The One Behind the Lens with Kate DeCoste

About The One Behind the Lens with Kate DeCoste

The One Behind the Lens is the podcast for photographers in their first 5 years of business. Host Kate DeCoste shares real-talk strategies, behind-the-scenes stories, and bold advice to help you grow a business that fits your life. From branding to pricing and mindset to marketing - it’s all here. Grab your camera and your confidence - it’s time to Shutter Up and Shine. 🎧 New episodes every week starting August 4, 2025. Follow now so you don’t miss a thing!

Publisher

Kate DeCoste

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Jul 2025

Latest episode

28 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

45 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Aug 2026

   Season 3 Bonus: The One Where They Said, “I’m Awkward in Photos”

   “I’m awkward.” “I don’t know how to pose.” “I hate having my picture taken.” “What do I do with my hands?” And the classic: “I’m not photogenic.” If you've ever said any of those things before getting in front of a camera, this episode is for you. In this bonus episode and the Season 3 finale of The One Behind the Lens — I'm wrapping up my Senior Session Playbook with the part that can make seniors the most nervous: What am I actually supposed to DO in front of the camera? Here's the first thing I want you to know: You don't need to know how to pose. That's your photographer's job. We're talking about why those first few minutes of a senior session might feel awkward, how movement helps you relax, why you shouldn't compare your session to someone else's, and how bringing things you love can help your personality come through in your photos. I'm also talking to parents about how to be the ultimate hype person without accidentally making your senior more self-conscious. And photographers, there's plenty in this one for you too. Your clients don't do this every day — you do. How you direct, communicate, encourage and give feedback can completely change someone's experience in front of your camera. 🎧 In This Episode📸 The Senior Session Playbook 00:24 — Welcome + the Season 3 finale 01:35 — You don't need to know how to pose 03:22 — Why the first 5–10 minutes might feel awkward 04:45 — Why I don't recommend wearing your favorite outfit first05:05 — Stop worrying about what you look like 06:20 — Movement is your friend 07:25 — Bring things that make you feel like YOU 08:20 — Bring someone who makes you feel confident 09:25 — You don't have to smile in every photo 10:25 — Don't compare your session to someone else's 11:20 — Tell your photographer what you're nervous about 12:55 — Why consultations matter + the senior who hates bugs13:55 — Parents, this part is for you 15:35 — Photographers: remember what this feels like 16:30 — Your client can't read your mind — give them feedback17:15 — Confidence is contagious 17:30 — Putting the Senior Session Playbook together 18:25 — Wrapping up Season 3 19:45 — Season 4 is coming in October! This episode wraps up our three-part senior photography series: Part 1: How to Choose the Right Location for Your Senior Photos Part 2: What to Wear for Your Senior Photos Part 3: The One Where They Said, “I’m Awkward in Photos” Location matters. What you wear matters. But ultimately, your senior session should feel like you. You don't need to know how to pose. You don't need to be “photogenic.” And you definitely don't need to become somebody else for your senior photos. You need a photographer who knows how to guide you, an experience that gives you room to relax, and permission to show up as yourself. And with that, Season 3 is officially a wrap! Thank you, Shutter Squad, for listening, sharing episodes, sending me messages when something resonates, and being part of another season of The One Behind the Lens. Season 4 drops in October! Until then, it's the perfect time to go back and catch up on any Season 3 episodes you missed. Make sure you're following or subscribed so you'll know when we're back. And remember: There's always more to the story behind the lens. I'll see you next season.

2. 

   21 Aug 2026

   S3 Bonus: The One About Building a Marketing System That Actually Works with Lindsay Pinchuk

