A podcast by NYC-based photographer, author, and creative entrepreneur Moriah Sawtelle. Manual Mode covers all things entrepreneurship, creativity, self-improvement, and stories about navigating a life and career in manual mode.
I believe that surrounding yourself with interesting people is the best way to multiply your own efforts to stay effectively curious and creative. I started Manual Mode so we could all spend a little more time with seasoned entrepreneurs, professional creatives, and performance experts who know a thing or two about achieving bold goals.
Today on the podcast I’m talking to Ginny Erickson, the paintbrush-wielding creative genius behind one of my all-time favorite small businesses, Erickson Surfaces. Ginny and her team create stunning photography backdrops and shapes that help artists tell stories and have gathered quite a wonderful community together around their products. But as with any success story, Erickson Surfaces didn’t happen overnight, so I’m excited to hear Ginny tell us about the ups and downs in the journey to where she is today.
Grab full show notes on moriahsblog.com
25 Jan 2022
E17: Michela Ricci on entrepreneurship, community, branding, and pivoting
Today on the podcast I’m talking to Michela Ricci, a coffee-slinging, community-building, forward-thinking entrepreneur who is making moves in Phoenix, Arizona. Michela is the founder of The Early Bird: a mobile coffee bar turned events company that she started to serve the Phoenix area (which was also one of my first customers when I was a baby photographer.) While Covid was a challenge to The Early Bird, Michela is a resilient entrepreneur and emerged with her latest creation: Monsoon Market, an indie food, beverage, and retail shop. Michela is a ray of sunshine and a wonderful human in so many ways, but I'm especially excited to hear her talk more today about building community, creating a stand-out brand, and what it's like to pivot as a passionate entrepreneur.
Find full show notes on moriahbrooke.com/podcast
11 Jan 2022
E16: Cultivating Creativity in 2022
I have been struggling with the start of the new year to think over my direction for myself. I wanted to talk a bit about the habits and practices that I’m taking into this year while I work on growing my creative skills and finding what is next for me. I think sometimes it’s ok to not totally know what is next for you, but having a consistent practice and things in place to keep you creating momentum as you work towards finding your next venture is the best way to keep yourself growing and inspired. Here are the habits and tools I'm taking into 2022 to be the best creative (and human) that I can be.
ACCESS the full show notes for this episode and download some business-building freebies here: https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/ (https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/e16-lessons-that-changed-me-as-an-entrepreneur/)
14 Dec 2021
E15: Lighting modifiers, inspiration, and advice to your past self.
Our last episode of 2021 is a Q+A! We talk through contracts, lighting modifiers, inspiration, and what I would tell myself 5 years ago.
Grab full show notes and links from the episode on Moriahbrooke.com
7 Dec 2021
E14: Sara Silm
Today on the podcast I'm talking to Sara Silm, a freelance journalist and stylist who currently resides in the Béan region of southwestern France. It's hard to sum Sara up in a paragraph because she does and is so much, and has lived many lives on just about every continent throughout her multifaceted career. These days you might know her from her dreamy Instagram account, Chateau Montfort, where you can escape into her stunningly styled images of the French countryside. Her book, How To French Country, gives a glimpse into her styling process and how she creates what can only be described as 'je ne sais quoi'. I don't know if we can even scratch the surface of Sara's creative genius in a podcast interview, but I'm determined to at least try.
ACCESS the full show notes for this episode and download some business-building freebies here:https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/
30 Nov 2021
E13: Viola Virtamo
Today I'm talking with Viola Minerva, a multi-hyphenated creative entrepreneur located in Helsinki, Finland. Art director, photographer, graphic designer and videographer are just a few of the many titles she wears (and wears WELL, might I add.) She's also a published author with multiple books out in the world, including her latest The Nordic Winter Cookbook. Viola is the epitome of an artist and I'm excited for us to get a glimpse behind the curtain into her creative process.
ACCESS the full show notes for this episode and download some business-building freebies here: https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/
23 Nov 2021
E12: Q+A: Time Management, Clients, Cookbooks, and Health as an Entrepreneur
Today is a listener Q+A! If you liked this format let me know and we will do some more Q+As on a regular basis :)
ACCESS the full show notes for this episode and download some business-building freebies here:https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/ (https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/In)
In this episode you’ll learn:
- How I break down a client estimate
- How I manage health as an entrepreneur
- A little more on my cookbook deal
..And more!
16 Nov 2021
E11: All Things Food Videography with Renee Li
Today I'm talking with Renee Li, a Long Island Based food photographer and videographer. Renee has some of the most immaculate food videos I've seen, and I'm excited for you to get a peek into her process!
