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GeneratorA podcast about creativity Author: Matt Stagliano
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. Language: en Genres: Arts, Business, Entrepreneurship, Visual Arts Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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066 - How to Use Brain Science to Make Better Portraits
Episode 66
Sunday, 16 November, 2025
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 sessionCONNECT WITH MATT:Website: https://stonetreecreative.comInstagram: @stonetreecreativePortfolio: https://stonetreecreative.com/portfolioHere's what I use to make Generator a reality: SOFTWAREECamm - What I use to live stream, record my video, and conduct interviews (Only for Mac)https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=generatorCaptivate.fm - The software I use to publish every audio episode and distribute it everywherehttps://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yjuymdqo17Hats - Get 50% off your first year of the best CRM for entrepreneurshttps://referrals.17hats.com/card/stonetreeBorisFX Crumplepop- Clean up audio faster than ever before https://borisfx.com/?a_aid=68bb347aa27d1HARDWAREMy Entire Studio Setup - This is an ongoing list of all the equipment I use in my home...
