The Camera Cafe Show

Pete Souza: The White House Quiet Observer (Part 1)

We begin a special two-part series with Pete Souza, the former Official White House Photographer who holds one of the most unique resumes in history. In Part 1, we trace his journey right back to the beginning, starting with his early days working for Kansas newspapers, how he broke into photojournalism, and the unexpected opportunity that led to his first stint in the White House, documenting President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.
Pete shares great stories from the Reagan years (yes, even about Michael Jackson) and we follow his career up to the assignment that put him in the path of a young, then still unknown Senator named Barack Obama.
Next week in Part 2, we dive into the emotional reality of documenting the world's most powerful man every day, we get some full stories behind iconic pictures, and follow Pete as he transitions from White House observer to a best-selling author and outspoken advocate.*****📸 See more of Pete Souza:https://www.petesouza.com/
*****🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com
 

Joumana El Zein Khoury: World Press Photo 70th Anniversary

Behind the Curtains of World Press Photo and its 70 Anniversary!
This week we go behind the scenes with Joumana El Zein Khoury, Executive Director of the World Press Photo Foundation, to discuss the past, present, and future of photojournalism and the foundation. This year marks WPP's monumental 70th Anniversary, and Joumana reveals the major changes she implemented with her team, including a regional judging model that now sees 80% of winners being local photographers.
We pull back the curtain on how WPP actually works: how to apply and get your image seen, how the judging rounds are done, how the Joop Swart Masterclass was revamped to give mentees a sustainable survival toolkit, the immense challenge of maintaining trust in an age of generative AI and the major celebrations for the 70th Anniversary.
This is an inspiring, and fun at times of course, talk about the immense responsibility of curating the world’s most powerful visual stories.
Grab that coffee, settle in, and let's go behind the scenes of the World Press Photo Foundation with the wonderful Joumana El Zein Khoury.*****📸 See more of World Press Photo:https://www.worldpressphoto.org/
*****🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com
 

Lee-Ann Olwage: An Ode to Celebration and African Identity

Multiple award winner Lee-Ann Olwage from South Africa joins us today to discuss her incredible journey from film set decorator to winning in the Sony World Photography Awards and World Press Photo. Her powerful approach is rooted in collaborative storytelling, giving marginalized voices agency and celebrating their identity on the African continent.
We dive into her project "#BlackDragMagic", where she collaborated with amazing drag artists to champion the queer, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans community and confront the daily threat of violence in South African townships. We also discuss her uplifting series, "The Right to Play," which visualizes the dreams of young girls in Kenya avoiding FGM and child marriage by proudly setting their sights on becoming lawyers and pilots, and her newest documentation of the "State Ballet of Georgia". 
Don't miss this profound conversation on ethics, purpose, and the language of the image—and stick around to hear the wonderful moment her assistant got a marriage proposal while surrounded by amazing drag queens! Enjoy it.*****📸 See more of Lee-Ann’s work:https://www.leeannolwage.com/
*****🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com
 

Tim Smith: Hutterites — Framing Beautiful Communal Life

What is the secret to 15 years of trust and slow, ethical work inside the Hutterite communities?
Canadian photographer Tim Smith shows us exactly how he built the deep, long-term relationships that define his career. Tim spent years immersed in these communal, traditional societies across the Canadian Prairies, perfecting a slow-work philosophy that allows him to portray their lives with the depth and nuance they deserve. His images have appeared in major magazines, including National Geographic, and his work has been exhibited in many countries to date.
In this warm and honest talk, we dive into the challenges of that commitment. Tim opens up about why he now questions the pressure of the "all-in" photojournalism lifestyle and the essential need to prioritize family life. Hear about his wonderful crazy new project “Chaff”, the secret joy of eating supper in a combine during harvest, listen to some wonderful stories about the amazing Hutterite communities, where we talk about emotional moments or have a good laugh too of course.
Hit play for a masterclass in wonderful patient and empathetic documentary work. Enjoy it!*****📸 See more of Tim’s work:https://www.timsmithphotography.ca/
*****🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com

Alain Schroeder: How To Find Great Stories?

