B&H Photography Podcast

Stephen Wilkes is an undisputed master at telling stories with images. In this week's podcast, he pinpoints the exact moment he was given free rein to dream up an epic photo project for a major exhibition that would come to redefine photographic printing technology.

In the year 2000, he was commissioned to capture the beauty and complexity of America at the turn of the Millennium on large format film, then transform his highly detailed film captures into immersive fine art prints using Epson's groundbreaking printing technology. Twenty-five years later, he's revisiting this project to reveal the continuing advancements...

For those who believe the world of elite fashion photography is not within reach—we've got a story for you! In this week's podcast, we explore the career trajectory and core values fueling the rise of fashion & beauty specialist Enrique Vega.

Hailing from a small town in Mexico, Enrique built essential skills by assisting a local wedding and event photographer, then set his sights on New York City. After knocking on the door of his sole professional contact, he worked his way from unpaid intern to first assistant—building the kind of confidence that only comes from prov...

The time-honored saying "A picture is worth a thousand words" can quickly lose meaning in the intricate tangle of a photographer's lifetime archive. That is unless you take a disciplined approach to organizing your photographs from the start. This essential message is woven throughout this week's podcast with the esteemed photojournalist and filmmaker Ed Kashi.

"You need to look at your archive from early on, even before you think you have any critical mass of material," Ed instructs. "This is your memory, this is your history. This is like the essence… Well, for me, this is like th...

New York City is often considered the center of the universe, especially for photographers and other creative types. Leaving the Big Apple after you've established yourself there can mean "saying goodbye to these chapters of a previous life," according to today's guest.

Derek's chat with Sony Artisan Nancy Borowick on this week's podcast is all about looking beyond the environment that launched her professional life and making pivots to balance a successful career with the responsibilities of a growing family, amid other life changes.

As Derek aptly notes, "Pivot means more adapt than it means...

Austin Bell shoots basketball courts—thousands of them—mostly from above. Using a drone and a flat-lay approach, he's documented more than 6,500 courts across 28 countries, including every single example to be found across Hong Kong's variegated landscape. In 2024, Bell's self-described "nonchalant obsession" became Shooting Hoops, an exhibition and monograph that maps the city through color, geometry, and concrete.

In today's show—our first full video release in our in-house studio—Austin describes the complex logistics involved in finding and photographing every last court, while also elaborating on his ingenious system for organizing all the data in a color-co...

After an extended hiatus, we're stoked to announce that the B&H Photography Podcast is back online with an impressive visual identity and a vibrant new studio space for hosting in-person guests.

In this Welcome Back prequel, host Derek Fahsbender elaborates on some of the moving parts involved in our transition from audio-only to a fully-fledged video podcast. He also introduces the show's new technical producer Peter Maziarz, who adds his insights from behind the mixing board.

As Derek notes, our recent process in rebooting the podcast is not so different than "a typical day...

The B&H Photography Podcast is getting a facelift. After more than a decade of audio-driven chats featuring many of the photo world's most inspiring voices, we're transitioning to a video podcast—in our own dedicated studio!

In this short farewell to audio, podcast host Derek Fahsbender reflects on inheriting the mic, pays tribute to the show's founders and colleagues who've helped shape the show, and elaborates on all he's learned from guests who've dedicated their lives to the craft.

Most important, we offer you, our listeners, heartfelt thanks for your collective role in making ou...

What does it take to photograph elite athletes pushing their bodies to the point of collapse, or freeze the motion of cars hurtling by at speeds that blur the line between control and catastrophe?

Two of our favorite recent podcasts went deep inside those worlds: one with Phil Penman and Kristof Ramon on the brutal beauty of competitive cycling, and the other with Camden Thrasher and Jamey Price on the relentless sensory overload that comes with photographing motor sports.

While our video podcast studio gets its finishing touches, we're revisiting our archive for an encore...

Music photography has always been a listener favorite, and through the years we've gathered countless stories from legendary photographers about what it takes to document all aspects of the music scene.

As we temporarily pause in recording new episodes while we build out a studio for video podcasts, we decided to take a trip down memory lane and feature some noteworthy clips from our 10-year archive.

This compilation of favorite moments celebrates the intersection of photographic mastery and music history, with talents spanning from Lynn Goldsmith to Mick Rock, Jeanette Beckman to Graham Nash, among...

"Live From New York, it's Saturday Night!" That single sentence has become a catchphrase for devotees of comedy and popular culture for more than 50 years—generations of fans who willingly turn their attentions from the height of weekend revelry to the televised antics of Saturday Night Live.

As this illustrious broadcast wraps its 51st season, we're releasing an encore of our 2025 chat with SNL's photographer-in-residence Mary Ellen Matthews, while we busy ourselves backstage to bring you some exciting changes and an upcoming new look to our own show.

