Next Level Digital Artistry

Next Level Digital Artistry

Author: Steve Brazill August 30, 2018 Duration: 30:39

When Frederick Van Johnson first introduced me to the work of Gilmar Smith I knew I had to chat with her. Gilmar (pronounced Hil-marrr) is a photographer and Photoshop artist specializing in creative portraiture. While she does create her art with various subjects, the photo in the gallery below of the man walking the phones is of my recent guest Kirk Marsh, she often includes much more familiar subjects in her work – herself and her children.

Her style is colorful, energetic and humorous, and when she’s not photographing or editing, you can find her writing content for various websites and magazines.

Once I started researching her it became very clear, very quickly, Gilmar is a creative person with an amazing attitude. Her guest blog post for Scott Kelby, from back in 2014, really shows it best. I love this quote, so true:

“Working in a positive creative environment is extremely important to me.  I’ve been contacted several times to collaborate with different kind of artists and when I see their posts on social media I just get completely turned off by erratic behavior. It doesn’t matter how good somebody’s work is, a bad attitude can easily screw up a deal.”

Her more recent appearance on Scott’s blog is an amazing story about her journey through finding herself and her wrist inside. A story about being nice, and finding your tribe. I am excited for this show.

Join digital artist Gilmar Smith and me as we take a deep dive into her image Master Chef Kids, an image of her kids cooking with fire, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Connect with Gilmar

Portfolio: gilmarphotography.com
Facebook: @gilmarsmithphotography
Instagram: @gilmarsmith
Twitter: @gilmarmsmith

Gilmar Online

Scott Kelby’s Guest Blog (2014)
Scott Kelby’s Guest Blog (2018)
DYI Photography Interview
TWiP Interview – Personal Growth with Photography
TWiP Show – Clowning Around with Photoshop

Photoshop Tools Mentioned in the Show

Infinite Color Panel


Steve Brazill hosts Behind the Shot-Video, a series that goes far beyond gear lists and camera settings. Each conversation is a deep exploration of the creative and technical journey behind compelling images. You’ll hear working photographers unpack the entire process-from the initial spark of an idea and the challenges of the location to the critical decisions made in post-production. This podcast sits at the unique intersection of art and practical technology, offering tangible lessons for anyone looking to improve their visual storytelling. Rather than abstract theory, these discussions provide a real-world look at problem-solving under pressure and the artistic choices that define a signature style. Tune in for honest, detailed breakdowns that reveal how memorable shots are truly built, layer by layer. It’s an essential resource for visual artists seeking both inspiration and actionable knowledge, all grounded in the lived experience of accomplished creators.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 200

Behind the Shot - Video
Podcast Episodes
Canon EOS R5 & R6, and RF Lenses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Canon recently announced the EOS R5 and R6, along with a number of lenses, and I knew right then I needed to get someone from Canon on the show to chat about all of the great new gear.The EOS R5 and R6 announcements were…
Photographing Wildlife with the Canon EOS R6 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
On the day I am writing this post Canon announced the new R5 and R6 mirrorless cameras, along with various lenses. Knowing that announcements were coming, but that no one could talk about it in detail until after the ann…
Photographing Unique Angles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:46
2018 San Francisco 49ers Season:Los Angeles Chargers vs San Francisco 49ersThursday, August 30Santa Clara, CA(49ers Photo) I have been following Terrell Lloyd on Instagram for as long as I can remember, and when I got th…
The Color of Street Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:15
Periodically I will receive an email telling me that “Someone filled out your contact form”, and that’s where today’s episode starts. Let me explain… You may have seen the episode I did with Erin Holmstead titled “Light…
Commercial Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:56
Lindsay Adler is one of the best educators you will ever see. Stop and read that again…. I met Lindsay when I interviewed her for my WPPI 2020 episode, and I was simply blown away by her passion and energy. Watching her…
Photograph in the Wild [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:41
Bob & Dawn Davis are an international wedding photography and design husband and wife team based in the Chicagoland area. I first met them this past February when they were kind enough to join me for an interview at WPPI…
Capture the Action [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:03
Photographing the Olympics has got to be the pinnacle of a sports photographer’s career, and for Jeff Cable it’s one he’s reached many times, having photographed the last 6 Olympics for Team USA. I am always amazed by ho…
Light Up Your Images [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:34
At WPPI this year I met a lot of great photographers, and one of those was Erin Holmstead. Skip Cohen had invited both of us to a party, and I was immediately I awe of Erin’s skill. Her photography is so clean, and impac…
Metamorphosis – Mixed Media [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:22
I have never had a photographer like Colin Finlay on this show. I have read his bio so many times today, and yet I am having trouble writing this post because describing him is not easy. Colin Finlay is one of the foremo…
Artistic Wedding Images [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:55
Roberto Valenzuela is one of the most sought after wedding photographers in the industry. An artist in every sense of the word, Roberto is in that rare group of photographers know as Canon Explorer’s of Light, along with…