Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk

About Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk

Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk is a business podcast for creative entrepreneurs, photographers, and service-based business owners. It is hosted by Steven “Photographer” Jackson, a Cleveland, Ohio event photographer and the founder of Alien Eyez Photos Media. The show is a business journal kept in public. Steve documents what it actually takes to turn creative talent into a profitable business, from a $50 first invoice to building a photography, video, and podcast production company alongside a day job. The wins, the setbacks, and the lessons are shared in real time, not in hindsight. Solo episodes are the journal. Interview episodes are the Industry Talk: honest conversations with entrepreneurs from different industries about how they built their businesses, what it cost them, and what they would tell someone just starting out. Guests have included veteran entrepreneur Shawn Lee Jones of G6 Landscaping and Snow Removal, Tremain Lasenby of Lasenby Illustrations, and graphic designer Shcarra Benn of Creative Leo Designs. Episodes answer the questions creative business owners actually ask. How do I price my work and know my value? How do I make offers that get booked? How do I build a business with limited time and energy? How do I use AI as a tool without giving up my creativity? How can a podcast grow my business? And how do I build the mindset, discipline, and relationships it takes to grow from solopreneur to business owner? Made for photographers, videographers, podcasters, designers, artists, coaches, event professionals, and small business owners. This is for creative entrepreneurs, and those who desire to be. Produced by Alien Eyez Photos Media, an event photography and media company serving creative entrepreneurs and small businesses across Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Follow the show, share your favorite episode with #IndustryTalk, and get the weekly letter at alieneyezphotos.beehiiv.com/subscribe. Work with Steve at AlienEyezPhotos.com. Elevating positive stories and brands, one frame at a time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Alien Eyez Photos Media

Category

business · business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Feb 2025

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

92 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Oct 2026

   What Is Legacy? Documenting Your Impact, Story & Creative Entrepreneur Journey

   What does legacy actually mean and how do you build one while you are still living it? In this solo episode of Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk, Photographer Jackson reflects on legacy, documentation, entrepreneurship, creativity and the impact we leave behind. For Steve, legacy is more than money, recognition or something discussed after someone is gone. It is your lineage, family, imprint, impact, story and evidence of what you contributed while you were here. That belief is deeply connected to the mission behind Alien Eyez Photos Media. Steve reflects on places from his childhood that no longer physically exist his childhood home, schools and even the hospital where he was born. Without photographs, videos or other documentation, those parts of personal history can become memories without physical evidence. That realization helped shape his commitment to documenting people, businesses, entrepreneurs, organizations and meaningful moments. Photography becomes more than taking pictures. Podcasting becomes more than creating content. Video becomes more than marketing. They become records of history. Steve also explains how Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk functions as documentation of his own entrepreneurial journey the seasons, relationships, ideas, lessons, collaborations and people who have contributed to his development. Years from now, those conversations can become a record of what was happening, what he believed, what he was building and who was building alongside him. The episode also explores the connection between creative entrepreneurship and impact. Steve challenges artists and creators to think beyond simply making art. How can your creativity solve a problem? How can your skills create value? How can your work generate income while still contributing something meaningful? From his earlier years creating music, poetry and books to photography, podcasting and media production today, storytelling has remained a consistent thread. The medium changed. The mission continued. Steve ultimately defines legacy as something that should remain in motion. You build it through the people you help, the stories you preserve, the businesses you build, the knowledge you share and the work you leave behind. In This Episode What legacy means to Photographer Jackson Why documentation matters Preserving personal and family history Photography as historical documentation Podcasting as an entrepreneurial archive Building an evidence-based record of your journey Why your network becomes part of your legacy Creating impact through entrepreneurship Helping clients document their own stories Turning creativity into valuable services Why creative entrepreneurs should be paid for their work Storytelling through music, poetry, books, photography and media Creating something from nothing Building a legacy that continues beyond you Key Takeaway Your legacy isn't only what people remember about you. It's what you intentionally create, document, teach, preserve and leave in motion for the people who come after you. What are you documenting today that future generations will be able to learn from tomorrow? For photography booking: https://unscriptedphotographers.com/b/iveIkdjIgkeJbz (https://unscriptedphotographers.com/b/iveIkdjIgkeJbz) Stay Updated and join the mailing list: https://alieneyezphotos.beehiiv.com/subscribe (https://alieneyezphotos.beehiiv.com/subscribe) For my info on Alien Eyez Photos and Photographer Jackson: AlienEyezPhotos.com (https://open.acast.com/networks/67a4614e3e56448eb3773c8b/shows/67a47b2e3e56448eb37b83ac/episodes/AlienEyezPhotos.com) All Social Media: @AEPITpod (podcast page) Media Company: @AlienEyezPhotos / @OnACreativeFrequency (community page) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Shawn Lee Jones of Creative Healing Foundation and G6 Landscaping

