Your Best Photos: What Makes Them So Unique And Creative?
Red barrier provides a splash of vibrant color at Web Bridge, Melbourne.
I’m often asked by other photographers what it is they need to do to make the best photos possible. My own long and arduous journey in photography has tempered my views and, overtime, informed my answer to this question. I’m confident in what I now know to be true, and I’m happy to share it with you here.
Your best photos don't just depend on the camera or lens used. Rather, it's your desire to master the fundamentals of photography and how to apply them, in a determined and energetic manner, together with your own vision and worldview that speak to the unique and creative nature of your best photos.
“Cameras don’t take photos. People do.”
Please, do not underestimate or fail to appreciate the human factor in the creation of a photograph.
Creative Photography Bears the Mark of the Maker
Your best photos will showcase the subject matter in question while, simultaneously, pointing to the creative source behind the image: you.
Ultimately, it’s the level of attention, compassion and connection a photographer has with who or what they photograph that makes their best photos so unique.
Your best photos aren’t simply made within the fraction of a second it commonly takes between the camera’s shutter opening and closing.
Those photos also contain much of your creative self, together with the knowledge, understandings and life experiences you’ve gained up to that point in time.
It’s true that your photos record a moment in time, but that moment also contains part of your history and that of the subject depicted.
You see, a wave reaches a particular size at a certain place and time because of what’s happened to it on the way there.
Likewise, your best photos are a summation of your life up until that particular moment in time.
Carrying the universal hopes and aspirations of your audience, your best photos showcase the subject or scene depicted, while also reflecting the mark of the maker, the creative force behind the photo.
Just remember, the camera and any lens or accessory you use to produce an image are simply tools. Think of them in the same way that an author might think of a pen, typewriter or computer.
They’re essential tools so, by all means, use the camera gear that offers the technology, logic, ergonomics and usability you can afford.
Just be aware that the most expensive camera gear in the world is useless without the human element.
Never forget that it’s folks like you and me that provide the intention, direction and action necessary to actually create unique photos.
The more you understand the fundamental principals of photography, and the more practiced you are at applying them, quickly and efficiently, the more likely you’ll be to make great photos, more often.
How Failure Contributes to Your Best Photos
Failure is an important aspect in the development of all creative souls. Without failure, it would be hard to imagine or judge improvement.
It’s only natural to be disappointed by failure.
However, failure should never be an end in itself.
It’s all too common for folks to give up after initial failures. But those folks are using negative experiences as an excuse to avoid the stress and hard work that’s central to the creative process.
Forget about the dream of being an overnight success. It’s a myth!
Success is, if nothing else, synonymous with hard work. This is what it means to walk the walk.
In a creative life, failures should be seen as critical learning points along the road to ultimate success.
Rather than running away from failure, or avoiding interesting challenges because you fear failure, embrace the opportunity to learn from your defeats.
It’s how we move forward.
It’s your ability to learn from the inevitable failures you’ll experience along the journey that will, ultimately, allow you to dramatically increase the percentage of great photos you make into the future.
I remember being surprised at a friend’s business card that, in addition to his name and contact details, listed him as follows:
Painter
Print maker
Writer
Photographer
He noticed my surprised expression and asked me what was wrong.
I told him, without intending any disrespect towards donkeys, that I didn’t think he was a photographer’s ass.
He was a painter and printmaker, and he’d done a little bit of writing.
But his underwhelming understanding of the craft of photography was evident in his lacklustre photos and an almost complete inability to use his camera.
I tried to explain to him that there was more to being a good photographer than simply taking photos.
The irony is that, as a painter, he should have understood this fact implicitly.
But does that mean that a great painter cannot also be a great photographer?
No, not at all.
However, while fundamental aspects of light, contrast, color and composition will be understood by most painters, it’s the ability to successfully combine those elements, in real time, into an emotionally charged photo that most painters simply don’t possess.
And I’m afraid that fact is simply non negotiable.
Add let’s not forget that, while photographers have to deal with the reality of the moment, a painter can create the light, colors and forms they wish in their mind’s eye, and situate elements of composition wherever they want on the canvas, without having to deal with the reality of the world in front of them.
Needless to say, if you dress me up in a smock, put a paint brush in my hand and place me in front of a canvas the result would not be pretty.
But that would largely be due to a complete lack of knowledge in the techniques of painting and virtually no practical experience with paint or paint brushes since my days at kindergarten.
However, due to decades working as a photographer, I do have a solid understanding of light, composition and how to connect with people and the world around me while I’m in the process of creating photos.
