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Excuses are the silent killers of progress, and photographers are no exception. Whether it’s blaming gear, time, or creativity, excuses are the barriers that hold us back from achieving greatness.
This article dives deep into the psychology of excuses, the common traps photographers fall into, and, most importantly, how to break free, stop making excuses, and take control of your craft.
The Problem with Excuses
Every day, I talk to photographers who want to improve their work or make more money. But there’s a recurring theme: for every challenge, they’ve got an excuse—or ten. That, my friends, is the biggest problem.
Excuses don’t create great photographs. Period.
Not a New Trend—A Timeless Struggle
This isn’t a new phenomenon. Photographers have been making excuses for as long as there have been cameras. Every great photographer has faced this battle—and will face it again. But here’s the truth: the only way to grow is to stop making excuses and start doing the work. (Notice I didn’t say “easy” work—it’s not.)
The Science of Excuses: Why We’re Hard-Wired to Fail
Fear of Failure Meets Cognitive Dissonance
Excuses are often rooted in fear of failure, a natural human instinct. The psychological term for this is cognitive dissonance—when your thoughts, beliefs, and actions don’t align.
For example:
- You buy a new camera, convincing yourself it will make you a better photographer (spoiler: it won’t).
- You drop an extra $1,000 on a fast lens for “blurry backgrounds” instead of practicing better composition.
- You spend hours watching YouTube videos instead of picking up your camera and practicing.
Sound familiar? That’s cognitive dissonance, my friend. You know what you should do but make excuses to avoid doing it.
Lazy by Design
Now let’s get real: excuses also happen because we’re lazy. Yup, I said it. Humans are biologically wired to avoid hard work. It’s not a flaw; it’s survival. But here’s the kicker—laziness won’t create jaw-dropping images. It won’t pay your bills. And it sure as hell won’t make you a better photographer.
The net result of excuses made equals lazy, and Lazy = lack of results or lack of quality results.
Common Excuses Photographers Make
Recognize any of these?
- “The picture would have been better if I had a better camera.”
- “The light wasn’t great.”
- “I didn’t have the right lens with me.”
- “My subject was too difficult.”
- “I don’t have enough time or money.”
- “I’m just not that creative.”
Sounds whiny when you list them all out, doesn’t it?
Do You Suffer from Epicopathy?
What Is Epicopathy?
Epicopathy is a condition that prevents photographers from making photos unless they believe the result will be “epic.” It’s a term coined by a mentoring program participant, Nic, based on my favorite excuses story.
Symptoms of Epicopathy
- You see a potential shot but don’t take it because “the light isn’t right” or “it won’t be epic.”
- You convince yourself it’s not worth your time if the image won’t rack up social media likes.
The Definition
A condition that impacts the brain’s motivational system. Usually found in photographers who have spent more than a thousand dollars on camera gear. Smartphone photographers seem to be immune. Epicopathy manifests itself in a sudden inability to make a photograph if the sufferer feels that the resulting image will be insufficiently epic and likely to collect too few social media likes.
— Joe Edelman
How to Stop Making Excuses and Start Improving
Find Your Why and What
To beat excuses, you need to get clear on two things:
- Why did you pick up a camera in the first place?
- What excites you about photography, and what do you want from it?
Write these down. Stick them on your desk or make them your computer wallpaper. Seeing your purpose every day will keep you focused.
Practice, Practice, Practice
No amount of gear, YouTube videos, or excuses will make you better. The only thing that will? Picking up your damn camera and practicing.
Accountability Helps
Find a mentor, a photo buddy, or a camera club to help keep you on track.
The Last Frame: The Bottom Line
Excuses don’t lead to great images. They lead to mediocrity.
If you want to improve as a photographer, stop whining, start practicing, and take responsibility for your growth. Simple as that.
I hope you found this information useful. Now go pick up that camera and shoot something! Because – “Your BEST shot is your NEXT shot!” — Joe Edelman
