Learning from mistakes is great, but learning from someone else's mistakes can save you a lot of trouble. If you're starting out in photography or even if you've been at it awhile, paying attention to hard-earned lessons can simplify your creative journey and help you focus better on the right priorities.
Coming to you from Rick Bebbington, this practical video explores crucial lessons he wishes he'd understood earlier in his photography career. Bebbington emphasizes the importance of trusting your instincts and photographing what truly interests you, not just what you think might get noticed on social media. Like many, he initially focused too heavily on shooting popular themes and styles rather than trusting his own creative voice. His experiences illustrate that pleasing yourself first often resonates more genuinely with others. If you’re stuck shooting popular content just for likes, this advice will highlight the value of authenticity.
Bebbington also touches on the regret that comes from failing to document one’s early creative journey. Even if you never plan to become a YouTuber or Instagram influencer, you might eventually find value in photos or videos of your progression. Documenting your development can turn into a powerful source of motivation and reflection later on. Plus, you never know who your creativity might resonate with—sharing parts of your journey could inspire others in unexpected ways. If you've neglected this aspect of your photography, you'll relate strongly to this section.
He moves forward by confronting common misconceptions about chasing dreams, underscoring that pursuing photography or filmmaking as a career carries risks, but the bigger risk might be never trying at all. Equally important to Bebbington is maintaining good physical and mental health to sustain a creative lifestyle long-term. After ignoring his own stress levels and lifestyle factors for years, he now warns against the personal cost of overworking and neglecting self-care. Photographic talent alone isn't enough without the energy and health required to consistently show up and do your job.
Another critical part of his advice centers around handling isolation—an often hidden consequence photographers don't talk about enough. Initially excited by the prospect of working alone, Bebbington found isolation stifled rather than fueled his creativity. Collaboration, he argues, can lead to more innovation, more interesting ideas, and an overall more enjoyable experience as a photographer. His personal anecdotes on this point are both amusing and cautionary, showing exactly why creative community is worth nurturing.
Throughout the video, Bebbington doesn’t sugarcoat realities—like the difficulty making money in photography, the illusion of "job security," or the pointless waste of changing camera systems. He strongly suggests pairing your photography with another skill or activity to differentiate yourself, enhance your creativity, and potentially create more rewarding career opportunities. Whether it’s writing, filmmaking, or teaching, developing an additional creative outlet broadens your capabilities far beyond photography alone. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Bebbington.
