S1 E2: The One with Off-Camera Flash & Dance Photo Tips with Susan Gietka

Episode 2 | The One Behind the Lens

Hosted by Kate DeCoste

Guest: Susan Geitka

Total Length: ~60:00

Inside the episode:

In this episode of The One Behind the Lens, Kate is joined by photographer and light chaser Susan Gietka, whose journey began in 1983 with a Pentax film camera and a background in dance. Known for her emotive dance photography and creative lighting techniques, Susan shares her approach to working with natural light, introducing off-camera flash, and using unexpected tools (like a dress form!) to perfect her craft.

📌 What You’ll Learn

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• How Susan’s dance background shaped her eye behind the lens
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• Why self-initiated shoots matter (and how they lead to your best work)
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• Favorite lighting tools and techniques for outdoor, studio, and dance photography

• Real-life stories of creative risk, gear fails, and magical photo moments

• Tips for mentoring, natural light, off-camera flash, and reading light like a pro

🕒 Timestamps

0:00 – Meet Susan! Longtime friend, dancer, and storytelling genius

2:00 – The early years: dance in Philly + buying a manual film camera with her last $500

5:00 – When the digital transition wasn’t cute (6MP, anyone?) 7:30 – Her first paid shoot from a stranger on the street

9:00 – Why high school senior photography wasn’t a thing in New Jersey

11:00 – The power of creative communities (We Are The Scene memories!)

13:15 – Saturday Night Specials + the struggle to create for yourself

15:00 – Susan’s advice: shoot for yourself to stay inspired

17:30 – Behind the lake shoot: snapping turtles, rain, and her most iconic images 21:50 – The role of fear in creative breakthroughs

24:30 – Why the best work often comes from shoots where everything goes wrong

27:00 – Yes, she really brought a styrofoam head to practice lighting 😄

28:15 – When to push through… and when to pack it up (RIP camera in pool) 30:00 – Why being a dancer helps Susan photograph dancers (timing + technique)

34:00 – The value of directing with confidence and dancer-friendly language 36:00 – Tips for non-dancer photographers shooting dance clients

38:00 – Favorite lenses for movement + how to frame dancers like they’re on stage

40:00 – Susan’s take on light: not one-size-fits-all—and that’s the point

43:00 – Shooting in full sun: her secret weapon (and assistant torture stories 😅) 45:15 – Natural light tip #1: always expose for the skin

47:00 – Flash learning curve: starting at sunset, no pressure

49:30 – Her lighting rituals, reflectors, and the importance of angles

51:15 – Mentorship + Rise Up Workshop (and why she keeps teaching)

54:00 – Where to find Susan online and how to reach out for 1:1 mentoring

56:00 – Final wisdom: trust your ideas, stay curious, and read Big Magic

💾 Resources & Links for Susan:

Facebook

Instagram

Website

🎓 Workshops:

Sign up for the Rise Up Workshop in Austin!

📖 Book Recommendation:

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert – for anyone sitting on a creative idea → “Ideas are magic. If you don’t act on them, they’ll visit someone else.”

📸 Try This: Susan’s 10-Minute Creative Challenge

Have an idea that’s been sitting on the shelf? Give it 10 minutes. Sketch it. Try one test shot. Don’t wait for it to be perfect. Just start. (And maybe bring bug spray… and a backup battery 😅)

Thank you to this episode’s sponsor: Rockbrook Camera
Rockbrook Camera is a locally owned photo and video specialty store based in Nebraska. For 50 years, they have helped photographers find the right gear, learn new skills, and print what matters