WM-549: When to Call It Quits | Photography Clips Podcast
Release Date: 01/13/2026
Photography Clips
When you think of creativity, it feels like it should be something random and spontaneous, something that is born out of a moment’s inspiration. And, there are times when random creativity leads to groundbreaking art. I would argue, however, that the majority of creativity comes not from spontaneity, but from structure. You see, a lack of structure leads to things like uncertainty, wasted time and other issues that are detrimental to productivity. Here’s a brief list of the problems and questions that arise when you have not structured your art... Podcast Notes: Photography Clips Podcast:...
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In the world of early American photography, few names carry the elegance and influence of Gertrude Käsebier (1852–1934). She is often hailed as one of the first American photographers to elevate portraiture to an art form. Her best-known works, particularly images of mothers and children, embody a tenderness and depth that was revolutionary for her time. Through her lens, she captured the emotional bond between her subjects with unique sensitivity, helping to pave the way for what would later be known as the pictorialist movement—a style focused on creating painterly, atmospheric photos....
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Photography has this rare ability to tell a story, to let us glimpse into worlds we might otherwise never see. And few photographers did that quite like Lewis W. Hine. For anyone who loves photography, Hine’s work is a testament to how powerful an image can be. He wasn’t just taking pictures; he was documenting history, sparking reform, and, most importantly, giving a voice to people who were often invisible in society. His images of immigrants, child laborers, and industrial workers helped change laws and inspired generations of photographers to use their craft for something greater......
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When it comes to learning more about photography, the common wisdom is not only to take more photographs but also to read about photography, to take photography classes and workshops, and to speak with other photographers. And all of these things are great ways to learn—necessary, in fact. But there’s a whole other world of art out there, some art forms far older than photography, and they each have their own wealth of knowledge that we can draw from to build our own skills. So let’s take a look at some of these art forms and the reasons they are valuable avenues of study for...
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Photography can fill every corner of your life if you let it. Even when you are not shooting, you are thinking about shooting. You are noticing light in a window, framing scenes in your head, planning locations, sorting gear, editing, posting, and taking in other people’s work. If photography is more than a casual hobby for you, it has a way of quietly becoming part of how you move through the day. For some people, it is also a job, which adds deadlines, client expectations, and the pressure to keep producing. There is nothing wrong with being devoted to it. The problem starts when the...
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I have been noticing something more and more, and I do not think it is just me. People who once cared a lot about photography are walking away from it. Not just beginners who bought a camera, tried it for a month, and got bored. I mean, people who used to go out on purpose to shoot. People who used to talk about photos, plan trips around photos, and spend real time learning and improving. Now the camera sits. The bag stays closed. Months go by, and they do not miss it the way they thought they would. The idea of quitting photography feels strange because, for years, it was treated like a...
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My brain does this thing where photography and sound keep borrowing ideas from each other. I will be setting up a shot, thinking about light and shadow, and suddenly I am thinking about microphones. Or I will be setting up a mic, and I start thinking about lenses. Both are about choosing what you want and choosing what you do not want. With a camera, you make decisions that shape what the viewer sees. You pick a lens. You choose an angle. You decide what is sharp and what is soft. You decide what stays in the frame and what gets cut out. With audio, it is the same kind of thinking. You still...
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When we look at old photographs, we tend to expect them to be in black and white. We expect the past to feel distant, muted, and quiet, as if history were always supposed to be sepia-toned and far away. Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky did not accept that. He wanted people to see the world as it actually looked. Not in our time, but in his. Not as a ghost of history, but as something alive with color... Podcast Notes: Photography Clips Podcast: Follow me: #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #PhotographyPodcast
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Photography looks ordinary now. A phone comes out, a tap happens, and an image appears. That ease can make photography seem like a simple act of collecting proof that something took place. Yet the real power of photography has never been about evidence alone. It has always been about attention, time, and meaning. A photograph can be a record, but it can also be a decision about what deserves to be noticed. It can be a way of saying, “This mattered to me,” even when the subject is small, quiet, or gone a moment later. This essay argues three ideas. First, photography is a distinct way of...
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The common advice for new and aspiring photographers is to take as many photographs as you possibly can – every day of the week if possible. For many, that means starting on a photo-a-day or 365 project. This is terrific advice, but I don't necessarily think it is limited to beginners. Even professionals can benefit from something like a photo-a-day project. Especially professionals, since I think the tendency to get involved in the business side of photography means we don't always make time to create images each day. The best part about photo-a-day projects (aside from the ability to...
info_outlineI have been noticing something more and more, and I do not think it is just me. People who once cared a lot about photography are walking away from it. Not just beginners who bought a camera, tried it for a month, and got bored. I mean, people who used to go out on purpose to shoot. People who used to talk about photos, plan trips around photos, and spend real time learning and improving. Now the camera sits. The bag stays closed. Months go by, and they do not miss it the way they thought they would.
The idea of quitting photography feels strange because, for years, it was treated like a lifelong thing. You start, you keep building, you keep upgrading, you keep chasing better work. You are “a photographer,” and that identity can stick to you even when the hobby has stopped fitting your life. So when someone starts thinking about calling it quits, it can feel heavy, as if they are quitting a part of themselves. A lot of the time, they are not quitting who they are. They are just being honest about what their days can hold now, and what their mind has room for now...
Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/when-to-call-it-quits-photography/
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