My Creative Journey with Mike Jeffrey

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...

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 photo editing course, Mike shares the lessons that only come from doing the work — even before you feel ready. He talks about the power of starting before you're "there," the freedom that comes from letting go of perfectionism, and why your pricing should reflect your value, not what...

Natasha Simpson is a Newborn Photographer with a massive Social Media following across all platforms. Seriously she has 300K followers on Facebook and nearly 400K on TikTok which is wild. She also runs a successful online Photography Education Business where she helps others start and run their own Photography Businesses. In this episode she shares her journey from being the kid who "stole" her dad’s camera to becoming a sought-aft...

As creative professionals, we’re constantly balancing artistry, business, and human connection — but how do we truly master the people side of what we do? In this episode, I sit down with Matthew Vercoe, a marriage celebrant, MC, and live event expert who has spent years perfecting the art of reading a room, building trust, and creating experiences that leave a lasting impact.

I hope this conversation challenges you to think beyond...

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 his passion for photography into a thriving e-commerce business—creating jigsaw puzzles from stunning images. As the founder of Jigsaw Gallery, Craig collaborates with photographers and artists to transform their work into interactive art, bringing a whole new dimension to the way pe...

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 People’s Choice Award at the 2024 National Australian Photographic Portrait Prize. Luke is a true storyteller in every sense of the word having also expressed himself through Poetry, Spoken Word, Acting & Fashion. This week he joins Mike to explore the power of Indigenous Storytel...

Charli English is a painter and creative advocate whose work is deeply inspired by the ocean, sustainability, and the evolving definition of success as an artist. In this episode, we explore Charli’s journey, how she transitioned from measuring success through immediate sales to finding fulfillment in the emotional connections her paintings create.

We dive into the reality of being an artist in today’s world, from navigating slow s...

Sam Cousins is a Portrait & Family Studio Photographer who went from high-volume studio work to burnout, pivoted into sales, and is now rebuilding his creative career on his own terms. As the highest-billing photographer at a national studio, he mastered both the art and business of photography, developing innovative lighting techniques that were eventually adopted company-wide. He then went on to start his own children and fam...

Divya Gordon is an Adventure Filmmaker who has created films such as Steady, Maven & Seven7Seven. In this episode, Divya shares the incredible journey from the corporate world of Business and Marketing to adventure filmmaking. With no formal training, Divya carved a path in the industry by embracing risk, creativity, and hands-on learning — eventually working with brands like Nikon and Arc'teryx to bring incredible stories to l...

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 a career, leading him from niche sports content to Wedding Photography and online education. In this episode, Antonio shares his journey, from going viral on TikTok to transitioning into the photography world, navigating brand deals, and staying true to himself as a creator.

We dive int...

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 from Perth, Australia, who went from shooting $50 birthday parties to capturing high-end weddings at venues like the Ritz Carlton. James has also turned his attention to Instagram in recent months and increased his following to over 10,000 people by sharing short form videos.

In this ...

This is a Compilation Episode with Snippets from Mike's 5 Favourite Episodes of 2024. It includes conversations with Australian Wedding Photographer Josh Huggett, YouTube Sensation Julia Trotti, Aussie Marriage Celebrant Pippa Moore, UK Wedding Photographer Andrew Keher & Wildlife Photographer Karolina Noree.

If you enjoyed any of the Conversations in this episode, make sure you check out the full episodes. In order of appearan...

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 joined by Jasmine Pollock, a photographer navigating the early stages of her career and carving out her place in the creative world. Jasmine’s story is about more than just photography, it’s about finding the courage to start, embracing uncertainty, and following a path that feels true, ev...

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 collaborating with brands like Joby, Adobe Lightroom, and Lingoda. Regan shares how she transitioned from photography to user-generated content (UGC), creating authentic ads that resonate without needing a massive social media following.

They dive into what UGC is, why it’s so impactful...

In this episode, Mike chat's with Gunawan who is an extremely talented Wedding Photographer with over 20 years experience, an Astrophotography Educator and Nikon Australia Creator. They discuss Gunawan's inspiring journey from humble beginnings in Indonesia to building a thriving creative career in Australia. G shares how resilience, gratitude, and a passion for storytelling have shaped his work, along with insights into teaching w...

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 shares her journey of discovering a passion for capturing moments, building a business from scratch, and navigating the challenges of balancing family, nursing, and her growing creative career.

In this episode they dive into:

• How Danielle transitioned from calling herself a beginne...