Meet Matt Stasi

We were lucky to catch up with Matt Stasi recently and have shared our conversation below.

Matt, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

Honestly, my work ethic comes from my dad. He was a first-generation Italian American who didn’t speak English until the fifth grade. He spent years traveling around the country doing whatever labor he could get — construction, longshoreman, all of it — until he eventually built an Italian restaurant in our hometown from the ground up.

That place stood for 57 years. It fed families, it was part of the community, and he showed up every day, no matter what. Even when it burned down in the end.

Growing up watching that — the consistency, the pride in doing something well, the idea that you earn your place — that stuck with me. That’s the foundation for how I work, how I shoot, how I show up for the people who step in front of my lens.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

So I shoot cinematic headshots for actors, but the thing is — I don’t really look at headshots as just “pictures.” To me, actors are some of the most courageous people out there. You’re constantly putting yourself on the line, emotionally, publicly, creatively — and I really try to honor that in the way I work.

So when someone comes to shoot with me, I’m not just trying to make them look good. Anyone can make a “pretty picture” these days — the internet is full of them. What I’m really trying to get to is the core of who you are and what you bring to the room as an actor. I want the shots to show multiple layers of your humanity — your humor, your darkness, your softness, your edge — whatever is uniquely you.

I always joke that the goal is to get you photos that don’t get you killed off in the first episode — but there’s some truth to that. I want casting to immediately see that you’ve got depth, grounding, and the capacity to carry something real if they hand it to you.

And the process reflects that. There’s no conveyor belt energy in my studio. You’re not rushed. We take our time. We build each look from you, not from some cookie-cutter idea of “the lawyer” or “the cop” or “the best friend.” I’m with you before the shoot too — wardrobe, tone, character-world, all of that. I want you walking in already feeling locked in and confident.

Because at the end of the day — your success is my success. And my whole goal is to help you show up in photos the same way you show up at your best on set: grounded, compelling, and undeniably human.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

If there’s one quality that’s carried me the whole way, it’s being willing to fail. I really mean that. You have to be willing to try things, to experiment, to push past what feels safe — because the good stuff doesn’t happen inside the comfort zone. Some of my favorite images came from moments where I thought, “This might not work,” and I did it anyway.

And the second piece of that is: over-produce for your clients. Show up. Care. Take the extra time. People feel that. Actors especially. They’re giving you vulnerability — the least I can do is give them everything I’ve got in return. I’d rather walk out of a session exhausted knowing I left it all on the table than play it cool or minimal. Their success is my success, so I treat it that way.

And honestly? You’ve just gotta get out and shoot. Don’t wait for the perfect gear or the perfect studio or the perfect idea. Shoot your friends, shoot strangers, shoot in bad light, shoot when you’re uninspired. You learn by doing. You build your eye by seeing. You build your confidence by messing up and trying again.

So, yeah — be willing to fail, over-deliver, and keep shooting. That’s the whole game right there.

How would you describe your ideal client?

My ideal client is someone who trusts the process. Meaning — they don’t come in trying to “perform” a version of themselves or control every inch of the shoot. They’re willing to show up as they are, stay open, and explore.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stasiphotography.com/
• Instagram: @stasiphoto

Image Credits

Stasi Photography
@stasiphoto