The One Thing That Always Brings the Joy Back to Photography
Somewhere along the way, I forgot to enjoy it.
Over the past few months, I found myself getting caught up in the end result of photography - the final image, the perfect composition, the post-worthy frame. I was constantly chasing something “great,” and if I didn’t get it, I’d feel disappointed.
I was putting so much pressure on the outcome that I stopped enjoying the process altogether. And that’s something I never thought I’d say, because like most of us, I started photography because I loved it - the quiet moments, the creativity, the simple act of being out with a camera.
But recently, something changed.
All it took was one trip - just for me.
No clients. No brief. No expectations. Just a couple of days away with my camera, shooting the kind of stuff I care about. I’d booked it specifically for photography, and honestly, it was the reset I didn’t realise I needed.
That small trip helped me reconnect with what I love about photography in the first place: exploring new places, slowing down, and taking photos because I want to — not because I have to.
And it reminded me of something important:
If you’re always creating with a result in mind, it becomes work. If you let yourself just enjoy the process, the results often come anyway - and you’ll enjoy them a whole lot more.
If you're a full-time photographer, you probably need this too.
When photography becomes your job, it’s easy to forget to make time for shooting the things you’re genuinely curious about. You’re always working to someone else’s brief, chasing deadlines, ticking off a shot list.
But booking a day or two just for yourself - even if it’s close to home - is worth it. It doesn’t have to be a big dramatic trip. It just has to be yours.
New video now live
I’ve shared more thoughts about all of this in my latest YouTube video — including some of the images I made on that trip. If you’ve been feeling a bit creatively stuck, or if photography’s started to feel a bit heavy lately, I think this one might hit home.
Thanks for reading. I hope this post nudges you to book that day, plan that mini trip, or just head out with your camera — no expectations, no pressure. Just because you love it.