026: A Year of Flavorful Conversations

Mica: [00:00:00] Welcome to the 26th episode of the Savory Shot.

Mica: Y'all know who I be. It's your host with the most. Mica. I wanna start this partay off by extending a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you, y'all. Your love for this little podcast fuels me to keep the trainer rolling. I'm like the Temptations. Mica was a rolling stone.

Mica: Whether this is your first time tuning in or if you've been with me from the humble jump, I am so grateful for your support. You could have been anywhere. Doing anything. But you hear with me. And y'all that fills my heart to the brim and overflowing. So thank you. Now I have a question for y'all. Did you catch last week's episode with Dyutima Jha? A.K.A [00:01:00] DJ. I don't know what's going on here, but work with me. I've had a lot of coffee and I am energized like the bunny. Bing, bing, bing, bing. Seriously, y'all. If you didn't catch that episode, you better stop, drop, and roll your way back and give it a listen. DJ was spitting gospel left and right Y'all. Her journey, her story and her advice will gas you up and make you wanna charge into the world with your camera in tow. Y'all, please go listen to it. I promise you won't forget it, but y'all. But let's talk about today's episode. This one is a special one, y'all.

Mica: Today mark's a momentous occasion. My Savory Squad, listen up. It's been an entire year since the birth of the Savory Shot, y'all. I can't [00:02:00] believe it. I can't believe that I've spent 12 months, 52 weeks, and 365 days neck deep in the most flavor packed, deep conversations about photography, entrepreneurship, creativity, self-care.

Mica: Y'all, I couldn't have asked for a better journey, but before we get into that, let's start the show.

[00:03:00]

Mica: It's hard to believe it's been one whole ass year. Y'all. I've been extremely fortunate to have such a diverse lineup of book guests. I've had food photographers, food stylists, educators, art directors, celebrated cookbook authors, and y'all, each guest showed up with so much passion, and a burning eagerness to share their stories and invaluable nuggets of wisdom.

Mica: So for today's episode, that's what I wanna talk about. I wanna talk about three things I learned in the last year as a podcast host.

Mica: All right, y'all, I'm gonna let y'all in on a little confession. I waited a whole year to launch this podcast. Yep. I was supposed to launch it in 2021, [00:04:00] and I delayed this show by an entire year.

Mica: Why? Because your girl was scared. And wanted everything to be perfect. So I waited and I kept waiting. I had all the excuses in the world. "Oh, I'm too busy right now. Maybe when things calm down. I just wanna make sure I do this right, or I don't wanna rush the process." You name it, I had an excuse for it. I delayed my podcast and kept pushing back the deadline until I did an interview with Flicker where I talked about the podcast and realized that I had no choice but to launch it.

Mica: Only then did I stop getting so hung up on quote unquote being ready. I learned that you're never ready until you decide to start. Y'all. I've seen it time and time again how folks trapped themselves into the nitty gritty of planning, paralyzed by self-doubt held back by [00:05:00] their own perfectionism to the point where they never launched their big idea.

Mica: Now, if that sounds like you, mm, I'm just saying this might be your calling card, cuz I tell you what. I've seen friends who tell me about this amazing idea, but they get so caught up in the planning stage, they fret over the smallest, teeny, tiniest detail that they nearly talk themselves out of doing it at all.

Mica: But one thing I've learned, is that sometimes you just need to take the leap and adjust your sails along the way. Guests like Frank Curry, Hey o, shout out to Frank. Echoed this lesson in episode seven.

Mica: Go listen to his episode. Listen to the story where he talked about how he booked the client. Telling them that he had a digital camera. This was at the beginning of the, the, the film, the digital Era. He told a client that he had a digital camera. He never ever, ever, ever touched a digital [00:06:00] camera before that point, but he booked that client and on the way to the shoot, he was reading the manual to the new digital camera he bought.

Mica: Y'all talk about taking a leap and adjusting your sails. His advice, start small. Take it one day at a time. And remember that every expert was once a beginner. Remember that? Remember that? Perfection. It's a journey, boo. It's not a destination.

Mica: Y'all already know how I feel about the ugly comparison game. It's toxic. It's the worst kind of self sabotage you could do to yourself.

Mica: Does this sound like you? Boo. You're scrolling through Instagram and a photo stops you in your tracks. You think, damn, that's freaking gorgeous. I love so-and-so photographer. They're killing it right now. You like the [00:07:00] photo, leave a quick comment, and you keep on keeping on. Fast forward to a week later and you're in some weird negative funk.

Mica: You're on the gram and boom, same photographer posts another photo that stops you in your tracks. But this time you say, God, how do they do it? My photos suck. I'll never improve. Why can't I be like so-and-so? They're so talented, they're so bombed. No wonder why I haven't booked a client. I can't compete with that.

