Hello Reader !

I was 24.

And...

They laughed at me.

Ouch.

I’d just arrived back from a weekend trip to Sedona, Arizona.

The year 1995.

And my photographic prints had just been processed.

I had been so excited—until I saw their faces.

What was I thinking?

Were the colors too bold?

The composition too experimental?

I stood there, waiting for feedback… and then it came.

A chuckle.

A smirk.

That moment hit hard.

Someone even shook their head.

I had poured my heart into those images, but instead of admiration, I got silence.

A few polite nods. A dismissive, “That’s… interesting.”

Well, “I’ll never do that again,” I thought quietly to myself.

______________________________

That moment shaped how I shared my images—if I shared them at all—for the next 20 years.

And worse?

It stunted my growth as a photographer.

​

I was living in fear.

Fear of what others might think of my experiments.

Fear of being different.

Fear of creativity.

​

So, I played it safe. I copied what everyone else was doing.

I stuck to what was "right." What was "normal."

Until I didn’t.

That was one of the keys to transforming from creating ordinary images to extraordinary images.

And now?

I share my work more than ever.

But that doesn't mean it's all smooth sailing.

Sometimes, when sharing an image...

...crickets.

No one likes it.

No comments.

No validation.

But I don’t care.

Because now?

I create for me.

And I like me. And I like my photos.

______________________________

Here’s what I learned

The fastest way to stay stuck in your photography is to create for others instead of yourself.

Photography is personal. It’s an expression of how you see the world.

And guess what? Not everyone will see it the same way.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not good.

The difference between an amateur and a great photographer isn’t their skill level—it’s their willingness to take creative risks.

The moment I stopped chasing validation… my images improved.

And so will yours.

______________________________

So, here’s my challenge to you...

Find one image you’ve been hesitant to share.

The one that makes you think, "Is this good enough?"

And post it... somewhere, anywhere.

Not for likes.

Not for praise.

For you.

You might just be surprised at what happens next.

​
Have an awesome day!

Chris Parker

Parker Photographic

​

P.S. You might be thinking, “But what if my photos really aren’t that good?”

Let me ask you this: Who decides what’s good?

Photography isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress.

And progress starts when you stop waiting for permission.

269 WALKER ST V5718, Detroit, Michigan 48207-4258
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