Six Stages of a Photographer’s Life – Which One Are You In?

Jason Row recently shared a short but brilliant video walking us through the six distinct stages that every photographer goes through. It’s a lighthearted but very real look at the emotional rollercoaster we’ve all been going through with our craft. And no matter how long you’ve been into photography, I bet you’ll find yourself somewhere in this list.

Stage 1: The “Wow” Moment

This is where it all begins: the first photo that makes you stop and think, “Wow, I might actually be good at this!” Ah, good times. Jason says most of us get this feeling from one or two early photos that just hit differently. They might not be technically perfect, and as Jason jokingly says, they’re probably photos of your cat. Still, they make you feel like you’ve discovered something special. That excitement is what pulls you deeper into the world of photography.

Stage 2: “Whoa” or When Reality Hits

After that early high, stage two kicks in: reality. Jason calls it “whoa,” and not in a good way. This stage comes after you’ve been shooting like mad, filling memory cards with all sorts of subjects. But then you sit down, look through your work, and realize most of it isn’t as great as you thought. Maybe a few keepers. Probably still just the cat.

This moment is humbling, and it’s also a decisive moment (not the Cartier-Bresson’s way). This is when you usually decide whether you’re just going to leave your camera on a shelf or buckle down and actually dig deeper.

Stage 3: “Study” or Where Learning Really Begins

This third stage is a turning point. It’s when you decide you want to improve and dive headfirst into learning. You binge-watch YouTube tutorials, load up on books, read hundreds of blog posts a day. You try to memorize every setting on your camera. You finally figure out what ISO means, and then forget it again. Personally, my favorite stage. Probably why I’ve decided to switch systems and enroll in yet another college at 36. :) But more on that some other time.

Jason jokes that at this stage, the postman knows your house well because of all the Amazon photography book deliveries. But no matter how much technical stuff you soak up, your photos might still be underwhelming. That’s when you realize you forgot something crucial: composition. And then you read more books and analyze more photos and dig deeper and deeper.

Stage 4: Smug – Confidence and Competitions

Once you’ve nailed the technical side and gotten a few compliments on your work, you enter stage four: smug. You know all the technical details and lingo.. You’ve entered a photo contest or two. Maybe you’ve started posting online and getting some likes and praise. You’re starting to feel like a real photographer.

Jason admits he’s been here too. We all have. This stage feels great and you’re on cloud nine… until someone asks you a deep technical question. And suddenly, the confidence takes a hit.

Stage 5: Doubt or The Creative Frustration Phase

Welcome to stage five. This one hits hard.

You’ve been shooting for a while now. You’ve got some great shots under your belt. But suddenly, you’re sitting at your desk, scrolling through your archive, and none of it excites you. You feel like your work is flat. You’ve hit a wall.

Jason says this is where self-doubt creeps in. You realize there’s still so much you don’t know. You start to wonder if you’ve peaked. Will it ever get better? The best advice here is to take a break. Step away from the camera for a bit. Reconnect with the joy that brought you to photography in the first place. Hanging out with your cat again might help, too.

Stage 6: Sage – What Experience Really Looks Like

And finally, we reach stage six: the sage.

This is the experienced photographer who’s been through it all. You don’t need to show off or argue about gear, specs, settings, and whatnot. Your work speaks for itself and shows you know your stuff. You’re still learning, but you’re also generous with their knowledge, helping others through the stages you’ve already lived. The sage doesn’t need to impress with jargon – they’re too busy creating and mentoring.

So… Where Are You Right Now?

Personally, I believe that these stages can intertwine and that we can also regress and move forward again with time. I was at the final stage at one point. But I currently feel like I’m the stage five. I’ve reached the plateau, I’m feeling self-doubtful, and wondering if I’ll ever start improving. But I also plan to switch systems, so I guess I’ll regress even further and learn many new things again, which will put me at stage three. And I kinda miss that first “wow” stage, but it’s possible to regress even that far by trying out new techniques. I recently felt it with cyanotype. It felt totally fresh and new, even though I’ve been into photography since… Forever.

And what stage are you in right now? Whichever it is, know that every photographer goes through this journey in some form. And each stage, even the rough ones, is part of what makes photography such a rewarding creative path.

Feel free to share your story in the comments. And if you have words of encouragement for us in the doubtful stages – I’m all ears!

[The Six Stages Of A PHOTOGRAPHER’S Life via FStoppers]

---