3 Hard-Earned Lessons from 10 Years as a Photographer
I picked up my first camera in February 2010, and honestly, nothing’s been the same since.
I still remember the moment like it was yesterday. I walked into B&H Photo in New York City with just a few hundred dollars to my name. Nervous, determined, I made my way to the used counter and asked for a slightly worn Canon Rebel XSi 450D.
That camera went everywhere with me.
Not because it was the best.
Because it was mine.
Over the past decade, photography has taught me more than just how to use light or frame a shot. It’s shaped how I think, how I create, and how I build. And while I’ve made more mistakes than I can count, I carry three lessons that continue to guide my work and life.
You’ll Never Be as Good as You Will Be Tomorrow
Every creative hits that wall, where every image feels just off. You pick apart your work, cringe at past shoots, and wonder if you’re even improving.
But here’s what I’ve learned:
Your dissatisfaction isn’t failure, it’s growth in motion.
If you feel like your work isn’t good enough, that’s proof you’ve leveled up. Your eye has evolved. Your taste has sharpened. So has your expectation.
Give yourself grace. Keep showing up. You’ll never be as good as you will be tomorrow, and that’s a beautiful thing.
Compare, but Don’t Envy
I love seeing other photographers’ work. I study it. I appreciate it. But I’ve learned not to envy it.
Of course, I’ve been guilty of comparison. We all have. But envy will rob you blind of joy, of energy, of momentum.
It’s okay to be inspired. Just don’t let admiration turn into self-sabotage.
Annie Leibovitz has been shooting longer than my mother’s been alive. How could I ever compare my chapter one to her chapter fifty?
You don’t need to outrun anyone. You need to stay on your path.
A Formal Education isn’t Make or Break
If you take one thing from this post, let it be this:
A formal education isn’t make or break, and a lack of one doesn’t disqualify it.
There’s no class on grit.
No textbook for passion.
No course for staying hungry.
I didn’t study photography. I studied aerospace engineering… and I dropped out. No degree. No blueprint. Just curiosity and conviction.
That’s what built my career.
And if you’ve got those things too? You’re already on the right track.
Whether you’ve been shooting for ten years or ten days, I hope this reminds you that your story, your growth, and your passion all matter. Sometimes, all it takes is one camera, and the courage to keep going.