The Dead Pixels Society podcast

Gary Pageau

News, information and interviews about the photo/imaging business. This is a weekly audio podcast hosted by Gary Pageau, editor of the Dead Pixels Society news site and community. This podcast is for a business-to-business audience of entrepreneurs and companies in the photo/imaging retail, online, wholesale, mobile, and camera hardware/accessory industries.If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email host Gary Pageau at gary@thedeadpixelssociety.com. For more information and to sign up for the free weekly newsletter, visit www.thedeadpixelssociety.com.

  1. How Dale Farkas Built a Photo Lab that Endured for 50 Years

    MAR 14

    How Dale Farkas Built a Photo Lab that Endured for 50 Years

    Have an idea or tip? Send us a text! A photo lab is a lot more than chemistry, scanners, and printers. It’s a discipline. In this episode of the Dead Pixels Society podcast, we are joined by Dale Farkas of Dale Laboratories in Hollywood, Florida. He lays out the principle that quietly separates labs that last from labs that fade: the difference between quality and quality control. Great prints are not an accident, and consistency is not a “nice to have” when your customers are trusting you with once-in-a-lifetime images. Farkas traces his path from RIT and motion-picture lab work to a true garage-style start, then into rapid growth when he spots a market vacuum and commits to serving it. Along the way, he explains how labs shifted from optical printing to digital printing, why technician judgment still matters for color correction, and what it takes to run a modern workflow that stays predictable under load. If you care about film processing, mail-in film developing, professional photo prints, and the real-world mechanics behind lab reliability, this conversation is packed with practical insight. Th The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It. Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Make your podcast work for your business - Listen to Podcasting AmplifiedPractical strategies to turn your podcast into a business growth engine.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify MediaclipMediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEIndependent Photo ImagersIPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.Photo Imaging CONNECTThe Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 2027, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, NDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp. Contact us at gary@thedeadpixelssociety.com Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group, The Dead Pixels Society. Leave a review on Apple and Podchaser. Are you interested in being a guest? Click here for details. Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau Announcer: Erin Manning

    39 min
  2. Inside Evoto: Speed, Trust, And Authenticity In Photo Editing

    FEB 27

    Inside Evoto: Speed, Trust, And Authenticity In Photo Editing

    Have an idea or tip? Send us a text! Ever wish your edits moved fast? We sat down with Jay Peterson of Evoto to unpack how AI can make portrait workflows radically quicker without removing the realism that clients recognize and trust. Peterson explains Evoto’s slider-first, standalone desktop editor and how its proprietary algorithms target the work that slows pros down—frequency separation, dodging and burning, glasses glare, and flyaway hair—while keeping processing local for privacy and consistency. We also discuss Evoto’s short-lived AI headshot generator function. Peterson shares what happened, why the positioning landed poorly with working photographers, and the decision to kill it. The takeaway is bigger than one feature—if you serve pros, you build for pros, and your messaging must respect the craft. Authenticity isn’t a buzzword here; it’s the backbone of trust, referrals, and long-term client relationships. That means edits that look like people, not plastic, and tools that make deadlines easier without erasing intent. From there, we dive into the issues everyone’s arguing about: training data, school photo privacy, and the anxiety that “AI will replace me.” Peterson details Evoto’s no-touch stance—local processing, no cloud file access, and opt-in, paid datasets—plus why plain-English communication beats policy-speak when parents and clients ask tough questions. The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It. Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   MediaclipMediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEIndependent Photo ImagersIPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.Photo Imaging CONNECTThe Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 2027, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, NDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp. Contact us at gary@thedeadpixelssociety.com Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group,  The Dead Pixels Society. Leave a review on Apple and Podchaser. Are you interested in being a guest? Click here for details. Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau Announcer: Erin Manning

    33 min
  3. PIC Preview: LEAN Principles Turn A Magic Act Into A Global Breakthrough

    FEB 14

    PIC Preview: LEAN Principles Turn A Magic Act Into A Global Breakthrough

    Have an idea or tip? Send us a text! In the preview of his Photo Imaging CONNECT keynote, Stuart MacDonald — magician, filmmaker, entrepreneur — explores how LEAN principles, continuous improvement, and ruthless clarity transformed a faceplant into standing ovations, a win on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and a top-10 finish at the world championships. MacDonald takes us through the nerve-wracking world of competitive magic, where originality is mandatory, time limits are tight, and the smallest defect can collapse the illusion. He breaks down how continuous feedback revealed hidden waste on stage, why a candelabra beat a single candle for instant story logic, and how standardized, travel-ready props removed friction from his global tour. We dig into 5S for creatives—everything in its place, every time—and the unglamorous decisions that protect attention when the lights hit. MacDonald’s 100-runs-in-30-days practice loop shows how tiny upgrades compound into confidence and clean execution, even when things go sideways. If you’ve ever felt torn between art and process, this conversation proves structure is rocket fuel for creativity. Register today for the Photo Imaging CONNECT conference at www.photoimagingconnect.com The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It. Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   MediaclipMediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.Independent Photo ImagersIPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEPhoto Imaging CONNECTThe Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 2027, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, NDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp. Contact us at gary@thedeadpixelssociety.com Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group,  The Dead Pixels Society. Leave a review on Apple and Podchaser. Are you interested in being a guest? Click here for details. Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau Announcer: Erin Manning

