Why Your Photography Starts Looking Like You

There are 3 essential things you need as a photographer:

  • A camera

  • Good light

  • An interesting subject

The camera is an obvious one. You need light so you can see, and a subject is also pretty critical. However, I would argue that while a camera, light, and a subject will get you a photo, there is something just as important that will make your photography unique: having a point of view.

We can all agree that photography in the era of social media was already a very crowded space. These days, we have attention media. On top of the sheer volume of photography being shared, you also have people doing everything they can to get attention, which usually means jumping on trends or copying other people’s work. Then, on top of all that, you have AI, which just takes a massive dump on everything.

What you end up with is a bit of an echo chamber where everyone is doing something similar and everything kind of blends together. Now, there is nothing wrong with that at all, apart from generating your photography using AI. That’s like trying to get in shape by taking photos of a gym instead of actually going into one. But that’s not a topic for this blog, so let’s get back on track. There’s nothing wrong with jumping on trends, being inspired by others, or even trying to recreate a photo or editing style. However, when that becomes all you do, you’re essentially sharing a point of view that isn’t your own.

Having your own point of view is what makes you unique, and I believe that by not fully leaning into it, you might be sabotaging your work from a holistic, lifelong perspective. How you see the world, your favourite colour, what you find interesting, what you find repulsive, your favourite time of day, or even how you like your coffee. All of this blends with hundreds of other preferences, experiences, and opinions to create your unique point of view.

In a world of copycats and AI, your point of view is the most valuable and human thing you have. The interesting thing, though, is that I believe a point of view has to be earned. It’s not a given. You are not born with one. Instead, it’s shaped by your life experiences and what you consume.

If you just play video games, watch reality TV, and doomscroll TikTok, your point of view will be vastly different from someone who travels, listens to podcasts by intelligent people, reads books, meets different people, and actively seeks out new experiences.

Expose yourself to as much as possible. Listen to intelligent people. Read books. Travel. Try new things. Stay curious. As your point of view changes, so will your photography. Embrace, protect, and nurture your point of view, because ultimately, that’s what makes your photography yours.



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PhotographyRoman Fox