In this episode, Matt sits down with Miriam Schulman , professional artist, art business coach, host of the Inspiration Place podcast, and bestselling author of Artpreneur (HarperCollins). Miriam left Wall Street after 9/11 to build a six-figure art business and now teaches photographers, painters, and visual artists how to price their work, sell art online, attract collectors, and build a sustainable photography business without relying on social media. In this conversation we cover photography...
Apr 29, 2026•57 min
In this Moments of Mood episode of The MOOD Podcast, Matt returns after a road accident left him physically immobilised for several weeks, unable to photograph, travel, or work, and uses that enforced stillness to examine one of the quietest but most destructive reflexes in modern photography: the need for proof. What happens to your photography, and to you as a photographer, when the images you make never leave the hard drive? When the algorithm stops rewarding your work? When self-doubt creeps...
Apr 22, 2026•15 min
In this episode, Matt sits down with Magnum photographer Mark Power for a wide-ranging conversation about long-term documentary photography, creative process, and what it means to spend 14 years photographing America as a foreigner. Mark discusses the origins of his landmark five-volume series 'Good Morning, America' , why he's drawn to photographing the ordinary and overlooked rather than the spectacular, and how a woman quietly crying at a Don McCullin exhibition changed the trajectory of his ...
Apr 15, 2026•1 hr 32 min
Listen to part one here Watch part one here ________________________ In Part 2 of this special Chico Review 2026 episode, Matt continues documenting his week inside one of photography's most respected portfolio review events. Featuring conversations with Odette England, Daniel Arnold, Tim Carpenter, Matthew Genitempo, Jesse Lenz, and Lindokuhle Sobekwa — plus fellow attendees pushing the edges of documentary, photobook, and fine art photography. Notable topics: What Jesse Lenz actually looks for...
Apr 10, 2026•2 hr 50 min
The Chico Review destroyed my confidence. Then built it back... THIS IS PART 1 OF A 2 PART FEATURE ON CHICO REVIEW 2026 - SEE PART 2 NEXT WEEK. I arrived at the Chico Review 2026 thinking my work was ready. 10 formal reviews, 25 reviewers and speakers, publishers, curators, photographers and more — I was scrapping half of it by the end of day one. This is the first installment of 2, about my honest experience on what happened, what I learned, and why I'd do it all again without hesitation. In th...
Apr 02, 2026•1 hr 47 min
In this episode of The MOOD Podcast, I sit down with writer Brad Zellar, whose deep relationship to photography, photo books, storytelling, and visual culture makes this one of the most thought-provoking conversations I’ve had on the show. We talk about the future of photography, why obsession matters more than concept, the role of text in photo books, what makes an image unforgettable, how portfolio reviewers really think, and why the internet may be training a generation not to care about art ...
Mar 19, 2026•1 hr 47 min
In this episode of Moments of Mood, I explore why self-awareness is the missing foundation behind meaningful photography. After spending a few days at a silent retreat in Bali, I began reflecting on something I’ve seen repeatedly in my own work, in conversations on the MOOD Podcast, and in our book club discussions. Many photographers spend years learning techniques, buying gear, and consuming endless education, yet still feel creatively stuck. The issue is rarely technical knowledge. More often...
Mar 11, 2026•16 min
Joe McNally, legendary professional photographer best known for his work with National Geographic, Life, and major commercial clients, and for his mastery of lighting and flash, joins me on the show to discuss an array of topics. We go deep on the future of photography, how the industry has changed from magazines to the digital era, what AI is really doing to trust in images, why craft is the foundation of art, and what separates a hobbyist from a working photographer through reproducible result...
Mar 04, 2026•1 hr 10 min
Tina Signesdottir is a Norwegian fine art portrait photographer and Hasselblad Master, known for natural light portraits with rare emotional intimacy. In her first ever podcast appearance, Tina speaks candidly about the origins of her work, the role photography played in survival and self-expression, and what it actually takes to build images that feel real in a world flooded with content. We go deep on photographing with honesty, why relationship and trust are the invisible foundations of portr...
Feb 19, 2026•1 hr 20 min
In this episode, I sit down with photographer Pie Aerts to unpack the philosophies, struggles, and decisions that have shaped his work over the last decade. Pie is a documentary and wildlife photographer whose practice sits at the intersection of human presence, conservation, and long-form storytelling. He is also the founder of Prints for Wildlife , a platform that has raised over $2.5 million for conservation initiatives worldwide. Our conversation focuses on how Pie thinks about photography b...
