I think every photographer, at some point, will face that creeping feeling: "I don’t belong here," "I’m not good enough," or "Who am I to charge what I charge?" Imposter syndrome is real—and, for most of us, it's almost inevitable. It can be a heavy, paralyzing weight that spirals us into self-doubt and low self-esteem. If you don’t have an unshakable sense of entitlement or boundless confidence, imposter syndrome will likely make an appearance.

Happy December! It’s hard to believe how quickly November flew by, and now we’re nearing the end of the year! I spent Thanksgiving in Oregon, and while editing some of my photos, I reflected on how easily a good photo can be turned into a bad one through editing choices.

Editing is, of course, subjective, but certain missteps can detract from a photo’s potential. I’ve certainly made my fair share of these mistakes in my early days, back when I was experimenting and trying to define my style.

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.

Photographing food was far from my mind when I first picked up my camera. The night sky, my mother’s flower garden, and the lush green hills of my home called me. I would set up my tripod in the middle of the night at -17 F (yes -17 F!) in December when the air was so cold, that your warm breath immediately crystalized in the air. I set a timer anywhere from 15 - 30 minutes to capture the star trails in the inky, velvet wintery sky. Maybe it was the surprise and delight of seeing the star trails in my camera or the rush of it feeling like an adventure with just me and the night sky. I was hooked and even took a local class at my community center on night photography. But what does this all have to do with visual storytelling?

I vastly underestimated the importance of patience when I first picked up the camera. I was all too eager, more than ready to a fault. I just wanted the shot and move on. On to the next site, the next subject, the next town. The next whatever it was. I rarely took the time to actually sit and be present with the scene or subject. I was so focused on getting the shot I wanted and continuing on. But what I’ve realized over time is that while it’s ok to be eager and excited about a newfound location or a secret site, or a new subject, and just frantically snap away, there is something to be said for just being still and present.

Its the photos we don’t take that haunt us for years. Fleeting ones that flashed right before our lens, around a corner, or through a doorway. I could fill an album of photos I wish I had taken. Memories from long ago that still float to the surface in my mind. And for whatever reason, I wasn’t quick enough or made a mistake of some sort that I let it slip by. I must have hundreds of moments like that — the what-if moments of life photography version. Ultimately, I stash the images I captured away on a hard drive only to see or edit them every so often. But while I upload, I remember that one that got away. That one photo I so wish I took! I think every photographer has experienced this literal pang in our creative hearts at some point. So what can we learn from not just the images we take but from the ones we don’t or wish we had?

To photoshop or not? Just one of many questions any photographer will ask themselves…In this new age of AI (quite scary in my opinion!) it’s an all too familiar question we may ask of any image we may see. AI is an entirely different topic that I don’t feel like addressing in this post (or ever! if that says anything about my feelings about it within the world of photography.) The art of photography itself is subjective, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to photograph. It all comes down to the choices made by the photographer: the settings, the style, the light, the subject, and the composition. What you don’t include in the frame is just as important as what you do.

I’m going to say something controversial as a photographer. Even more so because I live in Maui. Maybe you’ve even wondered why I don’t share sunset photos…The truth is I think sunset photos are boring. Simple as that. It’s not that I don’t appreciate a stunning sunset mind you. The rainbow palette ranging from soft blush to fuschia truly is one of nature’s awe-inspiring marvels. Witnessing a Hawaiian sunset on the beach is a prized experience for any traveler to our islands. The reverence for that fleeting moment as the sun slips below the horizon, leaving its bold and colorful mark in the sky is a moment locals and tourists alike appreciate. A moment of pause and reflection, even gratitude.

What is a good photography practice?

Keeping our files organized?

Studying light?

A streamlined editing process?

While all of those practices are necessary skills and part of business housekeeping, there is still one that I believe, that overrides all of them. One that by nurturing it daily, refines our photographic eye. And that one practice is the practice of active observation. Not only is being in the place at the right time important to capturing a moment, but it’s actually seeing and finding moments right under our nose (or eyes.)

There is a power in words. Slight nuances in verbiage can affect how we see. Do you take a photo of something or about something? Photographer James Popsys came up with this theory and I want to elaborate on it in regards to visual storytelling. Is there a difference? I think so. Visual storytelling is so much more than conveying information through our lens. It taps into our humanness and our emotions, the subtle intricacies that we can relate to.

Award-winning recipe developer and photographer Suze Morrison creates captivating and emotive visual stories from her home in the UK. She is wildly talented and infuses her work with hints of the natural world. She shares her stories using natural and artificial light, which are undeniably striking. Her love of home cooking and food comes across all of her photography and videography work. You can see more of her beautiful work here.