Hey Reader,
I know that in this newsletter, I often discuss the technical aspects of photography.
Equipment, tech, settings… but sometimes it’s worth looking at the less tangible things.
The things that make us stand out aren’t always how we compose, edit, or what gear we use.
It goes deeper.
Everything we create on the outside is a reflection of the questions we ask ourselves on the inside.
That’s what I want to talk about today.
Let's dive in!
Step One: Start Within
Right now, one of my favourite “artists” is on a press tour… Matthew McConaughey.
He has a new book coming out, so he’s been doing the podcast rounds.
Personally, I’m stoked.
His first book Greenlights inspired me to make some big moves in life, and in a recent interview on Diary of a CEO he was asked: How did you become the best?
His reply made me pause.
He said: First, ask yourself, what do you have an innate ability for? What’s in your DNA? Once you find that and build from there, you’ll have an edge no one else has.
From a photography and creator perspective, this is massive.
There are millions of photographers.
Not every client, opportunity, or project is going to be available to each of us.
Did you grow up in a creative family in Paris with friends in fashion? Maybe.
Did you grow up in the US with a strong entrepreneurial streak that helped launch your photography business? Maybe.
What I’m saying is, you need to start with you.
Looking at what everyone else is doing can be overwhelming, and honestly, often pointless.
For me, I thought I wanted big commercial projects... because that’s what everyone else was chasing.
But when I stopped and looked within, I realised I wasn’t too bad at making content.
I enjoyed it, and it gave me a way into a niche that felt uniquely my own.
That became my edge.
Step Two: Step Away
I know it sounds counterintuitive, but stepping back from the search for your creative edge often gives you the clarity you need.
As photographers, shiny object syndrome is real.
We see a cool project and think, I have a camera. That looks fun. I should be doing that.
And suddenly, three weeks later, you’re shooting a spec project in a direction you had no real connection to.
Now, I’m not saying don’t try new things. That’s still vital to the creative process.
But there’s also power in stepping away.
It gives you time. It lets you figure out what’s truly yours and what’s not.
This happened to me over the Summer. I stepped away from creating content.
I was still taking photos and videos, but I wasn’t sharing daily or editing into the late hours.
Instead, I gave myself a break. And in that space, I found clarity.
I asked myself: What kind of photography do I really want to keep pursuing? Should I lean more into video?
Eventually, I decided to shift into a certain content style and video-first approach.
Within weeks of stepping back, one of those new video styles hit 300k+ views across platforms.
And one of the videos that came out of a video-first weekend adventure helped open some doors and new conversations.
That break gave me the clarity to know what’s for me right now and what isn’t.
That’s part of finding your edge.
Step Three: Act Like You're Already Winning
Here’s the truth: your edge shows up when you treat yourself like you already have one.
The moment you pick up a camera, whether for a client or for yourself, you are already in the game.
What matters is how you carry yourself.
How you talk about your work with friends, how you share your photography online… these choices shape how the world sees you.
If you act like a beginner who doesn’t belong on sets charging good money, you’ll stay there (sorry for the harsh love).
But if you stand behind your work and believe it has value, people start to see it that way too.
When you proudly share the videos you make about your photography, brands, clients, and other photographers notice.
They want to be connected to that confidence.
This isn’t about faking it. It is about recognising that what you create already matters.
When you walk into a shoot, or even when you share a post online, act like it deserves to be there. Because it does.
That simple shift becomes your edge. Most people never get there, but you can.
Wrapping Up...
When you step back, you see that finding your edge has nothing to do with copying trends or chasing someone else’s success.
It begins within you.
It grows when you give it space.
And it strengthens every time you show up like you already belong.
Do that long enough and your work will speak for itself.
btw...
I’ve been writing Captured every week for a few years now.
If you’d like to support the newsletter, I’ve set up a virtual tip jar.
It’s a small way to help keep this going while I keep sharing these newsletters with you.
