Michele Quigley makes the costume by hand, builds the set, lights it, and then photographs it. The result looks like an oil painting that has been hanging somewhere for two hundred years.

Michele is an international award winning portrait and fine art photographer, a historical costumer, a speaker and an educator, based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Her big project is the 1790s Series, a fine art series celebrating the elegance and diversity of women's dress in the 1790s, built as a tribute to the portraitists of the era. She does not put the awards on her homepage. She...

This is my first show back in about a month and a half, so of course things went wrong. I've got a metal roof and about halfway through the recording the sky opened up over Maine. I had Power EQ running in real time trying to save it. That's live streaming.

I first met Neil Farrimond hanging around the Ecamm community, where he's a moderator and pretty much the guy everybody turns to. What got me right away was how calming he is. He puts people at ease in about four seconds, and he has a voice...

Most of us got into creative work wanting to do everything, then spent years drowning in all of it. Sean McCormick did the opposite on purpose.

Sean spent years as a public school special education teacher before he walked away from the steady paycheck, with two young daughters at home, to bet on one narrow lane: executive function coaching. He built Executive Function Specialists, founded the Executive Function Coaching Academy to train other coaches, and co-founded a practice for adults. His newsletter reaches about 6,000 people who actually open it.

This one runs deep. Matt and...

"As soon as your age has a six in the front in Germany, it's very difficult to find another corporate job." That's where Jörg Kampers starts his story. He spent 35 years inside companies like Commodore, Dell, and CommScope, selling the Amiga 500 as a physics student in his university days and running PCs, networks, Wi-Fi, and 5G across the decades that followed. Last year the company got sold. At 62, with a pension that wasn't going to cover the way he actually lives, he did the ikigai work and pointed the camera at himself.

This conversation stays with t...

Most photographers will tell you the same thing if you ask them honestly. The shooting is the part they love. Everything else is overhead. Ashley Siegert heard that enough times that she built an entire company around it.

Ashley is the founder of Vacanva, a platform that pairs photographers with nonprofits to run portrait-based fundraising campaigns. The model is built so that photographers show up, shoot, and get paid, while Vacanva handles everything else: client consultations, location scouting, permits, editing, gallery delivery, and mileage reimbursement. The nonprofits get an easy fundraising vehicle. The clients get portraits they...

I met Billy Thorpe on a bus. We were heading to the venue for Ecamm Creator Camp last October, he sat down in front of me, we started talking, and somewhere in that conversation he casually mentioned that he makes product videos on Amazon and that brands pay him to do it. I pulled out my notepad and started taking notes before he finished the sentence.

Billy is one of those people who has built something genuinely useful and refuses to make you pay to find out how he did it. He's been averaging over 100 videos a...

Getting Good at Claude: Why Most Photographers Give Up Too Soon (And How to Fix It)

Have you tried Claude once, gotten something too generic to be useful, and just moved on?

This episode is the podcast version of my live webinar, Getting Good at Claude for Photographers. I'm breaking down why I switched from ChatGPT to Claude after two and a half years, what the cold start problem is, and why it's the reason most photographers abandon AI tools after a week. More importantly, I'm teaching you how to solve it by building five...

Generator Live: WPPI 2026 Recap - The Good, The Bad, and The Dance Circle

What happens when you find yourself in the middle of a dance circle surrounded by phones at a photography conference after party?

This is a solo Generator Live episode recorded the day after I got home from WPPI 2026 in Las Vegas. I'm sitting here with whatever plague circulates through Vegas conferences, no voice, exhausted from traveling through the night, and needing to process everything that happened before I lose the context. This is completely free form, just me working through the highs...

Generator Live at WPPI 2026: Josh Beaton on Following Dreams, Self-Esteem, and Starting Over at 50

What happens when you decide to chase the dream you always thought was unattainable, even if it means starting over at 50 years old?

Josh Beaton is a Chicago-based portrait photographer and fine art artist who also runs Tween Esteem, a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to building self-confidence in teenagers through portrait photography. A year ago, Josh won his category at WPPI and received the Jerry Ghionis scholarship at his first major conference. Now he's closing his Chicago studio, moving to New York...

Can AI replace the human element that makes photography and retouching valuable, or are we measuring the wrong thing entirely?

Nino Batista is a photographer, retoucher, and educator whose work spans commercial photography and fine art. He's known for his technical expertise in retouching and his thoughtful approach to how technology shapes creative industries. After watching AI infiltrate photography and retouching over the past few years, Nino has developed a clear perspective on what actually matters when machines can generate images in minutes.

This is a Generator Live episode recorded in real time. I brought...

