As I mentioned last week, my iPhone has saved me countless times. Plus, it's so convenient. So much so, that when I'm working on an article, I often pull it out of my pocket for a few quick illustration snaps. But then, I had an interesting revelation that caused me to recalibrate. I'll share that story on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

We had a tremendous opportunity this holiday season to gather family members from all over to meet at my brother-in-laws house on Christmas Day. To help with the festivities, we all contributed to the event. My job: To set up and run an Irish Coffee bar after the meal. I took my job seriously, but one can't foresee every ramification. And that's what led to a near historical disaster. I'll explain all in the first story of today's podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Film simulations by Fuji, Nikon, and OM System are great for color and tones, but there's a missing ingredient when compared to actual analog shots: grain! This week we're going to explore the virtues of a few dashes of grain and learn how to apply it for more realistic film simulations. All of that, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

I'm lucky enough to be able to test loaner gear for my podcasts and articles. But sometimes I like something so much that I buy it with my own money and incorporate it into my workflow. Today, I will share my five favorite purchases in 2025 - plus some industry news as well. All of that, and more, on Today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

It's easy for photographers to be distracted by holiday sales as the year closes. Black Friday discounts and Cyber Monday deals are indeed tempting. But instead of focusing on acquiring new gear, this is a great time of year to manage what we already have. And that's what we're going to talk about on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

We've been so busy with workshops and gift guides that I haven't been able to share the latest interesting news stories in our space. Well that changes today! I have the DP Review Camera of the Year, the Leica Photo of the Year, and the scoop on what really killed Minolta. All of that, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

The 2026 workshop season features more events than ever! We have informative webinars, online intensives, and in-person explorations to exciting locations. I'll go over the entire lineup today, and then chat with Rob Knight who is leading some of the events. It's going to be a great year of photography!

Over the course of a year, I test many cool photo and camping accessories. Most of these would make affordable, excellent gifts for the photo enthusiast in your life. This week I'll share my favorites, just in time for the holiday season. I hope you enjoy the show.

The first day of our Autumn Workshop was exploring the Sonoma Coast. It was a gray day, perfect for experimenting with mood-enhancing techniques. I slowed the shutter to 1/2 second to create a somber, peaceful environment. That technique, plus more about our workshop on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Lightroom Desktop continues to vie for the hearts of enthusiast photographers who aren't already locked in to Lightroom Classic. And for those of us who want a more flexible solution, the terrific tweaks in version 9 bring it steps closer to becoming a total photo management and editing solution. I'll cover new features for both Classic and Desktop in today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

One of the things I really like about next week's Sonoma County Fall Workshop is the sheer variety of subject material. Every day is something new - perfect for the versatile OM System OM-3. And I'm pairing up my mighty MFT with some serious processing software: DxO PhotoLab 9.1. The workflow is a lot easier than you'd think. I'll explain why on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

We all know that wedding photo assignments can be challenging, but you shouldn't lose your shirt in the process. Here's one such story that happened last week. Plus, DxO FilmPack 8, Annie Leibovitz, and more. All waiting for you on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

We're back from the Eastern Sierra! One discussion topic that ran through the entire week was "Keeping It Real or Going Surreal." Our photographers embraced a variety of approaches to create their own unique images, and I will share those with you on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Last week I talked about AI-generated headshots, but what about those of us who still prefer photography? Well, this podcast is for you. Today I'll share my five favorite tips for compelling photo headshots. All of that, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

I just had an encounter with a potential client who opted for an AI-generated headshot over an in-person session. I did get to see the result, and it prompted me to do some research on this very popular alternative to photography. That experience, and what I learned, is the top story of today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.