Week in, week out for more than tw...

Photography has plenty of different specialty areas—portraits, sports, fashion, food, still life—to name just a few. In today's show we're going to investigate a specialty that involves all these subjects, while calling for a photographer who is technically precise, emotionally intuitive, and practically invisible, all at once.

It's a corner of the industry people rarely consider, but one that holds massive influence over our cultural lives. This is the domain of the Unit Set Photographer: the person responsible for the pictures that sell a film or a show before anyone else has seen a frame of i...

Sports photography hinges on freezing peak action—transforming a high-speed blur into a dramatic portrayal of human effort. When you combine that with the unyielding drive of elite athletes on the world stage, the pressure to nail the shot provides an incredible adrenaline rush.

In today's podcast, we discuss the unique challenges of documenting history in the making and unpacking stories from the Winter Games with renowned sports photographer Jean Fruth, recently back from her first Olympics.

From a hectic scramble on arrival in Milan—getting to the arena and gearing up as her first game...

Above Photograph © Donald Pettit, NASA

At its best, photography draws from both science and art, to give resulting images a dual purpose—aesthetic innovation and scientific merit. And when that photography happens from the windows of the International Space Station, capturing star trails, city lights, and our blue planet against the void of space, it becomes something truly transcendent.

In today's show, we're privileged to chat with NASA Astronaut Donald Pettit, a scientist, inventor, and photographer who has spent nearly two years living, working, and making pictures in orbit.

Some fun take aways fro...

One of the most polarizing questions in the mind of any photographer is "Should—or shouldn't I—get an agent?"

The role of an agent in a photographer's career is often misunderstood, leading hungry creatives to think that securing representation is their number one key to success. In truth, the relationship between a photographer and agent is far more nuanced than simply booking more assignments.

In today's podcast, we take a deep dive into this complex alliance in a discussion with two generations of top agents, whose combined careers span from the film-era to the late...

While its origin is murky, the adage "Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time," is at the heart of this wide-ranging discussion about ethical practices in wildlife photography.

From exotic safaris to local birding expeditions, interest in this subject matter has grown tremendously in recent years. Ever advancing camera technologies and increasing ease of use make stunning pictures more accessible than ever, but when these advantages combine with an unbridled enthusiasm for getting the shot, it can often put wildlife at risk.

After defining conservation photography as an act that...

It takes a lot of guts to engage with a stranger on the street, ask probing questions about their struggles, and come away with a portrait and a story as a record of the human connection that was made. Now, imagine repeating this process countless times over 15 years under the moniker Humans of New York (HONY) and watching what started as a passion project take the world by storm.

In today's show, we're privileged to chat with this 21st century archivist of everyday citizens and their lived experiences. Listen in as HONY's creator, Brandon Stanton, shares how...

Picking up a camera is often the start of a life-changing journey. And when it's combined with a focus on community building, the determination to lead by example, and shrewd entrepreneurial skills—this basic action can have a ripple effect with the potential to change countless lives.

In today's show, we speak with creative community trailblazer CJ Wolfe, who has built a passion for pictures and infectious team spirit into a multifaceted brand that encompasses rental studios, a creative agency, and a non-profit organization with a mission to educate and inspire disenfranchised youth.

Listen in an...

Paul Mobley and Ian Spanier have much in common: from starting their respective careers in New York City before relocating to the West Coast, to their knack for forging a human bond with portrait subjects, to an unrelenting drive to generate ambitious commercial assignments while being equally dedicated to complex personal projects.

In today's podcast, Paul and Ian compare notes on their photographic journeys from coast to coast, while discussing their shared inspiration for 20th century portrait masters such as Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, and in Ian's case, Harry Benson. A few of the key points covered...

In case you didn't already know, 2025 marks 10 years since we started the B&H Photography Podcast, making today's show our tenth annual Photo Gear of the Year episode! A lot of cameras have come down the pike since that first recap, along with a veritable roller coaster of marketing strategies and photographic trends.

To follow up on a trend discussed last year, we start out with a nod to point-and-shoots, a craze that, according to Kevin, has "become fever pitch." To expand on this theme, we look back in time to when digital point-and-shoots were losing ground...

"Wow, this is your job? I didn't know that was a job! That's amazing. Can I have this job?" 

That offhand epiphany neatly sums up the enviable career path of wildlife, adventure, and travel photographer Chelsea Mayer. From an early start with her mom's camera to her selection for an Ambassador mentorship, before becoming a partner photographer, with Girls Who Click, all the way through to her certifications as a 100-ton boat captain and professional divemaster, the course Chelsea plotted has made her undeniably qualified for a thriving career.

