Lensbaby Presents is a podcast about photography, creativity, and the people behind the images.Hosted by Elizabeth Willson, each episode features honest, engaging conversations with photographers about their journeys, creative process, artistic evolution, successes, failures, experiments, influences, and the experiences that shaped the way they see the world.From finding your unique style to pushing creative boundaries, Lensbaby Presents explores what happens when photographers stop trying to make their work look like everyone else’s and start seeing differently.Along the way, we’ll talk about the tools, techniques, ideas, and Lensbaby experiences that help photographers experiment, create, and bring their vision to life.One photographer. One story. One conversation at a time. Learn more about Lensbaby and our creative effects lenses and optics as well as explore our award-winning collection at https://www.Lensbaby.com Use the code &#34;Podcast&#34; for 10% off your first order Learn more about our host Elizabeth Willson: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethwillsonphotography/

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/9/10/14/091f1f0e-832e-40c4-a495-cd6651e1860a__scenes_with_mara_magyarosi-laytner_audio_only.mp3

What if your photography did not end with the click of the shutter?In this episode of Lensbaby Presents, host Liz Willson welcomes fine-art photographer, educator, curator, and Lensbaby Ambassador Mara Magyarosi-Laytner for a thoughtful conversation about experimental photography, physical printmaking, visual poetry, creative courage, and building a meaningful artistic practice.Mara shares her journey from high-school darkroom photography to earning degrees in photography, art education, arts administration, and an MFA in photography. She discusses how teaching and making art work together, why experimentation matters, and how her project-based approach allows her work to evolve over time.A central theme of this conversation is simple but powerful: make your art real. Photography is not only a digital file or an image on a screen. Mara encourages artists to print their work, experiment with materials, create photo books, pursue exhibitions, apply to open calls, and place their art where it can connect with people.You will also hear about Mara’s evolving body of work, The Subtle Body of Living Things, which explores memory, time, identity, health, anxiety, absence, and altered perception. Through video, photographic fragments, Polaroid lifts, hand-coated prints, projections, Lensbaby OMNI effects, Edge optics, and experimental processes, she creates work that reflects the disorientation and fragmented experience of lost time.Whether you are a photographer, artist, creative entrepreneur, photography student, or someone who has been waiting for permission to share your work, this conversation will challenge you to try the hard thing, embrace the learning process, and keep moving forward even when self-doubt shows up.In this episode, you’ll learn:● Why your photography should not end with the shutter click● How to turn digital images into tangible, physical artwork● Ways to start exhibiting photography in galleries, libraries, hospitals, coffee shops, and local art spaces● Why applying for creative opportunities matters, even when you expect rejection● How artists can use experimentation, symbolism, and visual poetry to develop deeper work● Why ongoing photography projects can evolve over months or years● How to create a photography book or artist monograph● How Mara uses the Lensbaby OMNI system, colored crystals, Edge optics, and Velvet lenses● Why in-camera experimentation can reduce dependence on heavy editing● How photography, video, alternative processes, and mixed media can work together● How to work through imposter syndrome, rejection, and creative failure● What it means to “shoot extraordinary”Mara also shares the story behind Nova 24 Photo and Film Festival, an experimental photography and film festival she co-founded to create more opportunities for innovative artists and filmmakers. The festival features exhibitions, artist talks, projection galleries, film screenings, and work from artists across the United States and internationally.