21 Things I Have Learned as a Photographer (That no one tells you.)

21 Photography Truths (According to Me)

1. The best poses? Oh, those come to me on the drive home when it’s too late. Every. Single. Time.

2. I have a full-blown panic attack on the way home, convinced every single shot is out of focus. Cue me checking photos at stoplights like a maniac.

3. Playing music during shoots? Total game changer. ADHD taught me that. Now it’s basically a mini dance party.

4. Can’t get the kids to cooperate? Make them move. Have them race, jump, or do superhero poses (99% of the time, it’s Spiderman). Give them sticks if you’re outside—they love sticks.

5.  John Hughes rule: Treat kids like they matter. Ask them if they want to sit or kneel, or which spot looks cool. Just don’t let them run the whole show. Balance is key.

6. Troubleshooting is 40% of photography. Whether it’s emotions, mechanical failures, unpredictable weather, or settings—stay cool and figure it out.

7. Photography is like skiing: the more you do it, the faster you improve. Daily practice = exponential growth

8. You are an artist. Don’t let this world of instant gratification water down your creativity.

9. Slow. The. Hell. Down. No one cares if you check the back of your camera. Breathe.

10. If I say, “This is the last shot,” just know I’m lying. Every time.

11. Execution is success. If you thought it, planned it, and shot it—you’re already winning. Even if it’s not perfect, you did it.

12. Marketing is the secret sauce between being a working photographer and a struggling one. Sorry, but you gotta hustle.

13. Your local camera store is a goldmine. Go touch, test, and try the gear. Trust me—weight and feel matter.

14. Rent before you buy. Seriously, RENT. It’s like test-driving a car but more fun. Treat yourself to a weekend with a dreamy lens.

15. Light matters. Learn how it shapes your image—just as much as camera settings.

16. If a two-year-old doesn’t want their picture taken, they win. Every time. Accept it.

17. Forgetting your SD card is a rite of passage. It’ll happen once… and hopefully never again

18. Just start. Kids, plants, flowers, bugs—whatever catches your eye. Your phone + YouTube = photography at any age, with no limits.

19. Don’t promise to “fix it in Photoshop.” Just don’t. Future you will thank you.

20. Get it right in camera. Seriously.

21. The client almost never picks the same favorite shot as you. It’s a mystery we’ll never solve.

Bonus:

22. Photography is equal parts chaos, art, and troubleshooting. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.