EP 03: Conversation Behind The Scenes with Tony Hogrefe

In this episode of Lensbaby Presents, host Liz Wilson talks with Rosie Lalonde about creating dreamy, expressive flower photography. Rosie shares her creative journey, her love for the Lensbaby Velvet 56, and how she uses selective focus and textured backgrounds to bring her vision to life. Through thoughtful observation and experimentation, Rosie explains how slowing down and connecting with a subject can transform a simple bloom into meaningful art. This conversation explores bringing more feeling and intention into your photography, from the garden to the editing process.

In this episode of Lensbaby Presents, host Liz Willson talks with Lisa about using photography as a “rut buster,” embracing creative constraints, and finding new ways to see familiar places. From creative self-portraits and nature photography to mindful camera walks, Lensbaby lenses, and expressive light, Lisa shares how curiosity and experimentation can help photographers create work that feels more personal and alive. Lisa also opens up about using photography as a form of expression and presence during her cancer treatment journey. Through self-portraits, formal gowns, light, movement, and creative lenses, she found ways to document both joy and difficult emotions while staying connected to the moment in front of her. If you have ever felt stuck creatively, bored with your usual camera setup, or unsure how to create something new from the same familiar surroundings, this conversation will inspire you to change one variable, embrace the unexpected, and shoot what feels true to you. In this episode, you’ll learn: ● How to use Lensbaby as a creative “rut buster” ● Why switching lenses, aperture settings, Omni filters, or locations can spark fresh ideas ● How creative constraints can make photography more focused and imaginative ● Lisa’s approach to self-portrait photography and daily creative practice ● How to use the Lensbaby Sweet 80 and Velvet 85 for dreamy, expressive portraits ● Why practicing lighting on flowers, objects, or simple stand-ins can improve self-portraits ● How Lisa used camera walks during COVID to rediscover familiar locations ● How different lenses, light, seasons, and camera tools can transform the same subject ● The mindfulness benefits of nature photography and intentional observation ● How photography can help process emotion, uncertainty, gratitude, and personal change ● Why letting go of expectations can lead to more authentic images ● How yoga, presence, and photography support one another as creative practices Lisa also shares her love for the Double Glass II and Soft Focus II creative aperture discs, including the bird, heart, star, spiral, and wavy-line effects. Plus, she reveals her dream creative shoot: making self-portraits at the beach in Hawaii with the Double Glass II and its creative bokeh discs. Connect with Lisa Edney: Instagram: @ledneyphotography Website: edneyimages.com Explore Lensbaby and get 10% off with code PODCAST.

In this episode of Lensbaby Presents, host Liz Willson talks with Greg about how he uses photography, videography, the Lensbaby Composer Pro, Edge 80, Sweet 35, Sweet 50, Sweet 22, and the Omni Creative Filter System to turn everyday scenes into expressive, unexpected visual experiences. Greg shares how his creative path began with comic books, animation, Photoshop, vintage Soviet lenses, and filmmaking. He explains why he approaches each shoot with a “what can I find out?” mindset instead of trying to control every outcome. From moving tilt-shift videos on the New York City ferry to experimenting with the Eiffel Tower’s night sparkle and Omni crystals in Paris, Greg reveals how curiosity, movement, light, and imperfection can lead to more memorable imagery. If you are a photographer, videographer, filmmaker, or visual storyteller who wants to create images that feel more alive, this conversation will inspire you to experiment, trust your instincts, and make work that feels honest to your creative voice. In this episode, you’ll discover: ● How Greg Yakubov uses Lensbaby lenses for cinematic photography and video ● Why the Lensbaby Composer Pro and Edge 80 are central to his creative process ● How to create expressive tilt-shift video using movement, distance, and architecture ● Why movement can make cityscapes, buildings, light, and street scenes feel more dynamic ● How vintage manual lenses shaped Greg’s understanding of focal length, aperture, focus, and lens character ● How to use creative tools without overplanning the final result ● Why wide-open apertures, blur, bokeh, and lens imperfections can become part of the story ● The difference between capturing a single photographic moment and building motion into a video ● How Greg thinks about editing, pacing, visual change, and storytelling in short-form video ● Why honest, personal creative work often resonates more deeply than work made to follow trends Greg also shares his dream concept for filming a lightsaber duel at night in the rain, his process for finding dynamic scenes in New York City, and why he believes extraordinary photography and videography begin with creating something you have not seen before. Connect with Greg Yakubov: Instagram: @gregyakubov Website: gregyakub.com Explore Lensbaby and get 10% off with code PODCAST. Chapters 00:00 Approach Creativity With a “Finding Out” Mindset 05:03 Meet Filmmaker and Lensbaby Ambassador Greg Yakubov 13:48 Discovering Lensbaby, Tilt-Shift Effects, and the Composer Pro 20:17 Creating Dynamic Tilt-Shift Videos in New York City 29:29 Experimenting With Omni Crystals and the Eiffel Tower at Night 35:24 What Video Can Do That Photography Cannot 41:27 Editing, Motion, Light, and Visual Storytelling 48:04 Greg’s Dream Shoot: A Lightsaber Duel in the Rain 54:30 Favorite Gear, Creative Rules, and Shooting Extraordinary 01:05:48 Where to Find Greg Yakubov

