The Importance of Examining Past Mistakes

No matter what you shoot as a photographer, continual self-improvement is key. One effective way to achieve this is by reviewing old work, a practice that offers critical insights into your growth and areas needing refinement.

Coming to you from John Branch IV Photography, this insightful video follows him as he revisits an old wedding shoot. This retrospective is not just a trip down memory lane; it's a deep dive into the technical and artistic choices made during the early stages of his career. By analyzing these past decisions, he demonstrates how such reflection can lead to significant advancements in a photographer's skill and understanding, as well as artistic growth. He candidly identifies his previous errors, such as unnecessary overshooting and poor framing choices, providing photographers with a mirror to their own potential oversights.

Moreover, the video addresses the specific challenges encountered in wedding photography, especially as a second photographer. It offers an advanced perspective on lens selection, camera settings, and composition strategies, emphasizing the need for intentionality in every shot. This detailed critique encourages photographers to critically evaluate their own work and adapt their methods for more impactful results. Examining your own work, no matter how uncomfortable, is something we should all be in the habit of doing. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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