What if closing your studio isn't failure but the smartest business decision you could make?

Nine days into 2026 and I'm seeing patterns emerge that tell me this year is going to force a lot of photographers to make hard choices. Not because the industry is dying, but because the old models aren't working the way they used to.

I walk through my predictions for where professional photography is heading this year. Studio closures and why they bring relief. Virtual summits that need to stop being cash grabs. Podcast networks built on community instead of sponsor money. The rise of YouTube and live streaming as real revenue streams. And the anti-AI revolt that's already starting as photographers realize it's not the time-saver we were promised.

What You'll Learn

Why studio photographers are closing their doors and feeling relieved instead of defeated about it

How to look at your studio business like an accountant and make decisions without emotion clouding judgment

What makes virtual summits feel like money grabs and how to produce them with actual value

Why podcast networks built around community will outlast the ones chasing sponsorship dollars first

How YouTube and live streaming create diversified income streams beyond traditional photography

What vlogging and creator shows mean for photographers who want to connect with audiences differently

Why online live selling will become a bigger part of how photographers market their services

How AI is actually slowing us down instead of making us more efficient

What the anti-AI revolt looks like as photographers wake up to the limitations of generated content

Why 2026 is a pivot year for deciding what you actually want your photography business to look like

Listen & Subscribe

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Connect with Generator

Website: generatorpodcast.com | stonetreecreative.com Instagram: @generatorpodcast | @stonetreecreative TikTok: @generatorpodcast YouTube: @generatorpodcast

Interested in being a guest on Generator Live? Email [email protected]

Generator releases new episodes every Wednesday at 7pm Eastern, with live working sessions on Friday mornings at 9am Eastern.

Host: Matt Stagliano, Stonetree Creative, Maine

About Generator

Generator is a podcast for working creatives who are tired of the highlight reel. Hosted by Maine portrait photographer Matt Stagliano, each episode digs into the real struggles of building a creative business, managing mental health, and doing work that matters. No corporate speak. No empty motivation. Just honest conversations about what it takes to keep creating when the world keeps telling you to do something different.

Keywords: photography industry predictions 2026, studio photography business, podcast networks for photographers, YouTube for photographers, live streaming photography content, anti-AI movement, virtual summit production, photography business diversification, vlogging for photographers, creative business strategy, Maine photographer, professional photography trends

Here's what I use to make Generator a reality:

SOFTWARE

ECamm - What I use to live stream, record my video, and conduct interviews (Only for Mac)

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HARDWARE

My Entire Studio Setup - This is an ongoing list of all the equipment I use in my home studio

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Small print: Some of these are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I get a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend stuff I actually use.