The Perfectionist’s Curse in Photography
The Perfectionist’s Curse is the feeling that no matter how much you improve, your work is never good enough. You chase an impossible standard, where every image feels just okay/nice but never truly exceptional. It’s a common struggle among photographers, artists, and creatives.
In the years I have been a photographer there are only about 11 photographs that I am happy with.
Why Does This Happen?
- The Moving Goalpost Syndrome
- When you started, you probably had a vision of what a “good” photograph was. But as you improve, your standards rise. What once seemed amazing now looks mediocre because you’ve gained more knowledge.
- This creates a cycle where your skills improve, but your satisfaction doesn’t.
- Overanalyzing Kills the Magic
- Beginners often love their shots because they focus on the feeling.
- Experts see flaws—bad composition, missed focus, poor light. They analyze instead of appreciating.
- Comparison Culture
- Social media, photography communities, and exhibitions bombard you with jaw-dropping images.
- No matter how good you are, there’s always someone better (or at least, it feels that way).
- The Emotional Disconnect
- Perfectionists focus so much on the technical side that they sometimes lose the emotional impact.
- The work is polished but doesn’t feel powerful.
- Fear of “Wasted” Shots
- Perfectionists hate taking mediocre photos. But great work comes from volume – you must shoot a lot to get a few gems.
- If you only take “safe” shots, you never push boundaries or experiment.
How to Break Free
Shift Focus from Perfection to Progress
- Instead of asking, “Is this perfect?” ask, “Is this better than my last work?”
- Photography is a journey, not a single shot.
Embrace “Good Enough”
- Not every image has to be groundbreaking. Some can just be nice!
- Perfectionists often reject great shots because they’re not legendary.
Find Meaning Over Technical Flawlessness
- Some of the most iconic photos in history have motion blur, grain, or imperfect composition—but they feel powerful.
- A technically perfect image without emotion is forgettable.
Shoot More, Think Less
- Overthinking before pressing the shutter kills creativity.
- Shoot with instinct sometimes—edit later.
Step Away from Your Work
- Perfectionists scrutinize too much. Try looking at your photos weeks later.
- Distance can reveal that what you thought was “meh” is actually strong.
Final Thought
Perfectionism is the curse of those who care deeply about their craft. But the irony? The more you chase perfection, the further it runs. The best photographers aren’t perfect—they’re the ones who keep shooting, learning, and letting go.
Accepting that some photographs you take will never be appreciated or even looked at twice is a great starting point. We do the same to other photographer’s work all the time. A glance and it’s gone. It is what it is.
I used to attend a photography club. I can assure you that at least 95% of those who went there would never show anyone else an image they took as they didn’t think they were good enough or feared what others may say.
So whoever you are or wherever you are be proud and show your photographs. Even the ones you think are just “nice”, every picture you take is a learning experience.
