050: Reaching 50 Episodes: A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Listeners

Celebrating 50 Episodes: A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Listeners

Welcome to the 50th episode of The Savory Shot! 🎉 Can you believe it? Reaching 50 episodes is a huge milestone, and I’m your host, Mica McCook, a food photographer born and based in Austin, Texas. If you’re from the Lone Star State, come holla at your girl! Today, we’re diving into a sweet love letter to all of you who’ve made this journey incredible.

Reflecting on the Journey

When I started this podcast, I had a vision. I dreamt of creating a space where we could talk about the art and soul of food photography, share stories, inspire each other, and help each other grow. I never imagined we’d reach this incredible milestone. It’s been a journey filled with ups and downs, moments of doubt, but most importantly, moments of pure joy. We’ve had some of the most incredible conversations, and I’m so grateful for each one of them.

The Heart of The Savory Shot

From the beginning, the goal was to build a community. Entrepreneurship and freelancing can be lonely, and I wanted to change that. I wanted a space where we could get into the nitty-gritty of what it’s like to be a freelancer. And y’all, we’ve done just that. We’ve covered everything from the technical aspects of photography to the creative process, business side, personal stories, and experiences. Each episode has been a learning experience for not just you, but also for me.

Building a Community

I’ve been thinking about creating a Facebook group for all of us to share and connect. Community is everything in this business. It makes this tough industry less tough and less lonely. Your support, feedback, and enthusiasm mean the world to me. For those who’ve been with me since episode one, y’all are my ride or dies. You’ve stuck with me through episodes where the audio was just “shittastic,” but you stayed. Thank you for being on this journey with me.

Lessons Learned

Running a podcast is a lot of work, and I keep it real. I do not sugarcoat anything. When I first started, I was nervous and unsure of what the future held. I knew one thing for certain: I wanted to create a space for real, unfiltered conversations about food photography. And that’s exactly what we’ve done. From the technical challenges to scheduling conflicts and moments of self-doubt, we’ve persevered together.

Expert Insights and Real Stories

Throughout this journey, I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing amazing people from all over the world—Singapore, Portugal, the UK, Canada, and more. These conversations have added a whole new dimension to my work. I love connecting with people, and this podcast has given me the opportunity to connect with other photographers, artists, and producers, celebrating the art of food photography.

Actionable Advice for Aspiring Podcasters

For those of you thinking about starting your own podcast, here are some tips:

Just Start: Don’t wait for perfection. Start imperfectly and learn along the way.
Build a Community: Engage with your audience and make them feel like part of the journey.
Be Authentic: Your listeners want real, unfiltered content. Don’t be afraid to show your true self.
Consistency is Key: Regular episodes build trust and keep your audience coming back.
Stay Motivated: Remember why you started and keep pushing forward, even when it gets tough.

Engaging with Our Community

One of the most rewarding aspects of this show has been hearing from y’all, the listeners. Please keep emailing and DMing me. Your stories, challenges, and triumphs inspire me and create a beautiful sense of community. That’s why I’m starting a Facebook group so we can all connect and share more easily.

Join the Conversation

I want this podcast to be more than just a podcast. I want it to feel like a family, a community. So, let’s keep the conversation going. Share your experiences, ask questions, and leave comments. Together, we can make this journey even more amazing.

Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead

As we celebrate 50 episodes, I’m filled with gratitude. We’ve covered so many topics, learned so much, and built an incredible community. Here’s to 50 more episodes of The Savory Shot! I’m excited about the future, with more exciting topics, new guests, and stories to share.

Thank you to my family and friends for your unwavering support. Thank you to the amazing guests who’ve shared their knowledge and experiences. And most importantly, thank you to y’all, the listeners. I couldn’t have done this without you.

So here’s to the journey we’ve been on, the lessons we’ve learned, and the community we’ve built. Here’s to many more episodes to come. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey.

Gracias. Danke schön. Merci. Thank you very much. Till next time, y’all!

About Mica

Mica McCook is a food photographer and the host of The Savory Shot podcast, where she discusses the art and soul of working in food photography. As a photographer, she crafts storytelling visuals marinated in color and simmered in shadows. With her signature theatrical flair, Mica recreates emotions from food. You may have seen her larger-than-life images in advertisements for many major brands and publications, including Texas Monthly, Tito’s Vodka, Resy, Cava, and H-E-B.