My Creative Journey - Photography Podcast
Episodes
S04 E18 - The Photography Industry Wants You To Stay Broke (with Sophie Kietzmann)
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sophie Kietzmann is a New York based fashion and portrait photographer who has worked with Vanity Fair, GQ, Glamour & Vogue Italia. Working across...
S04 E17 - This Is How You Guarantee Your Photography Business Fails!
22 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
No guest this week, just me and a bunch of questions every photographer needs to reflect on at some point. Some of them are going to feel a bit confro...
S04 E16 - What a Podcast Does For Your Business That Instagram Never Could (with Kenny Macieira)
08 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kenny Macieira is the Host of Kickin It With Creatives Podcast. In this episode he chats with Mike about one of the most underrated marketing strategi...
S04 E15 - The Content Mistake Every Photographer Is Making Right Now (with Claire Darwish)
01 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Claire Darwish is the founder of Gallery Lane Magazine and in this episode she breaks down why so many photographers are attracting the wrong clients....
S04 E14 - Flash Fundamentals Every Wedding Photographer Should Know (with Laura Shepherd)
22 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Laura Shepherd is a wedding photographer, flash enthusiast and educator based in Portland, Oregon known for her bold, editorial style and refreshingly...
S04 E13 - How To Turn Your Skills Into Courses and Workshops (with Gunawan)
15 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Gunawan has built a strong name for himself in Astrophotography. He runs in person workshops, he has worked with major brands and now he is asking a b...
S04 E12 - You Don’t Have to Niche Down to Succeed in Photography (with Chihiro Yanagi)
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Photographers should niche down, choose one style and stick to it! Sounds familiar right. But what if you enjoy a lot of different things? In this epi...
S04 E11 - 30 Years of Photography Taught Me This About Passion and Purpose (with Gavin Blue)
01 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Gavin Blue OAM is the founder and current president of Heartfelt Australia New Zealand, a volunteer run charity that provides free professional photog...
S04 E10 - Candid Photography Is a Lie and We All Believe It (with Cailee Maeve)
25 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Cailee Maeve is a Wedding, Couples & Family Photographer known for her cinematic style and her honest approach to storytelling through photography...
EPISODE 100 - 7 Reasons Photographers Get Stuck and How to Move Forward
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Photographers don't fail because they lack talent. They fail because of the patterns they fall into under pressure. In this episode, Mike breaks down...
S04 E08 - Photography Lessons I Didn’t Learn Until 2025
28 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a recap of conversations that stuck with me this year and quietly shaped how I think about photography, work and growth. Instead of short high...
S04 E07 - I Won the Award I Always Wanted, Here’s What Happened Next (with Isabella-Alexis Balisky)
21 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Isabella Alexis, Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2023, joins Mike to reflect on what really happens after you win the award you ...
S04 E06 - How to Deal With Unsupportive Family over the Holidays (with my wife Emily)
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mike is joined by his wife Emily for an honest conversation about the snarky comments, jokes, and quiet assumptions creative people often face over th...
S04 E05 - The Marketing Secrets Every Creative Should Know (with Gemma @sub.subtle)
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gemma Higlett, Floral Designer, Stylist, and trained Marketer, joins Mike to unpack the marketing secrets every creative should know. They dive into w...
S04 E04 - How To Create A Signature Photography Style Using Flash (with Francisco Hernandez)
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Francisco Hernandez, Portrait Photographer and long time flash educator, joins Mike to unpack how photographers can build a signature style with flash...
S04 E03 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome & Self Doubt as a Photographer (with Cass Edwards)
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cass Edwards is a Perth based sports photographer who has gone from shooting local ice hockey games to photographing major sporting events across Aust...
S04 E02 - The Superpower in Photography Nobody Talks About (with Karen Sadek & Stacey Rolfe)
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mike chats with Karen Sadek, Personal and Business Brand Photographer, and Stacey Rolfe, Family Newborn Photographer and Founder of Tog Hub, for a con...
S04 E01 - What's Really Motivating You? How Fear Might Be Driving Your Success.
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes positive motivation isn’t enough, and it’s the fear, pressure, and “toxic fuel” that pushes you into action. As they say, having som...
