My Creative Journey with Mike Jeffrey

Gunawan has built a strong name for himself in Astrophotography. He runs in person workshops, he has worked with major brands and now he is asking a bigger question…. How do you turn everything you’ve learned into something you can sell? In this episode, Mike and G unpack what it really looks like to move into photography education. Not some fake polished version, but the real version with doubts, imposter syndrome and the fear that you're not ready yet. G shares his goal of launching an astrophotography course and expanding into workshops as Mike talks through the exact hurdles he is facing right now. Automation, Platforms, Pricing, Confidence, Audience expectations. All of it is in this episode. We want to show you that you do not need to be the best to teach. You only need to be a few steps ahead of the person you are helping. But you have to be willing to put yourself out there and learn as you go. This episode is not a polished masterclass. It's just two photographers and friends figuring it out in public. If you have ever thought about teaching, launching a course, or running workshops, this episode is for you.

Join the waitlist for Gunawan's Astrophotography Course:
https://red-imagination-photography.kit.com/880d1a3724

Tourhero x Gunawan Bali Photography Tour 2026:
https://www.tourhero.com/en/epic-adventures/indonesia/the-island-illuminated-a-bali-photography-journey-with-g-gunawan-280333558

Connect with Gunawan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/red_imagination_adventure/

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 should niche down, choose one style and stick to it! Sounds familiar right. But what if you enjoy a lot of different things? In this episode, I’m joined by Chihiro Yanagi to talk about creativity, identity and why doing everything can actually bring more joy and success. Creativity should feel enjoyable. It shouldn’t feel like a test you’re constantly failing. This isn’t a conversation about ignoring advice or doing things the wrong way. It’s about trusting where you are and giving yourself room to grow.

Chihiro also shares the story of how she found photography unexpectedly lonely when she moved from Japan to Australia. This led her to start Senpo, a photo walk community designed to help people find others to create with. It started as a simple post asking if anyone wanted to go for a photo walk. What followed truly surprised her.

Say Hi to Chihiro on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/picsbychii/

Keep up to date with SENPO Photowalks
https://www.instagram.com/senpo.photowalk/

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/

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/