The MOOD Podcast

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 s...

”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 liv...

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 contro...

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 yo...

“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...

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 irreplaceab...

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 sh...

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...

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,...

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 Recip...

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...

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 t...

"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 sh...

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...

"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 wi...

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...

"If you're not waking up excited about your path, it might be time to ask different questions." Ryan Moresby-White explores how unresolved childhood wounds shape our creative expression and why healing our nervous system unlocks artistic freedom. His powerful insights reveal why many creatives unconsciously create from a place of protection rather than truth. Whether you’re an artis...

In this special episode of Moments of Mood, I’m sharing my keynote speech from the Global Possibilities Summit, where I spoke on a topic close to my heart: How to Find Your Voice as an Artist.  This is the story of how cancer, depression, and a camera led me to rediscover myself — and how intentionality, presence, and rebellion can turn your art into something truly meaningful.  Whether you’re a p...

"Sometimes the photo is the excuse - the real gift is the connection." ___________ Mitchell  Kanashkevich   is a travel and documentary photographer best known for his emotive portraits, vibrant visual storytelling, and deeply immersive work documenting disappearing cultures and sacred traditions. With a career spanning two decades, his images have been featured in top international publ...

This is the story of how I walked away from a life that looked perfect on paper to create something that actually felt like mine. It’s not a highlight reel or a 5-step formula — it’s the real journey of becoming a full-time creative from scratch. If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you are and who the world expects you to be…If you’ve ever picked up a camera hoping to express something real…If y...

"If you don't find your voice, you're probably not contributing to the evolution of humanity in the way you want." __________ Jaymin Patel is a global speaker, spiritual mentor, and high-performance coach who blends energetic mastery with deep mindset work. He’s spoken at Harvard, Stanford, and TEDx, and coached hundreds of creative entrepreneurs to overcome fear, find their au...

“The most powerful images you’ll ever create won’t come from pressing the shutter. They’ll come from learning how to see — clearly, intentionally, and fully.” ______ In this episode of Moments of Mood, I share the story of a photography workshop (back in the day) that quietly reshaped everything for me — not just as a photographer, but as an artist and human. What started as a curious endeavour tu...

“I Don’t Think Photography Will Survive — But I Will.” ___________ Erik Almas is a legendary photographer known for his cinematic composites and emotionally rich commercial work. With a career spanning 25 years, he’s shot global campaigns for brands like Audi and Pfizer — but beneath the surface lies a deeper story about artistic identity, mentorship, burnout, and the search for meaning. In this i...

At the time of posting, things are retreating in the tariff landscape but still, the US government's new (temporary or permanent?) tariffs on imported goods are creating a shifting landscape for photographers that could affect everything from gear prices to client bookings. Or are they? Is this just more politic? Another fumbled PR stunt, or maybe even a clever economic negotiating tactic? Wh...

"There's more to happiness than just a great photograph." What if the most powerful photo you take has nothing to do with photography—and everything to do with healing? In this week’s episode, I sit down with Simon Baxter , a woodland photographer whose work is as much about emotional connection and personal transformation as it is about trees and light. Based in North Yorkshire, En...