S03 E15 - What They Don’t Tell You About Hosting a Photography Retreat (feat. My Wife Emily)
10 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Camp Photography is our multi-day retreat where Wedding Photographers from across Australia come together for styled shoots, workshops, and community ...
S03 E14 - Burnt Out From Wedding Photography, Anissa Dev Found Her Spark Again
13 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anissa Dev is a San Diego-based Couples & Family Photographer who built her business Photographing Weddings, but eventually realised the career sh...
S03 E13 - He's Photographed the NBA & Coldplay: How Travis Hayto built his Dream Career
22 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Travis Hayto is a Live Events Photographer and the founder of SoCo Studios, a creative agency producing high-impact photo and video content for brands...
S03 E12 - The Best Way to Start a Wedding Photography Business with Josh Huggett
07 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Josh Huggett returns to the podcast to share the unfiltered, behind-the-scenes story of how Wedding Mania 2024 went from a wild idea in a voice memo t...
S03 E11 - I Reduced My Prices and I Made More Money with Zoe Joy Mobbs
27 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Zoe Joy Mobbs, a Newborn & Family Photographer, joins me on the podcast to share her journey of turning a lifelong passion into a thriving creativ...
S03 E10 - Starting a Photo Video Business alongside your Partner with Alex & Britt Hall
20 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Britt and Alex Hall from Chasing Sunsets, a Husband-and-Wife Wedding Photo Video team sit down with Mike this week to talk about their Creative Journe...
S03 E09 - Breaking Limiting Beliefs on Pricing & Valuing your Own Work (Solo Episode with Mike)
06 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, Mike gets real about the messy journey of building a creative business. From struggling with pricing his work to relaunching his...
S03 E08 - You'll Never Feel 'Ready' so Just Go For It with Natasha Simpson
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Natasha Simpson is a Newborn Photographer with a massive Social Media following across all platforms. Seriously she has 300K followers on Facebook and...
S03 E07 - How to Build Connection, Tell Stories & Handle Pressure as a Creative with Matthew Vercoe
23 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As creative professionals, we’re constantly balancing artistry, business, and human connection — but how do we truly master the people side of wha...
S03 E06 - Monetising Photography & Art in Unexpected Ways with Craig Holloway
16 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if your photography, paintings or digital art could become more than just a print on a wall? In this episode, Craig Holloway shares how he turned...
S03 E05 - From Dance to Photography: The Importance of Storytelling with Luke Currie-Richardson
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Currie-Richardson is a Dancer who toured with Bangarra Dance Theatre Company for 6 years before turning to Photography where he recently won the ...
S03 E04 - Should Art Be Political & Can Art Create Change with Charli English
02 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Charli English is a painter and creative advocate whose work is deeply inspired by the ocean, sustainability, and the evolving definition of success a...
S03 E03 - Freelance vs. Full-Time: The Creative’s Ultimate Dilemma with Sam Cousins
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Cousins is a Portrait & Family Studio Photographer who went from high-volume studio work to burnout, pivoted into sales, and is now rebuilding...
S03 E02 - The Journey to Becoming a Filmmaker: How Divya Gordon Captures Stories That Matter
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Divya Gordon is an Adventure Filmmaker who has created films such as Steady, Maven & Seven7Seven. In this episode, Divya shares the incredible jou...
S03 E01 - Going Viral and Getting Paid to Create Content on Social Media with Antonio Botic
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Antonio Botic never set out to be a Content Creator — he was just a guy with a camera, having fun making videos. But that hobby quickly turned into ...
S02 E20 - From $50 Parties to Luxury Weddings: The Creative Journey of James Di Stefano
05 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to turn small gigs into a thriving creative business? This week, Mike chats with James Di Stefano, a Wedding and Event Photographer ...
S02 E19 - 2024 Recap: Highlights from Mike's 5 Favourite Episodes of the Year
29 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a Compilation Episode with Snippets from Mike's 5 Favourite Episodes of 2024. It includes conversations with Australian Wedding Photographer J...
