instagram: @summergrace.photo  @the_summerschool   Shop My Products: Become a Member of Summer School My Summer Grace x G-Presets (discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL) My Pricing Guide
The Magic of Instant Film: Professional Polaroid Photography with Ryan Shaver
2025/11/11
Hi everyone! Today I’m talking with Bay Area photographer Ryan Shaver, who shoots exclusively on Polaroid. We get into how he built a business around instant film, what makes the medium so different to work with, and how he’s carved out a unique spot in the industry. Meet Ryan: Ryan Shaver is a Polaroid photographer based in the San Francisco Bay Area who stands out in the professional photography world for shooting exclusively on Polaroid. After completing his graduate research paper, Predictive Processing for Artificial Intelligence & Cognition, Ryan leaned fully into instant film as a way to preserve memories with honesty and imperfection. In 2022, he bet that people would eventually grow tired of the overly polished look of AI-generated imagery and crave something real. He went all in on a niche few pursue due to its high costs and challenges, landing his first client within a year. Since 2023, Ryan has photographed weddings, portraits, and major corporate events — including a recent donors event at the Exploratorium — and now also serves as the Creative Director for Siempre Golden clothing brand. Connect with Ryan: Corporate Holiday Party Season is coming up, and Ryan is still taking bookings! The first ten people to book a wedding package next year, if they drop the code "SUMMER", will get 10% the total negotiated package price. Website: ⁠shaver.film Instagram: ⁠@shaver.film Connect with Me: Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School! ⁠SUBSCRIBE HERE⁠ Show Notes: ⁠the-summerschool.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠@summergrace.photo⁠  ⁠@the_summerschool⁠   Shop My Products: ⁠Become a Member of Summer School⁠ ⁠My Summer Grace x G-Presets⁠ ⁠ (⁠discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL) ⁠My Pricing Guide
Life Updates: Moving, Workshops, and Family Sessions
2025/11/04
This week, I’m catching you up on what’s been going on lately -our move back to the Pacific Northwest, settling into a new routine, and how I’ve unexpectedly started shooting more families. After years focused on weddings, it’s been a refreshing change that’s been teaching me a lot! Connect with Me: Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School! ⁠SUBSCRIBE HERE⁠ Show Notes: ⁠the-summerschool.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠@summergrace.photo⁠  ⁠@the_summerschool⁠   Shop My Products: ⁠Become a Member of Summer School⁠ ⁠My Summer Grace x G-Presets⁠ ⁠ (⁠discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL) ⁠My Pricing Guide
Directing, Shooting, and Dreaming Bigger with Tiana Michele
2025/10/28
This week I’m joined by New York based photographer and director Tiana Michele, whose creative journey perfectly blends art, risk-taking, and reinvention. We met at Nikon’s Creator Camp in Utah, and I was instantly drawn to her work and the way she tells stories through both photo and film. In this episode, we dive into how she transitioned from weddings to directing short films, the beauty of collaboration, and what it really looks like to keep evolving as an artist. Meet Tiana Tiana is a Sierra Leonean-American photographer, director, and writer based in New York City. She has a BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography. She began taking photos in 2020, during the pandemic after taking a break from dance immediately after graduating. She works with film and digital format and much of her personal work is inspired by things happening in the world around us with an emphasis in feminism, fashion, movement, and things she has dealt with personally as a third culture woman of color. Her most recent notable work in film is her directorial debut Manspread. Connect with Tiana: Website: tianamichelephoto.com Instagram and TikTok: @bytianamichele Connect with Me: Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School! SUBSCRIBE HERE Show Notes: the-summerschool.com Instagram: @summergrace.photo  @the_summerschool   Shop My Products: Become a Member of Summer School My Summer Grace x G-Presets (discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL) My Pricing Guide

Podcast reviews

Read Summer School - A Photography + Creative Podcast podcast reviews


5 out of 5
14 reviews
★★★★★
Madi Seydel 2025/09/22
Perfect Photography Podcast!
Summer’s conversational tone and the perfect sound quality make Summer School my favorite photography podcast to listen to. She shares so much helpful...
★★★★★
James Wolf Photography 2025/08/26
My favorite photography podcast!!
I have been listening to Summer School since Summer launched it and have been a huge fan. I love the layout of the episodes and how conversational and...
★★★★★
Rebel CEO Podcast 2024/10/23
So much value!
Summer’s knowledge is so unique and she’ll get you thinking outside of the box with her episodes for sure! I’m so happy I found her show!
★★★★★
Rachel HJ 2023/10/11
Amazing!!
First episode and I am in love with this podcast! Absolutely love Summer on Instagram, so looking forward for the next episodes 🤍
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