Hey Reader,
It’s been about a year since I moved to Spain.
And yeah, nearly everything in my life is different right now. New city, new language, new people, new pace.
But one thing I’ve been noticing more and more lately is how it’s changed the way I approach photography.
Not just what I shoot, but how I work.
How I show up.
How I think about the whole thing.
And so, today I figured I’d share a few of those thoughts with you and some photos from this week’s YouTube video.
Let's dive in!
I'm working more like a Creator now...
Back in Australia, I’d post when I felt like it.
No schedule. No system. Just vibes.
Although I was consistent, there wasn’t much structure to it.
But since moving, I’ve realised that if I want to build something real, I can’t always wing it or rely on inspiration flying into my head.
Now I schedule time to create ideas.
I plan for a weekly YouTube video, and then the short-form pieces that follow, and eventually this very newsletter you’re reading.
Before, content was something I experimented with.
But now I’m realising if I want to create something special, it requires attention and commitment.
It’s not some strict push.
But I show up more often, even when I don’t feel like it.
Because I know it can be more.
And that’s helped me stay consistent, make better stuff, and build trust with the people following along.
It’s also helped bridge the gap between getting on my feet in a new country professionally.
2. I’ve started saying yes more (for now)
When I first arrived here, I had this idea I was going to stick to my niche.
Only shoot travel or hospitality projects.
Stay “on brand.”
Ready for the bigger projects I’d always wanted.
But wow, did reality bring me back.
Starting over in a new place means rebuilding.
And rebuilding needs momentum.
This did take a lot of introspection and reminding myself it isn’t an “issue,” it’s just a chapter.
And as a result, I started saying yes to things like weddings, events or stuff I probably would’ve said no to back home.
Not every job is exciting. But they all teach me something.
Every shoot keeps me moving.
Every new person leads to something else.
And right now, that’s more valuable than staying polished, on-brand, or aligned with my “suspected” niche.
3. Volume = Value
I used to think I needed the perfect setup to create something worth sharing.
Right light. Right mood. Right idea.
But I’ve learned that volume matters more.
These days I shoot more often. I go out even if I don’t know what I’m looking for.
Committing to a weekly YouTube video has done this very thing.
I’m editing new photos every week.
New opportunities in different lighting.
Refining my edits and style.
And weirdly, the more I shoot, the better stuff I make.
It’s not always about inspiration.
Sometimes it’s just about having your camera on you and pressing the shutter anyway.
Later, you look back and realise you actually really like that shot, or you’ve produced a lot more than usual.
Looking back at the last 8 weeks of content and photos I’ve produced… that maybe would’ve taken me 6 months before this mentality.
That’s progress. By force.
4. I let the place shape the pace
Living here has forced me to slow down.
It’s true what they say about Spanish rhythm.
Not in some romantic “slow living” way, but because that’s just how things are here.
Lunch is late. Evenings stretch out. No one’s in a rush.
And while that used to frustrate me, I’m learning to lean into it (slowly).
And funnily enough, this is what I mean by it translating into my photography.
I walk slower. I notice more. I spend more time with one scene, one idea, one moment.
And somehow, that’s made my work feel less forced and more mine.
If you’re feeling stuck
You don’t have to move countries to shake things up.
But maybe you do need to change your rhythm.
Say yes to something new.
Let go of needing every post to be your best.
Shoot more often, even if the conditions aren’t perfect.
Eventually, the clarity comes.
But only if you keep moving.