S02 E18 - When to Take the Leap & Go All In on Your Dreams with Jasmine Pollock
22 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you have ever battled with Imposter Syndrome, struggled to price your work or find your style then this episode is for you. This week Mike is joine...
S02 E17 - No Following. No Problem! Regan Shorter’s Journey as a UGC Creator for Big Brands.
15 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mike chats with Regan Shorter, a talented content creator and storyteller, to explore her journey from a small town in Oklahoma to co...
S02 E16 - Growing Up in Indonesia to Hosting Workshops with Nikon Australia: The Incredible Story of Gunawan
08 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mike chat's with Gunawan who is an extremely talented Wedding Photographer with over 20 years experience, an Astrophotography Educato...
S02 E15 - From Nurse to Photographer: How Danielle Henry Built Her Dream Photography Business
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Mike chats with Danielle Henry, a nurse of over 10 years who’s taken a bold new step into the world of professional photography. Danielle ...
S02 E14 - How Authenticity Transformed Steve Fettis' Filmmaking Business
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Mike chats with Steve Fettis, a talented and self-taught Wedding Filmmaker from the UK who turned a chance opportunity into a thriving full-...
S02 E13 - Julia Trotti on Photography, Introversion, and Going Full-Time on YouTube
17 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Julia Trotti is a trailblazing photographer and YouTube creator, known for her engaging tutorials and authentic behind-the-scenes content. Her journey...
S02 E12 - Quitting a $100K Job to Chase your Dreams: The Inspiring Journey of Ben Hargreaves
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever dreamed of leaving it all behind to pursue what truly excites you? Ben Hargreaves did exactly that. Once pulling in a six-figure income in a corp...
S02 E11 - Stepping Outside your Comfort Zone & Making Yourself Known with NYC Filmmaker Jay Dekony
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jay Dekony is a New York City-based wedding Filmmaker and Photographer known for her unique, authentic style that’s making waves in the industry. In...
S02 E10 - Inward Reflections & Scary New Life Adventures with my Wife Emily
27 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today, Mike sits down with his wife, Emily, for an open and honest reflection on where he stands in business and life. Recently, they’ve embarked on...
S02 E09 - Changing Careers and Chasing your Dreams with Wedding Celebrant Pippa Moore
20 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I chat with my good friend Pippa Moore, a registered Marriage Celebrant in Australia. Pippa’s journey to this dream job didn’t happen o...
S02 E08 - Stop Overcomplicating Your Marketing with Wedding Photographer Adam Lowndes
13 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week I'm joined by UK wedding photographer and TikTok sensation Adam Lowndes. Over the past few years, Adam has transformed his business and mark...
S02 E07 - The Comparison Trap: How It Almost Made Me Quit with Andrew Keher
06 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a hilarious and insightful conversation with Andrew, a wedding photographer and all-around funny guy from Liverpool, UK. I first discovere...
S02 E06 - Turning Passion into Purpose with Underwater Photographer Matt Testoni
29 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the incredible power of passion and how it can be used to create positive change in the world. Mike dives into the world o...
S02 E05 - The Art of Starting and Embracing Flaws with Isabela Herrera
22 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Putting yourself out there and just starting is something that today's guest has been doing for years. Isabella Herrera is the host of the Amateur Act...
S02 E04 - Standing Out & Finding Your Ideal Clients with Josh Huggett
15 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Josh Huggett is an Australian Wedding Photographer taking the internet by storm frequently sharing videos of himself swearing with clients and drinkin...
S02 E03 - Running a Creative Business in a Small Town with Snaps by Madds
08 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of My Creative Journey, Mike is joined by Wedding & Small Business Photographer Maddie Williams. Madds talks about how she started...
S02 E02 - Hosting Sold Out Workshops with Wildlife Photographer Karolina Norée
08 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of My Creative Journey Mike is joined by Wildlife Photographer and Photography Educator, Karolina Norée. Karolina moved across the wo...
S02 E01 - Mike Jeffrey's Journey as a Wedding Photographer & Content Creator
08 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome Back to Season 2 of the My Creative Journey Podcast. In this episode Mike is interviewed by a fellow Australian Photographer, Sam Cousins. Thi...
