THE LIGHT BETWEEN

Create Your Own Luck

In this episode, we dive into the real journey behind pursuing your photography dreams, beyond the highlight reels and motivational clichés. I share my own experiences with rejection, persistence, and the unexpected paths that opened up along the way. We explore how taking small, aligned actions can build self-trust, why it’s important to zoom out for perspective, and how to recognize when a path is no longer serving you. I believe luck is something you can create. You don’t have to wait for luck or the right moment. Big breaks happen, but you can create your own luck and own doors to new opportunities. You’ll also get practical, actionable tips for reaching out to new opportunities and expanding what you believe is possible for yourself. Whether you’re feeling stuck or ready for your next breakthrough, this episode is here to help you move forward with intention and courage. I hope it helps you wherever you are on your photography journey. Alanna x Learn more about my mentorship program: https://alannaoneil.com/mentorship Would you like to work together? Send me a note, I’d love to hear from you — alanna@alannaoneil.com Alanna’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Alanna’s Substack at alannaoneil.substack.com/subscribe [https://alannaoneil.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Peripheral Vision: Seeing Beyond the Postcard

In this episode of The Light Between, you’ll discover how embracing presence, patience, and curiosity can transform not just your travel photography but the way you experience the world. I’ll share practical tips and personal stories that show how slowing down and paying attention to subtle moments and overlooked details can help you create more meaningful, memorable images. Developing your peripheral vision is key to capturing richer travel photos. Inspired by Anthony Bourdain’s open, respectful approach to travel, we’ll talk about letting go of expectations and being receptive to the unexpected, skills that can enrich both your photography and your life. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just exploring your own neighborhood, this episode will help you see beyond the obvious, find deeper stories in every scene, and approach each encounter as a chance to learn, connect, and grow. I hope you enjoy this short but sweet episode! Join the waitlist for my holistic photography program: https://alannaoneil.com/vvc-waitlist I’d appreciate your support to help raise funds for WWF(World Wildlife Fund) for the 2026 Paris Marathon: https://www.justgiving.com/page/alanna-oneil-777 [https://www.justgiving.com/page/alanna-oneil-777] Alanna’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Alanna’s Substack at alannaoneil.substack.com/subscribe [https://alannaoneil.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Judging vs. Critiquing Your Photography

In this episode of The Light Between, I explore the difference between self-judgment and soulful critique, and how learning to reflect on your photography with curiosity rather than harshness can transform both your creative growth and your relationship with your work. I share a gentle framework for reviewing photos that balances technical skill with personal expression, starting with intention, separating craft from emotion, engaging the senses, and using experimentation as a tool for learning rather than self-criticism. I explore the importance of visual literacy, presence, and why photography is an extension of your lived experience, not something to be measured against perfection or comparison. This episode is an invitation to soften your inner critic, trust your evolving voice, and remember that every image is part of your unique creative story as you move forward with more grace, awareness, and confidence. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for listening! Join the waitlist for my holistic photography program: https://alannaoneil.com/vvc-waitlist I’d appreciate your support to help raise funds for WWF(World Wildlife Fund) for the 2026 Paris Marathon: https://www.justgiving.com/page/alanna-oneil-777 [https://www.justgiving.com/page/alanna-oneil-777] Get full access to Alanna’s Substack at alannaoneil.substack.com/subscribe [https://alannaoneil.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The One Photography Skill That Changes Everything

In this week’s episode of The Light Between, I explore a question I’m asked all the time:How do you truly improve as a photographer? My answer has very little to do with your camera and everything to do with your capacity to observe, to feel, to be present, and to let the world around you shape your inner world. I share how photography becomes a meditation when we slow down enough to actually see: the way light sculpts a scene, the subtle details we usually rush past, the quiet wisdom found in stillness. From a golden beam of sunlight breaking through the clouds on a rainy walk to a tiny sparrow, these moments remind us that beauty is always happening around us, waiting to be witnessed. Photography is not just about framing a subject. It’s about becoming an active participant in the world. When we tune into the light, the layers, the movement, and the emotional weather within us, we begin to create from a deeper, more grounded place. This is an invitation to slow down and come back to the basics of observation and presence. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for listening! Join the waitlist for my holistic photography program: https://alannaoneil.com/vvc-waitlist I’d appreciate your support to help raise funds for WWF(World Wildlife Fund) for the 2026 Paris Marathon: https://www.justgiving.com/page/alanna-oneil-777 Alanna’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Alanna’s Substack at alannaoneil.substack.com/subscribe [https://alannaoneil.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Getting It Right In Camera

I hope you are well! In this episode of The Light Between, we explore the idea of “getting it right in camera,” both in photography and in life. I chat about what you should ideally “get right” in camera and why. Also, I reflect on how photography teaches us to meet the moment as it is, to trust our instincts, and to find beauty in imperfection, even when things don’t go as planned. From exposure and composition to light and shadow, every element —both in our images and in our lives —plays a role in shaping the bigger picture. In the end, it’s not about getting it perfect, but about learning to see with patience, presence, and heart. Thanks for listening! Join the waitlist for my holistic photography program: https://alannaoneil.com/vvc-waitlist [https://alannaoneil.com/vvc-waitlist] I’d appreciate your support to help raise funds for WWF(World Wildlife Fund) for the 2026 Paris Marathon: https://www.justgiving.com/page/alanna-oneil-777 [https://www.justgiving.com/page/alanna-oneil-777] Get full access to Alanna’s Substack at alannaoneil.substack.com/subscribe [https://alannaoneil.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]