Foster Success with the Power of Good Habits and the Destruction of Bad Habits
“Poppies” May 2024 - Captured using a Minolta X-700 on 35mm FujiFilm 200 Color Negative; Color Graded with Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop
“Therefore, if I must be a slave to habit let me be a slave to good habits. My bad habits must be destroyed and new furrows prepared for good seed.” - Og Mandino
In the world of photography, success is often attributed to talent, creativity, and the right equipment. However, one critical aspect that is sometimes overlooked is the power of good habits. This week, I am going to write a bit about cultivating positive habits and replacing detrimental ones in order to find our talent and spur our creativity. The process of creating good habits not only enhances our photography skills, but also leads to greater success and satisfaction. Let’s dive into how we can harness the power of good habits to transform.
Early in my photography journey, I struggled with the lack of consistent practice. Picking up my camera only occasionally didn't lead to substantial improvement. During college, as a “wannabe” artist, I picked up the bad habit of smoking. It started small but eventually grew into a pack-a-week dependency. When I ran out of smokes, I’d bum them from others.
In 2017, things changed when I found out I was going to become a father. This news spurred me to make an honest effort to quit smoking. To fill the void, I decided to buy a roll of film. I convinced myself that I would rather invest in 36 shots on one roll of film, which would last a lifetime once developed, instead of 20 cigarettes that would only leave behind trash.
Quitting smoking was a tough battle with many relapses, but eventually, I overcame the craving. With more money and free time, I could pursue my passion for photography without feeling financially constrained. I could now buy multiple rolls of film without worry.
Coming home from work, I could kiss my son without smelling of smoke—just a bit sweaty, but free of toxic fumes. Breaking my smoking habit also meant reassessing my social circles. To avoid relapsing, I distanced myself from people who smoked. This change opened up more productive pursuits and significantly boosted my productivity and stamina.
This year, 2024, I read James Clear’s book "Atomic Habits," which provides a framework that perfectly aligns with my journey of breaking bad habits and forming good ones. The principles Clear outlines helped me understand the mechanisms behind my own experiences and how I could have applied these principles more intentionally:
Make It Obvious: Establishing a routine to shoot regularly, whether daily or a few times a week, made practicing photography an obvious part of my life. This consistent practice helped me refine my skills, understand my equipment better, and develop a keen eye for detail.
Make It Attractive: The idea of quitting smoking became highly attractive when I tied it to the meaningful goal of becoming a better father. I replaced the habit of smoking with buying film for my photography, which was a more fulfilling and appealing activity.
Make It Easy: By changing my social environment and distancing myself from friends who smoked, I increased the friction needed to perform the bad habit, making it easier to quit smoking. Additionally, dedicating time to photography provided a straightforward and rewarding alternative.
Make It Satisfying: The positive outcomes of quitting smoking, such as having more money and time for photography, and the joy of coming home to my son without smelling of smoke, made the new habit satisfying and reinforced my decision to quit.
One of the most profound changes came when I started photographing my son. This provided me with the opportunity to become a better photographer in several ways. Having a model who was not only available 24/7 but also irresistibly attractive allowed me to practice photography extensively. The hours spent capturing his expressions, movements, and moments of growth developed my skills in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
“Apollo” - 2018: Captured using a Minolta X-700 with a 24mm MD lens on Kodak Ektar 100 Professional ISO 100, Color Negative Film; Color Graded with Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop
Photographing my son created a consistent routine in my life, which is key to producing and maintaining a good habit. Consistency is crucial because it turns an action into a natural part of your daily routine. With my son always ready for an impromptu photo session, I had the perfect subject to practice on regularly. This consistency helped me improve my timing, precision, and ability to capture candid moments. Over time, these repeated actions became second nature, ingraining the habit of regular practice and continuous improvement.
Children are spontaneous, and this unpredictability pushed me to improve my timing and precision. I learned to anticipate moments and adjust my settings quickly, which honed my technical skills. Additionally, working with my son taught me the importance of patience and creativity in making each shot unique and special.
These principles also extend to photography itself. You can buy the most expensive camera with pristine glass and still take awful photos. Alternatively, you can buy a $200 film camera kit on eBay and, with good habits, produce extraordinary photos. A friend once told me, “It’s not the arrow, it’s the Indian.” This emphasizes that it’s not the tools we use but how we use them that determines success.
In summary, through consistent practice, finding attractive motivations, making positive habits easy, and ensuring they are satisfying, I transformed my life and my photography.
Stay Updated on My Journey: Subscribe below to receive notifications about my next post on the Power of Mindful Composition in Photography.