In Episode 30 Joe welcomes internationally renowned photographer, teacher, speaker and judge Tony Hewitt. With multiple fellowships and countless awards including International Photographer of the Year titles, Tony is highly respected in the industry and regularly sought out for mentoring and coaching.

An experienced wedding, portrait, commercial and fine art photographer, Tony knows the photographer's life inside out. He likes to bring fresh perspective through his work and does so quite literally in his stunning abstract aerial photography. Listen to discover how a life-altering hot air balloon trip sparked a passion that has since led to hundreds of hours of flight capturing the world from breath-taking altitudes, including a trip around the entire coast of Australia.

Tony is driven to present his view of the world, seeing photography very much as a means of communication. While good preparation is vital, especially when working in extreme environments, behind all of that is our mental readiness. Do we have something to say and can we find our unique voice? Tony is convinced that whatever the genre, photographers can and should use their own perspectives to communicate with the viewer, whether we choose to use the "rules" or break them.

All images © Tony Hewitt - all rights reserved. Images used here with permission.

Find out what advice Tony would give anyone starting out as a professional now. Hear his take on composition, the role of passion and how images can tap into the full range of human emotions. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a true master of the art.

Visit Tony's website to see more of his work and to discover ways you can work with him. You can follow Tony on Instagram or also find him on Facebook.

Welcome to Episode 29 of the Focused Professional Podcast. In this episode, Joe chats with Dario Righetto, a highly respected figure in the international photography community known for his expertise in printing and as a judge. Dario sketches out for us his journey into the photography industry and his passion for supporting artists. Growing up in Venice, inspired by the stunning architecture, art and Italian countryside, art has been in his blood from a young age. He still continues his childhood love for painting and is known as a skilled illustrator.

In fine art printing, Dario finds a home for his blend of artistic and scientific interests, harnessing developing technology to create exquisite prints for some of the world's best photographers. He is trusted for competition prints and qualification panels by those at the top of their game. Dario loves to help people get into printing their work and he quickly debunks myths around the complexity of the process and emphasizes the value it adds to the craft, both artistically and professionally.

Along with his wife Sarah Edmunds, Dario created the Judging Room to extend the benefits of attending print judging to more photographers at various international events. This is a great educational resource and also fun for the judges involved who benefit from one another's diverse perspectives and skillsets. We touch on the benefits of combining different cultures and the global need for a wide range of voices. Art is never finished - it needs all of our contributions.

Images courtesy of Dario Righetto - used with permission.

You can follow Dario on Instagram or join the Love Edits Facebook group

Please visit the Love Edits website for more information on the Judging Room, Dario's print services and to learn key editing skills

Welcome to episode 28 of the Focused Professional Podcast. In this interview, Joe chats with Elinchrom Global Ambassador and Nikon Creator Therese Asplund. The acclaimed Swedish photographer has won many international titles and awards and is a Master Qualified European Photographer. Her prints consistently score highly in competitions, wowing the judges, and she has even managed an incredible perfect 100 at the prestigious Societies of Photographers print competition.

In this exclusive interview, Therese shares her passion for lighting and the art of mastering shadows to sculpt beautiful portraits. Her creativity finds inspiration in the hardware store, swimming pool and wherever else she may go, using her imagination to re-purpose a potential prop or location. She might not easily settle into one approach or genre, but nevertheless, her eclectic approach still results in images that are recognisably her handiwork.

Therese loves a challenge and isn't one for sitting back and taking things easy. She adapts her business to enable her to continue to be profitable despite economic downturns making it hard to raise prices, embracing new technology where it can help her as an artist and professional. At the same time, her motivation and enjoyment for her art remains the same as when it started - the joy of bringing happiness to others happy with her images.

All images © Therese Asplund - used here with permission

See Therese's website for more of her work and follow her on Instagram to keep up with the latest images and behind the scenes footage.