The MOOD Podcast

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:
What the Chico Review actually is (and who it's for)
My 10 portfolio reviews: the breakthroughs, the brutal moments, and the one that made me cry
Why cohesion matters more than individual images
How the week changed my approach to sequencing, editing, and book-making
What my project looks like now vs. what I brought to the table on day 1.

About the Chico Review:
The Chico Review is an annual photography portfolio review held in Chico Hot Springs, Montana. 80 photographers. Reviewers from Magnum, L'Artier, TIS Books, Deadbeat Club, Tresspasser, SFMOMA, The New Yorker, and many more. 6 days of formal reviews, informal conversations, and everything in between. It's one of the most respected portfolio review events in the world — and one of the most humbling.

If you're a photographer questioning your work, your direction, or whether feedback is worth seeking — this one's for you.

PART 2 DROPS NEXT WEEK — subscribe so you don't miss it. And for more deep, reflective photography conversations in the meantime, subscribe to The MOOD Podcast 🎙️

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📸 https://mattjacob.co
🎙️ https://themoodpodcast.com
📷 @mattyj_ay
📷 @the_moodpodcast

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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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:
Brad’s childhood in a small working-class town and the library that changed his life
The photo books that first opened up the world for him
Why boredom, curiosity, and challenge shaped his creative mind
His collaborations with Alec Soth and how words and images can work together
What he looks for in photography portfolio reviews and artist statements
Why some photo projects feel alive and others feel forced
The difference between a strong print and a strong book edit
Why poetry rarely works inside photo books
The collapse of journalism and why Brad is more hopeful about photography than writing
The danger of fake online community and what in-person culture still gives us
Why print, books, and real-world encounters still matter more than ever
Find Brad on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bradzellar
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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.

YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay

Learn with me
https://mattjacob.co/learn

My Newsletter
https://www.mattjacob.co/archive

Website:
https://themoodpodcast.com

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

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 understand my own creative process. I talk about the difference between traction and distraction, why many forms of self-development can quietly pull us off course, and how photography often becomes a mirror of the person behind the camera. 
Better photography doesn’t begin with better gear or more information. It begins with understanding what governs your attention. When you learn to observe your own patterns, impulses, and motivations more clearly, your work becomes more coherent, more intentional, and more authentic. Without that awareness, even the best technical knowledge rarely translates into meaningful work. 
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://mattjacob.co/learn

My Newsletter
https://www.mattjacob.co/archive

Website:
https://themoodpodcast.com

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

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:
Why a truly great photograph can change you foreve
The camera as a “visa” and the privilege, access, and responsibility of photographing people
The collapse of durable editorial outlets and why modern campaigns disappear fast
How smartphone photography and in-house content have impacted rates and rights
Building a personal photography voice instead of copying lighting setups
Tenacity, failure tolerance, and why awards are “temporary”
What makes an image “good” and how to stop viewers mid-scroll with emotion
Research, rapport, and making subjects feel safe in portrait photography
Mentorship, gatekeeping, and why photography skills should be passed on
Food for the table vs food for the soul, and how photographers stay alive creatively
The isolation of the modern photography workflow and the loss of communal learning spaces
Find Joe on the following platforms:
Website: https://joemcnally.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joemcnallyphoto
Online Teaching Platform: https://betterpictureswithjoe.com
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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.

YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay

Learn with me
https://mattjacob.co/learn

My Newsletter
https://www.mattjacob.co/archive

Website:
https://themoodpodcast.com

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

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 she directs people into stillness, why she avoids performance in front of the camera, and what she believes photographers must protect if they want a lasting voice. 
Other topics we discussed:
Hasselblad Masters 2018 and what winning changed (and did not change)
Natural light portrait photography and “tracing” window light
Finding your photographic voice versus chasing style
Competitions, judging, and what makes an image stop a panel
Rejection, resilience, and the “it factor” in a saturated industry
Medium format cameras and why gear is never the starting point
Social media, authenticity, and the danger of creating for likes
Commercial photography, client comfort, and building trust fast
Photography as escape, healing, and creative obsession
Tina's upcoming project: Colliding Walls (Iceland collaboration + book) 

Find Tina on her website and Instagram:
https://www.tinasignesdottir.com
https://www.instagram.com/tinasignesdottir/
______________________________________________________
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://mattjacob.co/learn

My Newsletter
https://www.mattjacob.co/archive

Website:
https://themoodpodcast.com

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