Brewing up inspiration for your photography journey! Love photography? So do we! The Camera Café Show brings you entertaining conversations with photographers from around the world, exploring the stories behind their pictures, careers and creative journeys.
From National Geographic legends and documentary photographers to wildlife, landscape and travel photographers, photojournalists, conservation photographers and emerging voices, host Tom Jacob talks with guests about photography, creativity, adventure, conservation and the unexpected paths that lead people behind the camera.
No lectures, no jargon — just fascinating stories, practical insights, plenty of humour, and the occasional detour that has absolutely nothing to do with photography. Grab your coffee, hit play, and join the conversation.
A goth bass player who never made it. A one way bus ticket to Italy. And a life behind the camera that turned out better than the dream! 🎸📸
In Part One of my conversation with Adam Docker, a cinematographer and photographer from the UK, we explore how someone with more than 30 years behind a film camera found a new creative freedom in award-winning portrait photography. From travelling to almost 100 countries to learning how to see people differently through a still camera, Adam's journey is a reminder that sometimes taking a different path can open up a whole new world 📸🌍
We talk about what makes a portrait work, how to approach a shoot when you don't know quite what to expect, and why being able to adapt and make things work on the spot can be just as important as having a plan. It's about the person in front of the camera, the location, the light, and knowing when to experiment and when to keep things simple.
From the Iraqi football team's victory and a phone call from Saddam Hussein to an improvised photoshoot with tennis star Anna Chakvetadze. And stay tuned for next week, when Part Two takes us to Havana for an encounter with football legend Diego Maradona! ⚽📸
So grab yourself a coffee, settle in, and join me for Part One of this conversation with the amazing Adam Docker ☕📸
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📸 See more of Adam Docker’s work:https://www.adamdocker.art/
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🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com
25 Oct 2026
Elle Leontiev: Sony Open Photographer of the Year 2026
A barefoot man. An active volcano. And a photograph that took a photographer all the way to the top of the Sony World Photography Awards. Sometimes, the best stories come from the most unexpected places 🌋📸
Today on the podcast, we go all the way to Australia with Elle Leontiev, who won Open Photographer of the Year at the Sony World Photography Awards 2026. Her journey into photography took her from a corporate job in London back to Australia, where she studied photography and began a new chapter in her life. Of course, we get to know the story behind her award-winning portrait of Philip Yamah, “The Barefoot Volcanologist” (I promise there's quite a story behind getting that photograph!), and talk about the experience of winning the Sony Awards, along with some tips on entering competitions and believing in yourself.
But there's more to Elle's photography than one extraordinary image. We talk about finding inspiration, developing your own photographic voice, and new projects taking her towards Greenland and the Arctic. Along the way, there's also time for travel stories, possible dangerous Australian wildlife, cooking, and those little sparkles on the water that make her happy.
Grab yourself a coffee and join me for this wonderful conversation with Elle Leontiev ☕📸
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📸 See more of Elle Leontiev’s work:https://www.elleleontiev.com/
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Follow, maybe leave us a review, or share it! You know the drill 😉
***
🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com
“Everybody smile, because we're doing this for Mum!” Sound familiar? 😄 If you're thinking about becoming a family photographer, this conversation might be just what you need. Mind you, you might need nerves of steel sometimes!
Our guest today is Melina Coogan, an award-winning documentary family photographer from the US who found her way into photography almost by accident (it includes a stint on an Alaskan cruise ship!). We talk about getting your first clients, building a business from scratch, learning from mistakes, the gear but why understanding people and being present can matter far more than knowing every camera setting by heart when you start out.
But there's more to Melina's story than family photography. We talk about her own busy family life, her documentary work with the Irish Travelling Community, which was selected by Photo Vogue, and some of the stories behind her camera over the years. It's a wonderful ‘Sublime Absurdity’ glimpse into another side of her photography, and a reminder that a camera can take you into worlds you never expected to discover. Magic Irish fairies included!
Grab a coffee, settle in, and join us for this wonderful conversation with Melina Coogan.
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📸 See more of Melina’s work:
https://www.melinacooganphoto.com/
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🎙️ Enjoyed this episode?Follow, maybe leave us a review, or share it! You know the drill 😉🎧
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🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com
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YouTube views
10,591
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
13 ratings
Spotify
4.8 / 5
22 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 38 / 100
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