   What does it really mean to build something that lasts beyond you? In this episode of Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk, Photographer Jackson sits down with longtime mentor, photographer, filmmaker, veteran and entrepreneur Shawn Lee Jones for a wide-ranging conversation about entrepreneurship, creativity, mentorship, financial discipline, resilience and legacy. Shawn's journey spans military service, photography, community work, landscaping, filmmaking, entrepreneurship and youth mentorship. After serving 17 years, six months and five days in the military, he redirected much of the discipline, leadership and perspective he developed into building businesses and helping younger people develop practical skills of their own. One of those businesses is G6 Landscaping and Snow Removal, a company built around battery-powered landscaping equipment, efficiency and community service. But the story behind G6 goes much deeper than cutting grass. The name originally represented Shawn's six grandchildren and became a reminder of why he wanted to build something that could continue beyond himself. Shawn explains how experimenting with battery-powered lawn equipment eventually opened his eyes to a different approach to landscaping. What began with maintaining his own yard and helping neighbors grew into larger ideas around business systems, senior and veteran services, youth entrepreneurship and eventually the possibility of expanding the model even further. Throughout the conversation, Shawn repeatedly returns to one central idea: Build something that teaches people how to provide for themselves. For Shawn, entrepreneurship is not only about making money. It is about skills, responsibility, ownership, relationships and creating opportunities for the next generation. From Military Service to Entrepreneurship Shawn reflects on how his military experience influenced the way he approaches business and life. The military taught him about discipline, preparation, logistics, budgets, fuel, systems and the importance of understanding numbers. Those lessons eventually influenced his approach to personal finances and entrepreneurship. Rather than simply asking how much money he wanted to make, Shawn began asking a more practical question: How much does my life actually cost? He talks about examining previous expenses, understanding monthly costs, studying patterns and making decisions based on real numbers instead of assumptions. That mindset eventually played a major role in his decision to step away from traditional employment and put more energy into building the businesses and ideas he could already see in his mind. Photography as a Tool, Business and Lifelong Passion A camera is a tool—and what matters is how you use it. Creativity, Mentorship and the Creative Healing Foundation “I have a camera. Don't worry about it. You can use one of mine.” Think for Yourself in the Age of AI “Have your own mind. Think for yourself.” Advice for Creative Entrepreneurs: Get In It When asked what advice he would give an aspiring creative entrepreneur, Shawn's answer is simple: “Get in it.” Don't spend years talking about becoming a photographer, filmmaker, actor, artist or entrepreneur without actually participating in the craft. Study. Take notes. Practice. Volunteer. Intern. Use YouTube. Use Google. Use AI. Go to the library. Find mentors. Purchase the tools you can afford. And most importantly, apply what you learn. Shawn emphasizes that consuming information is not the same thing as learning. Watching four videos about photography doesn't automatically make someone a photographer. At some point, you have to pick up the camera. Shawn Lee Jones Veteran entrepreneur, photographer, filmmaker, community builder and mentor. Shawn is connected to: G6 Landscaping and Snow Removal Instagram/Facebook: G6 No Gas Liquid Vision Film Instagram: _LiquidVFilm Creative Healing Foundation For photography booking: https://unscriptedphotographers.com/b/iveIkdjIgkeJbz (https://unscriptedphotographers.com/b/iveIkdjIgkeJbz) Stay Updated and join the mailing list: https://alieneyezphotos.beehiiv.com/subscribe (https://alieneyezphotos.beehiiv.com/subscribe) For my info on Alien Eyez Photos and Photographer Jackson: AlienEyezPhotos.com (https://open.acast.com/networks/67a4614e3e56448eb3773c8b/shows/67a47b2e3e56448eb37b83ac/episodes/AlienEyezPhotos.com) All Social Media: @AlienEyezPhotos / @OnACreativeFrequency Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   30 Sept 2026