What’s more I’m a traveler with an interest in the world beyond my normal, everyday experience.
Okay, you may have a good camera and you may take a lot of photos. But with little technical mastery and a lack of artistic intent you’re really just a snap shooter.
And that’s okay. What’s more, you’re certainly not alone.
Most folks who own a DLSR or Mirrorless camera tend to use it on fully automatic mode, thereby surrendering creative control to the machine.
That doesn’t mean that the subject, light and the right moment won’t, occasionally, coincide to enable you to make a really great photo.
Statistically speaking, the more photos you take the more good pics you’ll create.
Right?
Well, the problem with that attitude is that serendipity doesn’t come often, and almost never when you want it to.
That fact speaks to the actual nature of serendipity which describes the good fortune associated with making beneficial discoveries, seemingly by chance.
I suspect everyone experiences serendipity, from time to time, throughout their lives.
But the very best creative photography is a result of being able to both experience and record serendipitous moments of transience, transition and transcendence.
If, like me, you’re a photographer looking to record such ethereal moments, you need to be switched on in such a way that anticipates the event, prior to it actually happening.
Needless to say, you need to have the technical chops to be able to respond and make a really great photo, quickly and efficiently.
Conversely, if you’re unable to make the most out of less than optimal situations, and you don’t get out and about and push yourself to make good photos, then perhaps it’s best not to refer to yourself as a photographer, at least not at this stage of your creative journey.
I rarely write in such a confronting manner. And I don’t mean to put you down.
I’m hoping to protect you and help you progress along the path, according to your own motivations, aspirations and your ability to make room for creative endeavors, like photography.
It’s a tough journey, to be sure, and there’s no escaping the trials and tribulations that will come your way.
“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”
You may have been taking photos for years, even decades.
But your own creative journey really begins when you make the commitment to do what’s required to create your very best photos, more often.
Feather and rocks at Squeaky Beach in Wilsons Promontory National Park, Australia.
Your Best Photos Come Out Of Self Discovery
Who are you anyway?
On one level, just like me, you’re a product of your parents.
But you’re also so much more than that and I think referring to yourself as, for example, your father’s son or your mother’s daughter is somewhat limiting.
That’s because our parents are only a part of our environment and, therefore, are not responsible for the decisions we make in life.
Sure, our parents try to guide us towards making good decisions and acting responsibly. But each of us is, ultimately, responsible for the decisions we make and the paths we take in our journey through life.
More importantly, it’s not what happens to us along the journey, but how we perceive and manifest those events and the reality we create for ourselves that matters most.
What is it to be a Photographer?
Just as having an expensive sports car doesn’t make you a racing driver, let alone a good driver, having an expensive camera does not make you a photographer.
It’s not the uniqueness of your camera that’s at issue, but how you use it to enable your creative potential.
To my way of thinking, the term professional photographer doesn't really mean much.
Of course, associating yourself with that tag can be helpful if you’re trying to charge money for photography products or services you’re providing in a commercial context.
But the fact is anyone can call themselves a photographer these days, and I’m not sure that adding the word professional to the front of that tag is what’s required to separate you from the rest of the pack.
Having said that, it’s not your camera gear that builds your reputation, but the way you conduct yourself, the quality of your work and your ability to deliver it on time that’s going to lift you out above the rest of the pack.
Beyond that, your ability to market, build relationships and pivot as trends and fashions change will underpin your commercial success.
When Can You Call Yourself A Professional Photographer?
Plenty of folks begin referring to themselves as professional photographers from the moment they start looking for paid photography jobs.
The trouble with that is that many of these folks have only a rudimentary understanding of how to use their camera, let alone any expertise in working with people under stressful conditions and tight timelines.
Of course, you can refer to yourself in the way that seems right and proper from your own point of view.
Having said that, I wouldn’t want to over play by own hand without first having solid ground to stand on.
At the very least I’d be doing the following:
Undertaking project based work, in the areas you plan to work in, to build your portfolio, technical expertise and people skills.
Attain a thorough understanding of your camera and lighting gear and how to use it under a variety of conditions.
Research your perceived client base and develop a solid marketing plan, including a very professional and organized social media presence.
Build your brand through a quality, well-structured website and sales funnel; and begin an outreach campaign, using both traditional and digital means, to build relationships with potential clients.
Revisit your portfolio, on an ongoing basis, and adapt variations of that portfolio to the needs of specific customers.
Commence the delivery of your marketing plan while adapting your social media strategy as required.
Build a strong understanding of the essentials of running a business, including cost analysis and budgets, and work to ensure your business has adequate cash flow and funds held in reserve, should the need arise.
