In this episode of the Talk Design podcast, host Adrian sits down with Greg, a highly sought-after commercial photographer with over 36 years of experience. A fellow Kiwi now living on the Sunshine Coast, Greg brings a wealth of technical knowledge, a fantastic sense of humor, and a uniquely grounded perspective on the creative industry.
Greg shares his origin story, from growing up in New Zealand with a fine artist father and a speech-and-drama teacher mother, to getting his first big break as a photography assistant (which included a memorable incident of falling asleep in the darkroom after a big rugby night out). They discuss the massive shift from the unforgiving days of film to the limitless possibilities of digital photography and post-production.
The conversation takes a deep dive into the world of architectural and real estate photography. Greg explains how he finds the "hero shot" of a property, why he still looks through the viewfinder rather than the digital screen to stay immersed in the environment, and the challenges of shooting million-dollar homes (hint: architects, please include a ladder cupboard in your designs!).
Adrian and Greg also trade their best "hacks" for the creative process. They discuss the power of taking 12-minute power naps, using essential oils like peppermint to spark afternoon energy, drawing inspiration from clear quartz crystals, and Adrian’s genius trick for making nervous portrait subjects instantly relax.