Mica: Or, how about this scenario? You're looking at a fellow photographer's stories on the Gram, and you say to yourself, man, how the fuck is this loser booking clients? I am so much better than them. Their photos suck. They're terrible. Ugh. If either of these situations make you feel called out, make you feel attacked, then boo thing, this episode is definitely for you.

Mica: So [00:08:00] clean your ears out and pay attention. I remember an enlightening conversation I had with a fellow food photographer. In the early stages of their career. They found themselves constantly comparing their work to that of their peers. They spent hours just obsessing on Instagram, studying other photographer styles, and then in the end, they just felt inadequate.

Mica: They didn't think they were enough, but over time it was some sage advice from mentors. My friend transformed their perspective for one thing, they turned that comparison trap into a force for good and started viewing other photographer's work not as a threat, but as a source of inspiration, a learning tool.

Mica: They talked about how they studied the photos, discussed possible techniques the photographer used, and then you know what they did? They put the headphones on and focused on themselves and their portfolio. They minded the business that paid them. And y'all, I've heard it over and over [00:09:00] and over again from the guests, that we need to transform the way we see comparison.

Mica: Instead of allowing it to breed negativity and doubt and bad juju vibes, we should use it to stimulate creativity, encourage learning, and reaching out to each other to build a supportive, understanding network. I know, I know, I know, I sound like a woo woo fifth dimension. Age of Aquarius Hippie dippie song.

Mica: But y'all, I do believe it.

Mica: We're in an industry that is dynamic and forever expanding. As Meika from episode five, shout out to Meika Ejiasi. She says, there's room at this table for you, boo. And it's true. There is room. There's room for all styles and all interpretations. My guests have taught me and inspired me to continue to elevate other photographers and celebrate the unique flavors [00:10:00] that each one of us brings to the table.

Mica: My key goal, my main goal here is to build a community that uplifts rather than discourages. Ain't no haterade over here. We are full out of haterade. This place, this spot. We believe here at the Savory Shot, that each success should be celebrated and failures are simply stepping stones towards a shared journey of growth.

Mica: You feel me? You're picking up what I'm putting down. If the answer is yes. Yes, queen. Yes. Then I wanna hear you shout.

Mica: We've had 16 guests on the show so far, and each one of my guests at some point during our [00:11:00] interviews talked about burnout. And how real and how too common it is, especially among photographers. I remember an episode two, celebrated cookbook author and food stylist, Danny Columbatto, spoke candidly about her brush with burnout.

Mica: She reminded us that it's okay to step back, breathe, and get out in the sun for a while. Balance as she puts it, is as crucial in light as it is in a Mexican martini. Heyoo, the jury has spoketh y'all and they're all sending a clear message. Take the time to recharge. It's not an indulgence, it's a necessity.

Mica: I'm gonna repeat that for the person texting in the back. Taking the time to recharge is not an indulgence, it's a necessity. So whether you go for a walk, grab some coffee with your girlfriend, a hobby, or simply curl up with a good [00:12:00] book, remember, give yourself the time to replenish and rejuvenate.

Mica: Otherwise what's the point in doing all of this if you're not gonna stop and smell the roses?

Mica: Y'all, what a smorgasboard of insights I've dished out today from embracing the journey of progress to not getting stuck in the planning stages, to transforming comparison into a force of inspiration. And remember, To recharge and replenish our creative energies. All these things make up for fulfilling a sustainable, creative energy.

Mica: I'm a year in as the host with the most, and man y'all, I've got some ambitious goals for the show. I wanna continue to have these rich conversations and invite more voices to the table. [00:13:00] I wanna interview not only food stylists and photographers. But also producers, more art directors and other behind the scenes heroes who bring these banging shoots to life, like maybe photography assistants.

Mica: That would be such a cool conversation to have. But y'all, the real question is who do you want on the show? What kind of conversations do you wanna listen to? Let me know either in the comments or shoot me an email.

Mica: Now before I wrap this baby up, I want to thank you for tuning in. I'm serious y'all. Without you, the listeners, these conversations would just be farts in the wind.

Mica: So if you found value in this podcast, leave a review and share this episode. With your friends? Your mama, your daddy, fellow food photographers, and really anyone who's a wisdom seeker? On the next episode, y'all. Y'all are in for a treat. [00:14:00] Seriously, y'all. I'm so, so, so, so damn excited about our next guest.

Mica: Next episode. I interviewed Penny de Las Santos. Y'all. She is a food photography hero. She is my food photography hero. If you know me, then you've heard me gush on and on and on about Penny and how amazing she is and how much she's impacted me, influenced me as a food photographer, and she's a Texan, y'all.

Mica: Hello. I'm so excited she's on the show and I can't wait for y'all to hear this banging conversation. So be ready for that. Till next time. Bye y'all.

[00:15:00]