Believe That You Can Take Great Photos

Managing Editor Taya Iv offers some advice on finding confidence as a photographer in a world full of comparison and self-doubt.

From time to time, I find myself relying heavily on my equipment and post-processing to achieve a specific look in my work. When that happens, I try to take a step back and understand why it feels like my creativity isn’t enough on its own. I’ve found that I tend to get anxious about the shooting process when I don’t believe that I can take great photos. If you’ve ever experienced something similar, this article is for you.

The Right Mindset 

How do you feel before you start taking photographs?

Do you feel confident when you come up with a new idea, or do you start to doubt your artistic or technical abilities? A little bit of doubt is normal, but too much doubt can overshadow the initial wave of excitement that comes with inspiration. It’s easy to get lost in thoughts like “I’m not skilled enough for this” or “Someone has already done this, so there’s no point in trying.” If given permission, these sneaky doubts will go on and on until you completely lose your desire to take photos. 

With the right mindset, you can acknowledge doubts without giving up on your ideas. Even if you’re not skilled enough for a certain photoshoot, you can still try. If it doesn’t work out, you will have learned something new that will help you take better photos in the future. Even if someone else has already taken similar photos, you can use your unique perspective on life to add a special touch to your version. This might involve taking photos from a different perspective, adding another subject to your composition, or shooting at a different time of day. There can be as many solutions as there are doubts, but only with the right mindset. 

It Starts With Believing 

Let’s look at this from a different point of view. Imagine yourself telling a fellow photographer that you don’t believe in their vision. You’re not giving them constructive criticism or guiding them in the right direction; instead, you’re bluntly telling them that you’re not confident in their ideas and that you’re not sure if they’ll be able to improve their photography skills. Imagine how that person would feel after listening to you.

It can be very difficult to look at your own situation objectively. The next time you get caught up in self-doubt, think of what you’d say to a friend if they were in a similar situation. I’m sure that you’d say something kind and encouraging to a friend, so give yourself the same amount of grace. It might be enough to say this: “I believe that I can take great photos. I have a lot to learn, but I know that I’ll get to a point where I’m happy with my work.” 

This isn’t only a beginner’s struggle. You might be an experienced photographer who has just come out of a creative rut. You might be someone who’s trying a new photography genre. You might just be a normal human being who’s struggling with low self-esteem. Regardless of your reasons for feeling this way, you can and will take great photos, but the confidence has to come from within. 

This is a self-portrait that I took around 15 years ago. One of the best things you can do to boost your self-esteem is review your old photographs. You might find yourself marvelling at how much you’ve improved. Alternatively, you might be impressed by a specific photo that you took. If you look at your photos and cringe, that’s also a sign of improvement!

Taking Initiative is Important

As I said earlier, it starts with believing. What you do after that — ideally, take initiative — is equally important. How can you take better photos? Find resources to improve your skills, but don’t feel pressured to do what everyone else is doing. Create your own path by making a list of things you’re interested in improving. Maybe it’s your composition skills, the way you handle your camera on a technical level, or the ways in which you look for inspiration. 

If you don’t know what needs to be improved, you can ask a professional photographer for advice, request a portfolio review, or attend a workshop. Fortunately, there are many photographers in this world, so finding someone who can help you take better photos isn’t an impossible task. 

Conclusion

If you consistently take photos today, you’ll get closer to levelling up your skills. Even if your progress doesn’t seem obvious at first, you’ll notice it in the future when your work has improved. To get to that point, you need to believe in yourself now, which also means that you need to continue making progress now, regardless of any doubt you may have. Consider it a gift to your future self. Keep moving forward, no matter how many doubts come your way, and believe that you can take great photos.