   The One About Building a Marketing System That Actually Works with Lindsay Pinchuk In this episode, I sit down with Lindsay Pinchuk, an award-winning entrepreneur, consultant, and small business mentor who's among the less than 1% of female founders to successfully lead her company through an acquisition. Lindsay built her first company, Bump Club and Beyond, from just $500 into a 7-figure brand with partnerships including Target, Nordstrom, Huggies, and Unilever, reaching over 3 million people every month before selling the business to a large agency holding company. Today, she's the founder of Dear FoundHer, a top 0.5% podcast and community supporting women business owners over 40. We talk about her signature SWEEP framework for simplifying marketing, why partnerships don't have to mean brand deals, how to show up on camera even if it terrifies you, why chasing trends isn't the growth strategy people think it is, and why women over 40 might have the biggest advantage in business right now. In this episode: 2:41 — Lindsay's story: from corporate America to founding Bump Club and Beyond 4:21 — How Dear FoundHer came to be 5:23 — The SWEEP framework: what it stands for and how one piece of content can be repurposed across six channels 9:16 — A real example: turning one blog post into weeks' worth of content 13:24 — Why LinkedIn is an underused platform for photographers 14:44 — How SWEEP changed the way Lindsay thinks about marketing 19:34 — Why "partnership" is broader than brand deals — and how your own clients are partners 25:01 — Two tips for showing up on camera when you hate being on camera 30:57 — Why chasing trends won't grow your bottom line 36:28 — Why women over 40 have an edge in business right now 46:51 — How and why Lindsay started The FoundHer Files on Substack 53:41 — The three-month premium listener gift, explained 55:31 — Rapid fire round 57:17 — More on the Dear FoundHer podcast and community Connect with Lindsay: Instagram: @dearfoundher (http://instagram.com/dearfoundher) Podcast/Community: dearfoundher.com (https://www.dearfoundher.com/) The FoundHer Files: foundherfiles.substack.com (https://foundherfiles.substack.com/) Special offer: Lindsay is giving Shutter Squad listeners three months free of the premium FoundHer Files — claim it here (https://foundherfiles.substack.com/4aca5579). The Coffee Roaster of Lincoln Discount: 5% off online orders Code: TOBTL Podcast link: coffeeroasterlnk.com/tobtl ☕ The Coffee Roaster — Save 5% on your online order with code TOBTL, or shop through the podcast link above. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The One Behind the Lens so you never miss a conversation, and leave a review to help more photographers find the show.

3. 

   14 Aug 2026

   S3 Ep 10: The One Where AI Can't Steal Your Joy with Jon Cheney

   The One Where AI Can't Steal Your Joy with Jon Cheney In this episode, I sit down with Jon Cheney, founder and CEO of the General AI Proficiency Institute, to talk about what AI actually means for photographers and creatives — beyond the hype and the fear. Jon breaks down how AI is already working behind the scenes in your iPhone photos, how to use it to fix blown shots, remove distractions, and clean up editing work that used to eat up hours. We also get into the tools he actually uses day to day, why different AI platforms can give you completely different answers to the same question, and the story behind how he built an entire business — one that would've cost $3.2 million and 18 months the traditional way — in a single weekend for $400. My favorite part of this conversation: Jon's take on why the joy of creating, and the stewardship that comes after, is something AI can never take from us. In this episode we cover: Why you're probably already using AI without realizing it Using AI to fix framing issues, remove distractions, and clean up shots How to give your AI tools your own "voice" for writing and content What Jon actually uses ChatGPT, Claude, and Replit for in his own business Why AI platforms can give wildly different answers depending on how they're trained How Jon built a business in a weekend for $400 Why creativity and stewardship are uniquely human, no matter how good AI gets 0:00 Intro 2:14 Who is Jon Cheney? From tech-lover to AI founder 4:42 You're already using AI (yes, even on your iPhone) 5:10 Jon's Alaska story: fixing a blown photo with AI 7:34 Removing distractions — cars, trees, tan lines, blemishes 9:34 Why AI just makes creatives faster, not less creative 10:54 What AI can take off a photographer's plate (admin, emails, scheduling) 13:00 Vibe coding explained: how Jon uses Replit 16:17 Giving AI "your voice" for writing and content 19:00 Will photographers get left behind if they ignore AI? 22:25 Jon's business and course offer (with your discount code) 24:54 ChatGPT vs. Claude vs. Replit vs. Midjourney — what Jon uses for what 30:54 Why different AI platforms give different answers 36:13 Spotting AI content and being transparent about your process 40:00 The future of photography and why AI can't fake real creativity 42:48 Creation vs. stewardship — the part AI can never replace 44:49 How Jon built a $3.2M business in one weekend for $400 48:23 Jon's advice: the first AI tool to try if you're starting from zero 53:00 Rapid fire questions 57:47 Shoutout to Jon's mom, Carolyn Cheney (1.1M followers!) 59:03 Where to find Jon and wrap-up Evoto — my go-to AI editing tool for things like skin retouching, tan lines, and blemish removal. Get free credits to try it for yourself here: katedecostephotography.com/form/the-one-where-you-get-evoto (https://www.katedecostephotography.com/form/the-one-where-you-get-evoto) Connect with Jon Cheney: LinkedIn: Jon Cheney Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, YouTube: @CheneyPiano Course: "How to Build a Business in a Weekend" at GenAIPI.org (https://genaipi.org) — use code KATE for $350 off https://genaipi.org/live-courses/1 (https://genaipi.org/live-courses/1) Follow his mom, Carolyn Cheney, a nature photographer with 1.1 million followers

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

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