Moments of Mood..
Hey there,
I’m really glad you’re here. This space was born out of a deep desire for something I love to connect with: slower, more honest conversations about photography, creativity, and the pursuit of meaningful work.
Social Media has been a powerful visual stage for me — but the pace, the algorithms, the noise… it leaves little room for reflection. With my newsletter - Moments of Mood - I strip all that back. To create a quieter, more spacious corner of the internet where we can speak freely about the things that matter: art, intention, growth, and the long road toward finding your voice.
This isn’t just a newsletter about photography. It’s a dialogue about how we create, why we create, and what it means to make work that truly reflects who we are.
Each newsletter of Moments of Mood, I share:
Stories behind the portraits
Lessons from the road — both inner and outer
Honest reflections on the creative process
Philosophy, mindset shifts, and the occasional failure
Thoughts on ethics, representation, and cultural responsibility in documentary work
Reviews and feedback of my podcast episode experiences.
Whether you’re a photographer, a creative of another kind, or just someone seeking a deeper sense of expression and connection — I hope you find something here that resonates.
New issues every 2 weeks on Wednesdays. No fluff. Just real talk and raw insight.
Thanks for showing up.
— Matt
So who am I, and why should you care?
I’m Matt Jacob — a photographer, podcast host, and creative educator. For years I lived in 2 worlds: flying private jets around the globe as a pilot, and grounding myself through portraiture in some of the most remote and culturally rich places on earth.
It’s still my true love, but now, I also ground myself in the perspectives of others through my powerful and enlightening podcast - The MOOD Podcast - as well as help emerging photographers and creatives find their voice, develop powerful bodies of work, and build careers rooted in authenticity rather than algorithms.
My focus? Portraiture, culture, identity, and the visual poetry of real people and real places. I believe photography is more than documentation — it’s a tool for empathy, awareness, and reflection.
When I’m not shooting or mentoring, you’ll find me hosting The MOOD Podcast — deep-dive conversations with artists and thinkers on creativity, purpose, and self-expression.
I live in Bali, where I obsess over my 4 dogs as well as run a specialty coffee house, creative studio and artisan jewelry brand. I love to build community through conversation and the sharing of information.
Else, what’s all this for…?
You can follow more of my work on Instagram:
To learn more about what drives me and the stories I aim to tell, watch this video.
Why Subscribe?
Because you’re tired of surface-level content.
Because you want your creative work to mean something.
Because you know you have something to say — you just haven’t found the form yet.
As a subscriber, you’ll get:
Behind-the-scenes breakdowns of my assignments and portrait series
Unfiltered reflections on the emotional and philosophical side of photography
Field notes from cultural documentation work in places like Indonesia, Angola, and India
Creative mindset tools that help you overcome blocks and build your own visual voice
And most importantly, a seat at the table in a community of thoughtful, inspired makers
This is not about chasing trends. It’s about making the kind of work you can be proud of — work that reflects your truth and contributes something meaningful to the world.
So if that sounds like your kind of space, I’d love to have you here.
Let’s build something that lasts.
Want to go deeper?
