9 Photo Lessons You Don’t Learn in Photography School

I spent the last week at Promoting Passion Convention in New Harmony, Indiana, a creative photography event organised by photographer and artist Brooke Shaden.

It was such an amazing week of learning and inspiration that taught me lots of things about photography–but not in the way you may expect.

It was not at all a gear-focused photography event, where everyone talks about what camera is best or which focal length to use for what purpose.

Instead, the convention focused on fostering connections, developing creativity, and inspiring each other through workshops and collaboration.

I gained so many valuable insights from the event that I wanted to share with you, as they are universally applicable to any photographer, artist, or creative.

Here’s what I took home from the week:

1. How You Talk About Your Work Matters

This one is truly a lesson for all creatives out there, not just photographers.

To illustrate this, let me introduce you to fictional photographer A.

This is how they talk about their work:

“Oh, well, these are just some pics I took of the model. She was so great, I don’t know if I did her justice.

I played around in Photoshop some, but couldn’t really get the effect I wanted.

So yeah, these are alright. Not sure if I would call them art, really. I mean, it’s not something I could get published or anything”.

Now, let’s hear from fictional photographer B:

“Let me present this recent fine art series consisting of six photographs. This series is part of an ongoing project of mine, dedicated to the topic of [XXX].

I worked with a beautiful model who really helped bring my vision to life.

I used a wide-angle lens for the series to achieve a cinematic effect. I also colour graded my images to underscore the moody atmosphere.

These images came out exactly how I imagined them, and it was such an enjoyable project”.

Which photographer sounds more competent, self-assured and professional?

I myself may have spoken more like fictional photographer A in the past, but after visiting this and other photography conferences, I know that:

How you speak about your work matters.

If YOU don’t “sell” your work, no one else will!

So don’t fall into the trap of being self-deprecating; instead, speak with confidence about your work:

You’ve most likely poured a lot of time and effort into it, so don’t make yourself and your art small when sharing it with others.

Self-portrait taken on film during the conference.

2. Gear Is Less Important Than You Think

I think there’s a HUGE tendency to focus on gear in photography.

I’ve taken a lot of photography courses, and most people ask questions like:

• What camera brand is best?
• Which focal length is best for portraits?
• Which lens produces the sharpest images?
• Should I shoot DSLR or mirrorless?

The thing is, these things do matter, of course.

But what matters even more is your artistic eye and vision.

So instead of focusing too much on gear, ask yourself questions like:

• Is this the best composition for this subject?
• Will this lighting choice create the desired effect in my photo?
• Can I frame my subject in a more interesting way?
• Should I take this image in colour or black and white?
• Is there an emotion or narrative I want to convey in this picture?

…and so on.

The photographers I met at the conference are not at all gear-focused.

Instead, they focus on topics such as photographic intention, lighting, framing and composition, and it shows:

All the work I saw during the week was incredibly artistic and beautiful, and I didn’t ask once what camera the photographer used – because what made their photos stand out was not the gear, but the artistic choices they made.

3. Collaboration Can Be Fun (Even for Introverts)

I don’t know about you, but I am an extreme introvert and usually work on my own.

That is also one of the reasons I became a self-portrait photographer, as that means I can do everything by myself, without external help.

I’m so accustomed to working alone that I don’t usually reach out for creative collaborations.

However, something interesting happened at the conference:

Two photographers approached me and asked me to model for them.

Despite feeling nervous about it, I said yes…and to my surprise, it was so incredibly fun:

My nerves went away as soon as I stood in front of the camera, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

So, if you usually work alone, it may be worth considering collaborating in some form, be it with a model, a makeup artist, another photographer, an art director, a filmmaker, or any other creative professional you can think of.

You never know, perhaps you will create something even more amazing if you dare to share and evolve your ideas in collaboration with another creative.

4. Sometimes You Dont Know What to Shoot…and That’s OK

At the event, there was a moment where everyone went to a beautiful, retro-style house that was rented specifically for the occasion.

Most people paired up quickly and started taking pictures, collaborating and inspiring each other.

I had felt excited about going to the house, but once I was there, I suddenly felt a bit blocked:

As a self-portrait artist, I felt a bit awkward posing under the eyes of everyone else, plus the atmosphere was a bit hectic, as many people were trying to get that perfect shot at the same time.

I could have gotten upset about my creative funk, but instead, I just decided it wasn’t the right moment for me to create anything.

