How Small Things Lead to Big Results

As a photographer, it’s easy to be motivated and focused one day, completely burnt out, and lacking motivation the next. Photography is a lot of work, both physically and mentally. Although it’s not the most physically demanding thing you can do, you still need to be motivated to plan it and do it. Photography is also a mental game, as no matter how comfortable and confident you are, being off can significantly affect your results. Being creative is mentally taxing.

The sentiment around being successful and growing as a photographer is to do it constantly, experiment, create, study your results, find out what works for you and what doesn’t, and continue refining your work. This is true, as you must constantly practice your craft to succeed. However, doing something every day doesn’t have to be a significant commitment to your day. It doesn’t even have to involve the act of shooting.

Small amounts of dedicated time to a task you want to improve can lead to bigger results. Photography is a great example, as it can take years to reach a point where you become confident in your results. Even then, you can look back and easily see flaws in what you created.

Small, daily habits that become routine can help sustain your drive and enhance your motivation to continue moving forward. When 15-20 minutes a day becomes your routine, you look forward to it. It’s not a massive dedication of time. You stay focused without thinking it’s too much.

With photography, take the time to understand your camera more; play around with the settings, read a book about creativity, self-improvement, or development, watch a tutorial, and try something new in Lightroom. There is so much you can do to improve the foundation of your drive towards photography and stay motivated and dedicated to your craft without spending hours each day.

Small things add up. Start small and build up to the point where it becomes second nature and part of your day’s structure.