   You Should Not Need a Setback to Get Focused Do the Work, Get Your Rest Creative Entrepreneurs

   Do the Work, Get Your Rest: Focus, Recovery & Gratitude for Creative Entrepreneurs Sometimes it takes being forced to slow down to realize how much you've been carrying. In this solo episode of Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk, Photographer Jackson reflects while recovering from being under the weather and thinking about work, rest, gratitude, focus and the responsibilities that come with being a creative entrepreneur. After spending several days recovering, resting and thinking about everything waiting to be completed, Steve noticed something: once some of his energy returned, his focus sharpened. Tasks started getting finished. Ideas became action. The to-do list started getting shorter. But that realization created a bigger question: Why should it take a setback before we become fully focused? This episode is a reminder not to wait until life forces you to slow down before appreciating your health, your progress, your opportunities and your ability to work. Steve reflects on his own tendency to operate on limited sleep, the difference he notices when properly rested, and his growing realization that performing at a higher level sometimes means taking on fewer projects, getting more recovery and protecting his capacity. The message isn't simply "work harder." It's: Stay focused. Do the work. Get your rest. Steve also talks about gratitude and recognizing your own progress. Entrepreneurs and creatives are often so focused on the next milestone that they overlook how far they've already come. Sometimes you need to stop and acknowledge yourself. Celebrate the work you've already completed. Celebrate the small wins. Then keep moving. The second half of the episode moves behind the scenes of Steve's growing podcast and media ecosystem. He reflects on the episode milestones being reached across Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk, The Pull Up Experience Podcast, and other productions he contributes to, while discussing what hundreds of collective podcast episodes have taught the team. Steve also explains his philosophy around podcasting for entrepreneurs and business owners. A podcast can be more than content. It can demonstrate expertise. It can support an offer. It can create relationships. Guests can become collaborators, partners or clients. And a podcast can become a long-term marketing and authority asset for a business. Steve previews upcoming podcast education through FutureLand and The Pull Up Experience and discusses the expanding collaboration between Alien Eyez Photos Media and Overflow Studios for creators and organizations looking for a more complete podcast-production solution. That can include photography, behind-the-scenes content, video production, editing, SEO titles, show notes, content strategy and post-production support. This episode is for creative entrepreneurs, photographers, podcasters, service-based business owners and anyone building something while learning how to manage their energy at the same time. What You'll Learn Why a setback can create unexpected clarity Why you shouldn't need a setback before becoming focused The relationship between rest and creative performance Why recognizing small wins matters How gratitude changes your perspective on progress Why entrepreneurs should protect their capacity How Steve approaches his growing podcast-production ecosystem Why podcasting can be valuable for business owners How a podcast can establish expertise Why podcast guests can become partners or clients How podcasting connects to marketing and business development What's developing around The Pull Up Experience, FutureLand and podcast education How Alien Eyez Photos Media and Overflow Studios can work together on podcast production Key Reminder Stay focused. Do the work. Get your rest. And don't forget to recognize how far you've already come. For photography booking: https://unscriptedphotographers.com/b/iveIkdjIgkeJbz (https://unscriptedphotographers.com/b/iveIkdjIgkeJbz) Stay Updated and join the mailing list: https://alieneyezphotos.beehiiv.com/subscribe (https://alieneyezphotos.beehiiv.com/subscribe) For my info on Alien Eyez Photos and Photographer Jackson: AlienEyezPhotos.com (https://open.acast.com/networks/67a4614e3e56448eb3773c8b/shows/67a47b2e3e56448eb37b83ac/episodes/AlienEyezPhotos.com) All Social Media: @AlienEyezPhotos / @OnACreativeFrequency Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Who has been a guest on Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Shakara Ben
• Jewel Justice
• Sevenn Jackson
• Jackson
• Khayla Monique

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 39 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

65

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk