The Capture Crew: Recent Episodes
Christora Osters & Tom Russo
Welcome to the Capture Crew, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the ins and outs of the wonderful world of photography. We are a collective of like-minded entrepreneurs bettering ourselves daily for the benefit of our clients and teaching good practices along the way. We'll discuss everything from the technical world of photography, to client relationships, to mindset, and others. We hope you'll join us!
In this episode we walk through one photographer's journey to finding his way and growing within his field. Nick Yee was a fabulous guest and we can't wait to learn more from him in the future!
In this episode Christora and Tom discuss the importance of consistency and confidence in building trust amongst their clients.
We're thrilled to kick of the New Year with an interview from one of the most respected off -camera flash photographers in the business! Enjoy and welcome to 2023!!!
Tom gets super vulnerable in this episode about his struggle with anxiety and how he's been able to work through, and within, some of the hardest moments of the past year.
In this week's episode we chat with Kelsey Wilson about her first experience at a styled shoot.
Her insight into what a styled shoot can do for you is well worth the time we spent with her.
Happy Thanksgiving!
In this episode Tom and Christora dive into some unexpected events that have occured this year and how they've found gratitude within the tough moments.
How many times have you been to a wedding with a videographer and found difficulty in working together? In this episode we walk through the ins and outs of creating epic artwork with another creative in the mix... including an ego check that is well worth the listen. We hope you enjoy this one!
SEO is one of the most important things you can have optimized on your website, and in this week's episode we sit down with a leading expert for her to explain what we are and aren't doing right on our websites.
In this week's episode we're fortunate enough to sit down with a new venue owner and here all about the challenges and joys of creating a venue from scratch.
We hope you enjoy!
We're so fortunate to be joined by Ananis this week. While she is new to wedding planning, she is not new to events and creating beautiful settings and designs for her clients. We're so excited for you to hear what she recommends and how she suggests working together on a wedding day.
In this week's episode Christora and Tom discuss their starting equipment, favorite lenses, and the mistakes they've made along the way.
This week's episode we have the honor of sitting down with Blair DeLaubenfels, the curator and editor of World's Best Wedding Photographers. Our discussion centers around what being part of an exclusive community can do for your reputation, how to add value to your clients, and how building relationships can propel you forward.
We're so lucky to have many guests from around the world and this week we're joined all the way from Germany.
Liz Cortes has built her business around helping others understand and craft effective means of delegation. She has a step by step process that both Tom and Christora found very helpful.
We hope you like!
This week Tom and Christora delve into what brings about creativity for them and how you can cultivate your own creativity.
This week we chat with a great friend of ours who recently went through the process of rebranding AND creating a website from scratch.
In this week's episode Christora and Tom put their money where their mouth is and interview their (yes, they both use her) Virtual Assistant Jacqueline Nwankwo.
You can find more about Jacqueline and her company at https://vine-and-venture-virtual-services.yolasite.com/
Andrea has been a near and dear from of Tom's for over three years now - she also happens to be one of his top associate shooters. But she didn't start there. No, instead she began her career as a second shooter and quickly progressed in her knowledge and love of photography. This week's episode she discusses why she thinks second shooting, and for more than one person, is so important.
In this week's episode we welcome return guest, Hunter Kittrell. He tells us all about how he got into adventure photography and gives you the tools and tricks you need to begin marketing yourself as an adventure and destination photographer.
One of the best things we can do as photographers is to connect with other vendors who are like minded.
This week, Madeline, a store manager, joins us from Rebecca's Bridal Boutique in Louisville, Kentucky. Her insight and uplifting message brought joy to Tom and Christora.
Enjoy!
In this week's episode Tom and Christora reflect back on some of their recent weddings gone wrong and what they could have done to improve them in the hopes that you can avoid such insanity.
Our guest today hails all the way from Berlin, Germany. With years of entrepreneurship and business knowledge, Veronica Kirin wants to bring more time and freedom to your life. Her practical and applicable methods will help you do just that.
This week's episode who meet with one of the key members of the AfterShoot team, Christine Tremoulet, and chat all things culling, time savers and why you can trust AI.
Brittany Ford, a repeat guest, and longtime friend, of the Capture Crew, revisits her time abroad in Ireland where she not only photographed a vow renewal, but stepped in front of the camera for some couple's portraits as well.
Her insight helped us understand the challenges our couples and clients face more clearly and hopefully allows you the same.
