At some point as photographers, we will second guess ourselves. We will doubt our abilities, our progress, and our general approach. “Am I even improving?” That is a constant thought I have had fluctuated in and out of my mind over the years. While I think it's best to avoid comparing ourselves to others and their progress at all costs, sometimes we can’t help it. We’re human, And comparison just comes with the territory and is even amplified by social media and likes on Instagram. There were some points along my journey that I lacked an overall feeling of growth or that my photos were improving.

As someone who's entirely self-taught, my photography journey has been anything but linear. It’s been all over the place—disjointed and patched together. Yet, photography has always been there, quietly in the background, evolving with me. Looking back, I often think about what I’d do differently if I had to start again. This is the roadmap I'd take if I had to learn all over again:

The wind is howling outside, roaring through the trees. August is going out with a bang. Winslow is tucked in a blanket next to me, he doesn’t do well with the high winds and rain battering the cottage. It’s a cozy Sunday with lots of tea and time to reflect. One task I’ve been wanting to do is revisit my old photos and organize some files. I couldn’t hold it off any longer as today’s downpour and a raging storm is the perfect opportunity. Going through some files, I’ve realized how much my beliefs have changed since I first began. As we grow and evolve, it’s natural to change your style, your beliefs, and opinions. Photography is something we will have with us throughout our lives, and for me, it’s been a constant companion that has been a source of joy, curiosity, and creativity.

Paris. The City of Lights. This beautiful city is on everyone’s mind these days as the world’s best athletes have been competing in the Olympic games this past week or so. I’ve been so inspired by every athlete, tuning into the games after work to catch up on the replays. Their dedication, discipline, and years of hard work have led up to this very moment. Just one shot. One moment to realize that dream they have viscerally visualized day in and day out. They have just one day, or those who are fortunate enough, have several opportunities to win gold.

When you are just beginning photography and playing with the idea of making it a career or at least investing it in as a hobby, there are countless this you can do or can buy to help you get there. Call me simple but I think most of the techy suggestions or gear bits and bobs are quite useless and a waste of money for a beginner photographer. Simple is best in my mind when it comes to investing in your camera kit.

Not everything is worthy of a photograph. At least to you or me. You have your tastes that are unique to you. I remember when I first began shooting, I would photograph everything and anything without question. While this was just an essential part of the photography journey, it meant that I had so many USD cards with absolutely nothing notable on them. But, maybe when you first began shooting you knew exactly what you were interested in and the stories you wanted to share.

Midsummer solstice has come and gone. Usually, I like to commemorate the day with a small ritual in nature or simply spending the whole day outside, but this year was a little different albeit well spent eating pistachio gelato in Sicily so I think it still counts for something! What I love most about these midsummer days is that they can be both lazy, languorous, and yet equally filled with vitality, a fresh-faced outlook, and joy for life with a renewed sense of purpose and direction. The power of sunlight I suppose. Most mornings I rise before or with the sun, ground my feet in the grass, and soak in the first rays of soft light.

Words have never been my strong point. I’m no writer and I admire anyone whose strength lies in words and language. Words can be a powerful starting point for concept development. As visually driven people, we may initially gravitate towards creating a mood board collecting images for inspiration for an upcoming project or simply to generate some ideas. But what if we started with words first? What if we open up to a blank page and let our ideas flow? I find that pouring my ideas on paper first allows to me go deeper into the actual feeling and essence of the story I want to tell. Just as there is nuance in words, there is nuance in the visual images we use as inspiration.

I’ve been waking earlier and earlier each day thanks to the little birds chirping with the rising sun. Honestly, most mornings I rise at 5 am with the birds but the days are getting longer with the turning of spring to summer. It’s so wonderful to begin your day like this, especially knowing it will be spent in front of a screen. While I’m working at my desk, I love watching the piggy birds feast on the seeds I’ve left them that morning. The reality of being a photographer is that you’ll spend most of the time behind your computer, not your camera.

When I first began shooting, I was under the illusion that if I didn’t shoot in manual mode, it meant I wasn’t a good photographer. So silly, yes but as a beginner, shooting in manual mode seemed like miles away from where I was and what I could technically comprehend. I looked at others thinking they must have radical confidence in their technical ability to flick the dial to M and shoot away without even thinking.