Join host and Maine portrait photographer Matt Stagliano while he has long, casual conversations with his guests about creativity in photography, art, business, and relationships.
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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
How to structure a live show with segments that keep you focused without killing spontaneity
Why pre-recording and editing for hours might be holding you back from consistent output
What the ADHD tax really costs solopreneurs and how to work with your brain instead of against it
Why building an email list matters more than vanity metrics on social platforms
How to set up a multi-camera podcast studio without spending a fortune on cinema cameras
Why surrounding yourself with creators outside your niche changes everything about your motivation
What it means to build a business that can run without you constantly propping it up
How to use live streaming as a forcing function to stop overthinking and start shipping
Why vulnerability in content creation isn't weakness but the thing that builds real connection
What tools and workflows actually move the needle when you're building alone
Download the free Generator Guest Prep Guide: DM "guide" to @generatorpodcast on Instagram
Generator releases new episodes every Wednesday at 7pm Eastern, with live working sessions on Friday mornings at 9am Eastern.
About Generator
Generator is a podcast for working creatives who are tired of the highlight reel. Hosted by Maine portrait photographer Matt Stagliano, each episode digs into the real struggles of building a creative business, managing mental health, and doing work that matters. No corporate speak. No empty motivation. Just honest conversations about what it takes to keep creating when the world keeps telling you to do something different.
067 - The System I Don't Need
Episode 67
Sunday, December 7, 2025 • Duration 14:41
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 ADHD brain turns anxiety into projects, why analyzing my thought patterns became another layer of avoidance, and what I'm actually cutting from my content for the next six months. If you've ever told yourself you need a better workflow before you can start, this one's for you.
What You'll Learn
Why turning anxiety into a "system to build" feels productive but keeps you from actually solving the problem
How ADHD brains need constraints, not more sophisticated systems, to work with scattered creative energy
What happens when you try to make three different types of content simultaneously and why nothing gets the attention it deserves
The difference between speed and direction, and why chaos looks like productivity when you're moving fast enough
Why trying to do everything at 60% quality serves no one, especially not the people you're trying to help
How the fear of running out of time creates panic that looks like action but leads nowhere
What it means to stop using analysis as a way to avoid commitment and actually make decisions
Why the only system that matters is asking yourself each day: did I help someone, and did I make something that matters
The real reason creatives build elaborate workflows instead of doing the work they're afraid to commit to
How to recognize when you're using complexity as an excuse not to choose a direction
Listen & Subscribe
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066 - How to Use Brain Science to Make Better Portraits
Episode 66
Monday, November 17, 2025 • Duration 28:46
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 ratios. Posing guides.
This is about the why. Why certain light makes someone feel safe. Why breaking eye contact for two seconds can kill a connection. Why the images clients love most are rarely the ones I think are technically perfect.
I talk about contrast and color temperature, sure. But also about Aristotle's concept of logos, mirror neurons in neuroscience, and what beginner's mind from Zen Buddhism teaches us about staying curious. Because good portrait photography lives at the intersection of all three: science, philosophy, and consistent practice.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
-Why your eyes only focus on a thumbnail-sized area at any moment and your brain constructs everything else based on prediction and past experience
-How contrast, color temperature, and symmetry trigger specific emotional responses because of millions of years of human evolution
-The difference between knowing the technical rules and understanding which rule serves the specific person in front of you right now
-Why mirror neurons mean your subject unconsciously picks up every bit of stress or disconnection you bring into the session
-How treating photography as a practice instead of a skill you master once keeps you learning from every single session
CONNECT WITH MATT:
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065-Can Podcasts Save Photography? (And What We Should Be Building)
Episode 65
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 • Duration 24:36
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 and learn less.
So I'm building a photography podcast network. Not just a collection of shows. An ecosystem where podcasts feed community, community feeds virtual conferences, conferences create premium content, and that content incubates new talent that cycles back. Everything feeds everything else. It's a flywheel, not a one-off event.
This isn't about replacing what exists or competing with anyone. It's about filling the gap they left behind. Creating ongoing conversation instead of annual events. Building sustainable revenue for educators instead of asking them to work for free. Giving photographers a place to stay connected, keep learning, and stay in the work they love.