In today's show, we do a d...

Join Deanna as she welcomes professional side-quester, storyteller, and video editor, Mylene Mae (@mylenesmind). Mylene shares her personal journey, including how she pivoted from working in STEM and got started in video, as well as her learning process and the struggles of digesting long-form content. They discuss the importance betting on yourself, staying curious, and forgetting the metrics and finding the fun in content creation.

Credits:

Photographs preserve what daily life cannot—moments that would otherwise fade into obscurity. In today's show, we explore this topic through a nexus of American culture, popular folklore, and photographic archives in a chat with Alan Govenar and Adam Forgash, two photographers and visual historians who are passionate about unearthing and preserving forgotten stories.

Coming from different backgrounds, Alan's formal training and experience with the non-profit Documentary Arts complements Adam's hands-on skills hunting for treasures and selling vintage photographica at New York's Chelsea Flea Market.

A few of the points they discuss include: the central ro...

In Episode 7, host Deanna Testa sits down with the vibrant and hilarious, Tolú Ekundare (@tolukundare) to spill the tea on what it takes to grow as a modern creator. Tolú shares how she landed two big Netflix shows, the challenges of getting started in the podcasting space, and how she continues to build her own brand while staying her most authentic self.

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News reporting has got to be one of the toughest markets for a visual journalist to crack. But the whirlwind of 24/7 news cycles and the pressures of telling human stories in rural news deserts have not deterred today's guest, Keren Carrión, a photojournalist and short form video producer currently working on the NPR visuals team.

Follow along as we chart Keren's evolution from stills to documentary video stories to vertical social media clips that can be absorbed in two minutes or less. We also learn about the many opportunities for feedback and career advancement she's explored, a...

In this episode, we sit down with New York-based photographer and content creator Brandon Woelfel (@brandonwoelfel) to discuss his personal journey as well as the growing pains of being modern creator and photographer. Brandon shares how fine art led him to taking photos, adapting to the ever-changing social media landscape, gaining confidence in one's own work, educating in the space, and even leveraging AI.

Whether you're a photographer, filmmaker, TikTok star, podcaster, or just starting your creative journey, this conversation is full of insight, motivation, and practical advice you can use right now. Episodes drop every other...

Although they cater to different senses, photography and music share much in common. In both these arts, timing, rhythm, and mood are key. It's been a while since we've mixed photography and music on the show, so we're particularly excited about today's chat with two photographers who share a passion for documenting musicians and their fans—in particular, devotes of punk and indie rock.

From early memories of being truly moved by music to practical tips about photo access, image rights and restrictions, plus the complexities of organizing your work for a book, the conversation doesn't miss a...

Welcome to the fifth episode of the B&H Creators Green Room Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with viral street photography creator David Guerroro to discuss what it takes to grow as a modern creator.

David shares how he got started in content creation, tips for building an audience, the importance of believing in yourself, photographing strangers, and advice for going viral.

Whether you're a photographer, filmmaker, TikTok star, podcaster, or just starting out, this conversation is full of motivation, insight, and practical advice you can use right now. Hit Subscribe and join t...

"Inspiration doesn't have an age gap… Maybe you've heard it 100 times before, but this time it hits differently. Or this time, it's where it sinks in and you have that 'aha' moment." That's just one takeaway from our spirited conversation with Grace Mc Nally.

From soaking up a passion for photography through an early mentorship program at NYC Salt to her decision to forgo college and continue learning on the job, Grace has forged an impressive path as a creative renaissance woman with a passion for community.

As podcast host Derek Fahsbender notes about this ch...

In this episode, we sit down with viral ice cream creator Dylan Lemay to spill the tea on what it really takes to grow as a modern creator. Dylan shares how his content creation journey began, how he built his audience, and the importance of balancing life on and off social media. We also discuss his ultimate tips for going viral in 2025 and get a peak of the ice cream business behind the scenes. Whether you're a photographer, filmmaker, TikTok star, podcaster, or just starting out, this conversation is full of motivation, insight, and practical advice you can use...

How often do you think beyond the photos you make to consider the larger purpose they serve—both for yourself and, ideally, for a wider audience? In today's show, we explore this idea while connecting the dots between picture making, process, and purpose. Our guides for this conversation are nature/landscape photographer and mountaineer Matt Payne, and street photographer, portraitist, and YouTube storyteller Sean Tucker. While Matt and Sean have widely different photographic specialties, they share much in common, from educational backgrounds in psychology to a profound commitment in using photography to find purpose in life.

Taking Ma...

