Looking through blog post comments, seminar feedback, Twitter, Facebook and several other online sources, I realized I get asked a lot of the same questions. So I thought I’d post some of ’em here today. Here’s the top 5 that come to mind (in no particular order):

Q. What screen recording software do you use to do your tutorials?
A. At Kelby Media, we pretty much all use Macs (not because anyone makes us but because we like them) and one of the best programs we’ve found for our screen recordings is Screenflow by Telestream.net. It’s got great editing features and outputs to all the formats we need. It’s Mac only though. If I were a PC user I would (and have used) Camtasia by Techsmith.

Q. Where did you get your blog theme from?
A. I use and swear by the themes over at Elegant Themes. They’ve got a great interface but, best of all, they’ve got awesome support. Seriously, they have a support forum for their customers and you’ll get just about any question (along with code samples) answered within about 12 hours. I have to say, as a total newbie to WordPress, Elegant Themes Rocks!

Q. When did you start in photography / Photoshop?
A. I was into photography back in high school (late 80’s early 90’s). Honestly though, I hated the darkroom (sorry, I know it’s blasphemy to some people). So I eventually dropped it for fun times in college. After I graduated (mid 90’s), I got a job in sales selling/renting Caterpillar construction equipment. Our marketing department was overwhelmed at times, so I got a copy of Photoshop to make my own flyers and sales material (I think it was Photoshop 3 or 4 – I forget). Then, after I got married and started having kids, I got my first DSLR. It was then I realized I could put them together and do some really cool stuff.

Q. How did you meet Scott Kelby?
A. This was kinda funny. Back in 2000-ish I had been writing for Photoshop User magazine, the NAPP member website and knew quite a few folks at Kelby Media Group because I lived in Tampa and always went to Photoshop World. Well, about 12-13 years ago (after I had already been writing for NAPP for a couple of years), I’m at this carnival in Scott’s wife’s (Kalebra) home town which was a suburb of Tampa. My wife had taken my older son on a ride, and I was standing there with the stroller watching my youngest son. As I’m standing there, I look over and I see Scott standing there right next to me. I’m like “Scott!”. I introduced myself and he knew my name from the NAPP site. We started chatting for a while until our families came back. The rest is history. A couple of years later, I went to work full-time at NAPP.

Q. Are you tired Matt? You look tired and unshaven.
A. Okay, here’s the deal. Last September I went on a 5 day trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I forgot my razor and realized “Hey, I’m in Jackson Hole so I don’t need to shave right?!”. So I didn’t. When I got back, I got a bunch of compliments (including from my wife). People kind of liked the stubble look so I went with it. I’ve never had a mustache or goatee or been a facial hair guy, but I kind of like it. Mainly because it means I don’t have to shave everyday (I’m kinda lazy). So… no the unshaven look doesn’t mean I’m tired and run down. As for being tired… well… I supposed I could always use more sleep but who can’t 🙂

Got any other questions? Feel free to leave a comment and I’ll try to answer them next time around. Thanks and have a great weekend!