Intuitive Photography
At some point on our creative journey, we all find ourselves second-guessing. It’s just part of the process and life, really. We start to wonder if we’ve got the right settings, if we should take that opportunity, if we’ve captured all the shots we need, if the client will love the images, if a certain aesthetic reflects our style, or if we’ve overlooked something crucial. These moments can feel overwhelming and uncertain, but they’re really just gentle nudges. Invitations to take a step back, reconnect with ourselves, and tap into something deeper. When people say “trust your gut,” what does that really mean? It can come off as vague or even frustrating in the moment. I know when I’m emotional or confused, and someone says that to me, it feels equally annoying and frustrating. Although as hard as it seems to do in a heightened emotional state, it’s the truth. It’s about tuning into that inner voice—the quiet wisdom within we all possess. Sometimes, that knowing hits you like a wave, clear and undeniable. A wave rising from the deep ocean within us, where calm, peace, and a sense of wholeness reside. Other times, it’s just a flicker. A gentle push or niggle. A feeling that something is guiding you, even if you can’t quite put your finger on it. We all have a reservoir of intuition within us. A deep, wise part that communicates not through logic, but through feelings and subtle hints. It might not be loud at first, especially if you’re still building your confidence in photography or learning to trust yourself both behind the lens and within. But that intuition is there, like a lighthouse—steady, shining, waiting for you to notice its glow. The beauty of intuition is that it gets stronger the more you pay attention to it. It becomes more refined with practice.
Like any skill, it needs nurturing and focus. While it can be a guiding force, it’s also crucial to remember that intuition isn’t always foolproof. Sometimes, what we think is our gut feeling is really just a reaction, filtered through fear, insecurity, or past experiences. There have been countless occasions when what I thought was my intuition was actually a desire to control or a yearning for a specific outcome. It’s easy to mix up a gut feeling with a narrative we’re creating about a moment, a person, or a situation. True intuition isn’t reactive. It doesn’t spring from panic or pressure. It’s calm. Neutral. It feels quiet yet supportive. It comes from a place beyond the ego, beyond the fear of making mistakes. I like to compare it to the deep, blue ocean when I visualize it.
A podcast I listen to regularly (Feel Better, Live More) went on a deep dive into the fascinating connection between our gut and brain, and how they’re in constant communication through the vagus nerve. It was fascinating and incredibly revealing. The microbiome in our gut, those trillions of bacteria, actually plays a role in shaping our feelings, the decisions we make, and even our creative sparks. In a very real, scientific sense, we can think with our gut. So when we say “trust your gut,” it’s more than just a saying; it’s a physiological reality. Our brain and gut are intricately linked — amazing, no?
Now, how does this tie into photography? Every step of the creative journey involves choices. Which opportunity to pursue? Which angle to use? Whether to nudge the composition a bit to the left or leave it as is. Often, we don’t find the clarity we seek until we make a choice or take a pause to reflect on what “feels” or “looks right.” You can switch out the word “right” for aligned, beautiful, balanced, you, joyful, symmetrical, etc. And it’s on that precipice, or just before we are about to make a choice is when your intuition steps in. Intuition leads us when we create space for it. When we silence the distractions of comparison and expectations, and really tune into what feels right in our own bodies and senses. That moment when something seems off in the frame, but you can’t quite put your finger on it, that’s your intuition talking. When a subject captivates you and you can’t explain why—it’s your gut drawing you in. And sure, sometimes we miss the mark. Sometimes what we thought was intuition turns out to be fear masquerading as guidance. Or maybe just inexperience altogether! The more skilled you become, the greater your intuition will be in the moments you’re technically not sure or something is off compositionally. But those moments aren’t failures; they’re valuable feedback. They help us sharpen our ability to tell the difference between our ego and our true inner wisdom. Just like in photography, trusting your gut is a skill you develop over time. No matter how many tutorials you watch or books you read, we have to spend time out in the world photographing, making mistakes, and learning along the way. The more you practice, the more you strengthen that internal compass. Start small. Trust yourself with the little things—how you frame a shot, which lens to use, when to adjust your angle, or try something different. Each small decision made from a place of quiet confidence will build your self-trust. Over time, you’ll learn to distinguish between a gut feeling, a projection, and a knee-jerk reaction. That’s what I believe reflection is invaluable in the creative process and while cultivating your style.
The more you trust your intuition, the more you trust yourself and life
We’ve all had those moments when something just feels off, or when a certain scene really strikes a chord with us. Embrace that sensation and let it guide you. It’s not about being right all the time; it’s about cultivating a relationship with your creative self and trusting your own vision. One thing that’s really helped me is taking a moment to pause and reflect before I set up my composition. I ask myself… what feels or looks good here? What’s my gut telling me about this moment? Photography can be spontaneous, and sure, you might miss a shot if you hesitate, but often we do have that precious moment to just stop, reflect, and go with the flow without overthinking it. It’s all about finding that balance between reflection and just letting yourself shoot instinctively because that’s what feels right to you. In that process, you really sharpen your intuition. It’s a bit of a paradox—being fully present in the moment while also taking a step back to consider what feels good or looks appealing to you. Ultimately, I think trusting your instincts is one of the most overlooked skills a photographer can possess. Your best work doesn’t stem from overanalyzing; it emerges from a place of alignment. It’s about choosing to believe in what you feel, even if you can’t put it into words. The more you practice this, the more confidence you’ll gain—not just in your art, but in who you are as a person.
