Episode 09 - This week Zach & Courtney discuss starting a photography business and a family at the same time and how they work to fully integrate their lives together.

“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Notes

Where it says, “Photo stories with the family,” on the screen from 35:31 until the end, what that means is for every one of those images, we were all together as a family, or Zach was out with the kids.

Clearly some of the photos have the kids in them, but many are documentary images of the places we’re visiting. We wanted to show the breadth of work it’s possible for us to do when we’re together.

Courtney mentions a Helena Bonham Carter quote. Here it is…

“I think everything in life is art. What you do. How you dress. The way you love someone, and how you talk. Your smile and your personality. What you believe in, and all your dreams. The way you drink your tea. How you decorate your home. Or party. Your grocery list. The food you make. How your writing looks. And the way you feel. Life is art.”

Index

0:00 - The parameters are there to help us grow.

1:33 - Who are Zach & Courtney?

2:11 - Meeting at Indiana University and sharing an interest in travel & storytelling.

3:17 - Zach started his photography career in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

5:01 - Courtney moves to Chicago and Zach follows.

6:12 - Zach & Courtney start their photography business in Indianapolis in 2006

15:17 - Working as a documentary commercial photographer

17:52 - Booking our own weddings as a photographer

18:58 - A special visitor to the set

20:12 - Multiple streams of photography income.

21:44 - Courtney solo parenting while Zach works nights.

25:26 - Why we decided to homeschool our kids.

30:00 - Being in charge of our own time.

33:14 - The Personal Legend Project

35:40 - Creating stability at work and home

40:00 - Society wants perfection. The interesting is in the mess.

Find Zach

Website: https://zachdobson.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphoto

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphoto

Find Courtney

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymccracken_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessons

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@courtneymccracken_

About the Podcast

Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken is a weekly conversation about photography and all its impact. Each week Zach and Courtney discuss their latest adventures, life lessons, and anything else that sounds interesting.

Photography is Nothing invites you into the conversations they were already having as a married couple running a photography and media company in the current world.

Fair Use Statement

This document contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I have determined this to be "fair use" of the copyrighted material as referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain express permission from the copyright owner.

Episode 08 - This week Zach & Courtney follow up with comments from last week’s album choices and discuss everything from lawsuits to successful collaborations between photographers and musicians.

“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson

INDEX0:00 - Intro - Be more interesting!

2:30 - Following up on comments about The Beatles Abbey Road conspiracies.

6:57 - We each have one Mandela Effect we believe.

10:06 - Our thoughts on the Nirvana Nevermind alum cover.

13:43 - Album covers that had lawsuits filed: Dido’s Safe Trip Home and Vampire Weekend’s Contra

19:09 - The Beatles secured permissions for all the notable people portrayed on the Sgt. Pepper album cover.

21:13 - Musician Blood Orange (Dev Hynes) was inspired by Deena Lawson’s photo “Binky & Tony Forever.”

29:39 - John Coltrane’s Blue Train album cover was photographed by Francis Wolff.

30:46 - A brief intro to Blue Note Records designer Reid Miles.

32:26 - Francis Wolff co-founded Blue Note Records and photographed many of their album covers.

40:26 - Great collaborations between artists lead to the most meaningful work.

Find ZachWebsite: https://zachdobson.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphotoThreads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphotoFind

CourtneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymccracken_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessonsThreads: https://www.threads.com/@courtneymccracken_

About the Podcast

Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken is a weekly conversation about photography and all its impact. Each week Zach and Courtney discuss their latest adventures, life lessons, and anything else that sounds interesting.

Photography is Nothing invites you into the conversations they were already having as a married couple running a photography and media company in the current world.

Fair Use Statement

This document contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I have determined this to be "fair use" of the copyrighted material as referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.

If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain express permission from the copyright owner.

Episode 07 - This week Zach & Courtney discuss 8 iconic album covers and the stories behind them. They define what makes an “iconic” album cover, analyze the photos, tell how they were made, who the photographers were, and some of the myths that formed around the images.

“Photography is nothing–it's life that interests me.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Index

0:00 - Intro - Zach’s brush with Free Jazz

0:31 - We will call photographers out on their poor behavior. Including W. Eugene Smith.

1:47 - Today’s topic: Eight Iconic Album Covers.

2:15 - How do we define an iconic album cover?

4:13 - The Polaroid. Taylor Swift. 1989. Photo by Lowfield.

8:51 - The use of Polaroid reminds Courtney of No Code by Pearl Jam.

11:20 - Greatest rock & roll photo? The Clash. London Calling. Photo by Pennie Smith

15:57 - Giant Steps by John Coltrane. Photographed by Lee Friedlander

20:50 - Famous behind. Bruce Springsteen. Born in the U.S.A. Photo by Annie Leibovitz

24:43 - Uplifting friends. Kendrick Lamar. To Pimp A Butterfly. Photo by Denis Rouvre.

27:56 - Courtney’s pick. Madonna. True Blue. Photographed by Herb Ritts.

33:08 - A new classic. Doechii. Alligator Bites Never Heal. Photographed by John Jay.

37:22 - The most iconic album cover photo of all time according to Zach.

Find Zach

Website: https://zachdobson.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachdobsonphoto/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachdobsonphoto

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@zachdobsonphoto

Find Courtney

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymccracken_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happy_life_lessons

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@courtneymccracken_

About the Podcast

Photography is Nothing with Zach Dobson and Courtney McCracken is a weekly conversation about photography and all its impact. Each week Zach and Courtney discuss their latest adventures, life lessons, and anything else that sounds interesting.

Photography is Nothing invites you into the conversations they were already having as a married couple running a photography and media company in the current world.

Fair Use Statement

This document contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I have determined this to be "fair use" of the copyrighted material as referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain express permission from the copyright owner.