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
Wedding Photojournalism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:38
I have been sitting here trying to write this post about my guest and can’t figure out where to start. Do I start with the fact he’s America’s Most Celebrated Wedding Photographer? Or maybe I start with the many TV appea…
Making Better Portraits by Having Fun [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:47
When it comes to photography podcasts, The Candid Frame is one of the best there is. It is constantly on a a list somewhere, like the new list from PHLEARN of “The Best Podcasts for Photographers“. The reason for that, o…
Creative Photoshop Composites [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:54
Photoshop guru Aaron Nace was born on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, which in and of itself is a reason to get to know him. Kauai is one of my favorite places, and in fact I was there just about two months before writing…
Photoshop World Recap [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:19
Back in August the Photoshop World Conference hit Las Vegas again for a week of fun, games, workshops and classes. I am really glad I went this year. For the last few years Photoshop World had called Mandalay Bay home, a…
Wildlife Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:27
My first introduction to Juan Pons was on The Digital Photo Experience podcast, with Rick Sammon. I listened to that show regularly, partly because I could hear the passion for the craft that both hosts had. Fast forward…
The Power of Personal Photo Projects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:14
I first heard about Andy Day back in April of 2019. Periodically I am a guest on my friend Don Komarechka’s Photo Geek Weekly podcast, and we covered a story Andy had written for Fstoppers – and let me say, please check…
Printers, Paper & the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Let me warn you, this is a printer review, but a lot more than that. I intended this show to be about 30-45 minutes, but yeah, didn’t work out that way. Even after finishing the sessions I did, I tried to edit it down, b…
Getting Your Photos Up To Speed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:29
Saying that David Dewhurst has been at photography for most of his life is an understatement. By the age of 15 he was he was already a working pro, getting to paid by national magazines to shoot what he loved – motorcycl…
Telling a Visual Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:04
This is our third of a continuing series in conjunction with Red River Paper. Red River Paper’s Education program helps photography students by providing high quality photo papers to photography education programs around…
Documenting Burning Man [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:47
This show is the start of a contest to win a 6 week online course, from Trey Ratcliff and Lauren Bath, on “How to Build Influence”, the ultimate e-course for future influencers. See the rules here or in the links below.…