Every once in a while I get reflective and start thinking about where I was 5, 10, 15 years ago... It’s often when I’m sorting through photos because my timeline is defined by my photo files. I don’t always remember what year something happened. But when I look at my photos, then I know. I went to Japan in 2009 because that’s what folder it’s in.

I started thinking about how much I’ve learned in the past 10 years about photography! And how much I’ve grown. Not just learned technically, but how much I’ve grown mindfully in my photo skills. And I started thinking that this is the perfect list to share with my readers. My rationale for sharing my challenges, my mistakes, my aha moments...is always so that you can learn from them. I mean why recreate the wheel, am I right?

If you read one of my struggles and say “hey that sounds exactly like what I’m dealing with right now!” GREAT! Then read on, and get all the tools you need to correct it. So instead of years, your journey can get you there in weeks...or months. That would make me very happy.

#1 Slow shutter speed causes out-of-focus photos

I did a whole blog post on this embarrassing admission. I won’t bore you with more details or torture myself by belaboring that point. Moving on.

There’s probably not much technically perfect about this photo. And yet? I love it. It captures the NYC subway to me, which is such a fantastic memory of when Neal and I lived there. I loved the subway, loved the experience, so I love this imperfect… — There’s probably not much technically perfect about this photo. And yet? I love it. It captures the NYC subway to me, which is such a fantastic memory of when Neal and I lived there. I loved the subway, loved the experience, so I love this imperfect photo.

#2 The moment captured is more important than a technically perfect photo

Boy, some engineer types just squirmed a little when they read that. All the classes, workshops, training I took at the start of my photo journey taught me the opposite - that your goal is a perfectly exposed and focused photo. Well now I say hogwash.

This I learned from the brilliant documentary family photographer, Kirsten Lewis, whom I studied with for 6 months. Are exposure and focus important? Of course. If either of those is way off, can it still be a good photo? No. BUT if it’s really close to being perfect exposure and focus but is a smidge off AND the moment makes you cry? Still a damn good photo. Deal with it, engineers.

#3 Photos are about memories as much as about creating art

I used to judge whether something was worth making a photo of by whether it was “wall worthy”. If not, then it wasn’t worth my time. Wow was THAT short-sighted! I missed out on SO many opportunities for capturing life. Remembering moments.

Now? Oh I still look for that spectacular ‘Eiffel Tower at sunrise’ shot. But that’s the minority of what I make. Most of my work is capturing moments, interactions, memories that will live long past my prints.

This one I was pretty critical of…at first. Now I like that he’s not completely in focus - it shows his movement through the scene. And I can completely remember this moment and will always…because of this photo.

#4 Storytelling is what makes photos real and valuable, not the number of likes on Instagram

To take #3 a little further... I’ve also developed a real storytelling approach to my photos. Not just capturing a moment, but a series of moments, scenes, details that combined tell the whole story of the day, adventure, experience.

Why this has become so important to me, is that storytelling with our photos is a way to share with and educate others about our experiences. And the more people know about other people, other cultures, they can start to see that we are all so very much the same. We all have the same struggles and the same dreams. We just speak different languages and eat different food.

And we get the chance to relive those adventures over and over when there’s a story and not just a random photo here and there. It helps us fill in the gaps of our adventures so that later we can FEEL the experience again, not just see it. You can tell I get really passionate about this topic, and as you might guess there’s a whole blog post on it over here.

This is one of my favorite storytelling photos. It’s not one that others have raved about…or even commented much on. But it’s one of my favorites. There’s SO much going on here! And with the lighting, it really highlights a couple of people and the … — This is one of my favorite storytelling photos. It’s not one that others have raved about…or even commented much on. But it’s one of my favorites. There’s SO much going on here! And with the lighting, it really highlights a couple of people and the sculpture to lead your eye there. But given a few minutes there’s quite a story to wander around to.

#5 I can like my photos even if someone else doesn’t

I am a harsh self-critic and pretty sensitive to criticism from others. So when I would get feedback, even pretty mild feedback, that someone didn’t like my photo for whatever reason, I would immediately discard it as “not good”. Well to that I now also say “hogwash”.