In this episode we sit down with talented viral creator and musician Peet Montzingo to spill the tea on what it really takes to grow as a modern creator. Peet shares how he got started, how ADHD impacted his journey, the power of family, and his ultimate tips to going viral. Whether you're a photographer, filmmaker, TikTok star, podcaster, or just starting your creative journey, this conversation is full of motivation, insight, and practical advice.

Hit Subscribe and join the B&H Creators community for more unfiltered conversations with the creators shaping today's culture.

Guest...

Above Photograph © Patience Ojionuka

How do you transition from being simply "a friend with a camera" to landing paid gigs with top fashion brands? All while juggling a budding photo career and the rigors of post graduate study, along with sharing insider tips to inspire your community on the side. 

We answer these questions and more in this, our second episode of Next Frame, a monthly podcast series shining a light on rising creative talents. 

Today's guest is Patience Ojionuka, a trendsetting creative known for multitasking between enviable photo assignments and working towards a P...

This episode we're talking to the multi-talented, Bea Chu. Bea dives into how her content creator journey began and how she balances education and creativity. We talk about creator communities and tips for improving your audio game.

Guest Bio:

Bea Chu is a content creator who started her career as a theatre sound designer and audio engineer. She has over a decade of video-creating experience, and gained popularity with her viral video "How to Turn Your Headset into a DIY Lapel Mic." Since then, she has been educating and inspiring fellow creators through i...

"If you look very intensely and slowly things will happen that you never dreamed of before." This Aaron Siskind quote neatly sums up the deeply contemplative discussion we had with landscape photographers John Paul Caponigro and Joel Simpson in this week's podcast.

Siskind's name is mentioned several times in our chat—as are many other 20th century photography legends—making this show both an exploration of photo history and an exercise in a holistic way to envision and record the world around us.

Our focus on landscape quickly diverges from realistic depictions in favor of terr...

We're kicking off the B&H Creators Green Room with the very talented Shuang Hu. Shuang is a renowned actress, writer, director, producer, and viral content creator with over 12 million followers. Tune in to learn about her creative journey, inspiration, and what it takes to grow as a modern creator.

Guest Bio:

Shuang Hu is a talented Chinese-Australian actress, writer, director, producer, and content creator who has gained over 12 million followers since starting her online content in March 2020. Her YouTube channel, THEONESHU, was listed as one of the top 50 most viewed US channels b...

The photo world is filled with remarkable young and up-and-coming talents. They often don't get the visibility they deserve, so we created Next Frame—a new monthly series aiming to shine a light their way. These bite-sized episodes are equally inspired by the guests we speak with and the invaluable contributions of local creative arts programs that have played a key role in their development.

We're launching this series with photographer, filmmaker, and boxing & music aficionado Josh Nass, an alumnus of Baltimore's Wide Angle Youth Media programs. From nailing his Photoshop skills while still in middle school to...

Above Photograph © Matt Emond

Summertime is the season for travel. With that theme in mind, in today's show, we're taking you on a short trip around the block to revisit a few of our favorite encounters from B&H's 2025 Bild Expo.

During two days in June, we engaged with the many thousands of Expo attendees who converged at New York's Jacob Javits Center for the show. From our sleek podcast console/recording station adjacent to the Bild stages, we shared our favorite listens and offered advice to the many inquisitive creatives wanting to start up a...

"That which unites us is far greater than what divides us." The first four words of this sentence are subtitle, and subtext, for "Path of Liberty," an immersive outdoor photo and media experience on view through fall 2025 at Freedom Plaza on Manhattan's east side.

The creative groundwork for this project was a mammoth effort involving an extensive crew both on the road and behind the scenes. In today's podcast, we catch up with two principals of this project's creative team—creative director Daniella Vale and director of photography, Scott Beardslee—to learn more about their daily lives duri...

"Live From New York, it's Saturday Night!" That single sentence has become a catchphrase for devotees of comedy and popular culture over the past 50 years—generations of fans who willingly turn their attentions from the height of weekend revelry to the televised antics of Saturday Night Live. Week in, week out for more than two decades, a single photographer has conjured visual magic behind the scenes, creating inventive and irreverent portraits that air for three seconds each as so-called "bumpers" that transition to and from the show's commercial breaks.

In this week's podcast, SNL's photographer in residence Ma...

Industrial expansion has left an indelible mark on our natural world, fundamentally altering landscapes and ecosystems for the sake of material progress and modern convenience. This transformation has created an environmental challenge of unprecedented scale. In today's show, we'll connect the dots between the raw materials that make up our planet and the industrial forces visually altering our contemporary landscape in a chat with a photographer who's documented these profound global changes firsthand for the past 50 years.

Applying visual principals rooted in abstract expressionist painting, Edward Burtynsky has explored a wide range of photographic tools in his...