The Most Important Photography Question

When I was a child my mum always forced me to keep asking why. If I do something, I need to know why. If someone asks me to do something, I need to know why. Whatever I think, do, say or dream, there always needs to be a why. As an adult I am happy this was drilled into me, although looking back I can see how this annoyed teachers in school and managers in day jobs.

When it comes to photography, you need to really have a think about why you are doing it. Why did you pick up the camera, why do you want to shoot certain things, why do you have specific dreams and goals. By always asking why, you will get down to the very core of what drives you. As you understand yourself and your motivations better, you can make decisions based on your true values and goals. This will undoubtedly serve you better and take you further.

There is no right or wrong and you need to be honest with yourself. If your main goal is to build a large audience, that’s fine. If you started photography because you wanted to make money, that’s great. If you started photography as a way to unwind from your job, that’s also great. When you have a clear reason for starting photography, everything else becomes easier. Of course your ‘why’ can and probably will change over time, but make sure to keep asking yourself from time to time, why.

If your reason is to unwind from your day job, then how you approach photography, the gear you buy, the things you learn and the experiences you will pursue, could be vastly different compared to making a career out of this craft. If you want to build an audience, then paying attention to metrics, engagement and following online trends might be required. However if you are shooting to unwind, then staring at social media analytics is the absolute last thing you want to do. Equally if you want to become a freelance photographer, then working within a niche and with a recognisable style is important. However if you only shoot for fun, then none of these things really matter. Think about why you photograph, why you started and what drives you. This might take 5 minutes or it might take 5 years. However as long as you ask yourself why you’re doing what you're doing, you will always remain on the path that’s true to you.