Photography isn’t just about capturing perfect shots; it’s about embracing your mistakes and learning from them. Here's why learning to fail is the key to growing as a photographer. I think back to when I first started out in photography. Like most beginners, I made every mistake imaginable.
The Early Mistakes: Overexposed, Out of Focus, and Bad Compositions
When I first picked up a camera, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I overexposed my images, shot at the wrong times, missed my focus, and my compositions were all over the place.
And let’s not even talk about my early editing attempts.
Each photo I took felt like a new way to mess up. But here’s the truth: photography, like any other skill, requires failure. The more you fail, the more you learn, and the more you learn, the better you become.
Embracing Failure as a Path to Growth
It’s easy to feel discouraged when your shots don’t turn out the way you envisioned.
But remember, perfection isn’t the goal—growth is. I still recall the day I drove down to the coast with a perfect shot in mind. The location was stunning, and I thought I had everything planned.
But when I got there, the shot didn’t turn out as I had hoped. I wasn’t proud of it, and I felt like I had wasted my time.
However, that failed attempt taught me invaluable lessons. Because of those mistakes, I went back a second time, adjusted my approach, and captured one of my best photos. Each error led me closer to understanding what works and what doesn’t.
The Secret to Moving Forward: Action Over Perfection
While you’re busy working in the background, trying to get everything just right, someone else is out there trying, failing, and then trying again.
If you’re waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect shot, you’re already falling behind.
For every one of your perfect attempts, there’s someone else on their second or third.
The next time you feel like you’ve failed, embrace it. Learn from it. Each failure is a step closer to success. Remember, done is always better than perfect.
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