Amateur Photographers: Can You Pass the 10-Photo Challenge?
Why Your Photos Aren’t Improving: A Hard Look at Your Work
Let’s be real for a second. Most amateur photographers—and honestly, even a lot of pros—hit a point where they just feel stuck. I see it all the time through my workshops, online classes, portfolio reviews, and those late-night DMs on Instagram. It’s this awkward middle ground where you’ve moved past learning by mimicking others (which is totally fine, by the way), but you’re not really evolving anymore either. You’re just... coasting.
And when I look at people’s portfolios, they all start to blur together. It’s a lot of the same stuff: a guy walking through a shaft of light, a portrait in flat light with a 70-200, a sign, an old thing next to a new thing—rinse and repeat. Or it’s shots from some exotic trip where the location did all the heavy lifting. The truth is, a lot of those photos don’t hold up when you dig a little deeper.
I get it. I’ve been there. Hell, I still shoot some of that stuff. But if you’re serious about photography—if you want to grow—you need to stop and ask yourself some tough questions. That’s what this post is about.
Start With the Archive
Step one: open up your archive. All of it. The good, the bad, the embarrassing. Hopefully it's organized by date or shoot—if not, stop here and fix that first. I’m serious. If you want to grow, you need to respect your work enough to organize it.
Now go through every shoot and pull your five favorite images from each one. Doesn’t matter if it’s your cat chasing a dust bunny or portraits of your partner in bad lighting—dump them all into one big master folder. Then sit with them. Not for five minutes—really sit with them.
Cut to 50. Then Cut to 10.
Once you've got that master folder, load it into whatever contact sheet software you use. I use Photo Mechanic, but whatever works. From there, narrow it down to your 50 favorites. Try to avoid redundancy and aim for variety. Then sit with those again. Ask yourself:
What patterns do I see?
Who was I trying to shoot like back then?
What have I learned since then?
What do I feel when I look at these now?
Don’t rush this. Photography is a patient craft, and growth doesn’t come from shortcuts. This is about being brutally honest—not discouraging, just real. Be hard on yourself, but fair.
Now imagine a gallery calls you up and wants to feature your work—but only 10 images that represent you. Not your travels. Not your gear. You. That changes everything, doesn’t it?
What Do These Images Say About You?
When you’ve got your final 10, ask yourself: what would someone feel looking at this collection? Would they learn anything about your subjects? About you? Would they feel curious, joyful, nostalgic—or nothing at all?
Give the images names. Name the emotions. Then ask the scariest question of all: is this a body of work you’d be proud to display? If not, that’s okay. This process isn’t about shame—it’s about awareness.
Now Think One Year Ahead
Here’s the real kicker. Imagine doing this again in a year. Same gallery, but now you’ve had a year to grow and shoot intentionally. What would you want those next 10 images to look like? What story would they tell?
Would they have a consistent style? Would they explore a subject deeply? Would they reflect what you love about photography—not what gets likes on Instagram or what Leica is marketing this month?
That’s your mission. Not a preset. Not a new lens. A plan. A real one. And it starts by knowing where you’ve been.
Final Thoughts
This process takes time, but it’s worth it. If you’ve made it this far, chances are you’re serious about your growth. And no, this kind of content doesn’t get as many views as gear reviews or camera comparisons, but it’s the stuff that actually matters. This is the kind of work that helps you level up—not just as a photographer, but as a creative person.
So take the time. Go back through your work. Be honest. Set a goal. And if you need help with that process, I offer online coaching and long-term mentorships at askmott.com. But don’t do it for me—sell it to yourself first.
Now get to work. And don’t forget to enjoy the ride.
— Justin
