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PODCAST

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast

Texas School "Off the Record" is the official podcast of the Texas School of Professional Photography. Texas School director, Cris Duncan, host these candid and unscripted conversations about creativity, photography, the photography business and entrepreneurship. Since 1975, Texas School host the country"s largest hands-on week long education event each spring. Texas School offer 30+ classes, hands-on learning, and the best gear deals of the year, you’ll sharpen your craft in lighting, posing,

arts visual arts

All Episodes

29:54

Photoshop Dos, Don'ts and Must with Michael Collins

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/10/05

Photoshop Must-Knows: Selections, Layers, Remove Tool & AI Workflow (with Michael Collins)Cris Duncan of the Texas School of Professional Photography interviews instructor Michael Collins about practical, beginner-to-intermediate Photoshop essentials and how his workflow has evolved. Collins explains his process of opening RAW files in Bridge and Camera Raw for basic exposure and color work before moving into Photoshop, noting Camera Raw and Lightroom share the same development engine. He

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28:51

The Mindset Shift to take YOU to the Next Level with...

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/09/28

Greg & Lesa Daniel on the Commission Portrait Model: Designing First, Selling Art, and Serving Luxury ClientsHost Cris Duncan interviews portrait artists Gregory and Lesa Daniel about the business model they’ve built over 47 years, including a major shift in the early ’90s from high-volume, travel-heavy wedding work to a gallery-style, commission-based portrait approach influenced by the art and interior design worlds. They explain the difference between “speculation” (photograph first, sell

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33:25

Finding Your Next Adjustment with Julie Gayler

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/09/21

Cinematic Lighting, Film-Set Lessons & Finding Your Next Adjustment | Julie GaylerHost Cris Duncan welcomes featured Fujifilm photographer and Westcott Top Pro Julie Gayler to Texas School Off The Record to discuss how her experience gaffing on film sets shaped her photography. Julie explains the collaborative structure of movie crews, learning new set language, and how film lighting prioritizes realism, direction, and story while camera settings stay fixed. They explore “training your eye”

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42:25

The Elephant in The Room: Ai for Photographers. BONUS...

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/09/16

AI for Photographers: Optimization, Generative Tools, and Business Workflow with Scott DetweilerHost Cris Duncan interviews Scott Detweiler on what AI is and isn’t and how photographers and other businesses can use it to optimize, not replace, their work. Detweiler argues photography is relatively safe because clients value personal experience, lighting skill, and authenticity, while AI can remove tedium like culling and speed retouching and augmentation (e.g., adding wear and tear, props, or

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34:31

Scott Robert Lim: From Rock Bottom to Top of The...

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/09/14

Scott Robert Lim: From Rock Bottom to Top of The Craft: The Art of Light and Finish | Texas School Off The RecordHost Cris Duncan interviews photographer and educator Scott Robert Lim about his 25-year journey from struggling in a graphic design and textile printing business and earning $10,000 a year for 12 years to discovering wedding photography as digital emerged, landing his first wedding at age 38, and eventually charging $10,000 per wedding while traveling worldwide. Lim shares how faith,

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32:24

The Relationship Economy: Texas School Off the Record...

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/09/07

Luxury as Ease: Newborn Photographer Lindsay Walden on the Relationship EconomyHost Cris Duncan interviews award-winning Colleyville, Texas fine art newborn photographer Lindsay Walden about what “luxury” means in her business and how she attracts high-end clients. Walden defines luxury primarily as ease: a high-touch, expensive, stress-free experience where she anticipates and removes parents’ pain points from first contact through delivery, emphasizing trust, empathy, and authentic relationships

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55:04

Today is the Day for Growth! The Art of Creating...

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/08/31

Jerry Ghionis on Meaningful Photography, AI, Competition & Evoking Emotion | Texas School Off the RecordCris Duncan interviews world-renowned portrait and wedding photographer Jerry Ghionis on Texas School Off the Record. Ghionis reflects on three decades in photography through the digital and AI eras, arguing there will always be a market for meaningful work while modern tools can also make photographers lazy. He breaks success into art, craft, business, and personal development, stressing

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30:38

Visual Literacy - Erica Manning Shares Her Journey...