We are thrilled to welcome Melisa to the Capture Crew. With a unique story, and niche, her conversation proves that anything is possible when it comes to making your own way.
You can find more about Melisa at www.postcardstotheuniverse.com
In this week's episode, Tom and Christora discuss the processes, systems, and varying approaches they have toward telling a wedding story authentically. As there's no wrong way, its interesting to hear what makes the sense for both of them in order to stay true to who they are.
Rago has found his passion in not one but two niches: fashion photography being one. In this week's episode he walks us through recognizing your skill set based on who you are, how to set clear communication that builds trust with your clients, and the importance of keeping brands separate.
In this week's episode, Christora and Tom get vulnerable about their knowledge, and lack of knowledge, surrounding gay weddings.
Not to be confused with Mike Wadowski, Mike Zawadzki is an ambassador for two AI brands: ImagenAI and AfterShoot. He explains the benefits of these fabulous technologies and the challenges that come with being a photographer in this day and age.
As a prior marine biology major, Molly Kingston has run the gambit from scientist to creative.
Her experiences have also allowed her to be intentional about what she wants from her brand, including, but not limited to traveling the country to photograph love.
Molly walks us through how she's built her portfolio in a single year and her future plans for expedited growth.
Welcome back to the first episode of season 3.
We are beyond excited to be interviewing Nathan Holritz today about his journey through from the photography world into the world of editing. His advice is wise, honest, and heartfelt and we're so grateful to have had this amazing man chat with us!
Welcome Back to the Capture Crew - in this quick 15 minutes Tom and Christora break down everything to expect from the upcoming season.
Boy to we have some great stuff in store for you!
This week we welcome Murtaza to the podcast. His journey has been one of shear will and began when he found that he loved the moments between. He has grown into a renowned photographer and has so much on the horizon. His information is invaluable for new photographers and associate photographers alike.
This week's episode we dive into the beast that is social media. Tom and Christora take different approaches on how they bring clients in via social media and this conversation will help you convert your clients into raving fans of your brand by choosing one platform to focus on.
This one is a lot of information so have a pen and paper handy or head over to our website www.thecapturecrew.net for a breakdown of this week's episode.
In this week's episode Christora and Tom welcome Aidan Meadows - a coach and fellow photographer of the WLMA. Aidan discusses the struggles of comparison and defining success on your own terms - a great conversation with an even better guy.
This week we discuss the dreaded burnout. Rachel Lee walks us through the 5 stages of burnout and we have a sincere discussion about where each of us are now versus when we were in busy season. We also talk about how to mitigate burnout and why delegation can be your best friend.
In this week's episode Kyle sits down with us to discuss his success since joining the WLMA, his excitement toward the future and how community has changed his life. We can't wait for you to hear this one!
Incredibly excited to be going into this year with clear minds and open hearts.
In this episode Christora and Tom discuss the what the New Year holds and how to reach your goals. We hope you enjoy!
This week's episode was mind-blowing in a fabulous way. Challenging our minds to understand who we are and why we are the way we are is key to understanding our clients, and Crystal Correces brings the heat on how to dig deep into our subconscious minds.
Get your notebook ready for this one.
In this week's episode we were lucky enough to be joined by Ben Hartley.
As a leader in cultivating the ultimate customer experience Ben brings his expertise and asks some hard questions that everyone might not love, but needs to hear.
Ben is the creator of Booked Solid, a course that walks through each aspect of wedding photography. You can find more at the link below
https://sixfigurephotography.com
In this week's episode Tom and Christora discuss all kinds of honeymoon destinations and what they've heard from former clients are the pros and cons of each.
Updates about how to handle after wedding critiques from brides, grooms, vendors, and everyone in between.
This week's episode of the Capture Crew features Leann, a HMUA in New Jersey who Tom has the pleasure of working with quite often on the big day. She talks about what makes a bridal look pop, how to create an atmosphere of respect amongst your vendors and her top tips for brides. Enjoy!
Having just been a second on one's of Tom's shoots, Christora and Tom discuss the benefits to second shooting for other creatives. Throughout the talk about what each of them looks for in a photographer and what really captures the day best.
In this week's episode of the Capture Crew, Tom and Christora discuss the ins and outs of destination weddings - from abroad to the next state over.
In this week's episode we are joined by a Kentucky wedding planner, Cadeja Hays, to discuss the ins and outs of on-site coordination, the stress relief a planner can bring, and how easily things can get out of hand without this essential piece of the wedding puzzle. ENJOY!