I didn’t stress about it; I simply walked back to my room, enjoying the beautiful weather.

Back at the hotel, I had a coffee and rested for a bit, recharging my batteries for more creative activities and encounters later in the day.

This episode made me realise that sometimes, we simply don’t feel inspired, and that’s OK!

If you’re going through a phase of creative block, sometimes it can help to just accept it.

Instead, find another activity you enjoy, let the moment pass and trust that the inspiration will find you again.

5 It’s Always Worth Exploring Alternative Photography Techniques

Talking about inspiration, sometimes it can be really fun to explore alternative techniques and methods, especially if you’re stuck in a creative rut.

At the event, I attended a mixed-media photography workshop led by Brooke Shaden, which gave me lots of new ideas for incorporating alternative materials into my photo shoots.

Models Jane Love and Steph shot during the mixed media workshop.

Some others attended a platinum-palladium workshop, and they all loved working with this traditional film development method.

This is just to say that you don’t need to stick to regular digital photography just because it’s “the thing people do”.

Why not try something different, such as mixed media photography, film photography, photo manipulation, or scanography?

By the way, if you’re interested in mixed media photography, I wrote a whole blog post about it, which you can find here.

6. Photography Can Be a Healing Tool

There were several speakers at the event, including the photographer Nancy Borowick.

She shared one of her projects that documented her parents’ battle with cancer.

Not only did this help her cope with their illness, but it also brought the family closer.

In addition, it was a way to create a legacy and to connect with others going through similar experiences.

Here’s one of the beautiful and very touching images from her series:

Image credit: Nancy Borowick.

Hearing Nancy’s story and seeing her images, I got confirmation for something I knew instinctively all along:

Photography is not only a form of artistic expression but also a tool for healing.

I’ve actually been using the camera in this way for a while, transforming negative or difficult emotions into inspiration for my self portrait shoots.

Hence, next time you’re going through something difficult, try documenting it with your camera:

You may find that, similar to writing in a journal, this can really help process emotions or negative experiences.

7. Photography Can Just Be a Hobby

Many photographers (including myself) are very business-focused:

We want photography to be our main profession, sell prints, and market ourselves as best we can.

However, at the conference, I met some photographers who are incredibly passionate about photography, but don’t need it to be more than a hobby:

They have a different day job and dabble in photography “because it’s fun”.

I love this because it shows that not everything has to be about business and money:

Maybe you simply enjoy taking photos of beautiful flowers, and that’s that:

You don’t care about building a website, selling photos, using expensive gear, or “going pro”.

Lesson learned: Photography can “just” be a hobby, for no other reason than because you enjoy it.

One of my street photography shots that I only take for fun, not for commercial purposes.

8. Everyone Has a Unique Point of View

At the event, there were ample opportunities to photograph the booked models and one another on the beautiful grounds and in the surrounding nature.

You may think that 80 photographers taking pictures of the same thing, e.g. a model posing by the pool, might result in 80 similar pictures.

However, that’s the beauty of photography and art in general:

Everyone has a unique point of view, meaning 80 photographers taking a picture of the same thing results in 80 completely different pictures.

Some people may focus more on colours, while others focus on framing/composition; some may use a wide-angle lens, while others may crop in more, and so on.

I love this because it shows that there is room for everyone in the creative world.

I often hear people talk about how “the market is saturated”, but I strongly disagree:

There’s always room for YOUR voice, because no one else will take the picture in exactly the same way YOU do.

Everyone took photos of model Jane Love in the pool as a mermaid, but all in their own unique style.

9) Interesting Subjects Are Everywhere

The last lesson I learnt at the convention is that the most interesting subject is often found where you least expect it.

As mentioned above, I didn’t end up feeling inspired at the beautiful house that was rented specifically for the occasion.

In turn, one of the most inspiring spaces at the conference for me was…the restroom/toilet!

When I went there on the first day, I was struck by the beautiful, retro-style wallpaper, an unusual choice for a bathroom space.

I liked it so much that I went back there with my tripod the next day to shoot a few self-portraits.

Self portrait taken in the restrooms/toilet at the conference resort.

The takeaway: Sometimes, the most interesting subject is what other people would never consider photograph-worthy.

So, whenever you feel the urge to photograph something, do it, even if it’s not a conventionally interesting subject.

Follow that impulse, because you may be annoyed with yourself later if you let the moment pass.

And that’s it for today’s blog post!

Which of these lessons resonated the most with you? Let me know in the comments!