<a href="https://ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/attachments/295579911/7acf5934-426c-45b5-a6c3-5e1d72e59817/EP-04-Conversation-Behind-The-Scenes-with-Mara-Magyarosi-Laytner.txt?AWSAccessKeyId=ASIA2F3EMEYERYUUIVR4&Expires=1788980814&Signature=mDkl0NZM1V7FPNvztR5V7JMPyHg%3D&x-amz-security-token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEKv%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJHMEUCIBEkSNaM80kq4yGDBfpuXDQlv0lNYsKdPPC2ZNj0dOU0AiEA0IiZ1UEzS0Jq5vryuavrwcgREjmdYsNTYO%2FIrVXlZiwq8wQIchABGgw2OTk3NTMzMDk3MDUiDKZ4anBY4Wd904zaISrQBPmOiAsP15%2FLiwF5urOCZBlkop41HviU90hzI7Ic7BSMHJZjx8Xyg5alGIlDidXezzuEBENbp%2FcUrvhqV88mWPwIL2vLi6NBhUMiDO%2FI%2BxiMsdJiquHem%2FCzkfpmsg89hNQNVyFcD67K%2FeFVspZUwC5E%2F1jy5eM5ssEu0x7XY4CU8dKOqN8%2FPE3eoNJtWZysHFHPBylgYlyGShMXkGmmv9jnC6glVPjY%2BimnNG42CeAqOp5LfJYj54JSh%2BPIUiQhmah4UWxYHtBX3S5OV%2FAHKC%2BFx6AN5p3TqWicr5S2jAtsBVF1Gk8g0y04e5o5cPPLihopuumVXVrcXZim0x4HY94FO1xEZRAwT5mqRUifC7yu03DG5a7XRa8pum7lbhrRLGdIpZO8UX%2Fr0lOOkNGEaS8PFBcm3iaUcf1gVz4upRKTP8k1TpmXX3kppmRfomZfb%2FnwX79gpTLcSw7Ch5%2B0kO2MyHbr6Nkw6dlbwpFfkScm8V94uMbnKBNUs0sR4P5g9kwT3gabqZoWlP6DyPXZsQlIW8Z%2BoygoT6nmiO1Gv%2BZMl1bXLggZ36NjpINsZ5sT%2Bt5cOHKOsfRXwjhssf8TFgUDwaNOswNOANbufiZDVtamyn4VuqQxKPVd2OVAlwyJ1nLHDug7XcvpzYJimieGRLK3I9JKeA8VwaKWmA3Z4H3AsrZXiTurfg4OzM08sQ94mS%2F95i6o%2FKC7WkIlUjA9437d6q4Aj46Tf31JccZcAoNjB8toR3JixKpWEY1UgjvVZ6IYNhNS9sweKWVhbASy3RIw%2B8CG1QY6mAEYaJ2nQVwk7sGgnAvAqgQ3Z7Oibb4wpx89bcOLzf603I%2FBMYXRzYcLv6qWjFm26L%2FnoHxSuMw43Z334YE%2FywJsIG%2F0AvYJJKHyXklPqRbTh51eqnEAPAYkjs1U2Xoo7RYRatPVes6U8sKtpMeLXtl7H6fnhbyMlf8WB6Wn6hzMOWHYKw4FwycwxjHgn2VyyXmvm3m%2ByFxkkw%3D%3D" rel="nofollow">EP-04-Conversation-Behind-The-Scenes-with-Mara-Magyarosi-Laytner.txt</a>Creative reminder: Do not be the first person to tell yourself no. Apply for the exhibition. Submit to the open call. Print the work. Share the project. You never know who needs to encounter your art.Connect with Mara Magyarosi-LaytnerInstagram: @maramagyarosiWebsite: MaraMagyarosiLaytner.comMara shares her artwork, creative process, exhibitions, and artist opportunities through her website and Instagram.<a href="https://ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/attachments/295579911/7acf5934-426c-45b5-a6c3-5e1d72e59817/EP-04-Conversation-Behind-The-Scenes-with-Mara-Magyarosi-Laytner.txt?AWSAccessKeyId=ASIA2F3EMEYERYUUIVR4&Expires=1788980814&Signature=mDkl0NZM1V7FPNvztR5V7JMPyHg%3D&x-amz-security-token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEKv%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJHMEUCIBEkSNaM80kq4yGDBfpuXDQlv0lNYsKdPPC2ZNj0dOU0AiEA0IiZ1UEzS0Jq5vryuavrwcgREjmdYsNTYO%2FIrVXlZiwq8wQIchABGgw2OTk3NTMzMDk3MDUiDKZ4anBY4Wd904zaISrQBPmOiAsP15%2FLiwF5urOCZBlkop41HviU90hzI7Ic7BSMHJZjx8Xyg5alGIlDidXezzuEBENbp%2FcUrvhqV88mWPwIL2vLi6NBhUMiDO%2FI%2BxiMsdJiquHem%2FCzkfpmsg89hNQNVyFcD67K%2FeFVspZUwC5E%2F1jy5eM5ssEu0x7XY4CU8dKOqN8%2FPE3eoNJtWZysHFHPBylgYlyGShMXkGmmv9jnC6glVPjY%2BimnNG42CeAqOp5LfJYj54JSh%2BPIUiQhmah4UWxYHtBX3S5OV%2FAHKC%2BFx6AN5p3TqWicr5S2jAtsBVF1Gk8g0y04e5o5cPPLihopuumVXVrcXZim0x4HY94FO1xEZRAwT5mqRUifC7yu03DG5a7XRa8pum7lbhrRLGdIpZO8UX%2Fr0lOOkNGEaS8PFBcm3iaUcf1gVz4upRKTP8k1TpmXX3kppmRfomZfb%2FnwX79gpTLcSw7Ch5%2B0kO2MyHbr6Nkw6dlbwpFfkScm8V94uMbnKBNUs0sR4P5g9kwT3gabqZoWlP6DyPXZsQlIW8Z%2BoygoT6nmiO1Gv%2BZMl1bXLggZ36NjpINsZ5sT%2Bt5cOHKOsfRXwjhssf8TFgUDwaNOswNOANbufiZDVtamyn4VuqQxKPVd2OVAlwyJ1nLHDug7XcvpzYJimieGRLK3I9JKeA8VwaKWmA3Z4H3AsrZXiTurfg4OzM08sQ94mS%2F95i6o%2FKC7WkIlUjA9437d6q4Aj46Tf31JccZcAoNjB8toR3JixKpWEY1UgjvVZ6IYNhNS9sweKWVhbASy3RIw%2B8CG1QY6mAEYaJ2nQVwk7sGgnAvAqgQ3Z7Oibb4wpx89bcOLzf603I%2FBMYXRzYcLv6qWjFm26L%2FnoHxSuMw43Z334YE%2FywJsIG%2F0AvYJJKHyXklPqRbTh51eqnEAPAYkjs1U2Xoo7RYRatPVes6U8sKtpMeLXtl7H6fnhbyMlf8WB6Wn6hzMOWHYKw4FwycwxjHgn2VyyXmvm3m%2ByFxkkw%3D%3D" rel="nofollow">EP-04-Conversation-Behind-The-Scenes-with-Mara-Magyarosi-Laytner.txt</a>Explore Lensbaby creative lenses, OMNI filters, and photography tools, and use code PODCAST for 10% off as referenced in this episode.<a href="https://ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/attachments/295579911/7acf5934-426c-45b5-a6c3-5e1d72e59817/EP-04-Conversation-Behind-The-Scenes-with-Mara-Magyarosi-Laytner.txt?AWSAccessKeyId=ASIA2F3EMEYERYUUIVR4&Expires=1788980814&Signature=mDkl0NZM1V7FPNvztR5V7JMPyHg%3D&x-amz-security-token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEKv%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJHMEUCIBEkSNaM80kq4yGDBfpuXDQlv0lNYsKdPPC2ZNj0dOU0AiEA0IiZ1UEzS0Jq5vryuavrwcgREjmdYsNTYO%2FIrVXlZiwq8wQIchABGgw2OTk3NTMzMDk3MDUiDKZ4anBY4Wd904zaISrQBPmOiAsP15%2FLiwF5urOCZBlkop41HviU90hzI7Ic7BSMHJZjx8Xyg5alGIlDidXezzuEBENbp%2FcUrvhqV88mWPwIL2vLi6NBhUMiDO%2FI%2BxiMsdJiquHem%2FCzkfpmsg89hNQNVyFcD67K%2FeFVspZUwC5E%2F1jy5eM5ssEu0x7XY4CU8dKOqN8%2FPE3eoNJtWZysHFHPBylgYlyGShMXkGmmv9jnC6glVPjY%2BimnNG42CeAqOp5LfJYj54JSh%2BPIUiQhmah4UWxYHtBX3S5OV%2FAHKC%2BFx6AN5p3TqWicr5S2jAtsBVF1Gk8g0y04e5o5cPPLihopuumVXVrcXZim0x4HY94FO1xEZRAwT5mqRUifC7yu03DG5a7XRa8pum7lbhrRLGdIpZO8UX%2Fr0lOOkNGEaS8PFBcm3iaUcf1gVz4upRKTP8k1TpmXX3kppmRfomZfb%2FnwX79gpTLcSw7Ch5%2B0kO2MyHbr6Nkw6dlbwpFfkScm8V94uMbnKBNUs0sR4P5g9kwT3gabqZoWlP6DyPXZsQlIW8Z%2BoygoT6nmiO1Gv%2BZMl1bXLggZ36NjpINsZ5sT%2Bt5cOHKOsfRXwjhssf8TFgUDwaNOswNOANbufiZDVtamyn4VuqQxKPVd2OVAlwyJ1nLHDug7XcvpzYJimieGRLK3I9JKeA8VwaKWmA3Z4H3AsrZXiTurfg4OzM08sQ94mS%2F95i6o%2FKC7WkIlUjA9437d6q4Aj46Tf31JccZcAoNjB8toR3JixKpWEY1UgjvVZ6IYNhNS9sweKWVhbASy3RIw%2B8CG1QY6mAEYaJ2nQVwk7sGgnAvAqgQ3Z7Oibb4wpx89bcOLzf603I%2FBMYXRzYcLv6qWjFm26L%2FnoHxSuMw43Z334YE%2FywJsIG%2F0AvYJJKHyXklPqRbTh51eqnEAPAYkjs1U2Xoo7RYRatPVes6U8sKtpMeLXtl7H6fnhbyMlf8WB6Wn6hzMOWHYKw4FwycwxjHgn2VyyXmvm3m%2ByFxkkw%3D%3D" rel="nofollow">EP-04-Conversation-Behind-The-Scenes-with-Mara-Magyarosi-Laytner.txt</a>Question for you: What piece of art have you been holding back from printing, submitting, sharing, or putting out into the world?Subscribe to Lensbaby Presents for more conversations with photographers, artists, Lensbaby Ambassadors, visual storytellers, and creatives who are learning to shoot extraordinary.Chapters00:00 Why Photography Should Become Physical Art00:26 Make Your Art Tangible, Printed, and Real01:20 Where to Share Your Photography Beyond Galleries02:13 How Art Can Bring Hope and Healing to Others03:11 Why You Need to Share Your Work04:16 Welcome to Lensbaby Presents04:45 How Mara Magyarosi-Laytner Started Photography05:27 Discovering Photography in High School05:56 Learning Through the Darkroom06:24 From Photography Degrees to Fine Art07:16 Teaching, Arts Administration, and an MFA08:17 Building a Career as a Fine-Art Photographer09:06 Why Artists Must Keep Making Their Own Work09:57 Creating More Opportunities for Experimental Photography10:32 The Story Behind Nova 24 Photo and Film Festival11:26 Supporting Experimental Photo and Film Artists13:30 Project-Based Photography, Symbolism, and Visual Poetry14:06 Why Experimentation Creates Unexpected Results15:07 Photography Does Not End With the Image15:36 Alternative Printing and Experimental Photo Processes16:09 Combining Photography, Video, and Mixed Media17:14 How Mara Begins a Photography Project18:28 Exploring Creative Methods Before Knowing the Outcome19:30 Building Inspiration Boards for Art Projects20:38 The Beginning of The Subtle Body of Living Things20:51 Anxiety, Vasovagal Syncope, and Altered Perception22:48 Searching for Peace Through Photography23:44 Using Video, Crystals, and the OMNI System24:33 When Video Began Reflecting a Personal Experience25:32 Photography as a Medium for Exploring Time26:01 Creating Images From Missing Pieces of Time26:37 Polaroid Lifts, Film Fragments, and Experimental Books27:27 The Aftermath: Art as a Conversation With Yourself28:07 Music, Rhythm, and the Disruption of Time28:40 Why an Art Project Can Remain in Progress30:13 Knowing When a Photography Project Is Complete30:40 The Untended Garden Photography Project31:37 Turning a Long-Term Project Into a Photography Book33:28 Experience Creative Freedom With Lensbaby34:26 Why Mara Makes Physical Prints35:20 Hand-Coated Paper and Visible Brushstrokes36:13 What Comes After Creating the Digital File?37:03 Art, Time, and the Value of Long-Term Creativity38:50 Imposter Syndrome, Failure, and Trying Big Things39:20 Why You Should Not Be the One to Tell Yourself No39:48 When a Printing Experiment Does Not Work41:04 The Reality of Rejection in the Art World41:47 Applying for a Guggenheim Fellowship42:56 Why Rejection Does Not Mean You Do Not Belong44:00 Keep Trying, Learning, and Moving Forward45:24 Living for the Hope of It All45:44 How Creative Risk Builds Confidence47:24 What Mara Is Creating Now48:17 The Intersection of Photography and Film48:46 Creating Effects In Camera Instead of Editing49:06 How Mara Uses Lensbaby Tools49:48 Why the OMNI System Changed Her Work50:41 Using Colored OMNI Crystals for Artistic Expression50:59 Creating Self-Portraits With the Velvet 5651:17 Why Mara Loves the Edge Lens and Tilt-Shift Effects52:23 Lensbaby as the Beginning of the Creative Process53:32 Speed Round: Photography Inspiration and Creative Rules53:56 The Photography Gear Mara Loves Most54:02 The Most Overrated Photography Rule54:24 What Makes a Photograph Instantly Interesting54:42 A Subject Mara Always Photographs55:00 Photography Is Better When You Are With Friends55:06 What It Means to Shoot Extraordinary56:43 Curiosity, Growth, and Pushing Photography Forward58:04 Where to Find Mara Magyarosi-Laytner59:19 Artist Open Calls and Creative Opportunities01:00:07 Final Challenge: Make Your Art Real What does extraordinary creative freedom mean to you as a photographer? Our mission is to give photographers the tools to move through their fear of shame, judgement, guilt, and being a part of the status quo. Photography isn&#39;t about fitting in. Photography is about discovery, risk, getting out of the box, saying no to what everyone else is doing and being EXTRAORDINARY as defined by you.We believe that creativity isn&#39;t about what THEY do. Photography is about what YOU want to do!What does being a photographer mean to you?How do you #ShootExtraordinaryLearn more about Lensbaby Https://www.Lensbaby.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/LensbabyusaElizabeth (Liz) WillsonWebsite: elizabethwillsonphotography.comInstagram: @ElizabethwillsonphotographyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elizabethwillsonphotography #Lensbaby #LensbabyPresents #ExperimentalPhotography #FineArtPhotography #PhotographyPodcast #PhotographyEducation #CreativePhotography #AlternativeProcessPhotography #MixedMediaArt #PhotographyInspiration #ArtistInterview #OMNISystem #LensbabyOMNI #PhotographyExhibition #PhotographyPrints #VisualStorytelling #CreativeProcess #ShootExtraordinary

