Stop Believing These Photography Lies

Some photography beliefs sound noble but secretly keep you from improving. You might think manual mode is the mark of a “real” shooter or that the newest camera will finally unlock your potential. These ideas seem harmless but often slow your growth, not speed it up.

Coming to you from Max Kent, this sharp video cuts straight into the myths that creep into your habits without notice. Kent starts with the familiar one: the myth that shooting fully manual makes your work better. He explains how he used to shoot with a Nikon FM, convinced that manual settings made him more authentic. Eventually, he switched to a film camera with aperture priority and autofocus and saw his results improve. The reason was simple: less time spent fiddling with dials meant more attention on what mattered: light, framing, and the moment. It’s a quiet reminder that settings are a tool, not a personality trait. You don’t get extra credit for suffering through manual mode if it makes you miss the shot.

Kent then tackles another lie that refuses to die: the idea that you need the latest gear to make progress. The example he gives is the hype around the next big release, which can cost around $5,000 once you add a lens. Camera companies want you to believe your old setup is obsolete the moment something new drops. Kent pushes back on that thinking. He argues that while newer gear can make a skilled person’s life easier, it doesn’t magically make anyone more creative. You could shoot with a 10-year-old DSLR and a basic 50mm f/1.8 lens and still create meaningful work if you focus on developing your eye. The camera can’t teach you timing or instinct.

He moves to composition myths, where things get interesting. Kent recalls his early obsession with the rule of thirds. Like many, he believed it was the key to a “good” photo. Over time, he realized that the best images often break those rules. They feel alive because they don’t follow predictable patterns. He compares it to pop music, which is catchy, reliable, and safe, but says true artistic photography lives outside that structure. Once you stop thinking in terms of formulas and start trusting your intuition, your work changes. You see opportunities where others don’t, and your photos stop looking like everyone else’s.

The video doesn’t just talk about shooting, as it also hints at mindset. Kent encourages a lighter approach: stop fixating on settings, gear, or rules, and start seeing again. He shares a bit of his own life, like finishing a shed with his dad, to remind you that small wins matter. Creativity grows when you give yourself permission to step back and enjoy the process rather than constantly chasing perfection. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Kent.