Michelle Szpak of www.szpak.co.uk has been shooting for over 15 years and specialises in motorcycle and automotive photography. Not the classifieds type of car and bike phots, what Michelle creates are special, incredibly lit art pieces for her clients.
Her byline reads…
Unique, passion-fuelled professional Automotive photography of your pride and joy. Creating Artwork for your Walls that last a lifetime.
But it hasn't always been all about incredible images of beautiful motorcycles and fancy cars!
Michelle started with the idea of being a landscape and animal photographer before moving on to portraits – that was 12 years ago.
Then in 2013, she photographed her first motorcycle, and automotive photography has been the focus since.
The images our guest creates are works of art that require a fantastic imagination, expert lighting skills and an understanding of composition any photographer would die for.
You might be surprised at the lighting she uses to showcase the cars and bikes (examples below). Michelle shares techniques and more, including the business and sales side of her photography, in this interview. 
Big thanks to ImagenAI for sponsoring and making this episode possible. If you'd love to have your post-processing after every shoot done for you – in minutes and at super affordable costs (around 5c/image) you need to take a look at ImagenAI.

Here’s some of what we cover:

What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to read your feedback and comments. Was there something from this interview that struck a chord, inspired or motivated you?
Will you take any kind of action after hearing what Michelle had to share?
I've learned to be very confident with how much I charge for this because it's a very heavy process so I'm not scared of saying the price. – Michelle Szpak
Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Michelle or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below too.


I look at a vehicle a bit like a boudoir photographer would look a female body. – Michelle Szpak


If you understand light, you can create anything you want. – Michelle Szpak

Covid forced me to realize that if I take a day off the world does not fall apart. – Michelle Szpak

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Michelle Szpak Website
Michelle Szpak on Instagram
Michelle Szpak on Facebook
Michelle Szpak on 500px
Free Photography Mindset Worskhop
Loxley Colour
Basics of Motorcycle Photography with Michelle Szpak – Facebook Live video


Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and thanks to Michelle for coming on and experimenting with a new and different format for this photography podcast and for sharing her thoughts, expertise, views and ideas.
I'm looking for the lines. I'm looking for the shapes.

Ashley Jones is the driving force behind Love Not Lost – an organisation supporting people in grief and helping people heal by connecting portrait photographers with families facing a terminal diagnosis.
Ashley, through Love Not Lost, is on a mission to revolutionise the way we heal in grief by preserving memories for those they love – at no cost to them.
Ashley and her husband have endured this same grief when they lost their beautiful daughter, Skylar.
Their friends gifted them a portrait session to help preserve her memories. At the time, Ashley didn't realise how powerful these photos would become. They gave her a way to hold onto her baby girl.
Big thanks to ImagenAI for sponsoring and making this episode possible. If you'd love to have your post-processing after every shoot done for you – in minutes and at super affordable costs (around 5c/image) you need to take a look at ImagenAI.
Here’s some of what we cover:

What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to read your feedback and comments. Was there something from this interview that struck a chord, inspired or motivated you?
Will you take any kind of action after hearing what Ashley had to share?
As we experience losses throughout our lives, we want people to feel loved and supported. – Ashley Jones
Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Ashley or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below too.


My hope with Love Not Lost is that we can kind of combat the pain cycle in the world by stepping in and really loving people even in the midst of their suffering. – Ashley Jones


When we can step in and love people, that's when the healing happens. – Ashley Jones

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Love Not Lost Website
How Can I Love You Better Website
Love Not Lost on Facebook
Love Not Lost on Instagram
Love Not Lost on Twitter
Stefanie Finnemore
ImagenAI – artificial intelligent photo editing for professional photographers
ShootProof
WPPI Expo

Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and thanks to Ashley for coming on and experimenting with a new and different format for this photography podcast and for sharing her thoughts, expertise, views and ideas.
The thing about grief is that it's just love in another form. – Ashley Jones
Also, big thanks to ImagenAI for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! If you're looking for the easiest, cheapest, fastest way to replicate yourself in regards to editing your photography,

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area.
Damon Pijlman of www.studiodamon.com photographs weddings, portraits, families and commercial work. His Instagram bio says he's a Visual Storyteller who Documents inspiring couples worldwide.
His wedding photography was voted best in the Netherlands – 2014, 2015 and 2016.
He has countless awards – take one look at the images that earnt them, and I promise, you will be blown away. His work is fantastic.
It was his artist and painter father who taught him to observe carefully. But it was following the Foundation Workshop in 2013 where Ben Chrisman and David Murray changed everything about wedding photography for him.
I read in an interview where he was asked, what's the stupidest thing you've ever agreed to do? His reply… Setting up a Groupon beach portraits package … After 500 sessions, he says he was ready to kill himself.
In this interview, Damon shares how to survive and thrive with your photography business during the pandemic.
Here's some more of what we cover in the interview:


What’s on Offer for Premium Members
If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this interview – the full length and more revealing version where you hear the absolute best tips and advice from every guest.
If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.
Plus special member-only interviews.
All you need to do is listen on the call, and just make them excited. – Damon Pijlman
You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. There are also FB live video tutorials, role-play interviews and special live interviews happening in the group. You will not find more friendly, more motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.
Seriously, that's not all.
In addition to everything above, you'll get access to and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.

What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Damon shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below, let me know what your takeaways were, what you plan to implement in your business as a result of what you heard in today's episode.
It really was surprising that this happened. But the couples I didn't connect with very well, I still send them a voucher, and are one of our best couples. – Damon Pijlman
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Damon or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs
Each week I check for any new iTunes reviews and it's always a buzz to receive these… for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they ...

Erick Danzer and Scott Wyden Kivowitz of www.imagely.com are two of the guys behind a new automated lab fulfilment for photographers with WordPress websites.
I asked both guys onto the podcast after reading about what could be a game-changing service for photographers who want to sell directly from their WordPress websites.
My first thought was – is this the end of services like Pixieset, Pic-time and Shoot-proof?
Erick Danzer is the man behind-the-scenes at Imagely. His focus is on ensuring Imagely gives back to the photography community through the Imagely Fund and other initiatives.
Scott Wyden Kivowitz who was interviewed for episode 274 of the PhotoBizX Podcast and is the Chief Community Officer at Imagely, a father, blogger, photographer and educator. He's the author of multiple photography books, and often educates photographers about WordPress via blogging and YouTube.
If the idea of doing away with a third-party print and file selling solution like Pic-Time, Smugmug, Photoshelter, Zenfolio, Shootproof, Cloudspot or Pixiset sounds attractive… it'll be worth listening to what Erick and Scott have to share.

Here’s some of what we cover:

What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to read your feedback and comments. Was there something from this interview that struck a chord, inspired or motivated you?
Will you take any kind of action after hearing what Scott & Erick had to share?
I often think of businesses being very simple but not always easy. – Erick Danzer
Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Scott & Erick or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below too.


Be excellent at whatever you're doing. – Scott Wyden Kivowitz



Without product excellence, you don't get off the ground. – Erick Danzer


If you want to succeed, you really need just two things. You need product excellence or service excellence… then you need good marketing. – Erick Danzer
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
NextGEN Pro Pricing Comparison – compare NextGen to other photography e-commerce solutions available with this handy tool
Imagely Website
Imagely Podcast
Imagely on Facebook
Imagely on Instagram
Imagely on YouTube
Imagely on Twitter
Imagely on Pinterest
Sell Photos on WordPress with Automated Print Fulfillment
Moving From Squarespace to WordPress
WHCC – White House Custom Colour
Show more...