Photography rules like the rule of thirds, symmetry, or specific lens guidelines might feel necessary when you're learning, but they're often more limiting than helpful. Sticking rigidly to these rules can leave you with predictable images and stunt your creativity.
Coming to you from Max Kent, this straightforward video addresses common misconceptions about photography rules and how they impact your creativity. Kent tackles the common belief that portrait photography requires an 85mm lens, highlighting how exceptional portraits come from all sorts of focal lengths. He challenges the assumption that sports photography needs fast shutter speeds, arguing that slower speeds can sometimes better capture the energy and motion of the moment. These insights underscore Kent's key point: photography rules can serve as helpful starting points, but strict adherence often yields predictable, uninspiring results.
Kent expands this conversation by reflecting on his own early experiences with photography, particularly portrait work. Initially, he followed traditional rules—focal lengths between 70mm and 135mm, classical lighting setups—which resulted in technically proficient but bland photos. Real growth came from stepping beyond those guidelines and experimenting, which allowed him to capture more compelling, expressive portraits. Kent emphasizes that while certain types of photography, like commercial or interior photography, do benefit from standard practices due to their need for consistency, creative and editorial work thrives on individuality and experimentation.
One of the video’s more insightful moments is Kent's suggestion that rules should be seen as tools rather than strict guidelines. By viewing rules this way, you gain the freedom to use or disregard them based on your creative goals. He pushes you to question the value of a rule by imagining the results of intentionally breaking it or applying it in a non-traditional way. Kent argues that authenticity in your photography is more crucial now than ever, especially when AI-generated images can easily replicate standard compositional rules. To genuinely stand out, your personal identity and artistic vision need to come through clearly in your work, and rigid rules can prevent that from happening. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Kent.
