The first step in photography philosophy: make authentic photos (for yourself), not in order to please/impress others.
What is ‘authentic’ photography?
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Authentic photography: shooting to please yourself, to make photos to please yourself. To make photos even if you couldn’t share it with others.
I still advocate for sharing your photos with others, but the first necessary step is asking yourself this:
Would I still make these photos, if I were the only one to enjoy it?