This is the way forward.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Why photography conferences became expensive reunions instead of career-launching opportunities for working photographers
How virtual summits turned into forgettable content dumps and why nobody remembers what they learned
The difference between one-off events and an ongoing ecosystem that actually keeps photographers connected
Why the traditional sponsorship model collapsed and what sustainable revenue for educators looks like instead
How a podcast network flywheel creates value at every stage instead of just extracting it from creatives
064 - Angela Anderson: The Morning Routine That Will Change Your Business
Episode 64
Monday, November 3, 2025 • Duration 01:23:37
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 photography business while managing mental health struggles. We dig into how a single morning routine transformed not just her work but her entire relationship with being a creative business owner. This conversation goes deep on what it actually takes to keep showing up, even when you're barely functioning, and why that might be the real definition of success.
What You'll Learn
How to use a structured morning routine to create momentum when depression makes everything feel impossible. Angela breaks down the exact sequence that pulls her out of bed and into action.
Why teaching and mentorship can breathe new life into your photography business when client work alone isn't enough. She explains the shift from pure client work to creating an education model that serves her community.
What it means to measure success by persistence rather than profit. Angela shares why she defines winning as simply still being in the game, and how that mindset has kept her moving forward for a decade.
How to transition from wanting to be an artist to actually becoming one. She talks about recognizing her limitations with drawing and painting, then finding her voice through a camera instead.
Why affirmations and visualization actually work when you pair them with a system. Angela describes how the Miracle Morning framework gave structure to concepts that previously felt too abstract.
What starting photography with a Canon T3i and zero mentorship teaches you about resourcefulness. She remembers the early days of figuring everything out through books and online courses.
Guest ResourcesListen & Subscribe
063-Tracy Matthews: Using Your Creativity to Flourish and Thrive
Episode 63
Monday, October 27, 2025 • Duration 01:13:09
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 your business can only grow as much as you grow internally, and why the work that comes easiest to you is exactly what you should be charging the most money for. We also talk about storytelling that sells without feeling gross, and this concept of on season versus off season that I've been obsessing over since my conversation with Brandon Washington.
What You'll Learn
Why everyone is creative, even if you swear you're not, and how reframing what creativity actually means changes everything about how you see your work
How the thing that comes easiest to you is your natural gift, not something you should discount or give away for free
Why your business can only grow as much as you grow internally, and what that means for the mindset work most people avoid
The difference between being an artist, a visionary, and an architect, and why understanding your creative type matters for how you build your business
How to tell stories that actually sell without feeling like you're selling, by making it about your customer instead of your ego
What it looks like to reinvent yourself every seven years, and why that pattern isn't random but a natural part of growth
How to recognize when you're burned out versus when you're just in the wrong season of your business
Why the nervous system plays a bigger role in your business success than you think, and how to work with it instead of against it
The concept of on season versus off season in your work, and why constant creation mode isn't sustainable or necessary
Guest ResourcesListen & SubscribeConnect with Generator
062 - Ashleigh Taylor: When Creative Integrity Costs You Everything
Episode 62
Monday, October 20, 2025 • Duration 01:37:38
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 to yourself when the ground shifts beneath you.
We talk about the difference between business failure and personal failure, why hobbies that cost money might be the best investment you make, and how to show up for clients when you're barely holding it together yourself. This one gets real.
What You'll Learn
Why separating your identity from your business might save you when things go wrong
How investing in hobbies that bring you joy, even expensive ones, can pull you out of creative burnout and remind you who you are outside of work
What it means to mask your struggles during client sessions and when that's necessary versus harmful to your own wellbeing
Why the most talented photographers aren't always the ones who succeed, and what actually matters more than technical skill when building a sustainable business
How to recognize when you're falling into victim mindset and the practical steps Ashleigh takes to snap out of it
What creative integrity looks like in practice, including when to turn down lucrative work that doesn't align with your values
Why having a trusted hair and makeup artist on your team creates transition time that helps you land emotionally before a shoot starts
How to market yourself from a place of confidence rather than constantly trying to prove your worth to potential clients
The difference between authentic coaching and manipulation, and what red flags to watch for when investing in education
Why doing creative work without attaching outcomes or expectations to it is the hardest and most important practice for long-term sustainability
Guest ResourcesListen & SubscribeConnect with Generator
Ep. 061 - Ben Marcum: Don't Make an Avocado Green Fridge
Episode 61
Monday, October 6, 2025 • Duration 01:21:09
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 never-ending tug-of-war between creativity and comparison. It’s a candid look at what it takes to build a creative business without losing your sanity or sense of humor.
