Why limit my photos?

I often reflect on not always taking full advantage of my opportunities when shooting with a model. It’s something I’ve talked or written about quite a bit. Part of this is my approach to photography: I take pride in being an efficient shooter. My philosophy is to get what I need as quickly and effectively as possible and then move on. Once I feel I’ve captured “the shot” or achieved my vision, I tend to call it a day. While this approach ensures productivity, I’ve started questioning whether it limits the depth and variety of my content.

I’d like to change that mindset, I think. This doesn’t mean I want to become a run-and-gun photographer, shooting as many frames as possible in hopes of finding gold among thousands of near-identical images. That’s not my style; I don’t have the time or patience to sift through a mountain of redundant shots. Instead, I want to focus on capturing a broader range of content, experimenting more, and avoiding the repetition of photographing the same concepts or angles repeatedly. I want my work to evolve and push beyond my comfort zone, making each session feel fresh and unique.

When I look back on some of the photos I share, I see many of them are from years ago. In most cases, I no longer collaborate with the models I worked with back then. Like others before them, our working relationship simply fizzled out, and I never really understood why. Maybe it’s a natural part of the creative process—people grow, change, and move on—but I’ve wondered if I should have been more curious about what led to that disconnect. Was there something I could have done differently? Perhaps I should have taken the time to ask, to understand their perspectives, and to maintain those connections more intentionally.

Photography is as much about relationships and storytelling as technique and vision. Moving forward, I want to challenge myself to create more diverse and compelling images and nurture the bonds I form with those I work with. After all, each collaboration is an opportunity to grow, learn, and create something significant.