In this episode you'll learn:
Renee's story of starting her business
Her top tips for shooting video
Her favorite lenses and lighting set-ups for shooting video
Renee's plans for 2022
And more!
For more on Renee, follow her on Instagram @foodie_renee (https://www.instagram.com/foodie_renee/)
9 Nov 2021
E10: How to Audit your Photography Business Website
Today we're talking all things portfolio websites: why they matter, how to make them effective, and how to check yours to make sure you're setting yourself up to get the jobs that you truly want.
**ACCESS the full show notes for this episode and download some business-building freebies here:https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/** (https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/**)
In this episode you’ll learn:
Why a strategic website is important for photographers
How to evaluate your website content
How to curate your portfolio items to catch the eye of your ideal client
And more!
2 Nov 2021
E9: Food Photographer Ashley Cuoco
Today I'm talking with Ashley Cuoco, a Roanoke Virginia-based based food photographer, stylist, recipe developer, home cook, and mom! Ashley has amassed an impressive list of clientele over the past few years including ALDI, Spice Islands, DeLallo Foods, Sur La Table, Nature's Greens. It all seems perfectly kismet, given that her last name means "cook." Ashley lives to love and serve through food and hospitality, and her love of food and gathering extends to nonprofit work as well. I'm excited to learn more about her career and the current ways in which she's giving back to her community, and I'm sure we'll all walk away inspired after listening to her.
For more on Ashley:
Blog and Portfolio: http://ashcuoco.com (http://ashcuoco.com/)
Instagram: @ashcuoco (https://www.instagram.com/ashcuoco/)
Roanoke Community Dinner FB Page (https://www.facebook.com/westendcommunitydinners)
26 Oct 2021
E8: Food Photographer and Stylist Lorena Masso
Today I'm talking with Lorena Masso, a San Francisco-based food and drink photographer. Lorena has a background in Culinary Arts, which she studied in Buenos Aries, which eventually lead her to her career in food styling and photography. Lorena's story starts in Mexico, where she was born and raised, and you could almost guess it based on the vibrant, earthy tones that fill her portfolio. She's a true artist, and I'm excited to learn more about her process and vision today.
In this episode you’ll learn:
How Lorena started in Culinary Arts.
How Lorena networks and gets clients without a large Instagram following.
How to push through imposter syndrome.
And more!
You can find Lorena here (https://www.lorenamasso.com/about-1) or follow her on Instagram @lorena_masso (https://www.instagram.com/lorena_masso/)
19 Oct 2021
E7: Rachel Simons of Seed and Mill
Today I'm talking with Rachel Simons, a Aussie mom of two running a Tahini Empire here in New York City. After 15 years as a media lawyer, Rachel turned her life long passion for food into Seed and Mill, the tahini brand you've probably heard me rave about because it's just that good. Rachel is a positive ray of sunshine, and I can't wait to hear her wonderful accent talk us through the story of starting and running a thriving food brand.
In this episode you’ll learn:
The Seed and Mill growth story
How Rachel's career in law helped her as an entrepreneur
The importance of company culture in hiring
the value in investing in your local business community
And more!
You can find Seed and Mill here (https://www.seedandmill.com/) or follow them on Instagram @seedandmill (https://www.instagram.com/seedandmill/)
12 Oct 2021
E6: Batch Working for Optimal Creativity
One of the key truths I've learned over the past few years is that most business success is simply the result of consistent actions repeated throughout time. It's about small, ordinary actions, repeated even when it gets tough or you're facing rejection, that eventually leads to extraordinary results and success.
As creatives, it can be tempting to let "feelings" dictate the course of your day, but what happens is we end up context switching throughout the day, which takes away mental energy and focus from the most important tasks in our zone of genius. It's important to protect our creativity and set ourselves up to do our best work, especially when we want to work at a higher level. I especially find batch working helpful for getting into a flow state, where I'm essentially limiting the cognitive load on myself so I can be my most creative and work efficiently. Flow state is that feeling where you lose track of time—our brains actually turn off the areas that focus on time passing so you're completely pouring yourself into the task at hand. You've probably experienced this and know just how satisfying it is to be in a state of flow, so you understand the appeal in maximizes energy output so we can achieve this state.
One way we can maximize our energy is by batch working, which eliminates context switching and helps us to work more efficiently. For me, this means I have days where I only do my podcast work and days where I only work on content creation, which means I'm not having to mentally switch as often. Within those days I'll also batch different tasks such as email or invoicing, so I'm not scattered throughout the day.
ACCESS the full show notes for this episode and download some business-building freebies here:https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/ (https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/**)
In this episode you’ll learn:
Why context switching can be detrimental to creativity
How to get into flow state.
