Most people think owning a phone camera and hammering the shutter makes them a “photographer”, but veteran shooter and novelist Kirk Voclain says that’s like trusting a broken clock just because it’s right twice a day. In this episode, Kirk breaks down the real mindset shift from casual snapper to intentional photographer: seeing everything in the frame (including the ugly building behind the nice backyard), spotting flaws most people never notice, and deliberately using focus, contrast, and composition to control exactly where the viewer’s eye goes.​Kirk shares how today’s world of 5+ billion selfies a day means average photos get scrolled past in milliseconds, and why studying basics like crop, color harmony, and editing will instantly put you ahead of 99% of “point‑and‑shoot” creators. He explains how stock photography became his toughest teacher, rejection after rejection forcing him to level up his technical and artistic game, and how that discipline translates into better work on social media, for clients, and in real‑world assignments.​You’ll also hear the wild real‑life airport story that sparked his debut spy thriller Double Exposure, about an agent whose cover is a photographer, and the “dare” from a friend that turned into his clean romance novel Boots and Stilettos. Kirk talks about how decades behind the lens helped him write fiction that feels like a movie in your head, and he closes with hard‑won advice on how to choose a wedding or event photographer so you don’t trust your once‑in‑a‑lifetime memories to someone who just bought a camera yesterday.​Key Topics- How a photographer’s eye differs from how most people see (noticing everything in the frame)- Looking for “flaws” (background distractions, facial features, angles) and then fixing them- Directing viewer attention using focus, contrast, composition, and color harmony​- Why social media makes it harder to stand out (billions of selfies, endless scrolling) and why strong fundamentals matter​- Using stock photography rejections as a learning tool to improve technical and artistic quality​- How decades of shooting informed Kirk’s fiction writing in Double Exposure and Boots and Stilettos​- What to look for when hiring a photographer for important events (experience, portfolio, client feedback, professionalism)Guest:Kirk Voclain – South Louisiana photographer turned novelist; author of the spy thriller Double Exposure and the clean romance Boots and Stilettos; known for turning real studio and client lessons into simple, practical steps photographers can use right away.​If you’re serious about going beyond random “lucky shots,” watch the full episode, then check out kirkvoclain.com for his books, kvphoto.com for his photography, and his education platforms where he teaches photographers how to see, shoot, and edit like a pro.The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. The host is not responsible for any statements made by the guest.