No matter how long you’ve been into photography, I’m sure you’ve heard and read plenty of photography tips. Some of them are pure gold, some are quite useful, and some are… Well, not the best out there. In his latest video, Tom Calton shares the “how to improve” tips that actually held him back. Some of them you’ve probably heard, and might even believe right now. I know I recognized myself in a few.

Sharpness Equals Quality

Tom says this one cost him the most money. He spent years zooming in to 200% and convincing himself that anything less than razor-sharp was unusable. Consequently, this resulted in constantly buying better lenses to fix it. What he eventually realized is that sharpness doesn’t create emotion, story, or impact. Many of his most meaningful images are slightly soft, and they’re still powerful. He shows some gorgeous examples in the video that illustrate his point perfectly. These days, even budget lenses are more than sharp enough. What matters is what the image makes you and the viewer feel.

Editing Will Fix Everything

Instead of taking another frame, Tom used to tell himself he’d fix it in post. Admit it, how many times you’ve thought of this? I’m not judging, so have I. 🙂 The problem is that editing enhances what’s already there, it doesn’t create something from nothing. A polished version of a weak photo is still a weak photo. Once he started focusing on getting things right in-camera, both his results and his enjoyment of photography improved.

Good Photos Need Good Locations

Growing up somewhere he found uninspiring, Tom convinced himself he was at a disadvantage. Then he got a hard-to-swallow pill when he moved somewhere more visually interesting, and still didn’t get good photos he liked. His conclusion is that a “good location” isn’t about its beauty, but about its interest. Once he stopped blaming his surroundings and started paying attention to what was actually happening in front of him, things changed. For the better, obviously.

So, yeah, go out and shoot in your “ugly” neighborhood, but try switching perspective to observe the events unfolding rather than the backdrop you get from your hometown.

Don’t Copy Other Photographers

There’s a well-known quote, “good artists copy, great artists steal.” But let me explain. Tom encourages copying, or “taking inspiration,” from other photographers, especially early on. People will tell you to find your own style, and sure, they’ll be right, if you ask me. However, when you’re just starting out, avoiding imitation completely leaves you with no direction. By recreating styles and ideas you admire, you’ll start to figure out what works and what resonates with you. Your own voice and style will form naturally from that process.

You Need the Latest Gear

Tom admits he spent years believing better AF, low-light performance, and speed would fix his photography. What he found is that modern cameras are already incredibly capable, and upgrading rarely solves the real problem. If anything, too much automation can make you passive, relying on the camera instead of developing your own instincts.

If you’re just starting out, Tom even suggests using older gear to stay engaged and learn the basics. I’d wholeheartedly recommend it too. Not only does it allow you to learn the basics, but it also makes the best out of your camera’s limited possibilities, and it also doesn’t overwhelm you with a gazillion features you still don’t know anything about.

[Related reading: Can You Successfully Shoot Concerts with a 16-Year-Old DSLR? Yes, and Here’s How]

Shoot in Full Manual Mode

Tom keeps this one simple: understanding exposure is important, but shooting in full manual all the time isn’t necessary. Manual mode often turns you into a human light meter, distracting you from timing and composition. Semi-automatic modes like aperture priority or shutter priority are more practical for many situations, still leaving you creative freedom and control. They free you up to focus on what actually matters, which is the moment.

Every Photo Must Be a Banger

Social media makes it feel like every shot needs to be amazing. Tom says this mindset is one of the most damaging ones out there. Most photos are just practice, and Tom compares them to gym reps. Only, in this case, it’s your creative muscle you’re building. When you expect perfection from every frame, photography becomes stressful and frustrating, and you start procrastinating. Letting yourself take average photos keeps the whole thing fun and sustainable. And trust me, behind every perfect shot you see on social media or in photo competitions, there are at least dozens of outtakes, and thousands of photos that took to take and edit one that looks stunning.

More Feedback Means Faster Growth

At one point, Tom sought feedback everywhere online. What he found was two extremes: empty praise or harsh criticism. This has been my experience as well, and I’ve rarely, if ever, encountered constructive criticism. Useful feedback, as Tom explains, comes from people who understand your goals and whose work you actually respect. A small, trusted circle beats a hundred random opinions every time.

Only Shoot What You Love

This one sounds like good advice, and in a way, it is. However, sticking only to what feels comfortable limits your growth. Tom found that trying genres he didn’t initially enjoy taught him skills that made him better when he returned to what he truly loved. Some discomfort is generally useful in life, raising your tolerance to frustration, and in case of creative hobbies – building new skills. A pretty good deal if you ask me.

Always Carry Your Camera

Tom used to believe that serious photographers always have their camera with them. And oh, do I find myself! Tom shares that he used to force himself to shoot even when he wasn’t in the mood. and it slowly drained the joy out of photography altogether. In my case, I would drag a heavy DSLR everywhere, often along with college books, lunch and a bottle of water in my backpack. RIP my back.

When you carry your camera absolutely everywhere and expect yourself to shoot, photography becomes an obligation, a chore. Instead, allow yourself to do something else without having to shoot all the time. Photo walks are great, but an occasional walk without a camera can be more inspiring for your future work and let you view the world through a different lens (pun not intended).

Tom’s biggest takeaway from all of this is that a lot of common advice sounds completely logical, but doesn’t always help in practice. Better photography doesn’t come from chasing perfection or gear, but from paying attention, staying engaged, and enjoying the process.

[10 Photo Tips I REALLY Regret Following | Tom Calton]

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