Foto Podcast

Photographer Shawn Walters spent years working professionally with digital cameras, for commercial clients and tourism boards, and even as a Sony ambassador. But despite having access to the latest technology, something was missing. He found himself drawn to slower, more deliberate ways of making photographs, eventually landing on large-format film photography.In this episode, Shawn discusses his transition from digital to film, why he fell in love with the 8×10 view camera, and the creative freedom he found in slowing down. We also explore two long-term projects he is currently developing: The American Dream, a series examining the tension between ordinary American life and the growing influence of industry and corporations, and The Locals, a portrait project documenting people and small businesses in his community.Rather than looking back on a completed body of work, this conversation offers a rare glimpse into the early stages of a photographer discovering where a project might lead. We talk about composition, color, large format workflow, portraiture, creative uncertainty, and the challenge of building meaningful work while balancing family life and raising young children.Website: lifeandmylens.comFoto: @lifeandmylens IG: @lifeandmylens If you like the Foto Podcast, please consider supporting the show by becoming a paid Foto Substack Supporter. We appreciate your financial support in making this show possible. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

Michael talks with photographer, author, and educator Elizabeth Messina about building a long, values-driven career in photography. They trace her path from the darkroom at San Francisco Art Institute to a 6 month-long trip in India and an early museum solo show, then into client work, books, and education. Elizabeth shares practical thoughts on trust, privacy, and respectful collaboration; working with high-profile clients, balancing film instincts with digital workflows; and why community and consistency matter more than hype.Elizabeth just launched her new course 'The Arte Of Maternity' on Feb 14th, 2026. It's available now at The Arte Dept website.Website: https://www.elizabethmessina.comThe ARTE Dept (courses): https://theartedept.comThe ARTE Society (membership): https://theartesociety.comBook — The Luminous Portrait: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/210741/the-luminous-portrait-by-elizabeth-messina-with-jacqueline-tobin/Book — The Silver Lining: https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Lining-Supportive-Insightful-Breast/dp/1476743711 Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

Michael talks with Ed Templeton about the through-line from 1990s skate culture to a lifetime of painting and photography: DIY zines, doing your own board graphics, and learning to work with chance. Ed traces his path from Orange County/Huntington Beach to turning pro by 1990, discovering photobooks (Nan Goldin, Larry Clark), and realizing he had insider access to a tour-bus world most photographers never see. They dig into failure, risk, and why he prefers to shoot candidly while walking instead of stopping to ask.🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS* 🌐 ed-templeton.com* 📸 Instagram: @ed.templeton* 📸 Foto: @edtempletonThank you to our sponsor State Film Lab! If you’re in the US, consider State Film Lab for your film processing and scanning needs.Reminder: We’d love for you to join us on Foto as we publicly build a new photo-sharing app for the world. Foto is available on Apple and Android. Direct links are on our website fotoapp.co Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