Ep.056 - Life Update: I Got a Real Job.
20 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I'm back to talk about a big update in my life. I got a new job and I want to go through some of the reasons why. Sometimes in life you have to take o...
Ep.055 - When is the Right Time to Start Something New?
20 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I dive into my thought process when it comes to starting something new. If you're anything like me you probably have hundreds of creat...
Ep.054 - The Power of Being an Introvert
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Introversion is a superpower and in this episode I want to show you why! As someone who has struggled with my identity as an introvert for many years,...
Ep.053 - Coming up with Ideas & Getting out of Creative Ruts
30 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We've all been there - in a place where we have no ideas and no inspiration to create anything. Hopefully be listening to this podcast you are getting...
Ep.052 - Elevate your Business and get more Client Referrals
23 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Referrals are the backbone of my Business and the way they I get over 80% of my new enquiries so you would be silly to ignore them. In this episode I ...
Ep.051 - Maybe You’re Not Good Enough.
16 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered why you're not getting any leads or enquiries in your Creative Business? You think that maybe you're not doing enough marketing...
Ep.050 - Money Flows Where The Attention Goes.
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode we are thinking about where we are putting our energy & attention. Far too often we prioritise low value tasks in our businesses whic...
Ep.049 - Ignoring the Haters & Critics this Holiday Season!
26 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas can be a very positive time because it gives you a break away from work to think about your goals for the new year. It can also be a very ne...
Ep.048 - Maintaining a Healthy Work/Life Balance as a Creative Person.
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Work/Life Balance is always something that I have struggled with as a creative person and I am sure a lot of others struggle with it too. I first star...
Ep.047 - Setting Goals to Create the Lifestyle You Dream About.
19 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Goal setting is always something that comes up at this time of year so I thought I would make a short episode and tackle some of my ideas around the t...
Ep.046 - Marketing for a Successful Business & How to Stand Out from the Crowd.
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Marketing goes against human nature and tells us that we need to stand out in a world where it is much easier just to fit in. This episode is my thoug...
Ep.045 - My Experience with Financial Anxiety.
25 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I am speaking about something which I don't think gets enough attention and that is the financial struggles of creative people. I want...
Ep.044 - My Gear List & How I Know When I Should Upgrade Equipment.
21 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode I speak about my current equipment list as a Photographer and dive into whether I think better equipment makes you a better artist! Us cr...
Ep.043 - When You Love What You Do // Charging for Work You Would Do For FREE.
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do you charge for something that you would happily do for free? This is the question that I am trying to answer in today's episode. Over the past ...
Ep.042 - How your Environment plays a large role in your success!
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week I speak about how I am packing up my business in Sydney and moving to Port Macquarie. It will be a big change but I am excited about new thi...
Ep.041 - Why Don’t Adults Have Heroes?
25 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A question I was thinking about this the week that really made me stop and ponder. Role models or heroes were such an important part of my childhood a...
Ep.040 - How I Sell Products Online.
18 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past couple of years I have sold Photographic Prints and Calendars online and today I thought that I would do a deep dive in to the process b...
Ep.039 - Finding My Niche.
10 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When I first started this podcast it was a place where I could document my life as a creative business owner as it happened every week. Over the past ...
Ep.038 - The Makings of a Business (with Harry & Tommy from Bandwagon Australia)
03 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week I was lucky enough to be joined by Harry & Tommy from Bandwagon Australia to chat all about how they started their Business. Bandwagon i...
Ep.037 - Imposter Syndrome.
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Defined on Wikipedia as a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their skills, talents, or accomplishments and has a persistent internali...
Ep.036 - Quantity vs. Quality! Which is More Important?
20 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Should you spend your time producing one amazing piece of work or multiple "pretty good" pieces of work? This is something that I get asked a lot and ...
Ep.035 - My Anxiety About Returning To Work...
12 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today I am talking about something which is really impacting me right now and that is my anxiety about returning to work after having such a long time...
Ep.034 - My Favourite Productivity Hack.
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I speak about one of the best productivity hacks that I know which has really helped me to stay productive throughout my days. This is...
