Aperture and shutter speed are critical aspects of photography and knowing your camera like the back of your hand is makes photography more natural. Alex explains why he thinks people are at times too concerned with aperture and shutter speed and why it’s important for your camera to feel like an extension of your body.

For a lot of photographers, as soon as the sun sets, it’s time to go home. But for Alex, it’s the beginning of a new day. Alex shares his process to shoot in low light conditions without a tripod and how he uses external sources of light for his late evening work.

Here Alex outlines his process to making harmonious images. He goes over the rule of thirds, which formats (portrait, landscape, square) suit certain images, the way we read pictures, foreground & background, seeing color palettes, choosing your subject, using leading lines and vantage points.

How to make pictures that move people. Alex explains his approach to finding a theme that resonates with him and how to keep in mind the end viewer of the image in mind.

Story always rules vs Skill. In this episode the photographer explains the important role that stories play in his photography. How to find your own stories or tell someone else’s: finding thematics, characters, places loaded with stories right in your own backyard. Then he outlines the steps to take to get started.

Don’t beat yourself up over creative blocks. We all have them. Alex will dive into the methods and strategies he’s developed over the years that have helped him push past creative blocks and to stay motivated as a freelancer.

Offline and online research, topo maps, google maps, reaching out to friends and locals. Alex delves into how he scouts for new photo locations and what’s in his mobile smart phone tool box to help plan trips, scout locations, and best understand weather conditions.

Depending on your project or adventure you need to surround yourself with the right people to get the job done. Alex explains how he builds a team with the right people he can trust, that he can rely on, and that make up for his weaknesses. He also explains why he likes to work with models he already know and how to make models he doesn’t know feel comfortable in front of the camera.

Alex has explained his approach and process, now it's time for you to get out and start creating your own memorable images. Find some buddies to shoot with and do so on a weekly or biweekly bases, reach out to someone you look up to and meet them in person, tell a story, and scout new locations.