Early on, when I started in photography, I would read blog posts — like this one —, watch a hundred videos, and scroll through Instagram, all in pursuit of guidance on how to find my voice/style as an artist.
At that time, I thought that the more I consumed, the faster it would be to find this voice. That somehow, one day, I would be watching a video and a button would click in my mind showing me the answer. It’s foolish, I know. Deep down, we all know that life doesn’t unfold so conveniently, yet we persist in romanticizing the notion.
I will be honest with you: I’m still discovering my voice. I feel that it’s getting clearer each time, but still, it’s a process. I’m far from being at the end of this journey, but there are a few things I wish I had known when I started this adventure.
This article serves as a letter to my younger self, but I hope it helps illuminate the path for others.
1. Don’t Stop Believin’
It must be a sign when a band like Journey sings “Don’t Stop Believin’”! Jokes and playful analogies aside, the essence remains: if you don’t believe in yourself, who will?
Don’t get me wrong. You may have the full support of family and friends, but self-belief is paramount. Relying solely on others’ opinions of your work sets a precarious precedent. If someone disapproves of what you’re doing or dislikes your creation, it can shake your confidence and potentially derail your journey.
Before seeking validation externally, ask yourself “How do you feel about your creation?”
Your perspective, your narrative, is what matters. Some may resonate with it, others may not, and that’s perfectly fine. You’re not here to please everyone.
Keep practicing. Keep improving. Keep sharing YOUR story. And always believe in your capabilities.
2. Compare but don’t get stuck on it
Every artist experiences moments of comparison. It’s a natural and necessary part of growth.
Initially, we emulate the work of others. A child does the same to learn. They pick up small actions from their parents, like the simple action of smiling, and slowly, this imitation starts to open a new world of learning, development, and interaction. Similarly, as a photographer, you’ll borrow elements from successful artists to discern what resonates with you.
It’s a process of evolution—learning through observation, trial and error. However, if you find yourself mired in self-doubt, comparing your work and harboring thoughts like “my work sucks,” “I’ll never be as good as ‘x’ photographer,” or “I’m not good enough”… it’s time to pause, take a deep breath, and get your act together.
The trendy term to describe this nowadays is imposter syndrome. You feel like a fraud, disappointed when you fall short, despite any achievement. It seems like this issue is often spotted in people who practice more creative roles, but it happens to everybody. It happened to me.
I’m not a psychologist or life coach, so I won’t vomit pieces of advice here on how to overcome this. You can find plenty of helpful information if you just Google it. The lesson here lies in embracing your journey. Understand that success isn’t one-size-fits-all, and that what you know about that person who now is a successful travel photographer is just the surface. You don’t know what he/she has been through to reach this moment in their career. Each path is unique.
Focus on your journey. Take it easy, enjoy every step possible, and always go back to the number #1: believe in yourself!
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3. Don’t try to fit into labels
I know, nowadays, every marketing advice is about finding your niche. It makes sense. When you niche down, you have more chances to succeed among your tribe, and we’re all searching for the feeling of belonging somewhere.
The danger in this is that you end up limiting yourself. You’re just starting, and the right thing is that you should try everything.
- Feel like capturing landscapes today? Do it.
- Inclined toward portraits? Explore.
- Thrilled by street photography during your travels? Share your experiences.
As a beginner, don’t worry about confining yourself to labels like “Travel Photographer” or “Lifestyle Photographer”—which encompass many nuances. Experiment! Photograph whatever speaks to you, without tethering yourself to a single classification. With time, your affinity for certain styles will emerge organically, shaping your niche.
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4. Never Cease Learning
There comes a point in every journey where stagnation looms — whether technically, conceptually, or emotionally. You might find yourself trapped in repetitive compositions, capturing the same scenes, sensing a lack of purpose and growth in your work.
I’ve experienced this recently. The frustration nearly led me to abandon photography altogether; I even contemplated selling my camera. Taking a step back, I decided to disconnect from photography entirely.
As the excitement to pick up my camera returned, I knew I needed to find a new approach. One of them was to go back to the fundamentals, seeking areas for improvement. Along it, teaching what I’ve learned thus far became a source of motivation, to keep going and to share more of my journey.
Or even something as simples as go out and shoot at a different time of the day can be a way to improve. By forcing you out of your comfort zone, you learn.
For example, I always struggled in photographing people. It was one of my biggest challenges, firstly, because I’m \shy when with my camera, and secondly, I would often repeat to myself that I don’t know how to direct. Well, if I don’t know, I must learn. This not only made things more interesting but also opened more doors to my creativity.
As I mentioned before, this is not a step-by-step guide on how to find your voice, but those are all things I wish I had clearer in my head at the beginning of this journey. They all were important mindset shifts that helped me understand my style and find my voice.
I will drop here a video from my YouTube Channel, that relates to the topic.