Photographer Jon Moore joins Michael to talk about his move from Tennessee to Portland, working across the rural Northwest, and creating images that document human-affected landscapes.We cover his early film studies at Watkins College, work as a studio manager and camera operator, and his weekend photo trips through Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and beyond. Jon shares stories from photographing ghost towns, tavern regulars, and roadside characters, plus lessons from Stephen Shore and Alec Soth.He discusses his deliberate, tripod-based approach, the Pentax 6×7 he was gifted, and why subject, light, and composition matter more than gear. Jon also previews his upcoming book, A Storm that Needed a Mountain, with its hand-embroidered cover and imagery of changing landscapes in Goldendale, Washington.🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS* 🌐 Website: jonrmoore.com* 📸 Instagram: @doomstache * 📸 Foto: @doomstache Thank you to our sponsor State Film Lab! If you're in the US, consider State Film Lab for your film processing and scanning needs.Reminder: We’d love for you to join us on Foto as we publicly build a new photo-sharing app for the world. Foto is available on Apple and Android. Direct links are on our website fotoapp.co Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Michael talks with photographer Brian Finke about developing a personal style and sticking to it. Brian is known for his bold, colorful work and for delving deep into specific worlds — from flight attendants and bodybuilders to law enforcement and drag races on the US-Mexico border.They discuss how he finds his projects, what drives his curiosity, and how he balances personal work with editorial and commercial assignments. Brian shares how he builds trust with people while keeping full creative control, and why it’s important for him to follow his instincts, even when things get weird.🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS* 🌐 Website: brianfinke.com* 📸 Instagram: @brianfinke Thank you to our sponsor State Film Lab! If you're in the US, consider State Film Lab for your film processing and scanning needs.Reminder: We’d love for you to join us on Foto as we publicly build a new photo-sharing app for the world. Foto is available on Apple and Android. Direct links are on our website fotoapp.co Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Michael sits down with photographer Betina La Plante to discuss her instinct-driven approach to portraiture and the significance of connection in her work. Betina shares how she discovered photography, why she avoids overplanning, and how being fully present with her subjects enables her to capture something deeper and more genuine.They discuss her early inspirations, how her background shaped the way she sees, and why she embraces simplicity—both technically and emotionally—in her images. This is a conversation about listening, navigating a moment intuitively, and trusting the creative process.🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS* 🌐 Website: betinalaplante.com* 📸 Instagram: @betinalaplante* 🖼️ Foto: @betinalaplante * 📖 Inspiration: Irving PennThank you to our sponsor State Film Lab! If you're in the US, consider State Film Lab for your film processing and scanning needs. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of the Foto Podcast, we sit down with Maine-based photojournalist and documentary photographer Greta Rybus, whose work blends deep observation, human empathy, and a reverence for nature. Greta shares her journey from growing up in Idaho to working as a full-time freelancer in Maine, covering everything from environmental stories to the opioid crisis to long-term projects rooted in land and community.We talk about her approach to photographing complex issues with compassion, the emotional challenge of pairing photography with writing, and why she believes slowness, curiosity, and presence are more important than ever in storytelling. Greta opens up about her personal project documenting Nash Island’s wild sheep and the people who care for them, and how that work reflects her larger values around sustainability, collaboration, and finding other ways to live.This episode is a calm, reflective deep dive into what it means to build a photographic life around care—for people, for place, and for story.🔗 Resources & Links:* 📸 Greta’s Work: gretarybus.com* 📷 Follow Greta on Foto: @gretarybus* 🖼️ Instagram: @gretarybus* 🗞️ Read about her New York Times piece: “Meth Comes for Maine”* 🐑 Learn about Nash Island* 🫧 Check out her “Hot Springs” Book* ✍️ Substack newsletter: The Photosynthesist➡️ Download Foto on the App Store or Google Play — no ads, no crop, no chaos —just a thoughtful space for photography and community. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of the Foto Podcast, we’re joined by New York photographer Angela Cappetta. A lifelong documentarian, Angela Cappetta's work captures the depth and nuance of everyday life with bold honesty and vibrant storytelling. Angela shares the journey from her earliest photos as a child to her years working under icons like Mary Ellen Mark and Arthur Elgort to her celebrated long-term project documenting a family on the Lower East Side.We discuss her first book, her love for flash photography, and why editing is one of the most emotional and essential parts of the creative process. Angela also opens up about the hustle of life as an artist, the grind of grant writing, what she’s learned from the publishing world, and how weddings became one of the richest visual playgrounds in her career.This conversation is packed with wisdom, humor, and truth bombs about photography, storytelling, and the reality of being an artist for the long haul.🔗 Resources & Links:* 📸 See Angela’s Work: angelacappetta.com* 📷 Follow Angela on Foto: @angelacappetta* 📬 Follow Angela on Substack: Angela Cappetta * 📷 Instagram: @angelacappetta_* 📚 Buy her book: Glendalis* 📥 Download Foto now on the App Store or Google Play – no ads, no videos, no crop, and a chronological feed that celebrates real photography. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of the Foto Podcast, documentary photojournalist Justin Hamel shares the incredible stories behind his work on the U.S.–Mexico border. From his early days exploring abandoned buildings in Pennsylvania to documenting the realities of migration, law enforcement, and energy production in Texas, Justin’s photography is grounded in empathy, persistence, and a commitment to truth.We talk about everything from how a devastating spinal cord injury reshaped his life and, work to the human cost of border policies, the rise in migrant deaths in the desert, and his long-term projects like Almost America, Camino de los Muertos, and Post Office Murals. It’s an honest, moving conversation about storytelling, advocacy, and the power of showing up with a camera.Resources & Links:• justinmhamel.com• Buy Prints• Follow Justin on Foto• Follow Justin on InstagramThe Foto Substack and Podcast is a community-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Michael Howard sits down with renowned large-format photographer and 2024 Guggenheim Fellow Lisa Elmaleh. Lisa shares her journey into large-format photography, her decision to trade Brooklyn for a remote cabin in West Virginia, and her powerful work documenting life along the U.S.-Mexico border. She opens up about the challenges migrants face, the humanity behind immigration, and how she builds trust through her thoughtful, slow photographic process. This is an inspiring conversation about art, empathy, and resilience.IMPORTANT UPDATE: This podcast was recorded in early January 2025. On the 20th of January 2025, thousands of people were devastated, that the legal path to asylum closed without further recourse due to executive order "Securing our Borders". The CBP One phone app is no longer functional. Thousands of people have nowhere to go because they cannot return due to cartel violence and other reasons, and many people will be in limbo indefinitely until something changes.🔗 Visit Lisa's Website - https://lisaelmaleh.com🔗 Check out Lisa's upcoming workshops - https://lisaelmaleh.com/workshops🔗 Deep Time Press Zine of Tierra Prometida - https://deeptimepress.com/Promised-Land-Tierra-Prometida-Lisa-ElmalehThanks for reading Foto! This post is public, so feel free to share it.Foto is a community-supported publication. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to support our work and receive new posts in your inbox. The Foto App is separate from our Substack. Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

