“It’s better to create something that others criticise than to create nothing and criticise others.”
I don’t know who first said those words, but they ring true every time I pick up a camera.
Photography has never been easier to share. Every day, millions of images appear online. Alongside them comes something else: opinions. Lots of them.
Some are thoughtful and genuinely helpful.
Some are encouraging.
And some seem to exist purely to point out what someone else has done wrong.
It’s easy to become paralysed by that.
The Fear of Being Judged
One of the biggest obstacles I see when mentoring photographers isn’t a lack of technical ability.
It’s fear.
Fear that the photograph isn’t good enough.
Fear that someone will say the composition is wrong.
Fear that another photographer will point out the blown highlight, the missed focus, or the distracting background.
Eventually, that fear becomes so loud that people simply stop taking photographs altogether.
Ironically, the people who produce the least work are often the quickest to analyse everyone else’s.
Every Great Photographer Started Somewhere
Look back at the work of almost any respected photographer, and you’ll find early images that are… well… ordinary.
Sometimes they’re downright poor.
Nobody begins by creating masterpieces.
Photography is a craft built one frame at a time.
Every disappointing image teaches you something.
Every successful image teaches you something else.
If you never press the shutter because you’re worried about what people might think, you never allow yourself to improve.
Criticism Isn’t Always a Bad Thing
Constructive criticism can be incredibly valuable.
I’ve learned a huge amount over the years from photographers who challenged my thinking, questioned my choices and encouraged me to see differently.
The important distinction is why the criticism is being given.
Is it designed to help you grow?
Or is it simply designed to make the critic feel superior?
Learning to recognise the difference is an important part of becoming confident in your own work.
Photography Isn’t a Competition
Social media has quietly convinced many photographers that every image has to be worthy of awards, likes and endless praise.
It doesn’t.
Some photographs exist simply because they made you smile.
Some record a memory.
Some experiment with an idea that doesn’t quite work.
Some become stepping stones towards your next breakthrough.
Every photograph has value if it teaches you something.
Progress Always Looks Untidy
When I mentor photographers, I often remind them that they only ever see the finished work on websites and exhibitions.
What they don’t see are the hundreds of experiments, failed ideas and abandoned projects that came before it.
Every photographer has them.
I certainly do.
Those unsuccessful images aren’t failures.
They’re evidence that you’re actually doing the work.
My Advice?
Stop waiting for permission.
Stop worrying about whether every photograph is “good enough.”
Go out.
Take the picture.
Print it.
Share it.
Ask questions.
Accept genuine feedback.
Ignore the noise.
Then go and make another photograph.
Because every photographer whose work you admire got there by creating far more work than they ever showed the world.
Why I Offer Mentoring
This is exactly why mentoring has become such an important part of DWM Photography.
My aim isn’t simply to teach camera settings or explain exposure. Those things matter, but they’re only part of the journey.
The bigger challenge is helping photographers build confidence, develop their own way of seeing and become comfortable making photographs that reflect their vision rather than chasing someone else’s approval.
Whether you’re picking up a camera for the first time or you’ve been photographing for years and feel you’ve reached a plateau, having someone alongside you to encourage, challenge and guide you can make an enormous difference.
Photography isn’t about becoming perfect.
It’s about becoming better than you were yesterday.
And that only happens when you dare to create.
So remember that quotation the next time you hesitate before pressing the shutter:
It’s far better to create something that others criticise than to create nothing while criticising those who do.
At least the person behind the camera is moving forward.
Ready to Stop Overthinking and Start Creating?
If this article sounds uncomfortably familiar, you’re not alone. Almost every photographer reaches a point where self-doubt becomes a bigger obstacle than camera settings or equipment.
That’s exactly why I offer one-to-one mentoring through DWM Photography.
Whether you’re just starting, returning to photography after a break, or you’ve been shooting for years but feel you’ve stopped progressing, mentoring is tailored to you. We can work on camera technique, composition, storytelling, editing, or simply building the confidence to trust your own creative instincts.
There are no rigid lesson plans or classroom lectures—just practical, hands-on guidance based around the kind of photography you want to create.
If you’re ready to spend less time worrying about what other photographers think and more time making photographs that you’re proud of, I’d love to help.
Get in touch for an informal chat with no obligation. Together, we’ll identify where you are now, where you’d like to be, and create a plan to help you get there.
The only photograph guaranteed never to be criticised is the one you never take. Don’t let that be your story.
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