John Enman – Photographer’s New Years resolutions for 2026

John Enman – Photographer’s New Years resolutions for 2026

Published 1:30 pm Sunday, December 28, 2025

Gosh, this yr zoomed by so quick. And Christmas, as normal, was a build up of pleasure that got here and went in a second. This morning as I drank my espresso I started occupied with the New Year. I haven’t written about New Year’s resolutions for just a few years however listed here are some from some time again.

Hmm…What sort of pictures I’ll have an opportunity to do in 2026? After some Internet browsing I made a decision to take a look at a few of my previous articles and I discovered one I wrote again in 2015. The coming yr at the moment was wanting optimistic and I wrote that the prospect of recent alternatives was thrilling and jotted down {that a} listing of targets (resolutions) is likely to be a good suggestion.

I had requested photographers what they’d make as resolutions, and most responded with the standard:

Use a tripod extra.

Turn off Auto mode.

Buy a brand new digicam or lens.

Try capturing RAW.

Learn extra about lighting.

Take extra images.

Learn extra about composition.

Learn higher post-production strategies.

However, I would like one thing extra inspirational, and with pleasant prodding and on-line looking I put collectively the next resolutions or targets that gave the impression to be about enhancing inside this thrilling medium within the yr to return.

1. Pay extra consideration to inventive concepts. “This could be the year to begin evolving creatively.”

2. There is an excessive amount of deal with what’s the greatest digicam. When we spend an excessive amount of time worrying in regards to the digicam we neglect in regards to the story. “We should be concerned with making images that tell a story.”

3. Take dangers and transfer away from all the time making an attempt to please social media strangers.

Make this yr to push the envelope past the consolation zone with out worrying with different’s opinions. Maybe this would be the yr to place “me” within the {photograph}.

4. Learn a brand new method. It’s so simple as experimenting, and taking the time to learn up on some method after which give it a attempt. Photographers ought to all the time make an effort to study new strategies.

5. Make each shot rely and keep away from the “spray and pray” capturing fashion. “It’s about quality photographs, not massive picture snapping sessions.”

6. Become extra ruthless with one’s pictures and what’s carried out in post-production; “conditioning oneself to throw out the crap is the best way to keep improving.”

Finally, I’ll want everybody an excellent 2026 and finish this with a quote by award winning English author, Neil Gaiman.

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.”

Merry Christmas. Stay protected and be inventive. These are my ideas for this week. Contact me at www.enmanscamera.com, or [email protected].