The Darkroom Podcast

@EpidemicSound | Soundtracking the World with Epidemic Sound CEO Oscar Höglund

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke to the CEO and Co-founder of Epidemic Sound, Oscar Höglund. Over the last 10 years, Oscar and the team at Epidemic have set out to soundtrack the world, pioneering a new era of music licensing for all types of content creators, studios and storytellers. Epidemic tracks are now listened to over 250 million hours each month and are the go to platform for people like Peter McKinnon and companies like Netflix.  In a notoriously self-serving industry, Epidemic is changing the narrative on how to support creatives while sustaining a steady flow of world-class content. With over 500 hit tracks on music streaming services, we hear how Epidemic is leveraging the power of AI and data analytics to stay ahead of ever-changing music trends and thus offering invaluable insights to their creators. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, Oscar and his founding team have taken their humble beginnings in Scandinavia and scaled their technology to change the world of sound within content creation. Enjoy!

@ThisIsDavidGelb | In the Mix with the Creator of Chef's Table David Gelb

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke to the creator and director of Chef’s Table, David Gelb, at his production studio Supper Club. We jump back into David’s early passions for theatre and acting in high school and how his father’s life in the classical music world became a steady inspiration for him. Having built a small team of friends to go shoot with in high school and college, David has a knack for finding and building talent, allowing him to work on a multitude of projects including Supper Club’s latest non-fiction programming deal with Disney. David stepped into the spotlight in 2011 with his documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi; highlighting the story of the “world’s greatest sushi chef” Jiro Ono at his 10 person restaurant located in a Tokyo subway station. We hear how David took a camera and shot almost the entire movie by himself with a translator at his side and ultimately how his production methodology would set the stage for Chef’s Table. We get a unique chance to hear about Anthony Bourdain’s impact on David’s work and how both Street Food and Chef’s Table are a homage to Bourdain’s legacy. As Netflix’s first documentary series, Chef’s Table has been a massive hit for the streaming platform and has now become the longest running original series after its renewal for seasons 7 and 8. David’s raw passion and ability for storytelling has brought foreign cultures and cuisine to the homes of millions and we’re excited to see what’s to come. Enjoy!

@SteveSweatpants | Searching for Moments with Street Dreams Magazine Co-founder Steven “Sweatpants” Irby

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke to photographer, creative director and Co-founder of Street Dreams Magazine Steven “Sweatpants” Irby. We get into the early days of Steven’s life from picking up a camera in his 20’s to his first encounters with his Co-founders Eric Veloso and Michael Cobarrubia. These creators have turned their love of street photography into a renowned print publication now rounding the corner on their 15th edition. Within each release, Steve, Eric and Michael select a handful of the most talented street photographers, showcasing the authentic metropolitan areas in every corner of the globe. We talk about what makes a great piece of street photography not only so difficult to shoot but its importance in breaking social barriers in diverse cities. Now also a creative agency, Street Dreams takes on work from some of the biggest companies in the world to bring their aesthetic and vision to the table. Enjoy!

@Finn | Enjoy The Journey with Finn Beales

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we caught up with renowned travel and commercial photographer Finn Beales while he was back at home in Wales. Shooting for over 10 years, Finn shares his breadth of knowledge in the space and how he has developed an incredible body of work. We talk through building his “72hrs in…” series, highlighting the cultures, people and scenes he encounters on his travels in places like Rwanda all the way to the Pacific Northwest. Having gotten his start on the other side of photography, building and designing websites for clients, we walk through what it took for Finn to break into the space then and what it takes to do the same today. We dive into the history of how shared stories are the very building blocks of our humanity and seed our ability to coexist. As one of the great visual storytellers, Finn has now built a team around him and has found a way to continue his personal growth throughout the years. Enjoy!

