The MOOD Podcast

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 entire career. From nearly quitting photography to becoming one of the most respected members of Magnum Photos, Mark shares honest reflections on self-doubt...

Listen to part one here
Watch part one here
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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:

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 this video:

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 in the same way.

Other things we discussed:

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, it’s a lack of self-awareness. 

In this episode I explain how meditation and mindfulness changed the way I und...

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 results, storytelling, and ethical responsibility.

Other things we discussed:

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 portraiture, and how Tina thinks about awards, rejection, and the pressure that follows recognition. Tina also shares how s...

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 beyond aesthetics. We talk about self-doubt, ethics, money, responsibility, and what it actually takes to stay committed to a story...

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 quieter realities of building a life around photography. We...

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 learning photography through participation, not perfection, and explains how confidence is built by doing, not by being 'ready'. 

We also ex...

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, how technique and tone evolve across a decade, and why music, language, and psycholo...

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 path, but as something closer to devotion; something you shape you...

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 interested in:

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 philosophy, ethics, creative fear, the collapse of attention, and the emotional cost of a lifetime spent documenting loss.

We discuss:

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

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:

”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 tradition, during the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, th...

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 discussed in this episode:

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, designer, filmmaker, or writer, this video breaks down rea...

“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 careers without selling out.

What we talk about:

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 you’ve been feeling t...

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 white rhino’s fight for survival, the role of AI in creativity, and how grants, mentorship, and authentic voices are re...

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 your own signature style, or simply someone who loves the magi...

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, and even uses seaweed in the darkroom, allowing the natural world to shap...

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. 
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(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 get into photography?
(11:46) How did you first take interest in art?
(13:2...

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 — from the early days of flash photography and client chaos to building an ecosystem of retreats, masterminds, and passive income that suppo...

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, and a handful of handmade rings. Sh...

"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 Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Veranda, and beyond, Stephen has spent the...

That familiar question we all dread - "So, what do you do?" - is more than small talk. It's a sorting mechanism that triggers our instinct to perform rather than connect. We scramble to sound impressive, to land in the 'interesting' pile, polishing our titles and subtly flexing our achievements. But this performance comes at a cost: the more we perform, the more we forget our authentic voice.

Childhood creativity gives way to adult performance so gradually we barely notice it happening. One day you're drawing in your sketch book; the next you're color-coding spreadsheets and wondering...

"I was one of those kids who really struggled at school... creativity was my saviour."

Jake Paul White is a British painter whose earthy, soulful work explores the space between the natural world and the emotional self. Using handmade pigments, natural materials, and a deep inner process, his paintings feel more like memories than objects. In this conversation, Jake opens up about his winding path from design and yoga to full-time artist—reflecting on purpose, perfectionism, healing, and the tension between artistic purity and playing the game of success.

Whether you’re a crea...

Welcome back to another episode of Moments of Mood, and this week I break down how I would actually learn photography if I were starting over today. Not from theory — from experience. I reflect on my own path, critique the broken systems of education, and offer a mindset-first, meaning-driven approach to building your photography from the ground up.

You won’t find a checklist of gear. You’ll find an invitation to slow down, tune in, and start making images that reflect something honest.

***Want to watch the 6-hour FREE photography course video...