Unhinged Photography Advice That Might Get Me Cancelled
Let’s be honest, the internet is full of polite, sugar-coated advice for photographers.
“Just keep posting.”
“Buy a better lens.”
“Manifest your dream clients.”
But here’s the thing, if you actually want to make it as a photographer, especially in fashion, that kind of advice won’t cut it.
So today, I’m sharing the kind of unfiltered truths that might make me a little unpopular… but will actually move the needle in your career. Consider this your permission slip to do things differently.
1. Stop posting everything you shoot.
More isn’t more. You don’t need to post five times a week to stay relevant. You need to curate.
Every single image you share shapes your reputation — and your weakest shot dilutes your strongest one. Think of your Instagram like a portfolio, not a diary.
If Vogue landed on your page today, would every single image represent your best work? If not, start editing ruthlessly. Be intentional. Think like a magazine editor, not a content creator.
2. Your dream clients probably won’t find you on Instagram.
Harsh truth: they’re not scrolling. They’re busy.
Most producers, editors, and art directors aren’t discovering talent through hashtags - they’re opening their inboxes.
Cold emailing isn’t desperate; it’s professional. The photographers who get booked aren’t waiting to be discovered, they’re putting themselves in front of the right people.
If you want to work with brands you admire, stop waiting for them to stumble across your profile. Pitch yourself. Follow up. Treat your career like a business.
3. Pretty models won’t make your work stand out.
Character will. Work with people who make you feel something, not just those who fit the “fashion” mold.
You can take a technically perfect photo of someone conventionally beautiful, but if there’s no emotion, no story, no spark, it’ll be forgotten in five seconds.
Your goal isn’t perfection; it’s connection. Shoot with people who have stories, quirks, energy - people who make you want to pick up your camera.
4. You don’t need a new camera.
You need better ideas. If your photos aren’t landing, it’s rarely your gear - it’s your vision.
Study light. Study art. Watch films. Notice the way stories are told visually in other mediums.
Your creativity will always take you further than your equipment. Great photographers aren’t remembered for the gear they owned, they’re remembered for how they made people feel.
5. If you want to get booked, act like you already are.
Confidence is contagious. Clients want to hire photographers who look like they’re in demand. Talk about your shoots, even the small ones. Share your process. Show up as the person you want to be hired as.
You don’t need to fake success - but you do need to own your ambition. Because when you carry yourself like a professional, people treat you like one.
6. Stop waiting to feel ready.
You will never feel ready. You get confident by doing the thing, not by thinking about it forever. Pitch before you feel ready. Raise your rates before you feel ready. Say yes before you’ve figured out every detail. You grow through action, not waiting.
7. Most “rules” in photography are made up.
And most of them are boring, beak them on purpose. Try weird crops. Shoot through things. Underexpose. Overexpose. Ignore trends.
Your style doesn’t come from following every rule - it comes from experimenting, failing, and finding what feels like you.
So stop trying to please everyone. The moment you do, your work will start to feel alive.
Final Thoughts
The truth is, most of the advice that helps photographers stand out sounds a little “unhinged” at first - because it goes against what everyone else is doing.
But that’s exactly why it works.
So if you needed a little reminder to stop playing it safe, this is it. Post less. Pitch more. Create work that actually means something. And most importantly, show up like the photographer you’re becoming, not the one you used to be.
Want more refreshingly honest advice like this?
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