Feb 04, 2026•1 hr 38 min
What if your best work starts with a quiet cup and a clear mind? We kick off the year with an honest, unscripted 'Ask Me Anything' episode that explores how small rituals, sharper definitions, and a steadier inner compass can change both your art and your days. From an early morning espresso and two loyal dogs to the decision to ignore empty metrics, I trace a path from presence to better pictures, and hopefully a calmer life behind the lens. I talk about instinct, happiness, success, and the qu...
Jan 21, 2026•1 hr 7 min
In this episode of The MOOD Podcast, I sit down with photographer, writer, and mentor Wesley Verhoeve for a grounded conversation about photography process, confidence, and learning how to make meaningful work without waiting for permission. We talk about why so many photographers struggle with self-doubt, why overthinking stalls creative progress, and how showing your work and sharing your process can demystify photography and make growth feel possible again. Wesley reflects on his approach to ...
Jan 07, 2026•1 hr 6 min
The year didn’t teach us to shoot faster. It taught us to go deeper. We close out 2025 by stitching together the most resonant moments from a season of hard questions and honest answers: why “quick fix” education fails creatives, how pricing for profit transforms freelancers into owners, and where empathy turns a portrait from performance into truth. Art stays at the centre. We explore ambiguity as a strength, and you’ll hear how long-form projects and photo books benefit from time and distance,...
Dec 31, 2025•1 hr 22 min
In this episode - the last guest episode of 2025 - I sit down with photographer, publisher, and curator Jesse Lenz for one of the most expansive and honest conversations I’ve had on the show - fitting to end the year with such a nice gift-wrapped present. What begins as a discussion about photography and photobooks quickly becomes a deeper exploration of obsession, taste, community, and what it actually means to build a life of artistry that lasts. Jesse speaks candidly about art not as a career...
Dec 24, 2025•1 hr 51 min
Nobody cares about your photography. We don’t need more of 'any old' photographers. Yet survival as culture and society with soul is completely dependent on work that matters . In this episode of Moments of Mood , I explore why indifference is the default in modern photography, what it actually means for someone to care about your work, why chasing attention is often the fastest way to lose meaning, and the deeper responsibility artists have in a world drowning in content. Listen if you're inter...
Dec 17, 2025•23 min
British photographer and environmental storyteller Nick Brandt joins the show for a raw, expansive conversation on art, climate collapse, sentience, and the role of photography in an age defined by distraction and decline. Across projects such as Inherit the Dust , This Empty World , The Day May Break , and his latest chapter The Echo of Our Voices , Brandt builds constructed realities that merge portraiture, environmental narrative, and human resilience. This conversation moves through philosop...
Dec 10, 2025•1 hr 23 min
Bryan Schutmaat is a photographer, publisher, and quiet poet of the American West. Known for books such as Grays the Mountain Sends, Good Goddamn , and Sons of the Living , Bryan’s work explores the uneasy tension between land and people, myth and memory, endurance and hope. He is also co-founder of Trespasser Books, a small but powerful imprint shaping the future of modern photobooks. In This Conversation We Explore Why photography feels so lonely and how community changes everything Building m...
Nov 26, 2025•1 hr 35 min
Kent Andreasen , a Cape Town-based photographer and filmmaker, joins me to talk about his new photobook Memory Bank ( published by Witty Books), which tells the story over a decade shaped by doubt, discipline, and a complicated relationship with memory. Our chat together moves from South Africa’s creative landscape to therapy, trauma, and to this book that feels like a fever dream stitched into sequence. We discussed: The real story behind the attack that inspired Memory Bank How trauma transfor...
Nov 12, 2025•1 hr 12 min
”What if the stories that shape us are the ones we can't remember?" Marshall To , a photographer whose photobook 'Blank Notes' explores ancestry, memory, and identity through a deeply personal lens, grew up in rural Canada, the son of Chinese immigrants and a Taoist family who ran a small restaurant. His family believed the physical and spiritual worlds overlapped - that we live among spirits of our ancestors, those waiting for rebirth, and those still wandering, restless and vengeful. In Taoist...
Nov 05, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Phil Sharp , an award winning British portrait photographer, talks about the human core of portrait photography and why music, language, and time can turn performance into truth. We challenge received wisdom about headshots, explore photography books and business, look ahead to portraits in an AI world, and attempt to dismantle the myth that great images come from gear, tricks, or perfectly controlled sets. Phil's work relies on a deeper element: the moment a person stops performing. What's disc...
