âItâs the one art form that everybody is capable of performing flawlessly.â â David Strettell
Whatâs the secret to creating great photos? The biggest secret in photography is that youâre already making perfect photos. Youâve been told that youâre not because of the second-biggest secret: the teaching of photography has always and will always make more money than the photographs themselves.
This is why professional photographers are trying to get you to buy a new camera or buy a spot in their next workshop. Believe me, they would rather be taking pictures. Thatâs whatâs most fun about being a photographer.
But thatâs not where the money is. The money is in convincing you that your composition needs a little work, or your lens has an aberration that a prime lens wouldnât.
The professionals donât do this maliciously. Itâs how they learned, and itâs what they need to do if they want to make a decent living. For most of us, though, their advice does not apply.
What defines a perfect photo is entirely up to you. Otherwise, this wouldnât be an art. It would be just another commodity, subject to a checklist written long ago.
There is no checklist. Be wary of anyone trying to sell you access to one.