Ep.033 - Careers vs. Hobbies (with Stephen Sanders)
30 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this special guest episode I am joined by my good friend and videographer/environmental activist Stephen Sanders. We talk about the differences bet...
Ep.032 - You Care Too Much About What Others Think.
26 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I talk about why we as humans care to much about what other people think of us and how we can brake the shackles of our negative minds...
Ep.031 - Perfectionism: The Good, The Bad & The Downright Ugly...
22 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk about Perfectionism, something which I have a lot of experience with as I have seen it kill my creativity in the past. I touch...
Ep.030 - Let’s Talk About Taxes!
15 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we are talking about taxes. Not always an interesting topic, but I hope this episode can provide a lot of value for anyone who has th...
Ep.029 - I’m Not Perfect...
08 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I have a confession to make. Despite what you may see online, my life is not always that productive and I actually fail far more than I would like to ...
Ep.028 - Building a Business, not just a Following!
01 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week I discuss the differences between building a business and building a following. Too many people obsess over the number of followers they hav...
Ep.027 - Create for Yourself, Not Instagram!!!
25 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As creatives we often feel the burden of creating for the wrong reasons and never give ourselves a chance to experiment and get back to creating the a...
Ep.026 - Managing Stress and Fatigue (with Emily Fawns)
18 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of My Creative Journey is the second part of a two-part episode I started in Episode 25. Emily joins me again and we speak about what to ...
Ep.025 - The Importance of Taking Breaks (with Emily Fawns)
15 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode of My Creative Journey I speak all about the importance of taking breaks. As you guys may have realised, I have been on a bit of...
Ep.024 - Dealing with Setbacks & Rejection.
06 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode of My Creative Journey I speak about something which I don't hear being talked about enough, and that is how to deal with setbac...
Ep.023 - Should you mix Business with Friends?
24 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode of My Creative Journey I touch on the best strategy I have for growing a business, a brand or a career. Most small businesses st...
Ep.022 - What should you Charge for your Work?
13 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This weeks episode of My Creative Journey I talk about pricing and knowing what to charge for your work. This is something that I go back and forth on...
Ep.021 - Only do the things that you REALLY want to Do!!
06 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This weeks episode of My Creative Journey I give you guys my thoughts on what it means to only be doing the work that you really want to do. In life, ...
Ep.020 - Podcast Guests, Money, Equipment, Motivation, Favourite Podcasts & More.
30 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This weeks episode of My Creative Journey is going to be a little bit different because it is my first ever Q & A episode. I reached out on Instag...
Ep.019 - How to Deal with Negative Comments.
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode of My Creative Journey, I talk about negative comments and dealing with hate online. Since we were kids, all of us have had to l...
Ep.018 - Is Social Media the Devil??
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode of My Creative Journey, I talk about the devil.. AKA Social Media. I get asked my opinion on this all the time so in this episod...
Ep.017 - What’s Next?
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode of My Creative Journey, I speak about priorities and knowing what comes next along your journey. This podcast is as much a learn...
Ep.016 - 9 Steps to Overcome Your Fears!
02 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode of My Creative Journey, I speak about fears and the un-rational thoughts that we all have when confronting something new or chal...
Ep.015 - Let’s Talk About Money!
25 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode of My Creative Journey, I speak about Money. A topic that is pretty taboo in today's society however I can definitely see the ti...
Ep.014 - I Manifested This.
18 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode of My Creative Journey, I have a chat about manifestation and how I faked being a photographer until I made it. All of us have b...
Ep.013 - Be the Author of Your Own Story.
11 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode of My Creative Journey, I speak about three misconceptions that I used to have about telling my own story. I always thought that...
Ep.012 - Start Before You Are Ready!!!
04 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode of My Creative Journey, I want to give you 5 reasons why you should start things before you are ready. Most of us tend to overth...
Ep.011 - I’m The Least Creative Person I Know.
28 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode of My Creative Journey, talk about how I am the least creative person I know! Like literally I am not creative at all, or at lea...
Ep.010 - Things That Hold Us Back.
21 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode of My Creative Journey, I talk about the things that hold us back and stop us from starting the things we want to do. Like every...