BLOG
News and Information

My Latest Blog Posts

generator podcast hero image of nikki closser episode 13

Generator Ep. 013 – Nikki Closser: Building Wealth to Build a Dream Life

If you’re in the photography world at all, you’ll know Nikki Closser from her cornerstone work with Sue Bryce on Sue Bryce Education as one of the original mentors, and that experience helped her establish The Portrait System podcast which just reached more than 2 million downloads. I’ve been fortunate to be a guest on The Portrait System and I can tell you that Nikki is the real deal. All of her success is well deserved because of her approach to truly connecting with, and helping the people in her life.

In this conversation we talk about how weird our voices sound, getting started in real estate investing, chicken coop chandeliers, and how to best mitigate risk when building wealth.

generator podcast hero image of nicole york

Generator Ep. 011 – Nicole York: Goddess of her Own Universe

In this episode, Maine photographer Matt Stagliano speaks with Nicole York: author, photographer, digital artist, educator, and creative visionary behind The Artist’s Forge. Nicole is the quintessential artist, mastering her craft in nearly everything she does, and is also one of the smartest people in the industry.

alison caswell personal branding portrait

Alison Caswell – Personal Branding Photos

Experience the transformative power of professional headshots and personal branding portraits by reading this post about Alison Caswell, a licensed therapist and spiritual counselor. As friends for years, I’ve eagerly offered my assistance countless times, waiting for the day when Alison would embrace the opportunity for a photo shoot. That day finally arrived when I received an email from her, expressing her readiness to take the leap and enhance her website with fresh and captivating images. Unveil the true essence of your own brand with Alison’s inspiring story as motivation.

generator podcast hero image of dennis dunbar episode 10

Generator Ep. 010 – Dennis Dunbar: The Man Behind the Movie Posters

In this episode, viewers will hear from Maine-based portrait photographer, Matt Stagliano, as he interviews Hollywood retoucher and digital artist Dennis Dunbar.

Dennis is the man behind some of the most iconic movie posters in the film industry, like Blair Witch Project, I Am Legend, 1832, Deadpool, Jumanji, and the list goes on and on…

From the early days of Photoshop to modern color grading techniques, from film to frequency separation, we talk about it all. If you ever wanted to get a feel for what it’s like to work as an integral part of the commercial and film industries, this is a conversation for you.

You can find more of Dennis’ work at his website, https://dunbardigital.com

generator podcast hero image episode 9 sarah rocca

Generator Ep. 009 – Sarah Rocca: Flying Into a New Type of Fine Art

In this episode, Matt Stagliano speaks with Sarah Rocca, a retoucher, fine art photographer, and drone-assisted self portrait artist located in New Hampshire. Sarah has defined a incredibly innovative voice in aerial self portraits and she talks about her process, her techniques, and what to expect when laying naked in firepits. The conversation also covers mental health, muscle cars, and traveling to desolate places all over the world.

To see more of Sarah’s work please visit sarahjphotography.com

Generator podcast episode 006 with Brian Simpson

Generator Ep. 008 – Brian Simpson

In this episode, Maine-based portrait photographer Matt Stagliano interviews Brian Simpson of Definitive Brewing Co. With over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Brian has worked as a Food & Beverage Director in Boston, NYC, and several locations in Maine.
From the Plaza Hotel in NYC, to the Roger Smith Hotel, to Newbury Street in Boston to Definitive Brewing Company, Brian has an incredible wealth of experience and is as down to earth as you can get.
He is also a long time social media specialist and discusses the very early days of Twitter and how he has used social media to create an exceptional experience for all of his guests for over 15 years. The conversation covers his views on creating community, setting expectations with customers, and all of the comparisons between the world of Hospitality and Social Media.