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/08/24

Storytelling Senior Photography: Awards, Mindset, and Building a Profitable Creative Portrait Business | Erica ManningHost Cris Duncan interviews Ohio-based portrait artist and educator Erica Manning about using creative storytelling imagery to stand out in high school senior photography. Manning shares how she began by pricing cheaply and taking all work, then reassessed her approach after her mother became ill in 2016, discovering the power of storytelling and the need to run a sustainable

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27:48

Building Success by Doing What Others Don't with...

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/08/17

How Michael Anthony Built a Multi-Studio Photography Business with Paid Ads, Systems & AIHost Cris Duncan interviews wedding and portrait photographer Michael Anthony, who has studios in Los Angeles and Dallas and is planning a third in Austin. Anthony explains how COVID forced his wedding-heavy studio to diversify into portraits and commercial work, and why transitioning required new portfolio work, slower session pacing, and systemizing operations with photographers and sales teams. He argues

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40:35

Building a Business Ecosystem: Sharon Benton on...

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/08/10

Building a Business Ecosystem: Sharon Benton on Santa’s Enchanted Workshop, Disney-Inspired Design & Oliver Pippin Host Cris Duncan interviews Sharon Benton, who with her husband Scott has run a family photography business for 21 years and created Santa’s Enchanted Workshop, a private commissioned Christmas experience in Northern California now in its 10th season. Sharon explains her hobby of studying memorable businesses like Disney, In-N-Out, and a premium local shop to understand why

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28:37

Clone Yourself with Automation and Workflows. Texas...

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/08/03

Photography Studio Automation: Booking Links, Transactional Emails & Long-Term Nurture Sequences (with Jeff Poole)In this episode, Cris Duncan interviews Jeff Poole of Indigo Silver about putting a photography studio “on autopilot” with scheduling and lead automations. Jeff explains why giving prospects self-scheduling links improves booking, and recommends choosing an automation-capable platform like Go HighLevel while keeping invoices/contracts in tools like Tave for long-term data. He

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33:25

Practice, Patience and Persistence. Texas School "Off...

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/07/30

From Weddings to Major Brands: Michelle VanTine on Commercial Photography, High-End Retouching & AI Compositing . Consider listening and watching on YouTube for full visual experience. https://youtu.be/47xPN0HQXJA Texas School director Cris Duncan interviews Miami-based commercial photographer and retoucher Michelle VanTine, a 2026 Saturday Texas School instructor, about her path from fine arts and teaching into full-time photography starting in 2008. Michelle describes building a wedding

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35:26

A Life of Connections through Photography. Tony...

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/07/30

On this episode of "off the Record", we visit with Tony Corbel. Tony has been a household name within the photographic industry for almost 5 decades and has the record for attending the most Texas School events--As a student, volunteer and instructor. Sit down and enjoy the conversation between Cris and Tony as they discuss the changes to the industry, what hasn't changed, what it takes to survive and what is next. With 30+ world-class classes, hands-on learning, and the best gear deals of the

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20:37

From Hobbyist to Multi-Six-Figure Studio: Allison...

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/07/30

Photographer Allison Russell of Twisted Wire Design shares her 15-year journey from hobbyist to multi-six-figure studio owner. She discusses in-person training at Texas School, the importance of intensive education, balancing family and work, improving craft through competitions, and planning for a sustainable, sellable business. Allison emphasizes the value of hands-on learning, strategic instructor selection, and the hustle required to replace corporate income—plus tips for photographers at

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24:12

PPA’s New CEO on AI, Community, and the Future of...

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/07/30

In this episode, Cris Duncan interviews Angela Kurkian, the new CEO of Professional Photographers of America, about the state of the industry, the rise of AI, and the enduring value of human creativity. They discuss education, community, storytelling, and practical ways photographers can adapt and thrive. Angela shares PPA initiatives like Photo Vision and Imaging USA, stresses collaboration and valuing your time, and offers encouragement for photographers navigating disruption while preserving

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27:04

Thoughts into Stories into Images. Texas School "Off...

Texas School ”Off the Record” Podcast ·

2026/07/30

BEST viewed as a video podcast, watch on Youtube at https://youtu.be/-Jn4GA8ATCM One day Corey McDonald was mowing his lawn and began crafting a story full of complex characters, a storyline of good and evil, of kings and kingdoms and of conflict and resolution. That day, all he had was a vision in his mind's eye. Fast forward a few years, with photographic skills, wizardry in Photoshop and some help with Ai tools, Corey has been able to bring these characters to life and in this conversation, he

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16 results

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