Nine bad habits that are making your photography worse

23 hours ago 4

Are you currently unhappy or unsatisfied with your photography? Do you feel that you’re not progressing or improving despite consistent practice and numerous projects? You may be guilty of some bad habits that are holding your photography back. Or even making your photos worse.

In the video above, UK-based street photographer Roman Fox lists down nine of these bad habits which could be holding back your growth as a photographer. Some of these aren’t inherently mistakes on their own. But when taken to the extreme or the wrong direction or intent, they can affect your work in the long run. Some good examples include being obsessed with following trends, relying on theory only and not putting them into practice, and getting consumed by Gear Acquisition Syndrome.

Fox also described how setting expectations can limit your creativity and motivation. Getting caught up with things that you can’t control — the weather, people’s response to your work, and social media engagement, for example — can set you up for disappointment and affect the way you take photos. Likewise, expecting recognition and comparing yourself to other photographers will only make your harbor feelings of bitterness and frustration. And we all know how that eventually leads to photography being a negative experience.

Have you been guilty of any (or many) of these bad habits? What did you do to overcome them? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below, and let’s start a discussion!

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Posted on October 21, 2024

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Joy is a film photographer, writer, and visual storyteller based in Manila, Philippines. She is drawn to conceptual portraits and surreal imagery, which she also strives to flesh out in her own work. Her photos have been featured on Flickr and several independent film photography blogs and magazines.

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