Zach and Jody Gray have quickly become industry leaders. They are known for their wedding photography and their ability to teach photographers off-camera lighting and business strategies. In fact, when they were hopping from city to city teaching small groups of eager photographers, I attend one of their workshops. I noticed how particular they were to following a system, even if it was using a tool called the Expo Disc.

They are just as meticulous about using off-camera flash. When I started Connecticut Headshots, I turned to their DVDs to learn how to use a simple reflector. I eventually graduated to their other DVD, In Camera: Light, to learn more about their off-camera lighting system.

Thanks to ShootDotEdit.com, the Gray's are going to spend about an hour going over their simple 3-step system to using off-camera flash. The webinar is free, so why not register here.

I managed to convince Zach and Jody to meet with me early one morning a few days ago to talk about their background and what they were going to bring to this webinar.

Check out their instructional videos on how to use the Expo Disc I mentioned above:

So, those videos should give you an idea of how systematic the Gray's are. Want to learn more about lighting from them? They are giving away a free ebook to those who sign up for their awesome newsletter (lots of nuggets of craft/technique and business wisdom freely shared!). Click the graphic below and you will be all set.

If you are interested, feel free to poke around the Gray's online store to check out these useful video workshops and other resources for your photography business:

CJ Chilvers is a writer, and dare I say, “thinker,” behind one of my favorite blogs for photographers called, A Lesser Photographer. By profession, he is a technical writer based in Chicago. In addition to “A Lesser Photographer” he writes at This Life of Leisure.

I cornered Chilvers into a quick interview because we very rarely see him or hear his voice. I was curious to know more about why he started A Lesser Photographer, what made the blog so popular.

I was pleased to know that Craft & Vision was going to be publishing his book by the same name very soon. Well, that book just appeared today on the Craft & Vision site. You can grab it here – A Lesser Photographer: Escaping The Gear Trap To Focus On What Matters – for only $4 before the price bumps back up to $5! [aff]

David duChemin writes about the book, “The Lesser Photographer by CJ Chilvers is about escaping the gear trap and focusing on what matters: the things that actually make better photographs. Things like creativity and authenticity. So instead of worrying about your f-stop, you can concentrate on doing more with less. Less gear. Less comparison. Less “should” and “ought” and “if only,” and more of you, reflected in your work.”

Anyway, before I get completely sidetracked here is my conversation with CJ Chilvers:

The book on Van Halen CJ mentions is called The Van Halen Encyclopedia [aff]

You might as well jump!! [if you got that reference comment below] Subscribe to TiffinboxTV now and see all the interviews before they appear here!

Please also check out the Craft & Vision interview with CJ Chilvers.

Jared Platt is an Arizona-based wedding photographer who is also highly regarded as a Lightroom instructor. He offers workshops to photographers who grapple with Lightroom and has created presets that help accelerate the time it takes to process a folder full of images.

Whether you are a wedding or portrait photographer, you should pay attention to Jared Platt. Lucky for you, on January 14th, he is offering a free webinar, thanks in large part to ShootDotEdit.com.

The topic for this webinar is “Top Lightroom Shortcuts and Speed Tips.” Register here.

Jared and I sat down to chat for a bit about the need for speed when using Lightroom.

As an early adopter of the program, he knows the program intimately – its strengths, its weaknesses, its hidden features. That's why I pay attention to Jared whether it is a free webinar like this one or if he is on CreativeLive.

I hope you will jump at this opportunity to learn from one of leading authorities of Lightroom from the comfort of your own home or studio.

David Murray's long history in photojournalism inspires his wedding photography. He is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and has photographed for The New York Times and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

David is coming to Inspire Photo Retreats in February. The dates of the convention are February 9-11, 2015. I do hope you will take the opportunity to be there and to speak with David directly. He is a true gem of a guy and an inspiration to me and a great many photographers, not so much because of what he does so well, but who he is as a person.

As a part of this series of interviews with Inspire Photo Retreats presenters, I chatted with David at length about his journey and what his expectations have been in the past at Inspire Photo Retreats.

David and I continued to discuss this interview after we recorded it and this is a short exchange with him about our purpose in life as photographers –

ME: at the end of it all .. it is about how we saw the world, how our seeing it has influenced it (even if by a little bit). No grand ambitions but doing all that I can I suppose…

David: That is all we can do: give our take on the world. It then goes to the viewer to decide if and what they like. I write with light. The camera is just the medium that I use to describe life as I view it.

Check out some of David's work. It's not limited to weddings, as he says he just a photographer. Follow him on Instagram here. David also has an Instagram account for his wedding photography.

What is your take on your purpose in life as a photographer? Why do you pursue it? Come and discuss it all at Inspire Photo Retreats. Beyond idle chatter, you'll leave making stronger bonds with people like David, understand your business better and perhaps even become a better communicator. If you are up for all that, register now for Inspire Photo Retreats. There are only a limited number of seats left for this year and the organizers tell me that they will sell out!

Lauren Rutten describes herself as the following:

Explorer. Artist. Photographer. Educator. Writer. Swashbuckling World Traveler.

Her career in photography began in 1986 and she has followed a very interesting path that includes not only the visual medium but also the written one. Lauren’s art and writing reflects her deep appreciation of everyday life and seeks to connect, empower and inspire others through her art. In 2013, Lauren took time away from her photography business and fulfilled a life-long dream of traveling solo around the world. In May of 2014, Lauren became a facilitator of the Amherst Writer's and Artists Workshops.

So, this is who is coming to speak at Inspire Photo Retreats in February, 2015, friends! I had an opportunity to chat with Lauren about her work and of course about her presentation at Inspire Photo Retreats:

There are still a few spots open for Inspire Photo Retreats. Register here today. You'll come in contact with people like Lauren who bring a gamut of skills and experiences to enrich your life.