@AlexStrohl | Building A Foundation with Alex Strohl

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke with legendary French photographer Alex Strohl. We hear about the first time Alex picked up a camera to what it took to build a personal brand followed by millions. We talk through the story arc that Alex has crafted for himself, one built on patience for bigger things and a steady taste for travel. Alex draws much of his inspiration for his images outside the realm of photography, often in books that have helped enhance the depth of his work. Now based in his newly built home in Whitefish, Montana, we caught Alex as he just added a set of workshops to help photographers gain technical skills and ultimately take tangible actions in their professional career. As an infinitely curious person, Alex has never stopped learning new skills from others and gives his advice on how to do the same. We took a lot from this episode and hope you do too! Enjoy!

Website: https://www.strohl.works

@VSCO | Celebrating Creative Differences with CEO of VSCO Joel Flory

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking to Joel Flory, CEO & Co-founder of VSCO. We get a chance to hear Joel’s story from the beginning, growing up near Oakland and eventually becoming a wedding photographer with his wife for nearly a decade. After realizing that he wanted to start something new, Joel and his Co-founder Greg set out to build something that would help them as artists. Through many iterations, VSCO was born and would help millions of people express their creativity in an entirely new way. Joel walks through his choice of not building in public likes and comments as a feature and how that created a culture where work was judged on its meaning and value to the viewer rather than an arbitrary number.  In building anything new at VSCO, the team stresses that the creator and community always have to win, and that ultimately our creative differences must be celebrated. Joel and his 100+ person team at VSCO are now focused on creating what’s next for who’s next and are in an endless pursuit to find new forms of expression.

@everchanginghorizon | Finding a Home in Photography with Quin Schrock

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we spoke with lifestyle and commercial photographer Quin Schrock. Quin’s life is far from the ordinary, after leaving life as an accountant, he set out to Peru not knowing what was in store for him. Without a camera in hand other than his phone, Quin traveled across the world when he eventually met a new friend who set out with him on a road trip across the country. Over the last couple years Quin has lived, worked and traveled in his van. While only breaking into the commercial scene recently, Quin has shot for brands like Apple, GoPro, Sony, Adobe and many more. We get into what success is for Quin and how his triumphs and failures can be a model for any artist trying to break into the space.

@yungbludlau | Falling Into Place with Bon Appétit Photographer Alex Lau

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we had the pleasure to speak with the Staff Photographer for Bon Appétit Magazine Alex Lau. Having traveled the world for his shoots, Alex’s work has been featured on the cover and in the pages of Bon Appétit’s most impressive editions showcasing some of the most sought after cuisines. We get to hear about how Alex hustled his way into his current and former jobs: taking multiple buses, trains and yes… even hiding his belongings under toilets to catch an interview. Alex tells us what it is like to be around (and to eat) some of the most popular foods and how he was able to break into the space. As an artist, Alex could be working with any top clients in the industry but he explains why working at Bon Appétit is such a unique opportunity.

@drcuerda @anniset | Pushing the Bounds of Imagination with Daniel Rueda and Anna Devís

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking to the incredibly talented duo Daniel Rueda and Anna Devís. The two met and studied architecture together at Polytechnic University of Valencia and are now full-time freelancing photographers. As a team, they have found an incredibly unique style that blurs the worlds of architecture, surrealism and photography into one. Using the environment and buildings around them as their canvases, Daniel and Anna have been able to travel the world working for an array of clientele. We walk through their creative process from getting a client in the door to delivering a single yet stunning work of art.  They lend their advice for anyone out there that is looking to define their own style. Enjoy!

@SamoRomeo | Off the Field with Detroit Lions Defensive End Romeo Okwara

In this episode of The Darkroom Podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Romeo Okwara, a Leica photographer and the starting Defensive End for the Detroit Lions. Growing up in North Carolina and with family in Nigeria, Romeo’s love for travel developed at a young age. His interests in the creative space started with a passion for architecture and design, only growing stronger when he picked up a camera in college. We talk through his development as an artist and how his eye for the beautiful moments in everyday life has led him into his portraiture and lifestyle work, specifically documenting the lives of a group of firemen at FDNY Rescue 2 in Brooklyn over the last 2 years. We get a unique chance to hear how Romeo balances his life as an athlete in the NFL and his aspirations as an artist. Enjoy!