Learn to listen, pay attention to advice and build relationships with mentors and support groups in the genre of photography you work within.
Believe in yourself and project self confidence when dealing with customers and the general public.
Stay focused on your goals and the needs of your customers.
Be careful what you promise, but strive hard to over deliver.
Find time for general fitness, other hobbies and, to ensure you stay passionate about your photography, make sure you continue your own, personal photography projects.
Devotee near the Howarth Bridge on the Hooghly River in Kolkata, India.
What’s a Professional Photographer?
The reality is that you don’t need to be in business to call yourself a photographer.
For the artist, your most creative photography will be built upon passion, commitment and effort.
You’ll strive to make meaningful photos and push yourself to find connection through the photos you create and how you go about making them.
If you decide to try making some money from your photography, whether it be a hobby or creative art, you may find it useful to refer to yourself as a professional photographer.
But I really don’t feel you need to do so. I never did.
Likewise, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t be better off being very selective about the kind of paid photography assignments you undertake.
Frankly, it’s the desire to quit a well paid job and transition into a more creative life that results in so many aspiring and enthusiastic photographers moving into struggle street as a wedding photographer that bothers me the most.
What a way to kill your passion for creativity than to work in a high-stress situation, again and again, if you’re an introvert and not comfortable taking control of difficult situations when dealing with strangers.
What’s more, you’ll be committing to regular weekend work, often a year in advance.
High quality cameras are more affordable to more folks than was the case when I entered the photography industry, all those years ago.
Despite starting off as wedding/portrait photographer, developing my craft in great darkrooms and undertaking nine years of tertiary based study in fine art photography, that means little to most potential customers these days.
What matters is how you connect with your customers; the products you produce and your ability to do so in a timely manner, within budget.
And, of course, none of this will amount to a hill of beans if you can’t successfully market your business and sell the products and services you offer.
Those products and services, and the prices they attract, will need to align with the specific customer base you’re targeting through your marketing.
If you can’t deliver what your customer wants, then you have no right being in business.
These days most photographers report that their customers are happy being provided with digital files. What’s more, few photographers actually rent studio premises.
Gone are the days when the sign above the door on Main Street gave you the credibility you needed to attract customers by referring to yourself as a professional photographer.
Nowadays, aspiring photographers, even those working from their mum’s basement, can refer to themselves as professional photographers.
Taking this argument further, the great democratization of photography that’s occurred since the arrival of the smart phone and the sharing of massive amounts of images via social media, means that everyone thinks they’re a photographer.
And that’s okay. Really!
A strong sense of personal identity and self belief are important factors in motivating us to take action and explore our interests and passions.
Personally, I wouldn’t be all that concerned with referring to yourself as a professional photographer.
I just don’t think the term is valued in the same way it was years ago when the professional photographer was thought of as a kind of wizard, immersed in a mysterious mix of technology and magic.
In a way, photographers were perceived as modern day alchemists.
But the democratization of photography has pulled back the curtain and exposed that reality for what it was.
The irony is that it’s the mystery that still stirs my soul.
But I don’t need to brand myself as a professional photographer, or take on a whole bunch of commercial assignments, to tap into that.
So how should you define yourself?
Victim
Survivor
Sole Trader
Entrepeneur
Your parent’s child
Someone else’s partner
Someone else’s mother or father
Another common approach is to rattle off a number of achievements, or academic and employment milestones, as a way of summarizing your life to date.
Let’s look at this example, from my own life, as a case in point.
Rockhopper penguin, moving over rocky ground, after returning from the sea.
Glenn Guy's Creative Photography Journey, Part One
I was eleven years old when I got my first, part time job.
I ran errands, did odd jobs and deliveries at two local shoe stores; picked up discarded rubbish, early in the morning, at the local swimming pool; delivered newspapers; and worked in a milk bar, all by the time I was 13 years of age.
I started my first full time job, in the camera department of a large pharmacy, just a few days after my 17th birthday.
By 19 years of age I was busy photographing weddings and portraits, as a side business.
At 22 years of age I started my own wedding/portrait photography studio.
18 months later, after a dispute with my landlord, I closed the studio, walked across the road and took a job as photographer at the local newspaper.
Just after my 24th birthday I left my hometown, Hamilton, and moved to the big smoke to undertake a formal education in photography.
Glenn Guy's Creative Photography Journey, Part Two
I studied photography formally for nine years, culminating in a Masters Of Art (Photography) at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.
I worked throughout that time, initially in camera stores, prior to beginning work at Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, in January 1990.