What's harder to photograph: adrenaline-fueled Kid Jockeys in Indonesia, or the silent, restricted streets of North Korea? Today, we sit down with Belgian documentary photographer Alain Schroeder, traveling around the globe, looking for the next thing that piques his interest. He is honored for his amazing work with a long list of awards, including multiple World Press Photo awards, Picture of The Year, Travel Photographer of the Year, Visa pour l’image, Siena or Nikon Press Photo Awards, to name just a few, with of course countless major exhibitions around the world.
Alain walks us through his incredible career shift—from covering 500 magazine sports covers, starting his own photo agency to dedicating his life to deep personal stories. We dive into the chaos of the Kid Jockeys in Sumbawa, the unique challenges of shooting Kim City in North Korea, and the resilient Grandma Divers (Haenyeo) of South Korea. 
Tune in for a powerful, fun conversation with great advice on what separates an award-winning picture from an ordinary one, how to get your work seen these days, and how to stay creatively fresh after decades in the business. Enjoy it!
*****📸 See more of Alain’s work:https://alainschroeder.myportfolio.com/
*****🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com
 

Jim Richardson: Small-town Roots to Global Adventures (Part 2)

Can a single photographer help feed 9 billion people? In the second and final part of our chat with National Geographic legend Jim Richardson, we follow his lens into the biggest stories of his career.
We talk about the massive challenge of food and farming, the urgent crisis of water scarcity, and why he keeps finding community and wildness on the remote islands of Scotland. 
Jim shares his best, no-nonsense advice on how a photographer can still pursue a long-form, meaningful story today, proving that a great photo is always worth the time it takes to capture it. 
Tune in for another fun and inspiring masterclass in purpose-driven photography. Enjoy it!*****📸 See more of Jim’s work:https://www.jimrichardsonphotography.com/
*****🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com
 

Jim Richardson: Small-town Roots to Global Adventures (Part 1)

When a young farm kid from Kansas picks up a pawn-shop camera, you don’t immediately picture him becoming one of National Geographic’s most respected photographers. But that’s exactly what happened to Jim Richardson, whose career has now spanned more than 35 years, over 50 National Geographic and Traveler magazine stories, on countless journeys across the globe.
In this first part of our two-part conversation, Jim takes us back to where it all began — to those early Kansas wheat fields, the small-town life that shaped his storytelling, and the moment when photography stopped being just a hobby and became a calling. From shooting local news in the seventies to landing his first National Geographic assignment, Jim’s journey is packed with grit, humor, and honest reflection.
We talk about how he stumbled into the magazine, the story that cemented his place there and what it was really like working during the golden era of National Geographic. Along the way, we share a few laughs over haggis, whiskey, and the odd surprises behind distillery doors in Scotland.
It’s an episode filled with nostalgia, insight, and plenty of warmth — the kind that comes only from a lifetime spent behind the camera.And don’t go too far — next week, in Part 2, Jim and I continue our chat with stories from a few unforgettable moments from his travels around the world.
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📸 See more of Jim’s work:
https://www.jimrichardsonphotography.com/
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🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:
https://www.thecameracafeshow.com
 

APOY 2024 Champions: Lynn Fraser & Lucy Monckton

What happens when you bring together not one, but the two Winners of the Amateur Photographer of the Year magazine 2024 awards!? You get a conversation filled with laughs, inspiration, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it really feels like to have your work recognized in one of the most competitive photography contests out there!
In this episode we chat with Lynn Fraser, the overall APOY 2024 winner, and Lucy Monckton, crowned Young APOY 2024. From their very different journeys into photography to the moment they found out they’d won, they share the stories, surprises, the nerves, and of course, some great hints & tips behind their success!
It’s a mix of honesty, fun, and practical wisdom that proves great photography doesn’t come from gear alone. Grab a coffee, tune in, and meet two amazing photographers who prove that passion really does get noticed!*****📸 See more of Lynns’s work:https://www.lynnfraserphotography.com/
📸 See more of Lucy’s work:https://lucymonckton.com/
*****🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com