EP 04: Conversation Behind The Scenes with Mara Magyarosi Laytner

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What happens when you stop chasing the perfect image and allow the creative process to evolve?In this episode of Lensbaby Presents, host Liz Willson welcomes photographer, veteran, and Lensbaby Ambassador Tony Hogrefe for a powerful behind-the-scenes conversation about photography, creativity, storytelling, and healing through art.Tony shares how a black-and-white film photography class after returning from Iraq changed the direction of his life. What began as an elective became a lifelong creative practice, a way to communicate what could not always be spoken, and a path toward making meaningful portraiture.Together, Liz and Tony explore why photographers often get stuck trying to force an image to match the vision in their head, and why letting go can create more freedom, better work, and more meaningful results.Tony also discusses his ongoing Vestiges of Service project, a portrait series focused on the lives combat veterans lead after war. Through intentional conversations and handcrafted editorial portraits, he explores memory, grief, brotherhood, reconciliation, post-traumatic stress, and the human stories that continue long after military service ends.You will also hear how Tony uses Lensbaby lenses, including the Velvet 85, Sweet 35, Sweet 50, Sweet 80, Double Glass, Edge 80, and Twist 60, to create soft, emotional, memory-like images that help viewers focus on what matters most in the frame.Whether you are a portrait photographer, creative professional, veteran, storyteller, or someone seeking more creative freedom behind the camera, this conversation is an invitation to get out of your own way, trust the process, and make work that feels true to you.In this episode, you’ll learn:● How to let go of rigid expectations in photography● Why the creative process matters as much as the final image● How intentional camera movement can expand creative expression● How photography can become a tool for personal expression and reflection● How to create portraits that reveal a person, not just a physical appearance● Why client connection is essential for meaningful senior portraits● How Lensbaby lenses can add softness, selective focus, emotion, and visual storytelling● The story and mission behind Tony Hogrefe’s Vestiges of Service portrait project● Why creative risk and failure are necessary parts of growth● What it means to “shoot extraordinary”Connect with Tony HogrefeFollow Tony on Instagram: @tony.hogrefe.photographySearch for Brass and Glass Studio to find more of his work and connect with him online.<a 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rel="nofollow">EP-03Conversation-Behind-The-Scenes-with-Tony-Hograve.txt</a>Explore creative lenses, optics, and OMNI effects at Lensbaby, and use code PODCAST for 10% off as mentioned in the episode.<a href="https://ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/attachments/295579911/d8641c8b-6f1f-473e-a245-2e063c6c60a4/EP-03Conversation-Behind-The-Scenes-with-Tony-Hograve.txt?AWSAccessKeyId=ASIA2F3EMEYE2SWJWLGB&Expires=1788977751&Signature=rcn7hNb8AwJqobJPKTtZGmjUpdY%3D&x-amz-security-token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEKr%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJHMEUCIE4mDf%2FjSo5GUw268ULhh%2BGW2yLU4NoqwX0EmjZuFu0aAiEAyKUIQWKvrWrkcvwFzyTCcVkO1Rb15AXL9hBkSuXURIUq8wQIchABGgw2OTk3NTMzMDk3MDUiDEKk7g8xtOZi0jGcYirQBCPnho5rYsVWKZ7jlHG4j31ciXQm4EmSmqmvi4okHER1a2J52%2B7cozGtksK6MTe1rYly84q0QsadmOGYiMAJClLxjd7KpQMIn8u%2FgaQgptM89lS8Qc193VTI%2FgWm1Q1Hb2Vgcdvd6eDCRChk2KKbKbCLrE9OJ%2FwI55UWkubNDK8szH3qNbbflr9c3LpJEq0MMKdompE1%2Fj5iFELreTKjAe67iKbV5OQKuyo1sdbueRM2F6iN3Or7a7M8e4twO4YuBfEjRzTSVYLGav%2FaOx%2FlDaQYBlEtRNAd7QJdRsNdelzSX2PHMzDcjKkirxOhiQHns89udkKrTV8nExcGUrdkXGnIYS8%2BFN1JYeOUpRLafExUdijqIArRPHea0Qy7hKbkSNTKEn3CTZyQYSmqonZYtFF7pKlb7WsYHjAL9GzLd5riM1XqLPwkMboL%2Bln1uPF59RNZu0xgPqX2gtcHV3MkyhZHEM2xhZW4Z8%2BjOS8XnqI4poszpwLcWi%2FCK2cuyQ3whWLFRrL4J1ih%2F2IB%2FBntvpD%2BfySaJxUHZm5aGAh%2FQofMxl8ErkxAPLxrXyUZ20Mfh3PWM5uyHnQEoHWtUosAYrJ6LJqgZaqqA2ez9sWWSYoB0K63XTYkxcaK%2FkzIxifngOtEhszLmTaV8HlfxXhV2lviUwnDT4NcqMC1hfaiyR6URaQLR0jCwXzwunA2EhiZw7Fnlc18FQG3tjUfFwAnoBIImS7LN8WTyy3iKuBgIQoTouVqqU4Wo6WE%2FL1yqhY0Y0fULIy%2BiIJbwSNmQ8he8Z8whKmG1QY6mAHtGAUZAIE9bFZcDNvRI0FtuS2B3NF0MGTfCKuV3Glm9%2BP9Ap0AYujqwzJ8QdEcusBa480b2UOpNtWyg8RO2yb7UR6WK1FX%2BK8mkbf4GqbW0%2BM18bUXi%2BLGxg09xon5YXVi1PFJg8e4YBN1rZonlJGNsM7nUv%2BuImaK2t4A%2BkqWw%2FBHkAlXnwZALT8iGJTXr4ciOvNYWMyWqw%3D%3D" rel="nofollow">EP-03Conversation-Behind-The-Scenes-with-Tony-Hograve.txt</a>If