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:

• Nick's core philosophy.
• Why the project 'The Day May Break' exists.
• How historical worldviews shaped modern cruelty.
• Climate change as human injustice.
• The tension between beauty and devastation.
• The conceptual and emotional logic behind 'The Echo of Our Voices'.
• The collapsing photobook and print ecosystem.
• AI as an existential threat.
• Why Nick refuses to create purely for audiences.
• The impact of social media on photography as a whole.
• Medium format film vs digital.
• Advice for emerging photographers.

Follow Nick and his incredible work:
Website: www.nickbrandt.com
Instagram: @nickbrandtphotography

This episode is sponsored by Strata Editions - use discount code 'MOOD' for 10% discount on their store - visit strata-editions.com to shop and see their collections.

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Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation!

Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work.

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Learn with me
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www.mattjacobphotography.com

Socials:
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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 meaningful creative connections in a solitary craft
• The making of Sons of the Living and the stories behind the images
• Navigating narrative, ambiguity, and emotional truth in photography
• Why photobooks still matter and how sequencing shapes meaning
• The philosophy behind Trespasser and independent publishing
• Curiosity, discipline, and the struggle to stay creatively alive
• The American dream, the American West, and the reality between them
• How to make work that does something rather than pretending it does
• The inner journey of becoming an artist with a distinct point of view

Follow Bryan and his incredible work:
Website: www.bryanschutmaat.co
Instagram: @bryanschutmaat

This episode is sponsored by Strata Editions - use discount code 'MOOD' for 10% discount on their store - visit strata-editions.com to shop and see their collections.

_______________________________________

Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation!

Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work.

YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay

Learn with me
https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy

My Newsletter
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Website:
www.mattjacobphotography.com

Socials:
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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 transforms into art
• The tension between truth and memory in photography
• South Africa’s complex creative landscape
• Finding authenticity in commercial work
• How AI is challenging what it means to “see”
• Why photography is still a tool for healing

Order Memory Bank at the Witty Books website here: https://witty-books.com/Memory-Bank-Kent-Andreasen

Follow Kent and his work:
Website: www.kentandreasen.com
Instagram: @kentandreasen

This episode is sponsored by Strata Editions - use discount code MOOD for 10% discount on their store - visit strata-editions.com to shop and see their collections.

______________________________

Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation!

Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work.

YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay

Learn with me
https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy

My Newsletter
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Website:
www.mattjacobphotography.com

Socials:
IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube | @mattyj_ay

”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, the Gates of Hell open - releasing the 'Hungry Ghosts' back into our world to seek food and remembrance. Families burn paper offerings, pray for protection, and leave food for the dead. It’s both a celebration and a warning: walk gently, because the ghosts are hungry.

In his debut monograph, Blank Notes, published by Charcoal Press, Marshall explores the space where the natural and supernatural meet - where photography becomes ritual, and images serve as offerings to both the living and the dead. His work blurs culture, memory, and the unseen, inviting us to question how the spiritual and the physical intertwine in our everyday lives.

What we discussed:

• The origin story behind Blank Notes
• Grief, Taoist ritual, and ancestral storytelling
• Making art from illness, memory, and dual identity
• The power of “noticing” in photography and cooking
• Creative process behind sequencing a photobook
• How to honour invisible subjects through visual storytelling
• Why Marshall believes creativity is compulsion, not choice
• The intersection of food, art, and healing

Pre-orders and signings with Charcoal Press at Paris dates: I arrive in Paris November 10th and I'm there until the 17th

Follow Marhsall and his work:
Website: www.marshalljamesto.com
Instagram: @marshalljamesto

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This episode is sponsored by Strata Editions - use discount code MOOD for 10% discount on their store - visit strata-editions.com to shop and see their collections.

______________________

Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation!

Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work.

YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay

Learn with me
https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy

My Newsletter
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Website:
www.mattjacobphotography.com

Socials:
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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:

• Portraiture as human connection, not just technique
• Creating safe space with empathy and careful language
• Using music to trigger sincere emotion
• Balancing performance and authenticity in front of camera
• Session pacing, energy, and knowing when to stop
• Pricing, packages, and word-of-mouth workflow
• Books, prints, and the pros and cons of publishing
• AI’s impact and why presence still matters
• Finding voice over style through repetition and reflection

I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with Phil - a long time fan of his, it was good to have a conversation about photography as human connection, not necessary technical domination.

Subscribe to the MOOD Podcast for more conversations with the world’s leading creative thinkers.

Follow Phil and his work:
Website: www.philsharp-photo.com
Instagram: @philsharp

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This episode is sponsored by Strata Editions - use discount code MOOD for 10% discount on their store - visit strata-editions.com to shop and see their collections.

___________________________________________

Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation!

Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work.

YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay

Learn with me
https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy

My Newsletter
https://mattjacobphotography.com/newsletter

Website:
www.mattjacobphotography.com

Socials:
IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube | @mattyj_ay

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 real strategies to monetize your art, diversify your income streams, and build a creative business that lasts.

Learn how to:

• Build multiple creative career income streams
• Develop a brand and portfolio that attract real clients
• Balance art, money, and meaning without burnout
• Build a portfolio career for artists that gives you freedom and stability
• Take your creativity from passion to plan — and get paid doing what you love

References from this episode:

• My conversation with Chris Do https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QrdCEH5TXA&t=37
• Amie McNee https://amiemcnee.substack.com
• University of Zurich Study – “Happiness in the Arts: International Evidence on Artists’ Job Satisfaction” https://www.bsfrey.ch/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/happiness-in-the-arts-international-evidence-on-artists-job-satisfaction.pdf
• University of Warwick Study – Follow-up on Creative Job Satisfaction https://theartcareerproject.com/link-between-happiness-art/
  - Nesta UK Report – “Creativity vs Robots” https://www.nesta.org.uk/report/creativity-vs-robots/
• Nesta UK Working Paper – “Creative Occupations and Subjective Wellbeing” (Fujiwara, Cornwall, Dolan) https://www.nesta.org.uk/documents/412/creative_employment_and_subjective_wellbeing_1509_1.pdf

__________________________________________________________

Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation!

Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work.

YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay

Learn with me
https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy

My Newsletter
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Website:
www.mattjacobphotography.com

Socials:
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“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:

• How to price your creative work with confidence
• The mindset shift that changed everything for Chris
• Why the algorithm rewards authenticity
• The real reason most creatives burn out
• How to turn content into clients
• AI, abundance, and staying relevant
• Why storytelling is your most powerful business tool
• How to move from freelancer to entrepreneur
• Building your audience one post at a time

Subscribe to the MOOD Podcast for more conversations with the world’s leading creative thinkers.

Follow Chris and his work:
Website: www.thefutur.com
Instagram: @thechrisdo
YouTube: @ChrisDo

_________________________________

Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation!

Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work.

YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay

Learn with me
https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy

My Newsletter
https://mattjacobphotography.com/newsletter

Website:
www.mattjacobphotography.com

Socials:
IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouT

Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation!

Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work.

YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay

Learn with me
https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy

My Newsletter
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Website:
www.mattjacobphotography.com

Socials:
IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube | @mattyj_ay

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 the anxiety of this “AI flood,” this episode is a reminder: your humanity is the moat.

Keep showing up. Keep telling stories. And keep making art that only you can make.
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References in the video:

Things that changed everything for me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyQ5i28TD38&t=1s

My Core Brand Narrative Process
https://mattjacobphotography.com/core-brand-narrative-process

MIT study on brain vs. ChatGPT
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2506.08872
_________________________

Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation!

Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work.

YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay

Learn with me
https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy

My Newsletter
https://mattjacobphotography.com/newsletter

Website:
www.mattjacobphotography.com

Socials:
IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube | @mattyj_ay