Michael talks with photographer, author, and educator Elizabeth Messina about building a long, values-driven career in photography. They trace her path from the darkroom at San Francisco Art Institute to a 6 month-long trip in India and an early museum solo show, then into client work, books, and education. Elizabeth shares practical thoughts on trust, privacy, and respectful collaboration; working with high-profile clients, balancing film instincts with digital workflows; and why community and consistency matter more than hype.Elizabeth just launched her new course 'The Arte Of Maternity' on Feb 14th, 2026. It's available now at The Arte Dept website.
Website: https://www.elizabethmessina.comThe ARTE Dept (courses): https://theartedept.com
The ARTE Society (membership): https://theartesociety.com
Book — The Luminous Portrait: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/210741/the-luminous-portrait-by-elizabeth-messina-with-jacqueline-tobin/
Book — The Silver Lining: https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Lining-Supportive-Insightful-Breast/dp/1476743711
