Feeling like your photos don’t measure up is something many creatives experience. Comparing your work to others can be discouraging, but it’s a common part of the learning process.
Coming to you from Martin Castein, this insightful video offers practical advice for improving your craft. The first tip is about finding inspiration through imitation. Choose one photographer whose style you admire and analyze their work closely. Look at their use of composition, lighting, color, and even the mood of their images. Write down what stands out, then recreate those elements in your own way. This process helps you identify techniques that resonate with you while giving you the confidence to adapt them into your personal style.
Another critical piece of advice is to move beyond the technical aspects of photography, such as exposure settings. While it’s important to understand the basics, spending too much time obsessing over perfect exposure can hinder your creativity. Instead, focus on creating images that evoke emotion or tell a story. If your camera settings still feel overwhelming, Castein suggests practicing regularly in manual mode until it becomes second nature. Once you’re comfortable with the basics, you can channel your energy into the creative aspects that truly make your work stand out. That's just the start of the helpful advice, so check out the video above for the full rundown from Castein.