In this week's episode, Tom and Christora discuss timelines on wedding days. They walk through the differences between when a timeline can really help the flow of a wedding day and when it can impede a wedding day. They offer tips and tricks on how to really plan for your bride and groom's best day.
In this week's episode Tom and Christora discuss client engagement. What is it and why does it matter to your client retention and referrals? Enjoy!
Haniel Singh of Creative Labss discusses the importance of SEO, what it means, and how to achieve the highest placement possible amongst search engines. Super valuable, we hope you find some homework to boost your placement :)
This week Tom and Christora talk through their experiences with styled shoots including their upcoming plans and how to create a successful relationship with vendors.
This week Tom and Christora are joined by Charlene Mann. Charlene moved from New York City to rural Tennessee about one year ago and has seen great growth with her business. She explains how her mentality has shaped her success.
After a few weeks straight of guests, Tom and Christora discuss various types of awards, how they've been published, and what it means to be ready to submit for publication. We hope you find this episode filled with insight!
In this week's episode of the Capture Crew we talk with Joshua Harrison, a light and airy photographer from Chicago about his experience with creating and maintaining relationships with vendors and venues. His insight is priceless. He demonstrates how to build connections while still staying true to yourself.
In this week's episode we're joined by Aidan Meadows, an insanely successful photographer who grew through his investment with the WLMA. We talk about where we were before the program, where we are now and where we've each seen the most growth within our business. Were all so grateful for the Wedding Lead Machine Accelerator and are sure you'll see why in this episode.
We know how hard it is when you first get into photography to determine what lens you should be using and why. In this episode we walk through kit lenses, zoom lenses, macro lenses, and prime lenses. We hope it helps!
In this week's episode we talk with our social media managers, Kendall Riddle (Green Apple Photography) and Shannon Pepe (Tom Russo Photography). The ladies walk us through their experience with growth on social media, the platforms they see changing and those they see staying the same. We have a great time with these two and hope you enjoy and can use their insight.
In this week's episode Tom and Christora share the heartbreak, and growth, that occurs from getting a bad review.
In this week's episode we have the pleasure of speaking with Mike Cassidy, a male boudoir photographer. We discuss the art of woman's portrait photography, the importance of creating trust with our clients, and how being a male in the boudoir industry is a challenge and a privilege. We can't thank Mike enough for his candor and humor to keep us laughing this whole way through :)
Mike Cassidy Website
Instagram
In this week's episode, James Walters walks us through his process of compositing images together to create magical, ethereal images. For those who don't know, compositing is when you take another piece of art and put it together. James will be doing a Facebook LIVE with us on April 13th at 7pm to demonstrate how to composite.
Mentioned in the episode:
Creative Markets
In this week's episode we chat with family and wedding photographer Devon McCabe. Her perspective regarding bookings, interactions, and family shoots is refreshing and interesting at the same time. We hope you enjoy this week's topic! Please let us know if you have any suggestions for the show!
This is an episode not to be missed!!!! This week's episode of the Capture Crew, we get to interview James Patrick. James has landed over 500 magazine covers in his career by pursuing and getting down to what his niche really is. His words of wisdom are golden nuggets we hope our listeners love. To say Christora was star struck during this one is an understatement. Enjoy!
James Patrick
In this week's episode we interview Jason Groupp, a unicorn within the photography industry. He's held many roles, from wedding photographer, to a presenter at conferences, to the head of WPPI. His expertise and insight is one we hope can help all of our listeners.
We discuss relocating, rebranding, and finding your passion again along with mentorship and why it's important and how to really find a community.
Where you can find Jason:
1-on-1 Coaching: https://www.thegroupp.com
Website: https://jasongroupp.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejasongroupp/
Mentioned in this episode:
Easton Reynolds- The Art of Six Figures
Ben Hartley – Six Figure Photography Facebook Group
Jerry Ghionis
WPPI Awards
Dave Roush has to be one of our more animated, candid guests. His experiences in and out of the classroom have given him an appreciation not only for photography, but for all aspects of media. This episode he walks us through some of the most rewarding, and most difficult, parts of being a high school teacher today.
Discord
Find Dave at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dave_roush_nyc/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dave_roush_nyc?lang=en
In this week's episode of the Capture Crew we get candid with one of our fellow Wedding Lead Machine Accelerator students, Hunter Kittrell, about his work in Haiti and how that translates to capturing emotion. Haiti is near and dear to Hunter's heart, and we learned so much about how our experiences connect us to our clients in varying ways. We hope you'll enjoy this one as much as we did!