    37 min
  4. Inside Dscoop: Trust, Growth, And Smart Print, with Peter Van Teeseling and Chris Hyde

    FEB 6

    Inside Dscoop: Trust, Growth, And Smart Print, with Peter Van Teeseling and Chris Hyde

    Have an idea or tip? Send us a text! If you think great industry breakthroughs happen on a show floor, think again. We sat down with Dscoop’s Peter Van Teeseling and Chris Hyde to unpack how a trust-first, member-led community is helping HP print businesses grow faster through intentional connections, candid playbook sharing, and events designed for action, not spectacle. We trace Dscoop’s 20-year arc from a “crazy idea” to a global network of 23,000+ users across 100+ countries, then dive into what makes Dscoop Edge Rockies different from a typical trade show. Instead of hard sales, the Solution Showcase pairs running presses and software with consultative partners who focus on solving real production and marketing problems. The education slate is driven by member demand and what’s coming next: AI-driven workflows, automation, data-powered personalization, smarter pricing, and team culture. You’ll hear why hallways matter—and how DScoop now engineers that serendipity with the Explorer Circle, small-group “fire starter” sessions led by seasoned operators who guide first-timers and veterans toward the right people, faster. We also look ahead to Edge Rockies and the return to Europe with Edge Slovenia in Ljubljana. Expect the same high-density networking, equipment on the floor, and region-aware sessions—plus a compact, walkable city that keeps the community in constant conversation. Along the way, we take on the tired “print is dead” narrative and explain why dumb print is fading while smart print surges. Think variable data with premium finishing, on-demand manufacturing, e-commerce integration, and sustainabilit The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It. Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   MediaclipMediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEIndependent Photo ImagersIPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.Photo Imaging CONNECTThe Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 2027, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, NDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp. Contact us at gary@thedeadpixelssociety.com Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group,  The Dead Pixels Society. Leave a review on Apple and Podchaser. Are you interested in being a guest? Click here for details. Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau Announcer: Erin Manning

    28 min
  5. When Nostalgia Meets AI: The Future Of Photo Commerce with Mediaclip

    JAN 28

    When Nostalgia Meets AI: The Future Of Photo Commerce with Mediaclip

    Have an idea or tip? Send us a text! What if the best product designer is the one you barely notice? We sit down with Mediaclip CEO Marion Duchesne to explore how photo and product personalization is moving from heavy, time-consuming builders to fast, elegant flows that deliver a finished result in a single action. From early DVD slideshows to Flash and now a cloud-native, API-first platform, her team’s throughline is simple: clean UX, strong templates, and conversion-first design that helps people actually buy what they create. Duchesne explains why Mediaclip refused to build a shopping cart and instead integrated deeply with Shopify and WooCommerce. That focus unlocked speed for retailers and micro-merchants as social and email now drop shoppers straight into the builder. We dig into AI without the hype: Connectors that let brands choose where intelligence adds real value—autofill that reduces friction, layout suggestions that feel human, and cross-sell that shows your design on apparel, wall art, or gifts without extra effort. The conversation also tackles a surprising growth driver: insecurity fueling nostalgia. When life gets uncertain, people reach for physical keepsakes, and that emotional pull is driving double-digit growth across long-tail catalogs. Duchesne discusses generative AI’s place in print. Younger buyers may embrace stylized or aspirational images, while keepsake buyers still value authenticity. Home decor emerges as a clear use case—custom art tuned to your space and palette. Under the hood, compliance and trust are nonnegotiable, with GDPR, WCAG, the European Ac The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It. Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   MediaclipMediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEPhoto Imaging CONNECTThe Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 2027, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, NIndependent Photo ImagersIPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp. Contact us at gary@thedeadpixelssociety.com Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group,  The Dead Pixels Society. Leave a review on Apple and Podchaser. Are you interested in being a guest? Click here for details. Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau Announcer: Erin Manning

    33 min
  6. From Film To Volume: How Alkit Lab Reinvented Itself

    JAN 21

    From Film To Volume: How Alkit Lab Reinvented Itself

    Have an idea or tip? Send us a text! What does it take for a family photo lab to thrive across three generations and multiple technology upheavals? We sit down with David Buchbinder of Alkit to trace an unvarnished journey from New York City retail counters to a lean, volume-first lab that ships in three days. Buchbinder walks us through the hard calls: expanding into Kodak-branded stores, then cutting overhead and rebuilding around photo printing workflow Prints are steady, but specialty items—buttons, magnets, acrylic blocks, framed and mounted prints, canvas wraps—drive bigger carts when studios use modern platforms to reach parents by text and email. Buchbinder explains why Alkit refused to build proprietary software and instead partnered with GotPhoto, PhotoDay, and Captura, keeping focus on color, quality, and fulfillment while ensuring one-stop support. That choice unlocked direct-to-home ordering, faster cycles, and less friction for photographers juggling schools, sports, dance, cheer, and preschool. Buchbinder also shares a pragmatic take on technology. The lab remains a silver-halide shop on Noritsu lines for quality and throughput, yet stands ready to pivot when the time is right. Meanwhile, the promise stays the same: everything produced in-house in Long Island and shipped within three days, even in peak season. The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It. Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   MediaclipMediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEIndependent Photo ImagersIPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.Photo Imaging CONNECTThe Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 2027, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, NDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp. Contact us at gary@thedeadpixelssociety.com Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group,  The Dead Pixels Society. Leave a review on Apple and Podchaser. Are you interested in being a guest? Click here for details. Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau Announcer: Erin Manning

