Hello Reader !

The year was 2007.

I recently joined a photography forum…

…a space to connect with like-minded creatives, share my work, and grow as a photographer.

So, I uploaded an image I was proud of...

And then… the trolls attacked.

The ridicule stung, even though I tried to brush it off.

It brought back memories of the early ’90s when I’d proudly shared photos with peers, only to be laughed at.

Both experiences left scars.

So, I hesitated.

I thought twice… three times before sharing another photo.

One in particular, I was proud of… well, sort of...

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I stared at it for hours.

Tweaking every tiny detail.

• I zoomed in to fix a shadow
• Adjusted the highlights
• Played with the crop… again

But no matter what I did, it just didn’t feel good enough.

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It wasn’t just the editing.

The agony started long before that.

• Is the light perfect yet?
• How should I compose it?
• How should I arrange the couple?

Every decision felt like a test I was destined to fail.

And when it came time to share the photo… I froze.

The fear of judgment held me back.

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But the more I worked on that photo, the more disconnected I felt.

I wasn’t creating anymore…

…I was chasing impossible standards set by faceless internet trolls.

And here’s the worst part:

• Because I wasn’t sharing my work, my growth stalled
• I avoided experimenting, afraid of making mistakes and risking public criticism
• Worst of all, I was losing the spark that first drew me to photography

What used to bring me joy was now a source of frustration and self-doubt.

Have you ever felt that way?

Even after 30+ years behind the camera, I still face self-doubt sometimes.

But here’s what I’ve learned…

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Perfectionism wasn’t helping me grow—it was holding me back.

Creativity thrives on progress, not perfection.

I realized that every photo didn’t need to be perfect to be valuable.

The act of sharing, receiving feedback, and experimenting was what truly made me a better photographer.

The moment I let go of perfection and embraced imperfection, everything changed:

• I started sharing my work, even when I doubted its worth
• I learned to trust my instincts and experiment without fear
• And most importantly, I rediscovered the joy of photography

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What about you?

What’s one photo you’ve been holding onto because it doesn’t feel “good enough”?

I challenge you to share it in the PhotoMation community today.

See what happens when you embrace imperfection and invite constructive feedback.

And if you’re not part of the community yet, join us now.

You’ll find a supportive group of photographers who value progress over perfection.

Together, we’ll grow, experiment, and create our best work yet.

👉 Click here to join PhotoMation now!

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Have an awesome day!

Chris Parker

Parker Photographic

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P.S. Letting go of perfection isn’t easy—I know that firsthand.

But when you do, you unlock creativity, growth, and joy.

Don’t let perfectionism hold you back any longer. Start sharing today—you might just surprise yourself.

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