Emmaus' House - https://www.emmaushousehaiti.org
Instagram
Find Hunter on Social Media here:
Instagram
Facebook
Website
We have a very special guest joining us for this week's episode. Courtland Wilson, a wedding photographer from Sacramento, California discusses his journey from a natural light photographer to an off-camera flash guru. He discusses the systems he uses including Godox and MagMod, gives suggestions for those wanting to start Off Camera Flash, and we have a darn good time.
Warning, this episode is explicit
Inspiration for Off Camera Flash:
Two Man Studios
Jessie LaPlante
Jared Gant
Megan Allen
Neil Redfern
Arnold DeBijourne
Scott Jesuit
Such a fun episode today!
We're talking about our favorite weddings and why!
Check it out and send a message at info@thecapturecrew.net with your favorite wedding story to be featured on another episode of the podcast :)
This week Tom and Christora chat with Matt Russo about computers. Christora gets schooled on computers by a professional in the computer world. Matt is a Microsoft expert at Best Buy in Fairview Heights, Illinois.
Matt talks about what computer works best for content creators, the best options between Mac and Windows, and much much more.
Warning, this episode is explicit
In this week's episode we're joined by seven of our colleagues from around the country. We discuss our goals for 2021, going into details about how we'll do it. At one point we get vulnerable about our fears and how to really evaluate where you're at.
This week's guests:
Haniel SinghAidan MeadowsJordan CorrecesJessie EisenhartSteve SkarupaBrittany FordKyle DownwardWLMA - Wedding Lead Machine Accelerator
We’ve all been there. A couple reaches out to us wanting to work with us, so we send over our pricing… and boom, just like that, you’ve been ghosted yet again.
In this week’s episode we talk to Lachlan Shum, the CEO of Focal, a booking platform made with the clients in mind. Lachlan first came up with the idea while traveling in Canada with his partner. One large idea from this week is how important it is to know who your ideal client is and what they are looking for.
https://www.bookfocal.com
Rachel Elle educates us on lay flats and design details along with everything that goes into creating styled shoots. She gives us helpful tips and tricks for practicing with details, creating under pressure, and where to find those little trinkets that change the game. Her information can elevate any photographer to another level.
Minted.com - for free invitation suites
Etsy
Amazon
Michaels
Blick Art Materials
JoAnn Fabrics
Hobby Lobby
Chasing Stone - lay flats
Essentials for a Styling Kit:
- braces wax
- Styling Mat
- Trays
- Ribbons
- Flower Frog
Essentials for a Styled Shoot:
- Location - Venue/Outdoors
- Bride Model
- Florist - Flower Bouquet
- Dress/Veil
- Hair and Makeup Artist
Optional:
- Groom Model
- Rings
- Shoes
- Cake
- Stationary
- Arbor
- Tablescape
- Candles
- Chairs
- Table
- Linens
- Furniture
- Backdrop
Tom and Christora discuss one of the essential items photographers should know: The Rule of Thirds. We discuss framing subjects, composition, and how the eye travels through a photo.
Find Grid View On Your DSLR:
Canon - https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/index?page=content&id=ART168022&cat=1897C002&actp=LIST
Nikon - https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/tips-and-techniques/5-easy-composition-guidelines.html
Sony - https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1810/v1/en/contents/TP0002264706.html
Christora and Tom discuss their experiences since the worldwide pandemic in March of 2020. They discuss their humble beginnings, the people who have supported them throughout their growth, how their mindset changed during COVID, and what they feel the most grateful for.
In this week’s episode Tom schools Christora on the intricacy of Adobe Lightroom. We suggest grabbing a raw photo and opening Lightroom to play around with during this episode. This is a must listen for those photographers struggling with consistency. We discuss color science, tone curves, and what each slider can do in terms of perfecting your images.
We’ve made a PDF that is now available for download about today’s episode on www.thecapturecrew.net
We’re happy to welcome our friend Brittany Ford to the show this week. Brittany started her business in the middle of the pandemic and has some invaluable information about navigating an identity crisis, having discipline in the midst of downtime, and how investing in yourself can bring about the changes you want to see.
In this episode of The Capture Crew we walk you through what you should ask Santa for depending on what level of photography you’re currently at. Our top takeaway from this episode is to do your research and practice with the equipment and materials Santa Brings ;) Warning: this week’s Show Notes are quite long with links to each of the items we discuss in each level.