this conversation inspired you, leave a comment below: What helps you get out of your own way creatively?Subscribe for more conversations with photographers, Lensbaby Ambassadors, visual storytellers, and artists who are redefining what it means to shoot extraordinary.Chapters00:00 Letting Go in the Creative Process01:40 Intentional Camera Movement and Creative Frustration03:13 Finding Freedom Beyond the Final Result03:48 Why Lensbaby Encourages Creative Experimentation05:33 Welcome to Lensbaby Presents05:59 How Tony Hogrefe Started Photography06:51 Falling in Love With Black-and-White Film Photography07:36 From the Marine Corps to Photography09:03 Teaching Photography and Sharing Knowledge10:47 “I Want to Make Something Pretty”11:13 How Photography Helped After Iraq12:21 Landscape Photography, Quiet, and Meditation12:58 Using Portraiture to Say What Words Cannot14:04 Photography as a Creative Outlet15:24 Process Creates the Product16:58 Letting a Photograph Evolve18:06 Leaving the Photography Studio Behind18:59 Photograph the Adjective, Not the Noun21:11 Choosing Work That Protects Your Creative Joy21:46 Creating Personal Senior Portrait Sessions22:20 A Book Lover’s Custom Senior Portrait Session25:35 Experience Creative Freedom With Lensbaby26:32 How Tony Uses Lensbaby for Portrait Storytelling27:12 The Velvet 85 for Soft, Feminine Portraits27:49 Tony’s Favorite Lensbaby Sweet Spot Lenses28:29 Creating Emotional, Memory-Like Images30:37 The Vestiges of Service Project31:17 The Origins of Tony’s Veteran Portrait Project33:24 Life After War and Post-Traumatic Stress35:22 Memory, Grief, Brotherhood, and Reconciliation35:43 The Portrait Process With Combat Veterans37:25 Goal: A Veterans Day 2027 Exhibit38:32 Creating a Traveling Photography Exhibition40:43 Finding Veterans for the Project41:47 The Story Behind a Veteran Portrait43:22 New Creative Projects and Senior Portrait Ideas43:44 Creating a Forensics-Inspired Senior Portrait Session45:37 Experimenting With Light Painting46:23 Why Creative Clients Make Better Work47:06 Saying No to Work That Drains Your Passion48:44 Learning Through Failure50:15 One Lens, One Subject, and 24 Hours51:18 Using Self-Imposed Creative Limitations53:04 Speed Round: Photography Gear and Rules53:17 The Gear Tony Loves Most53:23 The Most Overrated Photography Rule53:29 What Makes a Photo Instantly Interesting53:59 A Subject Tony Always Photographs54:07 Photography Is Better When You Let It Happen55:09 What It Means to Shoot Extraordinary56:38 Where to Find Tony Hogrefe57:39 Final Thoughts: Get Out of Your Own Way What does extraordinary creative freedom mean to you as a photographer? Our mission is to give photographers the tools to move through their fear of shame, judgement, guilt, and being a part of the status quo. Photography isn&#39;t about fitting in. Photography is about discovery, risk, getting out of the box, saying no to what everyone else is doing and being EXTRAORDINARY as defined by you.We believe that creativity isn&#39;t about what THEY do. Photography is about what YOU want to do!What does being a photographer mean to you?How do you #ShootExtraordinaryLearn more about Lensbaby Https://www.Lensbaby.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/LensbabyusaElizabeth (Liz) WillsonWebsite: elizabethwillsonphotography.comInstagram: @ElizabethwillsonphotographyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elizabethwillsonphotography #Lensbaby #LensbabyPresents #PhotographyPodcast #PortraitPhotography #CreativePhotography #PhotographyTips #PhotographerInterview #PhotographyInspiration #VeteranPhotographer #VisualStorytelling #SeniorPortraits #FineArtPhotography #PhotographyCreativity #IntentionalCameraMovement #ShootExtraordinary

