69. Why I turned on paid — but not a paywall
Today I’m turning on a paid subscription to Random Capture, but I’m not putting any of the writing behind a paywall.
That’s intentional.
I want the ideas here — about slowing down, seeing differently, paying attention, and the joy of making photographs — to stay open and accessible. Writing has been big part of how I think, teach, and learn, and I don’t want access to that to depend on someone’s ability or willingness to pay.
At the same time, I’m in the middle of a real transition.
After decades in corporate communications, I’m steadily shifting my work toward 100% photography and photography education — teaching, mentoring, portfolio reviews, photo walks, workshops, and helping people figure out what they want to say with their images. This Substack has become a key part of that ecosystem. Turning on paid subscriptions is a way for people who find value here to directly support that work.
Instead of locking content, I’m doing something different.
What paid subscribers get
A paid subscription is $50/year. In exchange, you get real time with me, not access to gated posts.
Each year, paid subscribers receive:
Two hours of photo consulting, usable however you want
That can be:A portfolio review (plus follow-up)
Photo lessons (in person or remote)
Help with Lightroom, editing, or workflow
Guidance on building a photography website, Substack, or zine
A conversation about photography goals and direction
If you’re in the Bay Area, a custom in-person photo walk
Your choice of one physical thank-you
One of my photo zines
or an unframed 8×10 photographic print
For context: my consulting time is normally $75/hour, my zines are $8, and prints are typically $50. If you take full advantage, the value is well over the subscription cost. That’s on purpose. I wanted this to feel generous, not transactional.
Why this structure
Substack requires a minimum monthly price. Rather than charging for posts, I wanted to make sure there was clear, tangible value tied to the subscription — especially value that reflects what I actually do now: teaching, mentoring, and helping people move forward with their photography.
This model keeps the writing open, while letting people say, “I believe in this work, and I want to support it.”
No pressure. No guilt. No disappearing posts.
Who this is for
Paid subscriptions make sense if:
You’ve been reading for a while and want deeper engagement
You’d benefit from one-on-one guidance or feedback
You’re working on a project, direction, or transition of your own
You want to support the work behind the scenes
If you just want to read and think along, stay right where you are. Nothing changes for free subscribers.
Note: Even when announcing paid subscriptions, I couldn’t do a post without some new photos. Here are a few from yesterday’s pre-sunrise trip to Treasure Island. Subscribe and learn how to get shots like this — or better, let’s shoot them together.








Good approach, walled gardens where half to all content is unavailable kill the open internet. This is why medium died and one of the many reasons I never used instagram, you couldn't view content without a signed in account.
I think this is an incredibly generous ‘offer’: and probably a model that would make sense for other photographers on here. Good luck!