My Creative Journey with Mike Jeffrey

Gavin Blue OAM is the founder and current president of Heartfelt Australia New Zealand, a volunteer run charity that provides free professional photography to families experiencing stillbirth, terminal illness, or life threatening conditions in children. Since its founding, Heartfelt has grown to more than 300 volunteer photographers and has supported over 19,500 families across Australia and New Zealand.

In addition to his photographic work, Gavin has been a long standing leader within the photography industry, previously serving as president of the Australian Commercial and Media Photographers association and contributing to national photographic awards and professional standards. In recognition of his service to the community through Heartfelt, Gavin was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2019.

In this episode, Gavin shares reflections from three decades behind the camera, what photography has taught him about purpose, and how personal loss led to the creation of one of Australia’s most impactful photography charities.

Volunteer/Donate with Heartfelt - https://heartfelt.org.au/get-involved

Say Hi to Gavin:

Website - https://www.gavinblue.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gavinbluephoto/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/gavinbluephoto/

Thanks for tuning in and if you did enjoy todays episode, make sure to leave a Rating or Review on your platform of choice.

Check out the Video Podcast on YouTube

Mike's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikejeffreyphoto/
Mike's TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mikejeffreyphoto/

Editing and Post Production by Mossy Heart Media
https://www.mossyheartmedia.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/mossyheartmedia/

Music Created by JWPATON
https://www.instagram.com/jwptn/

Cailee Maeve is a Wedding, Couples & Family Photographer known for her cinematic style and her honest approach to storytelling through photography. In this episode, we talk about why candid photography is one of the most misunderstood concepts in photography, and why many so called candid photos are far more directed than photographers like to admit.

We talk through the difference between candid, documentary, cinematic, and storytelling photography, why these styles often get confused, and how photographers can figure out which approach actually suits them instead of copying trends or hiding behind buzzwords.

Cailee also opens up about her journey back into photography, how motherhood reshaped the way she sees moments and memory and why she feels more aligned shooting emotional, story driven work rather than trying to be completely hands off. Later in the conversation, we dive into her recent growth on Instagram, what it feels like to suddenly have more eyes on your work, how she deals with criticism and pushback online, and how she is learning to stay true to her style while stepping into teaching and education.

Say Hi to Cailee
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/caileemaevephotography
Website - https://www.caileemaevephotography.com

Thanks for tuning in and if you did enjoy todays episode, make sure to leave a Rating or Review on your platform of choice.

Check out the Video Podcast on YouTube

Mike's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikejeffreyphoto/
Mike's TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mikejeffreyphoto/

Editing and Post Production by Mossy Heart Media
https://www.mossyheartmedia.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/mossyheartmedia/

Music Created by JWPATON
https://www.instagram.com/jwptn/

Photographers don't fail because they lack talent.
They fail because of the patterns they fall into under pressure.

In this episode, Mike breaks down seven personality traits that can quietly hold your photography business back, even when you are working hard and doing “all the right things.” This isn't a conversation about cameras, presets or marketing hacks. It's about waiting for permission before acting, relying on motivation instead of discipline and letting your money anxiety drive decisions. If your photography business feels stuck, this episode offers a different place to look.

Thanks for tuning in and if you did enjoy todays episode, make sure to leave a Rating or Review on your platform of choice.

Check out the Video Podcast on YouTube

Podcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mycreativepodcast/
Mike's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikejeffreyphoto/
Mike's TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mikejeffreyphoto/

This is a recap of conversations that stuck with me this year and quietly shaped how I think about photography, work and growth. Instead of short highlight clips I’ve pulled longer excerpts from full length podcast conversations so you can actually sit with the ideas and not just skim past them. Across these conversations, I kept hearing the same things come up. Self doubt, even when things are going well. The pressure to move faster rather than do it sustainably. Others just burnout from trying to do everything at once. None of these conversations are neat or perfectly finished but I hope they're snapshots of people in the middle of figuring things out and learning in real time. If you’ve been feeling behind, questioning your pace, or wondering whether you’re doing this the right way, I hope this episode reminds you that not having it all figured out doesn’t mean you’re failing. Most of the time, it just means you’re still learning.

LINKS TO FULL EPISODES:
Divya (S03 E02) – https://youtu.be/iJ_MWrsGO-Y
Sam (S03 E03) – https://youtu.be/XV_oGAxom14
Travis (S03 E13) – https://youtu.be/8JllschYoqM
Natasha (S03 E08) – https://youtu.be/7yPolIo23-8
Alex & Britt (S03 E10) – https://youtu.be/WX2Bv0DU1dE
Cass (S04 E03) – https://youtu.be/z21keVd9Mh4

LINKS TO GUESTS:
Divya Gordon - https://www.instagram.com/divyagordonfilm/
Sam Cousins - https://www.instagram.com/samcshoots/
Travis Hayto - https://www.instagram.com/travishayto/
Natasha Simpson - https://www.instagram.com/dawnphotography.com.au/
Alex & Britt Hall - https://www.instagram.com/chasingsunsetsllc/
Cass Edwards - https://www.instagram.com/cassandraedwards_/

Thanks for tuning in and if you did enjoy todays episode, make sure to leave a Rating or Review on your platform of choice.

Check out the Video Podcast on YouTube

Mike's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikejeffreyphoto/
Mike's TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mikejeffreyphoto/

Editing and Post Production by Mossy Heart Media
https://www.mossyheartmedia.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/mossyheartmedia/

Music Created by JWPATON
https://www.instagram.com/jwptn/

Isabella Alexis, Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2023, joins Mike to reflect on what really happens after you win the award you always dreamed of. At just 17, Isabella achieved a milestone many photographers chase for decades, but the moment didn’t bring instant clarity or certainty. Instead, it opened the door to deeper questions about purpose, patience, and what success actually looks like when the excitement fades. In this episode, Isabella shares the quiet reality of life after winning an award, how returning to the same work and showing up day after day shaped her creative identity and why paying attention to small moments matters more than chasing validation. Together they explore awards, burnout, faith, creativity, and building a sustainable creative life rooted in meaning rather than momentum. This conversation is a reminder that winning is rarely the end of the story, and often just the beginning.

Say Hi to Isabella
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byisabellaalexis
Website: https://www.isabellaalexis.com

Thanks for tuning in and if you did enjoy todays episode, make sure to leave a Rating or Review on your platform of choice.

Check out the Video Podcast on YouTube

Mike's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikejeffreyphoto/
Mike's TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mikejeffreyphoto/

Editing and Post Production by Mossy Heart Media
https://www.mossyheartmedia.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/mossyheartmedia/

Music Created by JWPATON
https://www.instagram.com/jwptn/