What if closing your studio isn't failure but the smartest business decision you could make?

Nine days into 2026 and I'm seeing patterns emerge that tell me this year is going to force a lot of photographers to make hard choices. Not because the industry is dying, but because the old models aren't working the way they used to.

I walk through my predictions for where professional photography is heading this year. Studio closures and why they bring relief. Virtual summits that need to stop being cash grabs. Podcast networks built on community instead of sponsor...

Planning a live show format terrifies me, but staying stuck terrifies me more.

I'm rebuilding Generator from the ground up for 2026. It's about creating something sustainable that actually serves the people who need these conversations.

In this episode, I walk through the new show structure I'm testing, why I'm shifting from pre-recorded to live, and what it takes to run a creative business when you're a team of one dealing with ADHD, time scarcity, and the constant pull to just scroll instead of create.

What You'll Learn

What if the perfect workflow you're building is just another way to avoid making the hard decisions?

I screwed up a camera review this week. Made a factual error, took it down, and my first thought wasn't to slow down and check my work. It was to build a better system. A friend called me out: "You're not rushing because you lack a system. You're rushing because you're afraid of being irrelevant." This episode is what happened when I had to face that truth.

This is a solo episode where I break down how my...

Your brain is guessing what it sees. All the time. Understanding how vision actually works changed how I approach every portrait session.

After learning about change blindness, mirror neurons, and how our brains process visual information, I realized something. The technical choices I make as a photographer aren't just about aesthetics. They're about communication. About helping someone see themselves differently. This video breaks down the science behind how we see, the practical application behind the camera, and why philosophy matters just as much as f-stops.

Most photography education focuses on the what. Camera settings. Lighting...

CAN PODCASTS SAVE PHOTOGRAPHY?

Photography conferences used to launch careers. Now they're expensive reunions that most photographers can't afford.

After watching traditional photography education collapse and virtual summits turn into forgettable cash grabs, I realized we need something different. Not another conference. An actual system.

This is a solo episode where I break down what's broken. Photography conferences are becoming inaccessible. Virtual summits have become content dumps nobody remembers. Associations stopped leading. The sponsorship model that funded everything fell apart. And educators are stuck trading their time for exposure while photographers pay more...

What if the secret to a sustainable creative business isn't working harder, but starting your day differently?

Angela Anderson is a portrait photographer and educator based in Tucson, Arizona. She runs a studio that doubles as an education center, teaching eight-week intensive courses that take beginning photographers from shooting in automatic mode to running a full photography business. After years of chasing what she thought success should look like, she rebuilt her entire approach around a morning routine that changed everything.

I sit down with Angela to talk about the messy reality of building a...

What if the thing you're best at feels too easy to charge money for?

Tracy Matthews has built multiple seven-figure businesses, taught over 9,500 jewelry designers through Flourish & Thrive Academy, and lost everything in the 2008 crash before rebuilding from scratch. She's learned that most creatives are stuck because they think work needs to be hard to be valuable. Spoiler: it doesn't.

I sat down with Tracy to talk about creativity, business growth, and what it actually takes to build something that doesn't burn you out. We get into why everyone is creative (even finance guys), how...

What do you do when your business feels personal and a bad year makes you question everything?

Ashleigh Taylor is a portrait and boudoir photographer based near Los Angeles whose work blends editorial edge with raw emotion. She's built a reputation for creating images that feel like they belong in a magazine, but she's also someone who isn't afraid to talk about the hard parts of running a creative business. In this conversation, Ashleigh opens up about navigating one of the toughest years of her career and what it taught her about identity, resilience, and staying true...

What color was your childhood fridge? For photographer Ben Marcum, it was that unforgettable avocado green—and that odd little memory sets the tone for an honest, funny, and insightful hour about life, art, and connection.

Ben, based in Louisville, Kentucky, has built a thriving portrait and boudoir studio rooted in authenticity. We talk about how his years in theater shaped his ability to read people, how video became his strongest storytelling tool, and how he keeps things light, human, and deeply real—both online and in-studio.

He opens up about burnout, fitness, therapy, and the...

Episode Overview

How do you create portraits that feel more like stories than snapshots?

In this episode of Generator, I sit down with Judith Hill, a fine art portrait photographer based in Nashville, whose work is filled with texture, emotion, and intention. Judith has built a style that slows everything down, where connection is the point, not the afterthought. We talk about how she went from second-guessing herself to directing shoots with clarity and confidence.

Judith opens up about the importance of creative direction, trusting her gut, and why her best work happens...

