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
Sculpting with Light [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:19
When describing Blair Bunting’s photography there are few way to approach it. First of all there is the website bio version, which starts: “Blair Bunting is an advertising photographer based in Phoenix, Arizona specializ…
Light Painting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:03
Let’s start here… Cliff Mautner’s career in photography spans 38 years. Think about that for a minute… 38 years ago Nikon released the world’s first SLR with Matrix Metering, the Nikon FA, and the world’s first camera wi…
Photographing an Album Cover [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:15
I have writer’s block because of my guest. In fact, describing William Snyder is so difficult that I’ve been waiting to write this for two days. I’m ready to give it a shot now, but let me say up front that there is litt…
Aviation Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:18
It’s the return of Moose Peterson! The first time Moose Peterson was on the show I was pretty nervous. Usually I am trying to calm guests that are nervous about being on a show, but this was different. Moose is a legend…
Beverage Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:35
Everybody loves a good meal, and it seems like everybody is posting photos of their food, but when food photography is done right you can seemingly taste it. That’s where Freddy Clark comes in, and when he gets his hands…
Photographic Timing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:45
Damian Strohmeyer is a Boston based photographer that’s just as comfortable photographing a Super Bowl, as he is shooting a portrait. His body of work spans from fast action sports, like The World Series, The World Cup,…
Perspective [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:06
St. Louis wedding photographer Sal Cincotta, and his award winning studio, take photography to a level few will ever achieve. Traveling the world to document their client’s most cherished moments, Sal and his team push t…
Extreme Photojournalism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:07
One of the best parts of doing this podcast is the never ending inspiration I see from amazing photographic talents. Sometimes, the guests I get on the show are photographers I stumble upon while browsing the web, someti…
Long Exposures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:43
If you’re here then I will assume you are, at a minimum, a fan of good photography. Perhaps it interests you as a craft, or an art, or more likely you are a photographer that wants to improve their skill set. That means…
Timeless Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:56
I have been trying to count the number of guests I’ve had on this show that mentioned Scott Kelby, and each time I lose count. Seemingly everyone I know, and most of those I don’t know, have learned something from Scott.…