When I first stepped into the world of photography, my focus was crystal clear—literally. I obsessed over capturing the sharpest, most detailed product shots possible.

Whether it was jewelry, apparel, cars, or coffee, my goal was to make the product shine. In that early phase, my mind was consumed with technical settings—ISO, shutter speed, aperture. I felt like I had to know it all to be considered a “real” photographer.

But along with that pursuit of perfection came a weight I hadn’t anticipated: imposter syndrome.

With every booking, I worried I didn’t know enough. What if I messed up the settings? What if my shots weren’t “professional” enough?

Determined to close the gap in my knowledge, I walked into my local camera shop and asked if they knew anyone who could tutor me—just one-on-one, with my camera, in a real setting. I wanted clarity, not just from a YouTube tutorial, but from hands-on experience.

The Shift That Changed Everything

I ended up at the beach with a photographer who patiently walked me through my settings. He showed me how to adjust my camera for portraits, how to work with light, and how to trust my eye. But what happened next was unexpected.

He asked to see my work. I hesitated—part of me still believed my shots weren’t “there” yet. But I showed him anyway.

His response? “You already know what you’re doing. You just need to back yourself more.”

That moment changed me. With his reassurance, I realized my biggest limitation wasn’t my camera settings—it was my mindset. I had been so consumed with getting everything “technically right” that I had forgotten what truly makes a photograph powerful.

Photography is About Feeling,

Not Just Precision

Soon after, I started noticing the types of photos that resonated with people. A grainy, black-and-white wedding photo. A blurry, overexposed shot of a street musician. Images that weren’t “perfect” in a technical sense but carried raw emotion and energy.

That’s when it hit me—great photography isn’t about sharpness, settings, or even the camera you use. It’s about how an image makes someone feel.

Maybe those blurry shots reminded people of adventure. Maybe the imperfect lighting felt nostalgic. Maybe an image didn’t have to be flawless to be impactful.

Stepping Into the Artistic Side of Photography

This realization completely transformed my approach. Instead of solely focusing on getting a product or person in sharp focus,

I started thinking about the story behind the shot.

• What feeling did I want to evoke?

• How could I use light, shadow, and movement to add depth?

• What could I do to make the scene feel alive?

I stopped shooting just for clarity and started shooting for emotion.

I played with light in unconventional ways, started to put the art back in my craft and leaned into storytelling. And for the first time, my photos didn’t just “show” something—they spokesomething.

To Creators at Flavr Studios

If you’re in that phase of self-doubt, worrying about whether you “know enough,” I encourage you to step out of the technical mindset and into the artistic one- how: lean into the unknown and sort it out. Book the tutoring or class. Get the knowledge. Get liberated.

Once you feel confident in the basics, let go of the rules and lean into what feels right. Experiment. Play. Trust your instincts.

Photography is more than just capturing an image—it’s capturing a feeling. And when you start creating from that place, your work will transform.

So if you’re hesitating—learn what you need to. Your best work is waiting on the other side.