    29 min
  7. Richmond Pro Lab Shares the Journey From Film To Fast, High-Quality Digital

    JAN 14

    Richmond Pro Lab Shares the Journey From Film To Fast, High-Quality Digital

    Have an idea or tip? Send us a text! A 1938 basement lab that processed black-and-white alongside amateur rolls now runs a high-speed digital operation that can ship school orders in about two days. The Dead Pixels Society sits down with Richmond Professional Lab’s Ted Bullard and Josh Lewis to map the decisions that made digital not just viable, but superior, for volume photographers who demand both quality and speed. Bullard recounts how Kodak’s consent decree opened the processing market and how Richmond leaned into professional work, long-roll film, and eventually early digital printers. Then Lewis pulls back the curtain on the operational engine: why fewer, faster machines beat a fleet of minis, how custom software gangs tens of thousands of orders, and why posting live turnaround times builds trust during peak seasons. They share into the Canon DreamLabo journey, HP ink and laminate advances, and the color fidelity and longevity that finally matched—then surpassed—silver halide expectations. The volume landscape is shifting fast, with independents stepping in where a major player receded. That opens space for smarter products and sharper margins: yard signs, big head cutouts, layered graphics, and ship-to-home convenience that schools and parents now prefer. We talk data as a service—analyzing order content, sheet counts, and trends to raise average order value and cut waste—and why keeping photographers profitable is the lab’s north star. The path to growth through 2026 isn’t more schools; it’s deeper youth engagement across sports, dance, clubs, and anyth The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It. Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   MediaclipMediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEIndependent Photo ImagersIPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry.Photo Imaging CONNECTThe Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 2027, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, NDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp. Contact us at gary@thedeadpixelssociety.com Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group,  The Dead Pixels Society. Leave a review on Apple and Podchaser. Are you interested in being a guest? Click here for details. Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau Announcer: Erin Manning

    31 min
  8. From Spreadsheets To Streamlined: How Airstudio Connects Scheduling, Payroll, Equipment, And Analytics

    JAN 7

    From Spreadsheets To Streamlined: How Airstudio Connects Scheduling, Payroll, Equipment, And Analytics

    Have an idea or tip? Send us a text! If your studio juggles spreadsheets, calendars, and three different apps just to run picture day, this conversation will feel like oxygen. The Dead Pixels Society sits down with Scott Rodgers and Peter Koop from Airstudio to unpack how a platform built by school photographers solves the messy middle of volume photography—linking CRM, senior bookings, staff scheduling, payroll, equipment, workflows, and e‑commerce integrations into one place. We start with the pain: Homegrown tools and generic CRMs can’t handle the unique layers of school photography—schools as clients, parents as buyers, students as subjects—each with different needs and deadlines. Rodgers and Koop share how Airstudio centralizes everything from first contact and session reminders to school deliverables like PSPA exports and ID specs. With open APIs and data exchanges, it plays well with platforms such as GotPhoto, Captura, and Timestone, so you keep the storefronts you like while unifying the back office. The result is faster coordination, fewer errors, and a clear view of every job. Using a gross contribution model, studios can see what each school truly costs after direct expenses, staffing, and workflow time—often revealing accounts that quietly drain resources. You’ll hear candid stories of running P&Ls on every account, cutting unprofitable schools, and seeing margins and morale rise. We also cover flexible senior booking paths for districts that won’t share contact data. From cameras and laptops to backgrounds and batteries, Airstudio treats gear like real money—tracking assignments, repairs, condition photos, and even virtual “bags” nested inside vehicles to verify crews leave with everything they need. Add SOC 2‑focused security, The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It. Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   MediaclipMediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEPhoto Imaging CONNECTThe Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 2027, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, NDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp. Contact us at gary@thedeadpixelssociety.com Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group,  The Dead Pixels Society. Leave a review on Apple and Podchaser. Are you interested in being a guest? Click here for details. Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau Announcer: Erin Manning

    34 min
4.6
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

News, information and interviews about the photo/imaging business. This is a weekly audio podcast hosted by Gary Pageau, editor of the Dead Pixels Society news site and community. This podcast is for a business-to-business audience of entrepreneurs and companies in the photo/imaging retail, online, wholesale, mobile, and camera hardware/accessory industries.If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email host Gary Pageau at gary@thedeadpixelssociety.com. For more information and to sign up for the free weekly newsletter, visit www.thedeadpixelssociety.com.