You’re going to love this conversation.

generator podcast carrie roseman episode hero image

Generator Ep. 007 – Carrie Roseman – Manifesting Your Dream Business

In this episode, Matt Stagliano speaks with Carrie Roseman, a high-end portrait photographer and educator located in CT and NYC area. Carrie is an energetic force of nature and has built her business around creating an unforgettable luxury experience for her successful clients. The conversation covers manifestation, becoming your authentic self, outsourcing work to stay in your “zone of genius” and creating engaging content to drive non-stop bookings. It’s a high energy conversation and one that you are sure to enjoy.

To see more of Carrie’s work please visit carrieroseman.com

generator podcast hero image of matt stagliano episode 06 at wppi

Generator Ep. 006 – WPPI 2023 Recap

In this video, I’m sharing my experience attending the WPPI 2023 Conference and Trade Show, the premier event for wedding and portrait photographers. From the keynote speeches to the vendor booths, I’ll take you through everything I saw, heard, and learned during my time at the conference.

generator podcast hero image of shannon k dougherty episode 05

Generator Ep. 005 – Shannon K Dougherty: Styling Your Life and Business

In this episode, Matt Stagliano speaks with Shannon K Dougherty, a highly published Intimate Portrait photographer and educator located in St Louis, MO. Shannon has defined her own unique style in the Intimate world and her images are instantly recognizable. The discussion ranges from styling clients, to authentic connection, to work/life balance, and the importance of The Office.

To see more of Shannon’s work please visit shannonkdougherty.com

generator podcast hero image of parker pfister episode

Generator – Ep. 003 – Parker Pfister: Photographer, Educator, Author, Artist

In this episode, I speak with my artistic mentor, Parker Pfister: photographer, author, artist, master printer, and educator. Parker lives in a state of childlike wonder and exploration, creating imagery that is powerful, sometimes surreal, and always jawdropping. This was a really fun conversation with a surprise story from his travels across the country.

To see more of his work, please visit parkerpfister.com

interior image of iconic a-frame home

Published in the Wall Street Journal

I do work for local real estate agencies. While I was recently in Arizona attending a workshop, the images of this home were published in an article in the Wall Street Journal. All I can say is how grateful I am!

Portrait Masters 2022 - I Fell In Love

I Fell In Love at Portrait Masters 2022

I’ve gone to every Portrait Masters event since 2018. I’ve always had goals, but this year I was a little more intentional. What I wasn’t expecting was that I would fall in Love.

generator podcast erica manning episode hero image

Generator Ep. 002 – Erica Manning

In this episode, Matt Stagliano speaks with Erica Manning, one of the country’s foremost senior photographers, educator and world traveler. Learn about her approach to photo competitions, lighting, and defining your voice.

To see more of Erica’s work please visit ericamanningphoto.com

generator podcast nina covington episode hero image

Generator Ep. 001 – Nina Covington

In this episode, I speak with Nina Covington: photographer, model, and filmmaker about her process, her love of horses, and including activism into your artwork.

Self portrait of Matt Stagliano and a dog

2022 – Being Selfish for Others

I’ve written my 2022 Goals, set my intentions and am putting into practice all the things I said I would do. Being selfish for others is at the top of the list.

medusa in a kimono using a curling iron - stonetree creative - maine's premiere portrait studio

Even Medusa Needs Headshots

Medusa has always been portrayed as ugly, sinister, and monstrous. I’ve always found her to be beautiful, so when she wanted headshots and personal branding images, I was onboard immediately.

Get to Know Stonetree Creative owner Matt Stagliano

Get To Know Us

What is the story behind Stonetree Creative? When people start to get to know us,

senior couple kissing

A Visit from Mom and Dad

When Mom & Dad said they were coming to visit me in Maine, I knew I had the perfect opportunity to get them dressed up and into the studio.

Maine CoLab Website

Maine CoLab Website

The Maine CoLab was an artist collaborative and retail area that we helped develop here

Stonetree Creative Building

An Introduction to Stonetree

A lot of folks questioned my sanity when I said I wanted to start a second company. Believe me, there are days I question it as well!