Annie Marie has been working as a photographer in Minneapolis for over three decades. She’s earned the titles—four-time Minnesota Photographer of the Year, SYNC Photographer of the Year—but none of that has pulled her away from what matters most: making honest portraits and helping other photographers find their footing.

Podcast Title: Generator

Episode Title: Annie Marie - Still Thriving After a 30 Year Career

Episode Number: 59

Publish Date: 22 Sept 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, we talk about what it means to stay curious when you’ve been...

Matt Stagliano and return guest Sue Bryce dive deep into the wild world of photography and the many hurdles that come with chasing success in this episode. Kicking things off, they tackle the main theme: the notion that "The Photography Game is Rigged," a title that has sparked quite the conversation. We explore how the industry can sometimes feel like a minefield of outdated beliefs and myths that tell aspiring photographers there's only one 'right' way to achieve success. Sue and Matt share their own experiences and insights, revealing the real deal behind personal branding, vendor relationships, and the...

You know that nagging voice in your head that just won’t take a break? Yeah, the one that tells you you're not doing enough or everyone else has their life together while you’re just here, existing? Well, let’s dive into the murky waters of our not-so-sunny thoughts. We’re constantly told to manifest positivity and speak good vibes into existence, but what happens when the truth is more shadow than sunshine? In this episode, we’re peeling back the layers on the tension between keeping it real and staying positive. We're chatting about whether voicing our darker tho...

You ever finish a photography course and think…

“That didn’t help at all”?

You’re not alone.

The coaching space is flooded right now—some of it’s gold, some of it’s garbage.

And when we’re unsure of ourselves, we’re more likely to buy the hype.

In this short episode I’m digging into the rise of photography coaches, why so many of us feel unfulfilled after taking courses, and how to become a better critical thinker—without burning out or giving up.

This isn’t about shaming...

Let’s have a real talk about what’s happening in the photography world.

In this short episode, I break down the game where photographers feel like they have to chase sponsorships, get reposted by brands, or land a partnership just to be taken seriously. You know the drill: content over craft, clout over connection.

But here’s the thing… that game? It’s not built for you. It’s built to keep you running in circles, burning out, and forgetting why you started taking photos in the first place.

I’ve played it. I’ve seen...

Jonathan Daige, a former law enforcement officer and veteran, is the founder of the Thin Blue Ride, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders battling cancer. In our chat, JD shares his incredible journey of resilience in the face of multiple cancer diagnoses and surgeries, highlighting the importance of community and support in overcoming life's toughest challenges. We dive into how Thin Blue Ride has already raised over $800,000 for what he affectionately calls “cancer warriors,” and there’s no sign of slowing down! This isn’t just a story of survival; it’s a rallying cry for action...

In this episode of Generator, I sit down with Karinda Kinsler—an equine photographer, business coach, and the author of The Unicorn—to talk about what really happens when you stop following the rules and start building a business that actually works for you.

Karinda built a brand photographing horses as well as a national reputation by doing things her own way. We talk about the mindset shifts that helped her raise her prices, get rid of all those templated emails, and start having real conversations that lead to stronger connections and bigger sales. Whether you’re feelin...

Johnny Guerrero’s a talented photographer and he’s also an Army vet and a retired law enforcement officer who’s all about community and connection. We chat about how his diverse experiences shape his approach to photography and client relationships, and spoiler alert: it’s all about serving others with heart. Johnny shares some heartfelt stories about his time as a foster parent to over 45 kids and how that taught him to connect with people on a deeper level. Plus, we get real about mental health in the military and law enforcement, and how his podcast, Trading Holsters, is creat...

Oliver Lozano, a portrait photographer based in Stuttgart, Germany, is all about creating genuine connections with his clients. In this chat, we dive into Ollie's career, exploring how he transforms the traditional photography experience into something deeply personal and meaningful. He shares his insights on everything from the glitz of classic Hollywood to the raw authenticity of boudoir and erotica photography. We also uncover the importance of vulnerability, identity, and how truly being seen can empower his clients in front of the camera. Oliver's approach is about crafting a narrative that celebrates individuality and evokes emotion!

Podcast...

What if the key to finding your creative voice is simply asking yourself, “What do I want?”

In this powerful milestone episode of Generator, I sit down with world-renowned photographer, educator, and speaker Sue Bryce to explore the deeper currents of creativity, self-worth, and showing up authentically.

This conversation is about the transformation that happens when you stop hiding and start creating from a place of truth.

Sue has taught thousands how to build thriving businesses, but it’s her guidance on self-value, storytelling, and owning your voice that changed my life. In this r...

