My Creative Journey (Photography Podcast)

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 bigger question…. How do you turn everything you’ve learned into something you can sell? In this episode, Mike and G unpack what it really looks like to move into photography education. Not some fake polished version, but the real version with doubts, imposter syndrome and the fear tha...

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 episode, I’m joined by Chihiro Yanagi to talk about creativity, identity and why doing everything can actually bring more joy and success. Creativity should feel enjoyable. It shouldn’t feel like a test you’re constantly failing. This isn’t a conversation about ignoring advice or doing t...

Gavin Blue OAM is the founder and current president of Heartfelt Australia New Zealand, a volunteer run charity that provides free professional photography to families experiencing stillbirth, terminal illness, or life threatening conditions in children. Since its founding, Heartfelt has grown to more than 300 volunteer photographers and has supported over 19,500 families across Australia and New Zealan...

Cailee Maeve is a Wedding, Couples & Family Photographer known for her cinematic style and her honest approach to storytelling through photography. In this episode, we talk about why candid photography is one of the most misunderstood concepts in photography, and why many so called candid photos are far more directed than photographers like to admit.

We talk through the difference between candid, documentary, cinematic, and sto...

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 seven personality traits that can quietly hold your photography business back, even when you are working hard and doing “all the right things.” This isn't a conversation about cameras, presets or marketing hacks. It's about waiting for permission before acting, relying on motivation ...

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 highlight clips I’ve pulled longer excerpts from full length podcast conversations so you can actually sit with the ideas and not just skim past them. Across these conversations, I kept hearing the same things come up. Self doubt, even when things are going well. The pressure to move fast...

Isabella Alexis, Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2023, joins Mike to reflect on what really happens after you win the award you always dreamed of. At just 17, Isabella achieved a milestone many photographers chase for decades, but the moment didn’t bring instant clarity or certainty. Instead, it opened the door to deeper questions about purpose, patience, and what success actually looks like when the excitemen...

Mike is joined by his wife Emily for an honest conversation about the jokes, snarky comments, and quiet assumptions creatives often face at Christmas, especially when photography or creative work is not seen as a real job. Together they unpack why these comments happen, why they hurt more than criticism online, and how insecurity and generational ideas about work often sit underneath it all.

Emily brings insight from her background...

Gemma Higlett, Floral Designer, Stylist, and trained Marketer, joins Mike to unpack the marketing secrets every creative should know. They dive into why showing your face matters more than perfect work, how authenticity builds a stronger brand than aesthetics, and why sharing the messy middle of your journey is often the most powerful marketing you can do. Gemma talks about her transition from corporate PR and marketing into the cr...

Francisco Hernandez, Portrait Photographer and long time flash educator, joins Mike to unpack how photographers can build a signature style with flash photography. They explore the mindset behind creating consistent work, why flash gives you more control in unpredictable environments, and how understanding light can completely change the way you shoot. Francisco shares the early struggles that shaped his approach, the years spent e...

Cass Edwards is a Perth based sports photographer who has gone from shooting local ice hockey games to photographing major sporting events across Australia. In this episode of My Creative Journey, Mike digs into Cass’s journey, her rapid rise in the industry and the huge wave of self doubt and imposter syndrome that followed her even as her career took off. Cass talks openly about what it's like as a woman in a male dominated indus...

Mike chats with Karen Sadek, Personal and Business Brand Photographer, and Stacey Rolfe, Family Newborn Photographer and Founder of Tog Hub, for a conversation about understanding your personal brand & finding a community within Photography. Karen has spent her career empowering entrepreneurs through authentic brand imagery and is also the face behind Sydney Lifestyle Photography Facebook community. Stacey combines her backgrou...

Sometimes positive motivation isn’t enough, and it’s the fear, pressure, and “toxic fuel” that pushes you into action. As they say, having something to run away from can be far more useful than having something to run toward, especially at the start. I share personal stories and practical insights on how to turn fear into purpose, embrace the discomfort of the beginning, and finally take the steps you’ve been putting off, whether i...

Camp Photography is our multi-day retreat where Wedding Photographers from across Australia come together for styled shoots, workshops, and community building, but this year’s event was anything but smooth. In this episode, I’m joined by my wife Emily, who helped me plan and run the camp, to share the unfiltered behind-the-scenes of our biggest event yet. We're spilling it all from the moments that pushed us to our limits to what w...

Anissa Dev is a San Diego-based Couples & Family Photographer who built her business Photographing Weddings, but eventually realised the career she had created no longer aligned with the life she wanted. In this episode, Anissa shares the honest story behind why she walked away from wedding photography and how that decision opened the door to a more fulfilling path. One that includes Family Photography, Education, Content Creat...

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, events and sporting organisations. He’s shot everything from the NBA to the AFL Grand Final and even Coldplay Stadium Concerts. Travis has built a career working behind the scenes at some of Australia’s biggest events and if you've been on social media lately you've probably seen hi...

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 to a three-day photography workshop that gave away real weddings. We talk about what worked, what didn’t, and why running a workshop in Australia is a completely different beast. Josh talks candidly about the emotional side of choosing couples, the financial risks of running workshops,...

Zoe Joy Mobbs, a Newborn & Family Photographer, joins me on the podcast to share her journey of turning a lifelong passion into a thriving creative business. Zoe opens up about how her personal experiences with fertility struggles & motherhood have shaped the emotional connection she brings to her work. We also dive into the realities of running a photography business in a small town where competition is high and word of mo...

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 Journey, both together and apart. Known for their stunning visuals, creative self-portraits, and positive vibes, these two have become icons in the online photography space. In this episode, Alex & Britt recount their story from first meeting at a McDonald’s drive-thru to building a suc...