Starting in manufacturing, I worked my way into customer service and then technical support, prior to taking on the role of Product Manager, Sensitized Products, Professional Imaging Division at Kodak.
I also began teaching photography, part time, during those years at Kodak.
My time at Kodak ended in December 1997. It felt great walking out the door knowing I’d done my very best and that I’d made a real and tangible difference.
After a six month break I started working, full time, in photography education. I continued to do so for the next twelve years.
I continued to work in education, both online and through short courses, and spent an enormous amount of time creating content for my www.travelphotographyguru.com website and blog, undertaking travel photography projects whenever I can.
Sculptural elements become studies in composition at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.
Glenn Guy, Travel Photographer Backstory
My first overseas photography trip was a 3½ month jaunt through Asia.
It started in Hong Kong, continued through mainland China and Tibet, over the Himalayas to Nepal and India before, finally, ending in Thailand.
By the end of that trip I’d absolutely caught the travel bug. In fact, if I hadn’t been booked to photograph my sister’s wedding, I may not have come back at all.
I’ve continued to travel over the years and many of those images are included in the hundreds of blog posts available on this website.
If you want to know more about my work history, travels and interests take a look at this post.
If you’d like to know about all the cameras and lenses I’ve owned over the years check out this post titled Fantastic Cameras and Adventures
Many of my initial travels were undertaken as part of my photography studies.
I was so busy working that, the only way I was able to keep making photos, was to have a project, get on a plane and live the life of a documentary based travel photographer for four weeks a year.
The projects from those adventures became the assessable portfolios during my formal photography studies.
After nine years of tertiary based study I’d built a lifestyle that enabled me to travel and photograph.
During that time I began running private photography courses and weekend photography workshops in and around Melbourne.
In 2010 I teamed up with a colleague to run a photography tour to Argentina, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island and Antarctica.
Five years later I ran a photography tour to Iceland.
From 2010 I began to move away from what had been an incredibly busy teaching schedule and dramatically increased the amount of time I invested into my website and blog.
In 2014 I began working at the Arcanum, the now defunct online photography education experience owned by a group of entrepreneurs including world-famous photographer, Trey Ratcliff.
It was great fun and it allowed me to connect, on a near daily basis, with enthusiast level photographers from all over the world.
I produced content and provided feedback and support, both individually and through group hangouts, to the apprentices enrolled in the various communities I managed.
Sadly, it was heavily linked to the Google plus platform and, when that was discontinued, the Arcanum was closed down.
Since then I’ve continued to focus much of my time on building my website and blog, which I see as an important source of inspiration and information for many thousands of photographers, now and into the future.
I continue to run photography courses though, these days, I’m concentrating my efforts on private, one to one courses.
During 2021 I designed and completed a fantastic photography project, promoting local arts and the value of art in the community, for a local government shire in Melbourne.
The project provided over twenty artists with creative portraits which they could use to promote their brands via their own websites and social media, and culminated in a significant solo photography exhibition.
This is the best photography course in Melbourne. Learn photography, master your camera and realize your creative potential by making beautiful, life affirming images.
I’m Glenn Guy, an experienced teacher and owner of the Travel Photography Guru website and blog.
Here’s the private photography course that’s specially designed around your needs, your camera and the photos you most want to create.
Glenn Guy's Working Life, Back in Hamilton
I moved back to my hometown, Hamilton, with the intention of helping my mother avoid going into care.
I took on my old job as the chief photographer at the local newspaper. The last edition of the paper was published on December 21, 2024.
I still return to Melbourne, one weekend a month, to run private photography courses and sometimes meet customers for courses in cities like Ballarat or Geelong, or in locations like the Great Ocean Road.
Young boy with his father watching on in Kolkata, India.
Creative Photography: Moving Past A Résumé
On one hand it probably looks like I’ve had a pretty substantial range of experiences in the photography industry.
In fact it’s just a series of snapshots, painted in very broad strokes, that points to some of the things I’ve done over the years.
But, just like music, it’s the space between the notes that best defines the song or the story being told.
And the problem with trying to encapsulate your life into a bullet point heavy resume is that they do such a poor job in providing anything close to a deep analysis of who you are, the work you’ve completed and the relationships you’ve formed along the way.
So Who Are You?
Once again, using my own life as a case in point, a more personal response should bring you closer to the mark.
There’s things that happen in life that, looking back, seem to be important. These moments might mark important choices you’ve made or paths you’ve followed in life. They may also point to the person you’ve become, or signs of the person yet to emerge.
I am grateful to be the son of Mary and Fred Guy.
