Why Your Photography Looks Like Everyone Else’s, and It’s Not a Lack of Ideas
Why Your Photography Looks Like Everyone Else’s, and It’s Not a Lack of Ideas  
Podcast: The MOOD Podcast
Published On: Thu Nov 05 2026
Description: In this solo episode I bring together 3 recent conversations: with photographer Matthew Genitempo, author of Jasper, psychologist Zahra Ciardi and photographer Emiliano Zúñiga Hernández, whose photobook Paraíso grew out of the hardest chapter of his life. Without knowing it, all 3 described the same obstacle: the version of you that holds the camera too tightly and needs every photograph to prove you're a real photographer. I talk about why that grip makes your photography look like everyone else's, why new gear, presets and trips don't fix it, and what actually loosens it: going back to one place close to home, being less precious with your pictures, sharing your work slowly, changing what fuels it and coming back to yourself every day.If you know what you should be doing with your photography but still aren’t doing it, these 5 shifts will change where your photographs come from.Other things we discussed:The critique where Todd Papageorge told Matthew Genitempo to stay in 1 placeCarrying hundreds of prints to reviews and learning they weren't saying what I thoughtWhy the photos you don't remember taking are the threads worth followingThe advice I've given for years that Zahra says could be wrongDo you have to suffer to make great photography?Emiliano's 3 daily questions and 3 gratitudesWhat would you photograph this week if you weren't trying to prove anything?Find Matthew here:https://www.matthewgenitempo.com/https://www.instagram.com/genitempo/Find Zahra here:https://zahraciardi.com/ https://www.instagram.com/zahra_ciardi/https://ascendantbali.com/Find Emiliano here:https://www.instagram.com/emilianozunigah/Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation!Support the show_________________________________Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can listen and watch full extended and ad-free episodes in my community - The MOOD Insiders - where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as meet with the community on book club weekly events, special guest features, bonus content, open forum access, free resources and so much more. Join The Community - extended episodes & bonus featureshttps://www.mattjacob.co/insidersThe App That Transformed My Art & Mindhttps://wakingup.sjv.io/c/7738181/3958771/54965Website:https://themoodpodcast.comSocials:IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube | @mattyj_ay