How do you create photographs that feel less like postcards and more like personal works of art? In this episode of Lensbaby Presents, host Liz Willson sits down with Australian Lensbaby Ambassador Kate Stock to explore creative photography, visual storytelling, chasing light, and learning to trust your artistic instincts. Kate shares her journey from photographing her children and sunsets to creating impressionistic beach landscapes that invite viewers to pause, wonder, and form their own stories. She explains why she chooses blur over technical perfection, how she uses Lensbaby lenses such as the Soul 45, Edge 35, Edge 80, Sweet 35, Trio 28, and Double Glass II, and why she thinks of a Lensbaby lens as a creative friend rather than simply a tool. This conversation is for photographers who want to break free from predictable images, embrace their environment, use light with intention, and create work that feels true to their own voice. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Kate Stock developed her creative photography style Why creative blur and selective focus can deepen visual storytelling How Lensbaby lenses help create expressive, impressionistic images Why light matters more than perfection in photography How to build confidence when your work does not fit conventional photography rules What Kate looks for when building a cohesive photography portfolio Why local camera clubs, competitions, printing, and community can help photographers grow How to use a wider aperture to create stronger Lensbaby effects Why photography is often better when you break the rules Kate also shares her perspective on photographing the beach, creating images that leave room for the viewer’s imagination, and pursuing work that feels extraordinary rather than ordinary. Subscribe for more conversations with photographers, artists, and visual storytellers who are finding new ways to shoot extraordinary. Connect with Kate Stock: Instagram: @soulimages Instagram: @scapesbykate

What if your photography did not end with the click of the shutter? In this episode of Lensbaby Presents, host Liz Willson welcomes fine-art photographer, educator, curator, and Lensbaby Ambassador Mara Magyarosi-Laytner for a thoughtful conversation about experimental photography, physical printmaking, visual poetry, creative courage, and building a meaningful artistic practice. Mara shares her journey from high-school darkroom photography to earning degrees in photography, art education, arts administration, and an MFA in photography. She discusses how teaching and making art work together, why experimentation matters, and how her project-based approach allows her work to evolve over time. A central theme of this conversation is simple but powerful: make your art real. Photography is not only a digital file or an image on a screen. Mara encourages artists to print their work, experiment with materials, create photo books, pursue exhibitions, apply to open calls, and place their art where it can connect with people. You will also hear about Mara’s evolving body of work, The Subtle Body of Living Things, which explores memory, time, identity, health, anxiety, absence, and altered perception. Through video, photographic fragments, Polaroid lifts, hand-coated prints, projections, Lensbaby OMNI effects, Edge optics, and experimental processes, she creates work that reflects the disorientation and fragmented experience of lost time. Whether you are a photographer, artist, creative entrepreneur, photography student, or someone who has been waiting for permission to share your work, this conversation will challenge you to try the hard thing, embrace the learning process, and keep moving forward even when self-doubt shows up. In this episode, you’ll learn: ● Why your photography should not end with the shutter click ● How to turn digital images into tangible, physical artwork ● Ways to start exhibiting photography in galleries, libraries, hospitals, coffee shops, and local art spaces ● Why applying for creative opportunities matters, even when you expect rejection ● How artists can use experimentation, symbolism, and visual poetry to develop deeper work ● Why ongoing photography projects can evolve over months or years ● How to create a photography book or artist monograph ● How Mara uses the Lensbaby OMNI system, colored crystals, Edge optics, and Velvet lenses ● Why in-camera experimentation can reduce dependence on heavy editing ● How photography, video, alternative processes, and mixed media can work together ● How to work through imposter syndrome, rejection, and creative failure ● What it means to “shoot extraordinary” Mara also shares the story behind Nova 24 Photo and Film Festival, an experimental photography and film festival she co-founded to create more opportunities for innovative artists and filmmakers. The festival features exhibitions, artist talks, projection galleries, film screenings, and work from artists across the United States and internationally.EP-04-Conversation-Behind-The-Scenes-with-Mara-Magyarosi-Laytner.txt Creative reminder: Do not be the first person to tell yourself no. Apply for the exhibition. Submit to the open call. Print the work. Share the project. You never know who needs to encounter your art. Connect with Mara Magyarosi-Laytner Instagram: @maramagyarosi Website: MaraMagyarosiLaytner.com Mara shares her artwork, creative process, exhibitions, and artist opportunities through her website and Instagram.EP-04-Conversation-Behind-The-Scenes-with-Mara-Magyarosi-Laytner.txt Explore Lensbaby creative lenses, OMNI filters, and photography tools, and use code PODCAST for 10% off as referenced in this episode.EP-04-Conversation-Behind-The-Scenes-with-Mara-Magyarosi-Laytner.txt Question for you: What piece of art have you been holding back from printing, submitting, sharing, or putting out into the world? Subscribe to Lensbaby Presents for more conversations with photographers, artists, Lensbaby Ambassad