Creative Vulnerability: The Difficult Truth About Our Photography
Seville, Spain - 2025
It’s 2026, and a new year is upon us. So first, let me say, Happy New Year to all. I hope the year ahead for you is filled with all the great things you deserve, and that you reach your goals in everything you are working towards.
As photographers, we have plans for our art and goals for our adventures. However, even though a new year is here, progressing as a photographer can be challenging, regardless of how long we have been doing it. There is always a nagging feeling of uncertainty about our work. It comes and goes, but some self-doubt periodically creeps in.
Like any art, photography is subjective; as a subjective form of expression, some will love what we do and how we create, and others won’t. But we need to consider that the majority will never see it, and those who do may pass over our art within seconds.
And here lies one of the biggest challenges and truths about our photography: the majority of people will never experience our art, no matter how much heart and soul we put into it, how much we share on various social media channels, post on websites, or even sell our prints. No matter how much heart we put into what we create, our art can exist in obscurity, never reaching an audience or resonating as intended. When we make photographs, we capture our experiences and memories. When we put them out there for others, it’s an act of vulnerability. It’s now a tangible piece of your inner world, free to be interpreted.
No question, capturing a photo has never been easier. Most media have reached a saturated point. When there are endless options for consumption, it’s easier for people to skip or move on quickly if it doesn’t immediately capture their interest or meet their expectations.
Regardless of how our art is experienced and for how long, we need to continue putting our love and effort into it. When our art goes without acknowledgement, it can cause doubt. Is this even worth sharing? However, we need to ask ourselves, do we need to be recognized for everything we do? To be “liked”? Are we creating for ourselves or for others? Only receiving praise for our work can make us stagnant artists. If everything we do is liked, shared, and acknowledged as is, how can we continue to innovate and improve our craft? Sometimes, not knowing whether our art is working can be the best thing for our creative growth, pushing us further.
So even when we put our heart and soul into a project that materializes over time, or work we share from the moments that mean the most to us, we can’t guarantee that others will see or feel this too. We strive to create moments that resonate with others; sometimes, the experience is personal and a part of us only. We want to tell incredible stories, but being part of that story is integral to the experience. When the self-doubt creeps in, when the impostor syndrome hits us, it’s essential to recognize that we all feel this way at one point or another. It’s a recurring symptom of being a creative, and one that is part of being a photographer. We are all creative in one way or another.
Continue to create art that reflects your experiences and vision. Do what you love. This is the art that you will truly feel connected to.