I remember spending a lot of time standing on my head and also looking out at the rain, through the living room, window when I was a child.
I started hitting a tennis ball up against a wall when I was around 6 years of age. It was fun and, a few years later, I had another go. I was hooked and it wasn’t long before I was imagining myself playing against some of the sports greats.
The dedication I showed, practicing for hours a day, first against the wall of our backyard bungalow and then, later, serving the only tennis ball I had into an empty court, again and again, has stayed with me over the years and is a key reason why I’m able to envisage and complete quite significant projects.
I remember, as a kid, staying up late on Friday nights watching Star Trek with my old man. I thought Spock was amazing.
I’m a sci-fi and middle earth fan, and also a self-confessed Tolkien tragic.
I read the Hobbit at age 14 and the Lord Of The Rings the following year. The Silmarillion and other Tolkien works followed soon after.
I got a guitar for Christmas when I was, I think, 13 years of age.
A few days after my 17th birthday I stared work with photographer Ernest C. Cameron in my hometown, Hamilton. I continued to work with Ern for 2-years, until his death, when I took on much of the photography work that would have come his way.
I started playing in my first band, Taxi, when I was 18 years of age.
I stopped playing tennis around the age of 18 due to lots of summer weddings, an arm injury and the commitment I’d made to the band.
Oh, and I had a girlfriend.
Both the band and my girlfriend and I stayed together for two years. It broke my heart when both relationships were terminated, largely because of the way they ended.
I’ve fallen in love, more than once.
I’ve traveled and photographed extensively.
I have an interest in mythology and world religions, though I’m not a religious person.
I now understand myself to be a spiritual being experiencing a human existence.
I’ve worked in the photography industry for 43 years.
I’ve trained thousands of people in the techniques of photography and worked hard to inspire their creativity.
I am for freedom, equity and justice.
I abhor bullying.
I look for beauty in all things, including the everyday and the mundane.
I believe in the transforming, transient and transcendental nature of light.
My heroes are ordinary people who live extraordinary lives.
I’ve determined that an extraordinary life seems preferable to an extra ordinary life.
I seek to live a purpose-driven and meaning rich life.
It seems to me that I’ve done a much better job defining myself the second time around. That’s because I opened myself up and spoke, quite openly about a number of pivotal events in my life.
These kinds of events have the potential to define you. But how they do so is really dependent upon the way you perceive them.
Turning problems into opportunities is a great way to ensure you both begin and end each and everyday with a smile.
Likewise, remaining open minded and flexible will enable you to more easily adapt to changes in your environment.
How we spend our time is, of course, critical to our ability to achieve the goals we set for yourselves. One of the key things I’ve learned is to do, all you can, to simplify your life so that you won’t get bogged down in unimportant chores and tasks that rob you of time and prevent you from advancing your major goals.
I’d invite you to go through the same exercise. It might help to jot down, in point form, a basic résume first.
Once you’ve got that out of the way you can think more deeply, as I have above, about critical moments in your life and how they’ve worked together to determine who you are.
If you really get into this search for self exercise you might consider putting together an Artist's Statement.
Surreal scenes at night of sculptures at Ice World in Harbin, China.
Perception Is The New Black and That’s Great
Perception is a great measure of success, particularly when it comes to happiness.
A positive outlook on the world and the opportunities around you can make a significant and profound contribution to one’s happiness and sense of well being.
Put simply, it's our perception that determines whether we’re happy or otherwise.
Some folks believe we’re born with a specific identity based upon race, creed, color, gender, religion, social economic circumstances and how that’s likely to determine our education and future employment opportunities.
But it’s what happens to us along the way and, more importantly, what we make out of what happens to us that matters most.
We do make our own reality and, if we don’t like were we currently are in life, then we have but 3 choices:
Accept our situation as that of a victim.
Change our perception of what’s happening so that it no longer seems so grim, so dire and so intractable.
Get a wriggle on and do something to change our circumstances.
While great advancements can be made out of an unpleasant or painful situation, perhaps improving your financial situation, the manifestation of happiness and well being won’t come with an improved financial situation, but as a consequence of a more open and positive worldview.
Of course, there’s very little that’s fundamentally worthwhile in life, that doesn’t come without effort, diligence and determination.
But the best way to understand bliss is to have first experienced misery and despair.
They are, after all, two sides of the same coin and fundamental elements of the human condition.
I’m often asked by other photographers what it is they need to do to make the best photos possible. My own long and arduous journey in photography has tempered my views and, overtime, informed my answer to this question. I’m confident in what I now know to be true, and I’m happy to share it with you here.