EP 03: Conversation Behind The Scenes with Tony Hogrefe

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/9/2/1/05ebcd59-c434-4eeb-9fc4-0ed2ca844062_ind_the_scenes_with_carol_vipperman_audio_only.mp3

In this episode of Lensbaby Presents, host Liz Wilson sits down with Lensbaby Ambassador Carol Vipperman for an inspiring conversation about photography, creativity, photo walks, experimentation, and finding beauty in the everyday.Carol shares how a simple point-and-shoot camera and a trip to Europe unexpectedly sparked her photography journey. What began as taking a camera along on daily walks soon became a completely new way of seeing—transforming ordinary neighborhood scenes into opportunities for creativity, curiosity, and joy.Carol also shares her philosophy of Camera Walking—taking a daily walk with your camera for better health, fitness, and creativity.Rather than rushing through familiar surroundings, she encourages photographers to slow down and look for the details we normally miss: flowers, reflections, light, lines, textures, objects left behind, and unexpected stories hiding in ordinary places.Sometimes changing your photography doesn’t require traveling somewhere new.Sometimes you simply need to look differently.Carol also discusses her journey with Lensbaby lenses, including the Velvet 56, Velvet 85, Sweet 22, Double Glass II, Soul 45, and other creative optics, and explains how using a different lens can completely change the experience of photographing the exact same location.The conversation also explores toy photography and miniature photography, where Carol discovered a playful new way to communicate emotion and tell meaningful stories through small subjects.One of the biggest lessons from this episode?Photography is better when you experiment.Whether you’re a beginner photographer, creative photographer, Lensbaby user, flower photographer, toy photographer, or simply looking for photography inspiration, this conversation will encourage you to grab your camera—or even your phone—step outside, slow down, observe, and create.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 – Step outside and start observing01:10 – Finding beauty right outside your front door02:09 – Changing your perspective03:08 – Photography, walking, and movement04:28 – Meet Lensbaby Ambassador Carol Vipperman05:27 – How Carol started photography06:41 – Moving beyond the point-and-shoot camera08:45 – How camera walks changed everything09:54 – Camera Walking: health, fitness &amp; creativity11:08 – Finding beauty in familiar places12:46 – Discovering creative photography with Lensbaby13:50 – How the Velvet 56 started Carol’s Lensbaby journey14:46 – Using different lenses on the same photo walk18:03 – Carol’s favorite Lensbaby lenses19:28 – Why Carol usually carries one lens20:29 – Using creative constraints to improve photography20:42 – Overcoming photography challenges21:20 – Learning indoor photography and lighting22:29 – Why continuous learning matters24:31 – Discovering toy photography26:02 – Creativity, play, and storytelling with toys29:48 – Using photography to communicate emotion31:03 – What Carol is excited about creatively34:04 – Photography speed round34:49 – The most overrated photography rule36:12 – What makes a photograph interesting?36:44 – Photography is better when you experiment37:05 – Finding subjects beyond flowers40:16 – Learning photography online vs. in person42:54 – The freedom of photographing without a plan45:53 – One lens, one subject, 24 hours48:00 – What does it mean to shoot extraordinary?Try this photography challenge yourself:Grab one camera and one lens—or just your phone—and step outside.Before taking a picture, spend a few minutes simply observing.Look for light.Look for texture.Look for movement.Look for reflections.Change your perspective.Get low. Look up. Slow down.Then photograph whatever catches your attention.You may be surprised by what was there all along.If this conversation inspires you, subscribe to Lensbaby Presents for more conversations about creative photography, Lensbaby lenses, visual storytelling, artistic experimentation, photography education, and finding new ways to see the world.What does extraordinary creative freedom mean to you as a photographer? Our mission is to give photographers the tools to move through their fear of shame, judgement, guilt, and being a part of the status quo. Photography isn&#39;t about fitting in. Photography is about discovery, risk, getting out of the box, saying no to what everyone else is doing and being EXTRAORDINARY as defined by you.We believe that creativity isn&#39;t about what THEY do. Photography is about what YOU want to do!What does being a photographer mean to you?How do you #ShootExtraordinaryLearn more about Lensbaby Https://www.Lensbaby.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/LensbabyusaElizabeth (Liz) WillsonWebsite: elizabethwillsonphotography.comInstagram: @ElizabethwillsonphotographyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elizabethwillsonphotography