My opinion - and let’s face it art is all just a matter of opinion - is just as valuable as anybody else's. So no matter what feedback, critique, judgment, you get regarding your photos, you can still like it or even love it. Because you made it. You’re the artist. And you remember the moment, the effort, the subjects. And if you like it enough to frame it even though everybody else says it’s crap? Well, I say frame it anyway!

Now I’ve talked about photo critiques before, and they can be really valuable in our photo skill development. Getting feedback from an impartial party can help us understand how the composition could have been better, how the exposure was a bit off… BUT ultimately you still get to decide whether it gets a thumbs up, or thumbs down.

#6 Get inspiration from others but don’t compare yourself to others

Inspiration is one of those things you need to nourish so that it can grow, like plants. Don’t feed or water it? And it shrivels up and dies. So inspiration is really important to keep your creative juices flowing. I fill my Instagram feed with artists, travelers, people who inspire me to be better. I even wrote a blog post on people who inspire me right here.

Now here’s the caveat. I also tend to fall into comparison syndrome. No that’s not in the medical journals, but it sure should be. I get paralyzed with the “everyone else is so much better than me” mentality. Or should I say I USED to. It can be a fine balance.

Here’s my recommendation, and what I did… Fill your feed with people who inspire you. BUT if you continue to look at one photographer, traveler, person’s work and think “eek they are so much better than me” then unfollow them. Just don’t put yourself in the situation where you’re comparing. Even fill your feed with artists in a completely different genre who inspire you to try new things. Or inspirational people who post quotes that you like. Just don’t get in the comparison trap. It does nothing good for anyone.

This is a photo I made while at a photography workshop in Portland, Oregon - at Powell’s Books. I really liked it at first…until I entered it for a critique. And then? Off the list it went. Too many things wrong with it like the lighting not right, … — This is a photo I made while at a photography workshop in Portland, Oregon - at Powell’s Books. I really liked it at first…until I entered it for a critique. And then? Off the list it went. Too many things wrong with it like the lighting not right, etc. etc… But guess what? I came around to thinking all of those things are probably true. BUT I like it anyway. So back in it went.

#7 Gear is great but gear is not what makes great photos

Oh if I could get back all the time I spend reading camera and lens reviews! Actually I did learn a lot, so I wouldn’t take it back. And really what's the point of regret anyway? Okay moving on.

Yes, a professional-level camera with a fantastic high-quality lens can make better photos than an iPhone or a point-and-shoot camera. BUT (and this is a really big but) (hee hee now I’m humming Baby Got Back) just because it CAN make better photos doesn’t mean it will. Please allow me to explain.

Creating photos is so much more than equipment. If you’ve followed me for any time at all, you know I talk about composition, creativity, mindset, storytelling… So can a camera help? Absolutely. But can you make fabulous photos without a ridiculously expensive camera/lens combo? Absolutely.

#8 Don’t let fear of failure hold you back from trying new things.

Oh, this is a big one. Huge. I really think I’ve let the fear of failure hold me back from LOTS of things throughout my life. And making photos is just one more on the list. Once I figured out that I really only learn from trying new things and failing, over and over and over and over. THAT is when I started to improve.

So please please run out right now, grab your camera and make lots and lots of bad photos. It’s the only way.

After studying with Kirsten Lewis, I really started pushing fear to the side and trying new things. Like asking complete strangers if I could come to their home and photograph their family. Yep I did that. And I kept doing fear-inducing stuff ever s… — After studying with Kirsten Lewis, I really started pushing fear to the side and trying new things. Like asking complete strangers if I could come to their home and photograph their family. Yep I did that. And I kept doing fear-inducing stuff ever since. And guess what? It didn’t even really hurt. And I’m still alive. So I’ll be doing more.

Whew, that was fun, and maybe even a little cathartic. I am feeling a little exposed...a bit like I overshared with someone I just met (yeah I do that sometimes). But my goal is for you to learn from my mistakes. So go forth and prosper! I’ll get over my raw emotional state soon enough. (I’m probably already over it by the time you read this, actually)