Where to find Used Cameras:
Ebay
Craigslist
Hobbyist: take photos of your fam, have an entry level camera
Canon Eos Rebel T3i / Nikon d5600 / Sony A6000
Typical Kit Lenses:
18-55mm - Canon, Nikon, Sony
70-300mm - Canon, Nikon, Sony
Best Buy
Amazon
Adorama
B&H
Walmart
Target
Gmaster- 135 prime Sony
Amateur: honing in on skills, learning the camera, lenses, etc.
Recommendations for Learning Channels:
Coles Classroom
SLR Lounge
YouTube -
Jared Polin - reviews for equipment
Phlearn - Aaron Nace
Jordan Brittley
Joe Edelman
PiXimperfect
Peter Hurley
Ever struggled with how to help your clients through a shoot? Posing issues? Asking to see connection but all it leads to is a disconnect? In today's episode, Tom and Christora discuss the best tricks they use to make a shoot comfortable, which leads to magic.
Some of the helpful hints we discuss include: how fingers / hands can ruin a photo, getting six to ten photos from one pose, the triangle method, and differences in height and weight amongst our couples.
Sponsored by: Creative Labss - crafting original and effective brand experiences.
Books Mentioned:
Jeff Rojas - Picture Perfect Posing
Tom and Christora share some of their craziest wedding day disasters. From Heimlich maneuvers to dress malfunctions this is one not miss!
In this week's episode Tom and Christora discuss the different ways you can build trust with your client from gathering reviews to becoming an authority figure and offering value to current clients.
In this week's episode Christora and Tom discuss their mental blockages when it comes to money and how their relationships have changed throughout the building of their businesses. They don't agree on everything which makes for a wonderful discourse.
In the first bonus episode, Tom and Christora get real about their travel experience whether it be for weddings or just around the world in general.
We hope you enjoy getting to know us on a more relaxed level.
In the second part of this two-episode discussion, Tom and Christora discuss naming a brand, choosing a logo, and what your aesthetic can do for your brand. They also have a heated conversation about what "client experience" really means. As always, enjoy the show!
Sponsored by: Creative Labss - crafting original and effective brand experiences.
Books Mentioned in this Episode:
Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell
Online Resources for Delivering Photos:
SmugMug
Pic-time
Cloudspot
ShootProof
In this episode, Tom and Christora examine the intricacies of branding and how it can make or break your business. In this first part, we take a deep dive into the importance of market analytics before building a brand. What's your market like? Who are you trying to cater to and why? We hope you enjoy!
Sponsored by: Creative Labss - crafting original and effective brand experiences.
Haniel Singh, CEO of Creative Labss, joins us for a discussion about what factors effect our growth within our business and within our daily lives. We walk through our typical struggles and how we've walked through the muck. If you don't know about the transitions from HAVING-to DOING-to BEING, this ones for you!
This week's episode includes a visit from Christora's husband Chris. He gets candid about the opening of a business, the drive for success, and the effects entrepreneurship can have on a marriage. We share our challenges with getting our families 'on board' and how they managed to go from unsupportive to our biggest fans.
In this week's episode of the Capture Crew we discuss the most common excuses we've seen that hinder an entrepreneur's progress. Some great information in this one. The resources we mentioned are listed below.
Sponsored by: Creative Labss - crafting original and effective brand experiences.
Books mentioned in this podcast:
Dare to Lead - Brené Brown
The Photographer's Guide to Posing - Jeff Rojas
Helpful Youtube channels:
Kelby Media Group
In this episode we have a special guest, Jordan Correces. Tom and Christora met in Jordan's marketing course the Wedding Lead Machine Accelerator. Jordan gives us insight into his background, how long it took him to find success, and why mindset truly is so important. Lots of great information in this one for how to start building a different mindset - Enjoy!
Sponsored by: Creative Labss - crafting original and effective brand experiences.
Jordan Correces - www.jcorrphotography.com Instagram: @jordancorreces
WMLA free class - https://event.webinarjam.com/register/24737sm
Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself - Joe Dispenza
Tai Lopez - https://www.tailopez.com
Welcome to the Capture Crew Podcast! In our first episode we discuss the importance of knowing yourself before heading into the photography world. Competition, determination, and values are all addressed. We’re still working through the kinks, but are so excited to be bringing you this first podcast!
Sponsored by: Creative Labss - crafting original and effective brand experiences.