In this episode, I sit down with Kara Marie Trombetta, a photographer who’s reshaping the way we think about boudoir. Her work is rooted in self-respect, real empowerment, and helping people feel truly seen—without all the old-school glamor filters. We talk about what it takes to evolve as an artist, especially when the world around you keeps shifting, and how Kara built a business that reflects her values, not just trends. It’s a raw, thoughtful conversation about identity, creativity, and staying grounded when everything feels up in the air. Plus, we get into the nitty-gritty of pivoti...

Building a career around consistency is the name of the game, and nobody does it quite like Sandra Coan. With over 25 years in the photography world, she’s not just a family and newborn portrait photographer in Seattle, she’s an educator and author who’s all about using strobes for a natural light look. In this episode, we discuss how human connection fuels her work and why she believes that capturing the moment is more important than getting the technically perfect shot. We talk about her marketing methods and how any Creative can ditch the traditional marketing funnel for a...

Kristen Kidd is all about capturing the heart and soul of the human-pet bond, and she does it with style! This episode kicks off with her sharing her journey as a photographer, author, and magazine publisher, including the launch of her fabulous Dog Mom Magazine. We dive into the nitty-gritty of what it’s like to be a pet photographer—like, how do you get past the fear of failure or deal with difficult moments of grief? Kristen opens up about her background as a social worker and how that helps her connect with clients on a deeper level, maki...

Elena S. Blair is an absolute powerhouse in the photography world, and today we're having a conversation that's packed with wisdom for anyone looking to make their mark in the creative industry. We kick things off by exploring how Elena captures genuine connections in her family photography, a skill that sets her work apart and resonates deeply with her clients. She shares her journey through the ups and downs of building a successful business in this competitive landscape, emphasizing the importance of mindset and community. As we chat, we dig into the nitty-gritty of practical strategies like SEO, email...

George Varanakis is a true cornerstone in the photography world, and in our latest chat, we dive into the inner workings of the conferences he helped spearhead, WPPI and the Portrait Masters. We’re talking about how he’s not just a guy pulling the strings behind the scenes, but a genuine connector who builds communities that thrive. George is honest and open about what it really takes to pull off a massive conference like WPPI, from the emotional labor to the logistics, all while keeping the vibe high and the energy infectious. Plus, we ponder the future of crea...

Ever flattened 50 layers in Photoshop and instantly regretted it? Renee Robyn has—on purpose.

In this episode of Generator, I sit down with digital artist, photographer, and all-around creative badass Renee Robyn to talk about what it really means to make cool stuff. From her roots in the Canadian north to her role as Optics Product Manager at Boris FX, Renee brings equal parts grit, geekery, and genius to the table.

We dig into her cinematic style, her fearless approach to failure, and the wild ride that’s taken her from modeling and locksmithing to plac...

Matt Stagliano and Mitzi Starkweather dive deep into the highlights and hiccups of the WPPI 2025 conference, which took place at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas this past March. Right off the bat, they tackle the good, the bad, and the downright confusing aspects of the event, giving us a candid look at their contrasting experiences—Mitzi, as a speaker, and Matt, as an attendee. They reflect on the vibe of the conference, discussing how it felt fresh yet familiar in a new venue, and how the energy was palpable. As they banter back and forth, they sprinkle in so...

Kirsten Graham is all about flipping the script for business owners, helping them go from being total wallflowers to the life of the party with some savvy outsourcing and a little video marketing magic. She’s a powerhouse from Six Figure Business Coaching, and trust me, this episode is packed! We dive into why outsourcing tasks to a virtual assistant can save you tons of time. Plus, Kirsten gives you the do's and don'ts of working with VAs, from protecting your accounts to finding the right fit for your biz. And hey, if you’re wondering about video marketing, she’...

Valentina Pardi-MacGregor is a total gem in the photography world, and she's here to discuss how she helps women over 40 reconnect with their inner fabulousness through intimate portraiture. It's all about boosting confidence and weaving powerful stories that really transform how her clients see themselves. We dive into everything from the ups and downs of social media life to the magic of creative retreats and the crucial role of building a supportive community in this industry. Valentina dreams of splitting her time between Majorca and New York, and she shares some killer advice on how focusing on what you...

Jean Carlo Penaloza is a creative powerhouse who sees photography as a conversation rather than just a business. With over 20 years in the game, he’s transformed from IT consultant to a photographer in the headshot and underwater portraits niches, and is now entering the podcasting scene with The Outspoken Artist. In our chat, we dive into everything from the delicate balance between creativity and business to the ever-looming presence of AI in the industry. We also touch on the importance of storytelling and leaving a legacy, proving that human connection will always trump cold algorithms. If you're into ar...