9 Habits to Help You Get Better at Photography and Life - Fast

By cultivating these nine habits, you can accelerate your growth as a photographer and lead a more fulfilling life.

Tristan © Steve Carty

In the pursuit of becoming better photographers and leading rewarding lives, we often overlook the habits and behaviours that hold us back. By recognizing and addressing these habits, we can transform our approach to photography and life, unlocking our true potential. In today’s post, I’ll explore nine essential habits that will help you elevate your photography skills while enriching your overall life experience.

Let's get into it!

1. Comparison: Stop Comparing | Comparison is a thief of joy and a hindrance to growth. When we constantly compare ourselves to others, we set ourselves up for disappointment and a sense of inadequacy. Remember that each photographer is on their own unique journey, progressing at their own pace. Embrace gratitude for your own talents and perspective, and focus on your individual growth rather than comparing yourself to others.

   

   Sandra Oh © Steve Carty

2. Comfort: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone | Your comfort zone is a place where dreams go to die. To truly grow as a photographer, you must push yourself beyond what feels safe and familiar. Embrace the discomfort that comes with trying new techniques, experimenting with different subjects, or venturing into unfamiliar territories. Challenge yourself to learn from failure and celebrate the progress you make with each step outside your comfort zone.

   

   Behind the Scenes - Great Canadian Baking Show, Season 5 © Steve Carty

3. Quitting: Persevere Through Challenges | The only way to guarantee failure is to quit. Persistence is key to success in photography and in life. Stay committed to your craft and overcome obstacles with unwavering determination. Consider making a commitment to your photography journey by involving someone you trust. Give them $100, and if you quit, they keep the money. This act of accountability can be a powerful motivator to keep pushing forward.

   

   Is this you? You could be out shooting.

4. Distraction: Focus on What Matters | In the age of constant connectivity, it's easy to get distracted from both real-life experiences and our photography pursuits. Make a conscious effort to limit distractions and allocate dedicated time for creative focus. Schedule two 15-minute blocks each day where you do nothing but breathe and visualize your ideal photographic life. By disconnecting from external inputs, you can unlock your creativity and develop meaningful ideas to execute.

   

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5. Your Phone: Break the Addiction | Phone addiction is a real barrier to productivity and personal growth. Establish boundaries by turning off or activating the "Do Not Disturb" mode on your phone one hour before bedtime and one hour after waking up. Transform your life by reducing mindless scrolling and replacing it with mindful photography. Each time you feel the urge to reach for your phone, pick up your camera instead. Familiarize yourself with its functions so well that you can change settings with your eyes closed.

   

   Perfect conditions don’t exist.

6. Waiting for the Perfect Conditions: Just Start | Many talented photographers miss out on opportunities because they wait for the perfect conditions or have an insatiable desire for more information. Take action even when you feel you have only 70% of the information you wish you had. The truth is, you'll never have 100% certainty, and there will never be a perfect time to start your photography career. Embrace the present moment and make the most of today, as it is the only day we truly have.

   

   Comedian Jared Nathan of Kill Tony Fame © Steve Carty

7. Multitasking: Embrace Full Focus | Multitasking often leads to half-hearted efforts and subpar results. Photography demands complete focus and presence. Avoid dividing your attention and commit to fully engaging in whatever task you undertake. By dedicating your attention to photography, you will capture more meaningful images and unlock your true creative potential.

   

   Don’t miss the best opportunities by procrastinating

8. Procrastination: Act Now | Time slips away quickly, and procrastination can hinder your progress both in photography and in life. Overcome the inertia by implementing the 5-minute rule: if you find yourself procrastinating, commit to working on the task for just five minutes. Starting is often the hardest part, and once you overcome that initial hurdle, momentum will carry you forward.

   

   Stop Complaining, being negative and start focusing on the positive

9. Complaining: Shift to Solutions | Complaining may seem harmless, but it trains your brain to focus on the negative aspects of life, impeding progress and stifling creativity. Instead of complaining without offering solutions, redirect that energy toward your photography. Wear a rubber band on your wrist and snap it every time you catch yourself complaining. Redirect your attention to your camera and channel your frustrations into creating something beautiful. Remember, complaining rarely achieves anything worthwhile.

By cultivating these nine habits, you can accelerate your growth as a photographer and lead a more fulfilling life. Stop comparing yourself to others, step outside your comfort zone, persevere through challenges, focus on what truly matters, break free from phone addiction, start even when conditions aren't perfect, embrace full focus, defeat procrastination, and shift from complaining to creating. Remember, each day is an opportunity to improve and embrace your unique talents. Let go of self-imposed limitations and embark on a journey of growth, both in photography and in life.

Thanks so much for reading.

See you next week

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