How I batch work in my business
Creator vs CEO tasks
And more!
5 Oct 2021
E5: Investing In Yourself with Roberta of Healthy Little Cravings
Today I'm talking with Roberta Dall’Alba, a food photographer, blogger, and photography educator based in Palma, Italy. Roberta is a maven in the kitchen (you can tell based on her stunning images) and has a self-proclaimed obsession with baking. Oh, and she's also really into cats. Roberta has an impressive list of clientele, including, but not limited to: Nikon, Adobe, Samsung, and Barilla. Her eye for detail is impeccable and lucky for us, she generously shares her wealth of knowledge through her social channels and her food photographer education program. I can't wait to learn more of her story today!
ACCESS the full show notes for this episode and download some business-building freebies here:https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/In (https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/In) this episode you’ll learn:
Roberta's story of starting a food blog and becoming a food photographer.
The power of investing in yourself and how it leads to others investing in you.
Her top tips for staying inspired.
And more!
28 Sept 2021
E4: From Corporate to Full Time Creative with Allie Beau
Today I'm talking with Allie Beau, a Chicago based food and drink photographer, studio owner, and new mom. Allie is Queen of the elaborately styled flat lay, and has some of the most stunning motion shots my eyes have seen. Shes also a prop styling fiend, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little jealous of her masterful collection. Aside from the creative end, Allie is a rockstar business women, and I'm excited to learn more about how she left her corporate job and has maintained such a good client roster throughout her pregnancy journey. Oh, and shes also a murderino, If you know, you know.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's Allie Beau
ACCESS the full show notes for this episode and download some business-building freebies here:https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/** (https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/**)
In this episode you’ll learn:
How to be a successful photographer without a large Instagram following
How Allie stays inspired and continues educating herself
The importance of video content for food photographers
What the process is like going from corporate to "manual mode"
And more!
21 Sept 2021
E3: Restaurant and Beverage Photography with Reagan Byrne
Today I'm talking with Reagan Byrne, a Boston-based beverage and restaurant photographer with some of the most stunning drink shots your eyes will ever behold. She's shot for a host of both local and national brands, most notably Sam Adams. She'd never tell you this, but she's an absolute wizard when it comes to studio drink shots, and I'm forever in awe of the behind-the-scenes clips that she shares on Instagram (for example, the time she created a fake pool with hairdryers.) She's also an absolute connoisseur of beverage drinking, and I'm hoping one day we'll get an app with direct access to her so she can tell us all what to order every time we see a confusing drink menu. Ladies and gentlemen, it's Reagan Byrne.
ACCESS the full show notes for this episode and download some business-building freebies here:
https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/
In this episode you’ll learn:
Reagan's story from working in restaurants to running her own business
How Reagan is navigating the restaurant photography world post covid.
Her top tips for beverage photography.
And more!
14 Sept 2021
E2: Income Diversification with Jenny Bravo
Today I'm talking with Jenny Bravo, a portland based food photographer, prop curator, studio owner, trained chef, certified health coach, and mom of two. Jen's work seamlessly weaves between drool-worthy styled food, clever product shots, and images that show greater brand stories, such as a recent series she photographed for Luke's Lobster. As if that all wasn't enough, we're here to talk about income diversification for food photographers, because Jenny also has a stunning pottery line with Campfire Pottery. It's safe to say this girl can do it all, and I'm hoping that this conversation will let me absorb just a bit of her superpowers through osmosis. I'll keep you posted on that.
ACCESS the full show notes for this episode and download some business-building freebies here:
https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/income-diversification-with-jenny-bravo
In this episode you’ll learn:
How past careers can help you become a better creative entrepreneur.
Mindset shifts that occur when making your first hire.
How to go about income diversification as a creative.
How Jen stays inspired and grows her style while working with clients.
And more!
7 Sept 2021
E1. 6 Lessons that Changed me as an Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurship requires a strong mindset and self-awareness around your own limiting beliefs to be successful. Today we're talking through 6 lessons that have helped me as I've grown my businesses.
ACCESS the full show notes for this episode and download some business-building freebies here: https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/e16-lessons-that-changed-me-as-an-entrepreneur/ (https://moriahbrooke.com/podcast/e16-lessons-that-changed-me-as-an-entrepreneur/)
In this episode you'll learn:
The biggest limiting belief that we have around creativity (and what to believe instead.)
The most important thing to spend money on.
How pit stops can help us avoid disaster.
The true center of mental toughness.
The value of art is today's culture.
The biggest lesson I've learned around the value of my work.
And more!
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