Podcast Title: Generator
Episode Title: Ben Marcum: Don't Make An Avocado Green Fridge
Episode Number: 61
Publish Date: 6 Oct 2025
Episode Overview
• How short-form video can strengthen client relationships and attract real fans
• Why authentic storytelling beats social-media trends every time
• Ben’s pre-session rituals and grounding practices for emotional shoots
• The difference between directing and collaborating with clients
• How to handle self-criticism, mental health, and burnout as a creative
• Why timeless portraits outlast the algorithm
Enjoyed the episode?
Hit Like, Subscribe, and tell me in the comments what part resonated most with you. Your feedback helps more creators find these conversations.
🎧 Watch the full Generator playlist:
Ep. 060 - Judith Hill: The Universal Power of Connection
Episode 60
Monday, September 29, 2025 • Duration 01:33:24
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 when she stops trying to chase the "right" way of doing things. This conversation is about staying curious, letting the process evolve, and making space for the work to breathe.
Podcast Title: Generator
Episode Title: Judith Hill: The Universal Power of Connection
Episode Number: 60
Publish Date: 29 Sept 2025
What you’ll learn in this episode:
• Why slowing down can actually make your work more impactful
• How Judith approaches creative direction and builds intentional shoots
• What it means to “listen to the work” instead of controlling it
• How to trust your ideas even when they don’t fit a trend
• The challenges of creating art while also running a business
• What it looks like to lead a client through an experience, not just a session
• How Judith blends narrative, styling, and trust to create soulful portraits
Ep. 059 - Annie Marie: Still Thriving After a 30 Year Career
Episode 59
Monday, September 22, 2025 • Duration 01:24:33
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 in the industry a long time. Annie shares how she keeps learning, how she teaches, and why she cares more about creating connection than chasing trends. She walks through her approach to working with seniors and families, and how she builds images that hold up over time.
Her workshops are a reflection of that same calm focus. They’re small on purpose. There’s time to breathe, to think, to actually work through ideas instead of rushing through a shot list. She talks about the value of styling, lighting, and making people feel comfortable, whether they’re in front of the lens or behind it.
We also get into her work as a graphic designer. She creates branding templates and marketing materials for other photographers. For Annie, it’s another way to support the community and keep her creativity sharp.
There’s no ego here. Just experience, clarity, and a deep respect for the craft.
Takeaways:
Annie Marie emphasizes the importance of continuous learning in photography, no matter how experienced one becomes.
She believes in creating a comfortable and intimate environment during workshops, allowing photographers to connect with their subjects.
Annie's unique approach to lighting focuses on the feeling it evokes rather than just technical execution, enhancing the emotional impact of her portraits.
Enjoyed this episode? Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover these conversations.
Website: generatorpodcast.com
Instagram: @generatorpodcast
TikTok: @generatorpodcast
YouTube: @generatorpodcast
Host: Matt Stagliano - Stonetree Creative, Maine
Generator is a podcast about the creative process, personal growth, and what it means to build something meaningful. Hosted by portrait photographer Matt Stagliano.
Here's what I use to make Generator a reality:
SOFTWARE
ECamm - What I use to live stream, record my video, and conduct interviews (Only for Mac)
17Hats - Get 50% off your first year of the best CRM for entrepreneurs
https://referrals.17hats.com/card/stonetree
BorisFX Crumplepop- Clean up audio faster than ever before
https://borisfx.com/?a_aid=68bb347aa27d1
HARDWARE
My Entire Studio Setup - This is an ongoing list of all the equipment I use in my home...
If this resonated with you, hit subscribe and drop a comment below. Tell me what you need from a photography community. And if you want more Generator episodes, check out the full playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzasfyiMDyZ1ZhVsRmr4620ecEQItlqW0
INTERESTED IN JOINING THE NETWORK?
If you're a podcaster with a different voice and perspective, reach out.
If you're an educator tired of trading time for exposure, let's talk.
How to build an eight-week intensive course that takes students from manual mode to portfolio shoots. Angela outlines the curriculum that covers technical skills, business setup, pricing, marketing, and hands-off portfolio builds.
Why planning your calendar six months out creates breathing room instead of restriction. She explains how mapping workshops, courses, and conferences in advance helps her protect time for herself.
What it looks like to give yourself permission to struggle while still showing up. Angela gets honest about the days she can barely function but still makes those baby steps forward anyway.
How authentic connection at conferences creates lasting relationships in the photography community. She reflects on the power of really seeing people and making them feel valued in crowded industry spaces.
Angela Anderson
Portrait photographer and photography educator in Tucson, Arizona
Follow on Social Media: Connect with us on Instagram or TikTok @generatorpodcast or on YouTube @stonetreecreative
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