Using An iPhone As Your Vacation Camera

Using An iPhone As Your Vacation Camera

Author: Steve Brazill December 15, 2022 Duration: 55:58

Jefferson Graham is a Manhattan Beach, California based writer-photographer, educator, and the host/producer of the travel photography series “Photowalks with Jefferson Graham”, which streams on YouTube, Tubi and the Roku Network.

I first met Jefferson the same day I met Frederick Van Johnson. I drove out to watch him record his Talking Tech podcast, a show he did for USA TODAY when he was one of their tech columnists.  His guests that day were Frederick and tech journalist Mark Gurman. Right away it was obvious that there was much more to Jefferson than just being a tech journalist and podcaster. His photography knowledge was front and center. Fast forward a good number of years and Jefferson is busier than ever.

His popular PhotowalksTV newsletter marries tech/photo and travel in weekly installments. As an educator, he is an instructor and frequent speaker for the KelbyOne website (I have a discount code for a KelbyOne subscription on the Discount Codes Page).

Jefferson has authored of nine books, including the recent Video Nation, a DIY Guide to Planning, Shooting and Sharing great Video, as well as tomes on infomercial king Ron Popeil, the late TV legend Aaron Spelling and a history of Sin City, Vegas: Live and In Person. He has written and/or photographed for a host of publications, including Rolling Stone, People, Us Weekly, the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, Easy Reader, Esquire and TV Guide.

A working photographer, a writer, a podcast host, a video creator, and a darn good guitarist – and that is just the start of knowing my friend Jefferson Graham. On PhotowalksTV he takes viewers to wonderful places, from Southern California to great locations like Dana Point Morro Bay, Cannon Beach, Oregon, Port Townsend, Washington, Madrid, Lisbon, Paris and even all the way to Tokyo. I even had the pleasure of hosting Jefferson for one of his Photowalks series in my home town in Southern CA a few years ago, and it was a blast. I was born and raised here, and yet I learned so much by doing the walk with him.

Recently I saw a post Jefferson did, where he talked about using nothing but an iPhone, a few of them actually, for his photowalk in Paris. That connected with me, because years ago I decided that I didn’t want to be “that dad” on family vacations that made everyone stop while I took photos. Starting way back with the iPhone 6, all I have taken on trips is my phone. Have there been times I wished I had a “Real Cameras”? Sure, but overall the experience has been great. I decided to invite Jefferson on to talk about the pros and cons of mobile photography, often called iPhoneography, even though you could use any phone.

Join all around creative Jefferson Graham and me as we chat about using nothing but a phone as your camera while traveling, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Connect with Jefferson

Website: jeffersongraham.net
Newsletter: jeffersongraham.substack.com
YouTube: @photowalkstv
Twitter: @jeffersongraham
Instagram: @jeffersongraham
Facebook: @jefferson.graham

Jefferson’s Podcast

iPhone Photo Show: Spotify

PhotowalksTV Paris Episode

Photowalks in Paris: YouTube

PhotowalksTV Episode with Steve

Riverside California things to do (2020): YouTube

Jefferson’s Photographer Picks

Russell Preston Brown: @dr_brown
Christopher Michel: christophermichel.com | @chris_michel

Jefferson’s Fireworks Video Shown in the Show


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
Better B&W Portraits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:52
In the time I have been doing photography there have been a few names I seem to have always been aware of, and one of those is Ron Clifford. When I receive an email from our mutual friend Rick Sammon introducing us, and…
Uncommon Grit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:12
For each episode of Behind the Shot I write a post with some information about my guest. I usually use a combination of the guest’s bio, along with pieces of info I gather through research, to try and give a bit of insig…
Capturing the Moment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
When I book a guest for Behind the Shot I usually have an idea on how I will describe them, but sometimes that is a bit more difficult. Let’s take today’s guest, Atiba Jefferson, for example. Atiba is perhaps best known…
Self Portrait Artistry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:54
One of the most enjoyable aspects of doing the Behind the Shot podcast is the wonderful artists I get to meet. All are photographers that I truly admire, and that I am inspired by. Hand-in-hand with that is the way that…
Toy Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:28
I had not heard of Mitchel Wu until my friends at Platypod mentioned him to me, and that surprised me. I don’t want that to happen to you, so I am introducing you to some of the most playful work you’ll ever see. His wor…
Advanced Lighting Techniques [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:37
I have known of Joel Grimes for as long as I have been involved with photography. Joel is one of those artists that can be described as a “master of their craft”, and that skill has earned him the rare designation as a C…
Photographing the Milky Way [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:36
I have met more photographers through Twitter than any other platform, and Jeff Harmon is one of those photographers. The wonderful part about Twitter to me is that I can reach out to people I might have never met before…
Pet Photos that Make a Splash [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:10
www.samhaddixphotography.comwww.facebook.com/samhaddixphotography I will never forget the night I met Boston based pet photographer Kaylee Greer. It was at Photoshop World 2019 in Las Vegas, and the first night they had…
Lighting the Scottish Landscape [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:15
Sharing your work online has never been easier, but so many sites take your beautiful images and compress them beyond recognition (I’m looking at you Facebook and Instagram). When Don Komarechka and I were looking at pla…
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…