EP 02: Conversation Behind The Scenes with Carol Vipperman

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/8/28/17/7ac48c9e-671c-4f6f-97a6-e12645032b96_ind_the_scenes_with_michael_anthony_audio_only.mp3

Behind the Scenes with Michael Anthony | Lensbaby PresentsWelcome to the very first episode of Lensbaby Presents! In this episode, host Liz Willson sits down for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes conversation with Michael Anthony, Vice President and business partner at Lensbaby. Discover the inspiring journey of a creator who turned a childhood gift into a lifelong passion, ultimately leading one of the most unique brands in the photography industry.In this episode, we dive into:● The Origin Story: How a Canon AE-1, gifted by his grandmother when he was just ten years old, forever cemented Michael&#39;s core identity as a photographer.● The Business of Art: Why Michael believes marketing is the single most important element of running a successful business, drawing inspiration from Dan Kennedy&#39;s Magnetic Marketing.● Breaking the Rules: Why Michael embraces his contrarian nature, famously declaring that &#34;all of them&#34; are the most overrated photography rules.● The Power of Connection: An inside look at the Lensbaby Unplugged community and how it fosters a supportive environment for visual storytellers to share their art without judgment.● Embracing Discomfort: Michael’s personal philosophy on why self-imposed challenges—like tackling the grueling 29029 mountain climbing event—are essential for personal and creative growth.● Shooting Extraordinary: The history behind Lensbaby&#39;s defining mantra and what it truly means to step outside the normal to create art that tells your authentic truth.Connect with the Lensbaby Community:● Check out the gear: lensbaby.com● Join the conversation: Search for &#34;Lensbaby Unplugged&#34; on Facebook● Follow on social media: Find them at @LensbabyUSAIf you found this conversation inspiring, make sure to hit the Like button and Subscribe to Lensbaby Presents for more interviews with incredible creators! Elizabeth (Liz) WillsonWebsite: elizabethwillsonphotography.comInstagram: @ElizabethwillsonphotographyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elizabethwillsonphotography Question of the Day: What does it mean for you to shoot extraordinary? Let us know in the comments below!

EP 01: Conversation Behind The Scenes with Michael Anthony

*Lensbaby Presents* is a podcast about photography, creativity, and the people behind the images.

Hosted by *Elizabeth Willson* , each episode features honest, engaging conversations with photographers about their journeys, creative process, artistic evolution, successes, failures, experiments, influences, and the experiences that shaped the way they see the world.

From finding your unique style to pushing creative boundaries, Lensbaby Presents explores what happens when photographers stop trying to make their work look like everyone else’s and start seeing differently.

Along the way, we’ll talk about the tools, techniques, ideas, and Lensbaby experiences that help photographers experiment, create, and bring their vision to life.

*One photographer. One story. One conversation at a time.*

Learn more about Lensbaby and our creative effects lenses and optics as well as explore our award-winning collection at https://www.Lensbaby.com Use the code "Podcast" for 10% off your first order

Learn more about our host Elizabeth Willson: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethwillsonphotography/