As photographers, we’re often taught to chase perfect focus, flawless composition, and technical mastery. Letting go of the pursuit of perfect focus has been one of the hardest shifts I’ve had to make. I’m still fighting it, honestly. There’s a deep part of me that worries— is this what people expect? Will they interpret softness as a mistake. But over time, I’ve come to understand that this tension is part of my journey. I’m learning to trust the emotional pull of an image over tack sharp focus.
Letting Go of Perfection
It’s easy to fall into the mindset that “good photography” means every photo must be sharp and technically flawless. That mindset is everywhere—in tutorials, in camera clubs, even comments on social media. But when I try to force my work into those standards, it loses something. It loses me.
What’s more the new art lenses I’ve been using—like my Lensbaby lenses—simply aren’t designed for clinical sharpness. They thrive on softness, on the light flare, on unpredictability. Trying to force them to produce technically perfect images would not only be frustrating—it would be impossible. And that is kind of the point. These lenses encourage me to see differently, to give up control, and to embrace a more intuitive way of creating. Slowly, I’m learning that there’s a freedom—and beauty—in imperfection.
Shooting with Intituition
I used to approach my photography with a checklist in mind: Is it sharp? Is the exposure right? Is this composition using the rule of thirds? But now, I’m learning to approach it with a question instead: What do I want this image to feel like? Of course the exposure and composition are still important but not my first priority now.
Peaceful? Joyful? Nostalgic? Ethereal? I try to let the answer guide how I shoot—whether I tilt the lens slightly, shoot through the petals, or lean into the lens flare using my crystals. I don’t always get it “right” but when I do it is so rewarding. In saying all of this some of my favourite images have come around by happy accidents.
The Result? Images that Speak
Sometimes, people tell me my photos feel like paintings. That is the highest compliment I could receive. Because that is my goal—to create a different genre of photography. I was chatting to my mentor Liz and said to her that I do not think of my camera as a technical piece of gear but more like a paint brush these days. I am learning that the more I allow myself to create from feeling—even when its a little uncomfortable, even when I fear it won’t be acceptable to some—the more connected I feel to my work.
So if you’re in that in-between space too—wanting to express more, but still caught up in the old rules. You’re not alone. Trust your instincts. Blur the lines. Create with feeling and intention. The sharpest image in the world can’t speak as loudly as one made from the heart.