In the words of the legendary Maverick from Top Gun, “Don’t Think, Just Do”, can be applied to many things in life, and in particular your photography.

There may be a number of factors in your thought process stopping you from taking that next photo, but why? In this short blog I’ll be explaining how to teach yourself to push through certain barriers preventing you from taking that next photo.

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in my own path of growing into the world of photography, is that it’s much better to take a bad photo, than to make the mistake of missing a moment entirely. After all, photography contains a learning process which in time will help you to improve more and more as time goes on. If you feel a photo you’ve taken is not up to your standards, then you can simply delete it.

So you’ve got your camera setup, done the research, watched various photography videos, seen the inspiration from fellow photographers, what’s the next step?

I get it, I’ve been there, analysis paralysis when it comes to photography is a real thing. What if people judge me? What if I don’t have the latest camera and the best gear? What if I’m just an amateur? What if I don’t get the camera settings right? What if the photo isn’t great? These are all examples of questions beginner photographers will naturally ask themselves when first starting out, furthermore us as humans will naturally compare our work to others too.

However… sure all those things could happen but… what if the photo turns out to be amazing? In my experience, there’s no such thing as a bad photo, it’s either going to be one you’re pleased and happy with, or one you can learn from to improve next time.

Ultimately, taking bad photos is part of the process. There’s no fast-track to getting better at photography, it’s about using and learning from previous experiences to keep improving gradually as time goes on. Take those experimental photos, visit different areas to take new kind of shots,  push yourself out of your comfort zone, only with practice will you make progress.

Don’t Think, Just Do.