What You Really Need in Photography (and What You Absolutely Don’t)
I recently crossed a milestone that still feels a bit surreal: 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. I’ve never chased numbers, trends, or weekly gear reviews. The channel has always been about sharing what I’ve learned through years of working as an editorial and commercial photographer. If anything I’ve shared has helped you see your own work more clearly, that’s more than enough for me.
Rather than celebrating with more gear talk, I want to address something many photographers—especially amateurs—need to hear.
What you actually need in photography, and what you don’t.
Think of this as a counterbalance to the constant noise online. Take it in, compare it to what you hear elsewhere, and decide what applies to you.
Things You Don’t Need
You don’t need a new camera.
The camera you already own is almost certainly capable of making strong photographs. More megapixels won’t fix your style. New autofocus modes won’t give you direction. No camera will suddenly make everything click.
I use Leica cameras for personal work because I enjoy them, not because they make me a better photographer. I use Sony for commercial assignments because it’s efficient and reliable for hybrid photo and video work. If I switched systems tomorrow, my work wouldn’t suddenly fall apart.
New gear can be fun, but it doesn’t solve the hard parts of photography. Vision comes first.
You don’t need photo contests.
A lot of photographers invest time, money, and emotion into competitions, and most of the time the return is minimal. Results are subjective, judges are often rushed, and the business model is usually driven by entry fees and sponsorships.
Enter contests for fun if you enjoy them, but don’t let them define your confidence or direction. They rarely teach you anything useful about your work.
You don’t need photo tours.
This isn’t the same as a workshop. Many photo tours are built around recreating the instructor’s images rather than teaching you how to make your own. You’re taken to their locations, guided into their compositions, and leave with images that feel successful but don’t actually belong to you.
Some tours are well run, but many are not. There’s a better way to invest your time and money if learning is the goal.
Things You Do Need
You need a personal project.
This is the fastest way to improve, and it has nothing to do with gear. A personal project teaches storytelling, consistency, patience, editing, sequencing, and how to return to the same subject with intention.
You don’t need to travel far. The best projects are often close to home—something you can revisit regularly. Without a project, it’s easy to keep making the same safe images over and over. A project forces you to move forward.
You need a real workshop, not a tour.
A good workshop should challenge you, not babysit you. Look for experiences that include daily shooting, editing, assignments, critiques, lectures, and real feedback.
Not every good photographer is a good teacher. Read the itinerary carefully and understand what you’re paying for. The best workshops I’ve attended made me uncomfortable in a productive way. The strongest work usually comes after the workshop, not during it.
You need an editor or mentor.
Most photographers fall into one of two extremes. Either everything they shoot feels amazing, or everything feels terrible. Neither is helpful.
A good editor or mentor helps you find the truth somewhere in the middle. They help you see what’s working, what isn’t, what to lean into, what to let go of, and what to do next. That might be a long-term mentor, a portfolio review, or a trusted photographer friend. The key is honest, experienced feedback.
Final Thoughts
If this feels blunt, that’s intentional. Real growth in photography requires clarity and honesty. I learned that from the mentors who shaped me, and I’m passing it on.
Thank you for being part of this community and for supporting the channel as it grows. If you have questions, leave them in the comments. And if you’re interested in online classes or portfolio reviews, I’m always happy to help you move forward.
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