And that’s the essence of intuitive photography, allowing yourself to be guided not just by what you’ve learned, but by what you feel. These are some ways to help you lean into your intuition and allow it to guide you in your work and, dare I say, your life.
How to let your intuition guide you in photography
1. Respond emotionally to the scene: Let your heart take the lead before your mind does. Tune into what the scene stirs within you or what emotions you feel in your body and around you. Ask yourself: What emotions are coming up for me here? Let that feeling steer your next move. Don’t hesitate to stray from your original plan if something else is calling out to you. Do you feel that call to wander down that street or wait ten minutes to just see what happens? Listen to that.
2. Visualize before you frame: Some images take shape in your mind before you even look through the viewfinder. That’s your intuition kicking in, recognizing balance, tension, or harmony without overanalyzing. This is a helpful practice if you have a specific agenda for a client or a shoot. You don’t have to stick to it, but it helps having an idea in your mind beforehand and then in the moment, letting the moment unfold while simultaneously holding that vision in your mind. It’s a balance of holding that idea in your hand and also just letting it unfold as well, letting go of control and trusting yourself and your skills in the moment.
3. Trust your instincts: You’ve experienced it — that pull to just sit still before leaving a spot… and then it happens. The perfect shot. Or sensing that something feels off, and when you adjust, everything clicks. Or a feeling to take a wander down the street to see what’s just beyond, or holding back just a minute to see if a subject steps into the light. Trust that instinct. Lean into it. That subtle guidance is your creative compass. It’s a sensation in our body we can’t deny; something we can’t explain that says, “go there,” “wait a minute,” or “this doesn’t look right.”
4. Strengthen your connection to intuition: Think of intuition as a muscle that you can nurture and develop. My favorite way to do this is by spending time in nature, a quiet moment to reconnect to ourselves and leave all the external noise behind. It helps you ground and gives space for your inner voice to surface. Nature is healing, I know it sounds so trite, but it’s true. Going for a walk without my phone, not listening to a podcast or anything, helps me reconnect and move through stagnant energy, allowing my inner voice to be heard. Similarly, meditation and mindfulness help you tune into your body’s signals. Just a five-minute meditation or breathwork can provide space to open your intuitive channel. Allow yourself to play and daydream. Let your mind wander in quiet or set a moment aside to simply daydream, with no inhibitions, in the middle of the day, and see what surfaces. Returning to that child-like state of play, imagination, and daydreaming can help clear your channel and reconnect you to your expansive, expressive, and vibrant self that is whole and joyful.
5. Start small: Nurturing your intuition begins in the smallest decisions and in the small moments, for instance: which lens to choose? Which moment to capture? Which street to take? Which angle? The more you practice listening to that inner voice in little ways, the easier it becomes to trust it when it really counts. And if it turns out not to be the right choice, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed or that something is broken — it’s simply insight, something you’ve gathered through experience. You can only know if you follow it and decide, and you can then realign and fine-tune it. And over time, you will trust yourself more and trust your intuition in the bigger moments.
6. Embrace a student mindset: There’s so much freedom in living in the unknown and not having all the answers. It leaves so much room for expansion, and it is bursting with possibility. Approach each subject, scene, or shoot as if it’s your first. Stay curious and open — open to the possibilities, and leave room for intuition to whisper. Be careful not to label something as “good” or “bad”, and live and shoot in absolutes. Rather, follow what feels good and what feels right, what looks good to you, and most of all, follow that thread of your highest excitement and what lights you up.
7. Follow what looks good and feels true: Discovering your style and aesthetic is a never-ending process. I don’t believe we ever fully arrive—that one day we’ve just found it and figured it all out. It’s a journey that’s constantly evolving and shifting, much like how you’re a different person than you were yesterday, even if only in small, subtle ways. When it comes to discovering your style, intuition can be a powerful guide. Trust what looks and feels like you in the moment. It might not feel the same in a year, but right now, this is your style. For example, if you're drawn to high-contrast photography and sharp lines, lean into that. Trust that it reflects where you are creatively right now, and keep following it. In essence, follow what feels and looks good to you. Put on creative blinders when you need to, while still staying open to what’s possible and unknown. It’s in the unknown where all the possibilities lie. There’s a vast world out there filled with inspiration. We can hold both who we are right now and, at the same time, all that’s possible for where our work and how our style could evolve. Trying to define ourselves too narrowly, saying “this is what I am” or “this is my style, ”can box us in and limit what we’re capable of becoming. So trust how you're shooting and expressing yourself right now. If it feels right, let it be. Keep listening to that inner creative voice as you grow, and give yourself space and grace to evolve along the way.