Daniels' Website - https://shifter.media/Daniel Milnor, the Creative Ambassador for Blurb, delves into his journey from a photographer to his role at Blurb over 13 years. He discusses his unexpected entry into photography and his transition from traditional photography practices to embracing modern challenges and opportunities, such as AI and digital technology. The conversation spans topics from the impact of AI on the creative industry, ethical considerations, the value of unique work and storytelling, and the evolving models for creators in a rapidly changing technological landscape. Milnor also shares his views on the importance of curiosity, originality, and building personal ecosystems outside of traditional platforms like social media.00:00 Introduction to Dan Milnor00:50 Journey into Photography02:35 AI and the Photography Industry12:01 The Future of Photography and Creativity16:57 The Role of Story and Unique Work31:49 Curiosity and Inspiration33:13 Where to Find Dan Milnor Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

This Foto Podcast Episode is an update from Michael Howard on where Foto development stands as of April 2024. Michael discusses Foto's different funding strategies over the next 6-8 months and what new features will be released in the next 1-2 months.Subscribe to the Foto Podcast on Apple and Spotify.Foto Site - https://fotoapp.coFoto Substack - https://fotoapp.substack.com Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the Foto Podcast. This episode features Greg Miller.In this episode, Greg takes us on a mesmerizing journey as he shares his unique experiences and insights into his artistic process. From capturing the essence of New York City streets to the delicate art of connecting with subjects, Greg reveals the stories and emotions that lie beneath the surface of his extraordinary photographs.Listen to Greg’s Podcast at photophonica.comVisit Greg’s Website at gregmiller.comYou can find Greg on Instagram at instagram.com/gregmillerfotoGreg is also on Foto at “gregmillerfoto” if you are a Private Beta User.Please consider supporting the Foto Podcast by becoming a paid Susbstack Subscriber or by giving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts.Photographs from Greg’s “Morning Bus” ProjectPhotographs from Greg’s “Nashville” ProjectPhotographs from Greg’s “Waiting for the bus in Uvalde” ProjectPublished in the New Yorker on October 17, 2022 Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe