as compiled by Anthony Morganti
Light & Exposure
"Your camera doesn’t see light—it sees differences in light."
– Shadows and highlights define your subject. Without contrast, an image lacks depth.
"Perfect exposure is often the least interesting choice."
– Sometimes, an overexposed highlight or deep shadow adds more mood than a balanced exposure.
"Underexposing can add mystery, overexposing can add softness—neither is a mistake if done with intent."
– You can change the emotional impact of a photo simply by adjusting the exposure.
"Golden hour is beautiful, but so is the raw, harsh light of midday—if you know how to use it."
– Harsh shadows and strong contrast can be just as compelling as soft, warm light.
"Artificial light isn’t the enemy of natural light—it’s an extension of your creative control."
– A flash or LED panel can enhance a scene just as much as the sun or a streetlamp.
"The most dramatic lighting is often the light you can’t control."
– Unexpected sources—car headlights, firelight, neon signs—can make for the most compelling images.
"If the light is bad, change your angle, not your expectations."
– A small shift in position can turn unflattering light into something remarkable.
"There is no ‘bad light,’ only unprepared photographers."
– Knowing how to work with any lighting situation separates amateurs from professionals.
"Your subject is just a shape—light is what defines it."
– Photography is about how light interacts with objects, not just the objects themselves.
"Expose for the highlights, let the shadows tell their own story."
– Retaining detail in the brightest areas often matters more than worrying about dark shadows.
Composition & Perspective
"A photo isn’t what you include, it’s what you leave out."
– Cluttered compositions weaken impact. Removing distractions strengthens your message.
"The best photos aren’t ‘taken’—they’re seen before the shutter is pressed."
– Great photographers develop their eye first, their technique second.
"If a photo feels off, take one step forward or one step back."
– Many composition problems can be solved by simply adjusting your distance.
"The best vantage point is often the most uncomfortable one."
– Crouching low, climbing high, or positioning awkwardly can result in the most unique shots.
"There’s no such thing as ‘eye-level’—everyone’s perspective is unique."
– Changing your shooting height can dramatically alter the emotional impact of an image.
"Simplicity is powerful, but complexity can be hypnotic."
– Some images thrive on minimalism, others captivate through intricate layers of detail.
"Some scenes need balance, others thrive on chaos—learn to tell the difference."
– A serene landscape demands symmetry, but a street scene often benefits from controlled disorder.
"You don’t have to show everything in a frame—let the viewer’s imagination fill in the gaps."
– Suggestion can be more powerful than explicit detail in storytelling.
"Negative space isn’t empty—it’s part of the story."
– The space around your subject helps shape the composition and guide the viewer’s eye.
"The more you crop, the more you change the meaning of the image."
– Cropping isn’t just about composition; it’s about storytelling.
Creativity & Style
"Creativity starts when you stop trying to be original."
– The pressure to be unique can stifle creativity. Just shoot what excites you.
"Your style isn’t what you aim for—it’s what you can’t help but do."
– Your instincts, preferences, and tendencies define your photographic voice.
"If your photos all look the same, it might be time to put the camera down and live a little."
– New experiences fuel creative vision more than obsessing over technicalities.
"Inspiration doesn’t come from looking at other photographers—it comes from looking at the world."
– Your best ideas will come from real life, not from scrolling through Instagram.
"You don’t find your style, you refine it."
– Your style emerges over time, through repetition and evolution, not sudden realization.
"Copying isn’t stealing if you make it your own."
– Every great photographer has borrowed, but they’ve also added their own twist.
"Every great photographer is borrowing from someone who came before them."
– True originality comes from reinterpreting what already exists.
"Art is not about having something to say—it’s about having a way to say it."
– Even a simple subject can be profound if captured in an interesting way.
"Experimentation is the only way to escape mediocrity."
– Playing it safe ensures predictable results. Risk leads to growth.
"Every photograph is a question, not an answer."
– The best images engage the viewer by leaving something open to interpretation.
Technical & Gear
"A new camera won’t make you a better photographer."
– Skill and vision matter more than megapixels and autofocus speed.
"A sharp image of a dull subject is still a dull image."
– Technical perfection doesn’t make up for a lack of emotion or story.
"A fast lens won’t save a weak composition."
– A blurry but well-composed image is often better than a sharp, poorly framed one.
"The best gear is the gear you know how to use."
– Mastery of a simple camera beats struggling with a complex one.
"Post-processing is part of photography, not a crutch."
– Even Ansel Adams edited his images—what matters is how you refine the story.
"JPEG vs. RAW isn’t a debate—it’s a choice."
– RAW gives flexibility, JPEG gives simplicity. Choose based on your needs.
"You don’t need the latest gear to make great images."
– A great photo depends on the photographer, not the equipment.
"A prime lens teaches you discipline."
– Being forced to move instead of zooming improves your composition skills.
"Autofocus is a tool, not a crutch."
– Relying on autofocus is fine, but knowing how to override it is better.
"The best way to improve your camera skills is to shoot more."
– There’s no substitute for experience. Practice leads to mastery.
Mindset & Philosophy
"Photography is about seeing, not just looking."
– Observation is the foundation of great images.
"The best way to get better is to take more bad photos."
– Mistakes are your greatest teachers in photography.
"Your best photo is the one you haven’t taken yet."
– The pursuit of better images is what keeps photographers growing.
"Every missed shot teaches you something a successful shot never could."
– Failure forces you to adapt, rethink, and improve.
"A great photograph raises more questions than it answers."
– The most compelling images invite curiosity and interpretation.
"A well-placed blur can say more than perfect focus ever could."
– Sometimes, imperfection adds emotion and depth to an image.
"Photography is a silent conversation with the world."
– Every image you take is an expression of how you see things.
"Luck favors the prepared photographer."
– Being in the right place at the right time only matters if you’re ready.
"You’ll always be your own worst critic—accept it and keep shooting."
– Doubt can either paralyze you or push you to improve.
"Keep shooting, keep learning, and never stop seeing."
– The moment you stop exploring, you stop growing as a photographer.
Storytelling & Emotion
"A technically perfect image without emotion is just decoration."
– A flawed but powerful image will always outshine a soulless masterpiece.
"A photo should make the viewer feel something."
– The strongest images evoke emotion, not just admiration.
"Your best photos are the ones that mean the most to you."
– Personal connection to an image often makes it more powerful.
"Great photography is about empathy, not just aesthetics."
– The best photographers capture emotion, not just light.
"An image that makes you uncomfortable is often an image worth taking."
– If a scene challenges you emotionally, chances are it will challenge others too.
"Silence speaks volumes in photography."
– Sometimes, the absence of action tells the most powerful story.
"Photography is the art of freezing time, but it’s also about capturing change."
– A powerful image shows not just what is, but what was or will be.
"A great portrait reveals as much about the photographer as the subject."
– Every portrait reflects the connection between the person behind the camera and the one in front of it.
"The most important part of a photo is what it makes people remember."
– An image becomes great when it sparks a memory or feeling.
"A photograph without a story is just a snapshot."
– Every great image leaves the viewer wanting to know more.
Practical Advice
"If you want better photos, stand in front of more interesting things."
– Subject matter matters as much as technique.
"If your photo isn’t working, move."
– Changing angles or positions can completely transform an image.
"The best zoom lens is your feet."
– Walking closer or stepping back changes perspective more effectively than a zoom.
"Patience makes better photos than any setting ever will."
– The right moment matters more than the perfect exposure.
"If your background is distracting, your subject is lost."
– A messy background can ruin even the best-lit subject.
"Don’t take 50 photos of the same thing—take one great one."
– Spray-and-pray rarely leads to mastery.
"A bad day with a camera is still better than a good day without one."
– Every shoot, even the frustrating ones, teaches you something.
"The more time you spend adjusting settings, the more moments you’ll miss."
– Sometimes, auto mode is your friend.
"The best photos happen when you stop looking at your camera and start looking at the world."
– Overthinking settings can disconnect you from the scene.
"Every photo you take is a self-portrait."
– What you choose to capture reflects who you are.
Final Inspiration
"Photography is 10% camera, 90% what you do with it."
– Vision matters more than tools.
"Never delete a photo on location—your future self might see something your present self doesn’t."
– Some shots reveal their value later.
"A blurry photo of the right moment is better than a sharp photo of the wrong one."
– Emotion > Perfection.
"If your photo doesn’t work in black and white, it might not work in color either."
– Strong compositions work in any format.
"Your worst photo today might be your best learning experience tomorrow."
– Failure is part of progress.
"Great photography isn’t about what you see—it’s about how you see it."
– Perspective is everything.
"If your photos aren’t getting better, it’s not your camera’s fault."
– Improvement comes from practice, not purchases.
"The best feedback is time—look at your images a month later and see how they hold up."
– Distance helps you evaluate your work more clearly.
"You don’t need permission to take a great photo."
– Just go out and shoot.
“We see what’s missing.”
– When somebody looks at one of your images, they’re seeing what is in the frame. When you look at your image, you notice what the frame is missing.
"A photo should make you stop and look twice."
– If an image doesn’t hold attention, it’s easily forgotten.
"Photography is about moments, not minutes."
– A single second can capture more meaning than an hour of shooting.
"Your best photo will likely be the one you didn’t plan."
– Serendipity often leads to the most powerful images.
"There’s no such thing as an ‘unphotogenic’ person—just bad lighting and angles."
– Everyone can look incredible in the right conditions.
"The best photographers are also the best editors."
– Knowing what to leave out is just as important as knowing what to include.
"If you don’t feel something when you take the photo, no one else will either."
– Emotion is just as important as composition and light.
"The difference between a good photo and a great one is often just a few inches."
– A small change in position can make a world of difference.
"The only real rule in photography is to make people feel something."
– Technical perfection is secondary to emotional impact.
"If you want to improve, shoot outside of your comfort zone."
– Growth comes from challenge, not repetition.
"The camera doesn’t make mistakes, but photographers do."
– Own your errors, learn from them, and grow.
"The best photos have layers—literal or emotional."
– Depth makes an image more engaging.
"Your perspective is your most valuable piece of gear."
– Two people can photograph the same subject in completely different ways.
"A good photographer tells a story, a great photographer starts a conversation."
– Leave room for the viewer’s imagination.
"A rushed photo looks rushed."
– Take your time and be intentional.
"Your worst photos are the ones you never took."
– Missed opportunities are worse than imperfect images.
"Photography isn’t about capturing reality—it’s about capturing perception."
– Every image is a version of the truth, not the whole truth.
"Your camera sees what’s in front of it, but you decide what it means."
– Meaning is created through framing, focus, and context.
"Photos taken with love will always outshine photos taken with precision."
– Passion beats technical perfection.
"Every photograph is a chance to see the world differently."
– Photography is as much about mindset as it is about skill.
"The only bad photo is the one that never gets taken."
– You can’t improve if you don’t shoot. Just go take the picture.
“Nobody will be hurt if you break a compositional rule.”
– Compositional Rules as a framework are great. And when they work, they’re even better, but if they’re in the way of what you’re trying to express, you need to ditch them without hesitation. Generally speaking, there is no right or wrong when it comes to photography. Some scenes and subjects work better when framed with a compositional rule. Others work better without it.
"The best camera is the one you know how to use instinctively."
– A more expensive camera won’t save a lousy photographer, and a cheap camera won’t hold back a great one.
"Every photo you take is a self-portrait."
– What you choose to photograph, how you compose it, and what you emphasize all reveal something about you.
"Light is more important than location."
– A stunning place in bad light makes for a forgettable image, while a mundane place in perfect light can be extraordinary.
"Photography is about showing what something felt like, not just what it looked like."
– The best photos aren’t literal; they make the viewer feel something.
"The moment you think you’ve mastered photography is the moment you stop improving."
– Every great photographer is still a student of the craft.
"An image that makes you uncomfortable is often an image worth taking."
– If a scene challenges you emotionally, chances are it will challenge others too.
"A sharp image of a dull moment is just a dull image."
– Photography isn’t about technical perfection—it’s about storytelling, impact, and meaning.
"Editing isn’t cheating—it’s finishing the photograph."
– The camera is just the beginning; the final image is crafted in the edit.
"A great photograph raises more questions than it answers."
– The most compelling images invite curiosity and interpretation.
"Your worst photos are just as important as your best ones."
– The bad shots are stepping stones to the great ones.
"The best photos happen when you stop looking at your camera and start looking at the world."
– Overthinking settings and gear can disconnect you from the scene.
"Perfection is the enemy of personality."
– A technically perfect image without soul is forgettable; imperfection often carries emotion.
"The camera never lies, but the photographer always does."
– Every image is a selective truth—what’s left out is just as important as what’s included.
"An unedited photo is like an unfinished sentence."
– Every great photographer, from Ansel Adams to Henri Cartier-Bresson, edited their work.
"The more time you spend setting up, the more you risk missing the moment."
– Sometimes, instinct beats meticulous planning.
"If you always take photos from the same perspective, you’ll always see the world the same way."
– Change your angle, change your mindset.
"You don’t need more gear; you need fewer excuses."
– Constraints breed creativity.
"The best photos happen when you stop trying to impress other photographers."
– Shoot for meaning, not for likes or praise.
"Every missed shot teaches you something a successful shot never could."
– Failure is the fastest way to learn.
"A photo that only photographers admire isn’t necessarily a good photograph."
– The best images connect with everyone, not just those who know the technicalities.