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What does it really take to build a creative career that lasts—from film backs and FedExed portfolios to AI search and virtual production walls? The Dead Pixels Society sits down with commercial photographer and stock photo library owner Stewart Cohen to trace a candid arc across decades of change, revealing what fades, what scales, and what never stops mattering.
Cohen starts with the old-school apprenticeship: assisting legends, traveling light, and learning how to manage clients when the stakes are high. He explains why he chose commercial work over weddings, the thrill of annual reports that sent him around the world, and how he built trust before online portfolios existed. When digital upended the economics—killing film costs while introducing tech overhead—he didn’t flinch. He rebuilt the business model, focused on relationships, and found leverage in licensing by treating every frame as an asset that can pay again and again.
Cohen then digs into ownership and strategy. He shares why he acquired Superstock, how he invests in metadata and modern search, and where AI currently fits: powering discovery and efficiency rather than chasing loss-leading generative tools. He talks about the market’s swing away from over-retouched perfection toward authenticity, and how video workflows are transforming with virtual production walls, smarter post, and lighter gear. Through it all, one theme anchors the story: deliver on time and on budget, but bring heart to the picture. Tools change; trust and taste don’t.
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Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau
Edited by Olivia Pageau
Announcer: Erin Manning
