Consider listening and watching on YouTube for full visual experience. https://youtu.be/47xPN0HQXJA 

Texas School director Cris Duncan interviews Miami-based commercial photographer and retoucher Michelle VanTine, a 2026 Saturday Texas School instructor, about her path from fine arts and teaching into full-time photography starting in 2008.

Michelle describes building a wedding business with a distinctive creative style, then rebuilding after moving to South Florida by taking varied jobs, second-shooting, and discovering product photography through an early Creole Essence shoot. She explains how commercial work is highly competitive and success came through incremental credibility rather than a single “big break,” noting that social media attention didn’t directly translate to jobs.

Michelle shares retouching work such as replacing Pacifico beer cans shot in Mexico, and details a Kai Trump energy drink campaign where she used AI-generated elements, compositing, and hand-painted color bounce to create a movie-theater-themed scene that was cut from the budget, then leveraged it for portfolio and marketing.

https://miamimichellephotography.beehiiv.com/p/the-ai-workaround-every-commercial-director-needs-to-see-my-latest-trump-shoot?utm_source=miamimichellephotography.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=the-ai-workaround-every-commercial-director-needs-to-see-my-latest-trump-shoot&_bhlid=236541b44c7ace2a9af86899e7ff69c074e8e603

Michelle VanTine is a commercial photographer specializing in consumer-packaged goods (CPG) and sports. She also works as a professional retoucher for national advertising campaigns including brands such as Coors Light, Miller High Life, and Pacifico. Her commercial client roster includes products found on shelves at ULTA Beauty, Sephora, Target, and Whole Foods Market. She works across sports and product photography and has photographed multiple Olympic and professional athletes. She served as Senior Staff Writer for Fstoppers, where she covered gear reviews and creative processes.

Texas School is the country's largest hands-on education event. ! With 30+ world-class classes, hands-on learning, and the best gear deals of the year, you’ll sharpen your craft in lighting, posing, business, and more. Stay sharp. Stay inspired. Stay ahead—join us at the 2026 Texas School of Professional Photography for a week of growth, connection, and unforgettable fun! Texas School 2027 is April 25-30, 2027 Learn more at Texasschool.org #learnphotography #txschool #dfwphotography #photographyeducation #texasschool #kaitrump

00:00 Meet Michelle Van Tine 01:20 From Painting to Film 03:40 Wedding Hustle Years 07:14 Breaking Into Commercial 11:26 No Big Break Myth 13:02 Kai Trump Campaign 16:48 AI Movie Theater Composite 20:47 Practice to Stay Sharp 26:16 Portfolio and Marketing Play 31:18 Where to Follow Michelle 32:05 Wrap Up and Texas School

With 30+ world-class classes, hands-on learning, and the best gear deals of the year, you’ll sharpen your craft in lighting, posing, business, and more. Stay sharp. Stay inspired. Stay ahead—join us at Texas School of Professional Photography for a week of growth, connection, and unforgettable fun! Learn more at Texasschool.org #learnphotography #txschool #dfwphotography #photographyeducation #texasschool

Allison emphasizes the value of hands-on learning, strategic instructor selection, and the hustle required to replace corporate income—plus tips for photographers at different stages of growth. Learn where to find her work and how Texas School helped shape her career.

Allison Russell is a full time photographer and understands the challenges of running a successful studio. She has operated her boutique studio in rural South Dakota for 15 years, as the sole income provider for herself and her three children. She is passionate about having a financially sustainable business and helping other photographers to experience the same success. Her accomplishments include degrees (Certified Professional Photographer, Master Photographer, Craftsman Photographer), awards (Gold, Silver, & Bronze Photographer through IPC), and her images have been selected for the Loan Collection images in International Print Competition. She specializes in family and children photography, rounding out her business with commercial, senior, and sports portraits. Learn more about Texas School at texasschool.org

Angela shares PPA initiatives like Photo Vision and Imaging USA, stresses collaboration and valuing your time, and offers encouragement for photographers navigating disruption while preserving authenticity and connection.

As the first female CEO of Professional Photographers of America (PPA), Angela Kurkian leads the organization with a strong “members first” philosophy, guiding its strategy, growth, and operations. Founded more than 158 years ago, PPA exists to support the photography profession and empower photographers to thrive as both artists and entrepreneurs. Angela joined PPA in 2012 as Director of Education after successfully operating a wedding and portrait photography studio in Cincinnati for 25 years. A passionate educator and industry advocate, she has spent more than two decades teaching and mentoring photographers across the country. One of her most impactful contributions at PPA has been the development and expansion of the organization’s photography and business education platform, now known as PhotoVision on PPA.com. Angela is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) and holds both the Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees from Professional Photographers of America. Under her leadership, she remains committed to helping photographers build sustainable businesses, strengthen their creative skills, and elevate the value of professional photography.

Texas School is the country's largest hands-on education event. ! With 30+ world-class classes, hands-on learning, and the best gear deals of the year, you’ll sharpen your craft in lighting, posing, business, and more. Stay sharp. Stay inspired. Stay ahead—join us at the 2027 Texas School of Professional Photography for a week of growth, connection, and unforgettable fun! Texas School 2027 is April 25-30 Learn more at Texasschool.org #learnphotography #txschool #dfwphotography #photographyeducation #texasschool

One day Corey McDonald was mowing his lawn and began crafting a story full of complex characters, a storyline of good and evil, of kings and kingdoms and of conflict and resolution. That day, all he had was a vision in his mind's eye. Fast forward a few years, with photographic skills, wizardry in Photoshop and some help with Ai tools, Corey has been able to bring these characters to life and in this conversation, he shares the process and the story of his characters with you.

Photographer and artist Corey McDonald discusses his award-winning career, his specialty in seniors and wildlife, and a lifelong fantasy world he began writing in 2010. He explains how he uses AI to generate character faces, then combines photography, Photoshop and digital painting to bring those characters and scenes to life.

Corey McDonald is a Master Photographer, Master Artist, Photographic Craftsman, Certified Professional Photographer, and Accredited Professional of Animal Imagery, dividing time between Alabama and Dallas, Texas. Corey is also a 2026 Best of Nation recipient and a medalist in World Photographic Cup. https://www.macwildlifeart.com

https://www.coreymcdonaldphotography.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/macstudioteaching

Texas School is the country's largest hands-on education event. ! With 30+ world-class classes, hands-on learning, and the best gear deals of the year, you’ll sharpen your craft in lighting, posing, business, and more. Stay sharp. Stay inspired. Stay ahead—join us at the 2027 Texas School of Professional Photography for a week of growth, connection, and unforgettable fun! Texas School 2027 April 25-30, 2027 with an optional Saturday Class on April 24th. Learn more at Texasschool.org #learnphotography #txschool #dfwphotography #photographyeducation #texasschool #descript