Am I Actually Good at This?

Imposter syndrome. We’ve all been there. Or at least, I like to think that imposter syndrome is a shared experience. Recently, a photographer I very much respect and wrote about posted a question: “Are you a good photographer, or did you just go to Jackson Hole?” It made me think, because I’ve mostly only shot epic and beautiful places and people. Am I actually good at this? Or is it that I’ve travelled well, and therefore have great photos.

Good thing the word “good” is subjective. I’ll break down how I determine if I’m actually good and growing at this, or if I’m just getting lucky.

1. How Skilled Am I?

In the creative world, everyone seems to have the same misbelief that those that are good at what they do are naturally good at what they do. Meaning, they didn’t have to work for it. Yet very few of the creatives I know were naturally amazing without any work or disciplined. Talent is for sure part of creativity, but talent alone doesn’t make you great at something. Talent plus discipline is how you become great.

I’d like to think I have a natural eye for composition. No one taught me that. But everything else has been an acquired skill that has only been developed by shooting and working my camera and gear to the last drop.

Your skills are more likely from discipline than they are from talent. So the question I’d ask you is this: are you disciplined in your craft? Are you growing? Are you learning new things all the time? Or are you just doing the same thing over and over?

2. Do I Try When Things Aren’t Perfect?

There’s more to photography than golden hour. I didn’t always feel that way, though. I use to only want to shoot when the lighting was best, or when the season was best. I would get discouraged when conditions weren’t what I’d hoped they’d be, and rather than press on, I’d pack up.

I was at Moraine Lake in the fall of 2021 for sunrise, and what looked to be a perfect morning quickly closed out with eastern clouds that didn’t let any golden light hit the mountains adjacent to the lake. All around me the photographers that were there started packing up and heading out. I was shook. Here we are in this incredible place, and though conditions weren’t best, it was still absolutely incredible and worth sticking around for. I ended up having no one else around me as I captured some of my all-time favorite images. Even NOMAD offers one of my shots from that morning as one of their wallpapers.

A great photographer can and will capture things as they are, even when conditions aren’t perfect. There’s nothing wrong with shooting during golden hour, but there’s another 10hrs or so of each day of lighting that you could learn to shoot in. I keep shooting more and more in various lighting, and becoming happier and happier as I learn how to do this.

How Do I Treat Other Creatives?

Those that are great at what they do are leaders, even if unintentional. There’s a famous quote by John Maxwell: “Leadership is influence; nothing more, nothing less.” Those who are great inspire others, and therefore have influence. That makes them a leader.

How a leader treats someone is very telling of their heart. A good photographer isn’t just good at the craft, but their craft is an extension of their good nature. I don’t buy the brooding artist mindset. Great creators don’t have to be recluse, mean-spirited, loners. I think the best creators are those who inspire and educate others.

Educating others may be the most important mark of greatness. Knowledge is meant to be passed on, not protected. This is leadership.

For myself, as I ask myself the initial question, my answer is that I keep developing my skills, I try really hard, and I help others love and learn the craft. This is how I determine my value as a creator. Sure, there are plenty of people with more epic photos than me. But when I evaluate myself and where I’m at, I’m happy with my progress and hopeful for my future.

Since “good” is subjective, then “good” as a label is irrelevant. What remains relevant is your own growth, your own effort, and your own heart.

And speaking of helping others, you should join me in Alberta next summer. I’d love to hang and grow together!