Oct 29, 2025•1 hr 20 min
Welcome to another episode of Moments of Mood, this time about how to monetise - even just a little bit - the wonderful parts of us that are creative. Turning your creative passion into a sustainable career possible, it's probable if you know where to focus and how to work smart. In this episode of Moments of Mood, I explore how to make money as a creative professional without selling out your soul, and in the meantime dispelling the myth of the 'starving artist'. Whether you’re a photographer, ...
Oct 15, 2025•28 min
“If you don’t value yourself, why should anyone else?” Chris Do is an Emmy-award-winning designer, founder of The Futur, and one of the most sought-after creative educators on the planet. With his huge audience and decades of experience building creative businesses, Chris helps designers, artists, and entrepreneurs master the business of creativity and the self-brand. In this episode, we explore the psychology of pricing, the future of content, and how creatives can build meaningful, profitable ...
Oct 08, 2025•1 hr 10 min
What happens when the world is flooded with AI images, tools, and “perfect” feeds? In this episode of Moments of MOOD, I sit down to talk about what it really means to stay human in your work — and why your voice, your presence, and your lived experience are the ultimate creative edge. This isn’t a doom-scroll about AI taking our jobs. It’s an invitation. To look at what makes your art irreplaceable. To build a brand that AI can’t copy. To practice until your perspective becomes unmistakable. If...
Sep 24, 2025•33 min•Ep. 100
Step into the world of Ami Vitale, National Geographic photographer, filmmaker, and founder of Vital Impacts, as she shares her journey from covering conflict zones to telling the most urgent conservation stories of our time. In this conversation on the MOOD Podcast, Ami reveals why hope and action matter more than despair, the ethical responsibilities of storytelling, and how photographers can shape narratives that inspire real change. She discusses her 17-year project documenting the northern ...
Sep 10, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 99
Joel Grimes doesn’t just take photographs, he creates illusions that make the impossible feel real. In this episode, we dive deep into the mind of a true master, exploring how he uses light, shadow, and imagination to redefine what photography can be. From his early experiments with lighting to the techniques behind his most iconic images, Joel takes us behind the scenes of a creative process that blends art, science, and pure intuition. Whether you’re an aspiring photographer, a creator chasing...
Sep 03, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 98
Ed Sykes has lived many chapters through photography — from the chaos of war zones and the rush of front-page news to the polished world of fashion editorials. Yet, recognition and success didn’t bring the fulfillment he was searching for. In this conversation, Ed explains how he moved away from chasing approval and found a practice rooted in landscapes, climate, and experimental processes. Today, his work goes beyond capturing images. He scorches film with blowtorches, dissolves prints in water...
Aug 19, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 97
I’m answering your questions about photography, creativity, and what keeps me motivated in this AMA. We dive into the real stuff. What inspires me, the struggles I’ve faced, and how I’ve grown as both a photographer and a person. No filters, just honest thoughts and insights. _________________________ (00:00) Intro (01:42) Favorite genres of music or video games? (03:46) Favorite Tiramisu Recipe? (04:47) How do you stay connected to your purpose when no one's watching? (09:57) How did you first ...
Aug 12, 2025•45 min
She’s built a photography business that spans decades, continents, and platforms — but behind the portfolio is a deeper story. In this episode of The MOOD Podcast, I sit down in person with Vanessa Joy — award-winning wedding photographer, educator, speaker, and creative entrepreneur — for an unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to build a career that blends art, business, mentorship, and meaning. We unpack how her relationship with control, creativity, and leadership has evolved —...
Aug 05, 2025•54 min•Ep. 96
If you're building something and wondering how to do it without losing yourself, or if you're a creative caught between vision and survival, this one is for you. Joining me today on The MOOD Podcast is Shane Vitaly, the rebellious designer and founder behind Clocks and Colours, Vitaly, and Etah Love. His jewelry brands have built a cult following by rejecting the polished and embracing the raw. We go back to where it all started—a few dollars left on a student credit line, a solo trip to Bali, a...
Jul 29, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 86
"My photographs don't grow up dreaming of being pixels." What does it mean to make timeless work in a digital world obsessed with speed, algorithms, and saturation? In this episode, we explore the philosophy and craft behind one of the most respected names in interior and architectural photography. Stephen Karlisch is a master of interior photography whose refined eye has helped shape the way we experience some of the world’s most beautifully designed spaces. With work featured in Architectural ...
Jul 15, 2025•1 hr 8 min
